Louisiana faces disaster if it fails to improve the graduation rate and quality of education in the state, according to the final report of the Postsecondary Education Review Commission.The Commission — informally known as the Tucker Commission — finalized its recommendations for reforming higher education Friday at its final meeting.”The graduation rates at Louisiana’s four-year and two-year institutions are among the lowest in the nation and the South,” the final report said. “The future of the state depends on producing significantly more four-year and two-year graduates.”The 22 recommendations explain how education should set graduation goals, be appropriated funds and be governed.The Commission recognized the state’s drastic budget situation by recommending institutions are given more freedom to set tuition levels and change how budget cuts are allocated. Tuition and substantial fees increases currently require two-thirds legislative approval. If this recommendation becomes law, the door will be open for tuition increases and the introduction of new fees such as a Flagship fee to offset the budget crisis. Chancellor Michael Martin said he would rather levy new or increased fees on students than cut academic programs.The committee recommended enrollment be reported at the end of the semester instead of on the 14th day of class. These numbers would then be used in the state formula to fund state institutions.Commissioner and former University Chancellor James Wharton presented the recommendation and said this would save the state money because students who drop classes will not be counted in the funding equation.The Commission also recommended institutions across the state receive the same funding for lower-level courses no matter what type of institution.The University would receive the same rate per credit hour for the first 60 hours of a bachelor’s degree as any other public school in the state if the recommendation becomes law.Reformation of TOPS was also a hot topic during the commission deliberations, but no recommendations in the final report specifically addressed the aid program.Two recommendations that would have added a merit-based formula to the award failed to pass the commission.The Commission also suggested the five managing boards currently governing higher education be consolidated into two — one for four-year institutions and one for community and technical colleges.This change would also dissolve the Board of Regents — the highest authority governing post-secondary education aside from the legislature.This recommendation would require two-thirds legislative approval and a public vote to become law.The Commission’s report will be reviewed by the Board of Regents. The Regents will present comments on the report to the legislature before the end of the month.