University undergraduates can expect a 10-percent increase in tuition and mandatory fees beginning this fall after the LSU System’s Board of Supervisors implemented provisions of the LA GRAD Act at its July meeting Friday.
The GRAD Act’s allowance of a tuition increase of 5 percent will combine with another 5-percent tuition increase previously approved by the state Legislature to institute a total 10-percent tuition and fee increase for University students for the fall 2010 semester.
The LSU main campus as well as LSU at Eunice, LSU at Shreveport, LSU at Alexandria, the LSU Law Center and the University of New Orleans have all agreed to participate beginning fall 2010 in the GRAD Act’s program, which allows for tuition increases for institutions that meet certain improvement criteria.
“The GRAD Act is very historic because it does provide — perhaps for the very first time in the history of Louisiana secondary education — a clear process in the way public universities and two-year campuses can have tuition and mandatory fees that are comparable to the southern region average,” said Michael Gargano, LSU System vice president of student and academic support.
Gargano explained at the meeting that universities that choose to participate in the GRAD Act program and increase tuition and fees are agreeing to meet annual performance standards in four areas: student success, articulation and transfer, workforce and economic development, and institutional efficiency and accountability.John Antolik, System assistant vice president and comptroller, said the GRAD Act will give campuses additional tools to “improve efficiency and performance and generate money to help offset the budget in the future.”
In an explanation of the System’s dire budgetary situation, Bob Keaton, special assistant to the System President, said one thing that makes balancing the state’s budget in times of shortfall difficult is the way the budget is broken down and the amount of funds that are mandated for certain uses.
Though Louisiana’s total operating budget is $26 billion, Keaton said most of that money is either previously dedicated or goes toward constitutionally mandated expenditures.”When you get down to it, only 12 percent of the total state budget is what you have to balance any deficit,” Keaton said.In addition to the System’s budget and information about the GRAD Act, the Board also discussed contract changes for five University coaches.The Board approved a contract extension for one coach, a raise and extension for three coaches and the hire of one new coach.
LSU volleyball coach Fran Flory received a two-year contract extension and a raise of $15,000 per year, while men’s golf coach Chuck Winstead received a one-year extension and $15,000 raise. Women’s basketball assistant coach Travis Mays’ contract was extended by one year and his salary was increased by $22,000 annually.Softball coach Yvette Girouard received a two-year contract extension, but her salary of $120,000 per year was not increased.
The new hire was Lynn Nance as an assistant coach for men’s basketball. Nance is contracted through June 2011 and will be paid $150,000 per year.
Athletic director Joe Alleva appeared to speak to the Board about the contracts and said the money to pay for them comes solely from the athletic department.
“All the funds to take care of that are self-generated from the athletic department,” Alleva said. “These are based on competitive salaries and the competitive market.”The July Board meeting also served as the first for four new board members who were appointed by Gov. Bobby Jindal in June.New members Ann Duplessis, Garrett “Hank” Danos, Raymond Lasseigne and member-at-large Robert “Bobby” Yarborough were sworn in at the meeting and officially began their service on the Board.–Contact Ryan Buxton at [email protected]