A newly effective law allows for administrators of Louisiana public universities to adjust the cost of tuition and fees for specific degree paths, especially as it relates to higher-cost programs.
The Board of Regents, an agency that coordinates all of Louisiana’s public higher education institutions, gave the new law, called Act 790, its blessing at a meeting on Wednesday Sept. 25 and provided some recommendations for what those types of courses could include.
The act went into effect on Aug. 1. It applies to all professional degrees, undergraduate and graduate. High cost majors include things like engineering, veterinary sciences and some arts programs.
LSU is moving toward these variably priced majors, university spokesperson Zache Labbe confirmed.
He said that it’s a first for LSU and that an exact timeline hasn’t been worked out.
“These are programs where you have smaller class sizes, expensive laboratories and faculty salaries that are higher cost,” said Commissioner of Education Kim Hunter Reed.
She noted that these recommendations from the Regents don’t directly translate to action; at the end of the day it’s up to management boards and university administrators to set these costs and make these determinations.
The law limits to what degree these raises can be made and requires adequate notice to students regarding tuition and fee amount. Previously, higher education institutions had to seek legislative approval.
These changes come amid worries from Louisiana’s public colleges, as they were advised to brace for a potential deficit of $250 million for the statewide higher education budget created by the expiration of a sales tax.
Gov. Jeff Landry has announced that he’ll host a special legislative session wherein lawmakers will discuss how to resolve these tax issues.
In the meantime, public university officials were told to prepare for the “worst case scenario,” Reed said.