Despite eight consecutive years of state budget cuts that have resulted in the largest shift in revenue sources for higher education in state history, the 小蝌蚪APP continues to protect its academic core.
UL Lafayette received two-thirds of its funding from the state eight years ago, Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, said Friday. This year, state funding fell below 30 percent, he told faculty and staff in an annual address.
小蝌蚪APP淭his dramatic change in the funding paradigm created significant challenges, but we met the challenges head-on. We didn小蝌蚪APP檛 whine or whimper. We implemented strategies to increase self-generated revenues and protect the core academic mission of the 小蝌蚪APP,小蝌蚪APP he said.
UL Lafayette's new financial model relies on more auxiliary business operations, research funding and private philanthropy.
The 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 budget for fiscal year 2016-17 is comparable to its fiscal year 2015-16 budget. In fiscal year 2015-16, the budget was $161.2 million. For fiscal year 2016-17, it is $161.6 million 小蝌蚪APP if there are no mid-year cuts in state funding.
小蝌蚪APP淔or the first time in many years, the budget is stable,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said.
One of the primary reasons the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 budget has remained steady is 小蝌蚪APP渂ecause of aggressive efforts to grow enrollment, in both quantity and quality. Following a slight dip a few years ago caused by raising our admissions requirements, we小蝌蚪APP檝e had solid growth,小蝌蚪APP Savoie explained.
Despite a significant increase in student enrollment, he said, 小蝌蚪APP渨e小蝌蚪APP檝e been able to hold our student-to-faculty ratio steady at 22-to-1. It小蝌蚪APP檚 the same today as it was in 2008.小蝌蚪APP
Changes to the state小蝌蚪APP檚 TOPS funding could affect future enrollment.
小蝌蚪APP淎 new law capped future award increases, which means TOPS may not match future tuition rates. In the event of future state budget shortfalls, another law requires all TOPS awards to be reduced on a pro-rata basis.
小蝌蚪APP淔or this year, due to shortfalls of state funding, TOPS was not fully funded. TOPS was funded at 93 percent for this semester and is only funded at 47 percent for Spring 2017. That leaves many students, across Louisiana, having to make up the difference. This has implications for 小蝌蚪APP-funded scholarship offerings,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said.
He noted that the 小蝌蚪APP raised $15 million in private funds during fiscal year 2016 and increased the number of donors by nearly 11 percent over the previous year.
The 小蝌蚪APP also has made significant progress in distance learning. It now offers 11 online degree programs and 287 online courses. 小蝌蚪APP淲e小蝌蚪APP檝e tripled the number of online and hybrid sections offered in five years,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said.
In another effort to combat dwindling state revenue for higher education, UL Lafayette has developed its own capital outlay program for campus improvements. The 小蝌蚪APP has a backlog of $37.5 million in major repairs that are needed.
小蝌蚪APP淢any of the improvements are about function rather than cosmetics. For example, we need to replace air conditioning units, windows and roofs, flooring, ceiling tiles and do lots of painting,小蝌蚪APP he said.
Another project, which will be funded by students小蝌蚪APP self-assessed fees, will be an outdoor amphitheater adjacent to the Student Union and Cypress Lake. 小蝌蚪APP淲e are working with student leaders and architects to complete the unfinished area,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said.
Caption: UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie addresses faculty and staff Friday.
Photo by Doug Dugas