University: State funding poses problems for UL Lafayette – Dr. Savoie interview with Advertiser

Megan Wyatt, The Advertiser, May 1, 2014

State budget cuts have affected the University of Louisiana at Lafayette greatly, but not as much as they have other public universities in the state.

President E. Joseph Savoie told The Daily Advertiser editorial board Wednesday that UL has not had to furlough or lay off faculty or staff, which has happened elsewhere in Louisiana. That’s the bright side.

Nonetheless, Savoie noted that it has been several years since the state has granted money for faculty raises, and he said it may take decades to get faculty salaries back on a nationally competitive level. That poses risks for retaining and attracting top-flight professors.

"It’s not an ideal environment," Savoie said. Sometimes, top faculty prospects bypass Louisiana for states that have a more stable budget for higher education.

In fact, Savoie said this year’s higher education budget may represent some stability in what has been a steady slide in state support. State funding for higher education has plunged from $1.7 billion in 2008, he said, to about $780 million in 2014.

Whereas the state once provided its universities with more than two-thirds of its funding, it now provides less than one-third. He said that has changed the financial model for state universities, creating a need for more reliance on self-generating sources of income.

The peak for higher education funding came in the later years of the Blanco administration, after erstwhile efforts to increase funding throughout the Mike Foster and Blanco administrations, he said. Savoie served as commissioner of higher education during those years.

Still, the university will continue growth under its master plan. Some of that planned growth will include a new hotel near an expanded Cajundome, which should have expanded facilities for arts and entertainment.

Plans also call for safer and more comfortable places for students around the campus, including what Savoie called "pocket parks."

UL’s president had lots to say to the editorial board on other matters, too. Here’s his take on other topics:

Not done talking about expanding

UL is engaged in three or four conversations with "CGI-type organizations" about locating in Lafayette.

That could mean more new industries in Acadiana that could brings jobs to locals and opportunities for students.

On Monday, Canada-based IT solutions company CGI announced it would move into a tech center in the UL Research Park, hiring up to 400 people.

Target size at UL: 20,000 enrollment

The right size for UL is about 20,000 students, Savoie said.

UL currently has 16,800 traditional college students and 18,500 students total, including those who are enrolled in certification and online course programs. Online may represent an great opportunity to increase the enrollment.

Freshmen: Not rare, but more rare

The freshman student body has changed since UL tightened enrollment standards.

Although the freshman class used to make up 35 percent of the university student body, it currently makes up 20 percent.

Responsibility: Embrace the culture

UL will continue to embrace Cajun, Creole and Louisiana history and culture in its classroom offerings and research.

"No one else can do it," Savoie said, describing such scholarly efforts as a "core responsibility" of the university.

He said enrollment in classes about Cajun and Creole studies has increased and that the campus will "preserve and protect" the culture across multiple disciplines.