LSU President F. King Alexander and the chancellors of other LSU system schools traveled to Washington, D.C., for an Alexander-led initiative called LSU Day this week.
Alexander and the chancellors intended to lobby for higher education, and they met with the University’s Louisiana Delegation and other federal departments that fund the University.
Alexander said Wednesday he thought it was a good couple of days in the nation’s capital. The trip began with an event hosted at Sen. Mary Landrieu’s house.
“We’re glad we’re all here together unified,” Alexander said. “We want to make sure that Louisiana gets its funding.”
Alexander said after meeting with the delegation Wednesday, the group of chancellors and deans would be at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill with about 200 University alumni and those affiliated with the University for a reception.
Jason Droddy, director of external affairs, said the meetings Wednesday were to include discussion of college affordability.
Alexander said the University received $600 million in federal funding, and more than $27 million in Pell Grants last year.
Most years, the deans and chancellors of the nine system schools make individual trips to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional representatives, Droddy said. This week was the first time they all traveled together.
The trip to Washington, D.C., this week was funded in part by donations and the alumni association, and it is a chance for them to present data and research and show off the school as a “national university serving a national purpose,” Droddy said.
Alexander said the group also thanked their congressional representatives in Washington.
“I think its been a very successful 24 hours,” Alexander said.
Alexander also traveled to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 16 as one of 100 university deans and chancellors to attend the White House summit, which focused on increasing the accessibility of higher education.