higher education
Panel seeks ways to educate more LA citizens
The Remedial Education Commission begins work on a process to find ways to get more of LA high school students ready to earn post-secondary degrees. New regulations going into effect late 2011 will not allow four-year universities to admit students that need remediation; students will go to a community or technical college to take classes to increase skills. Full article.
Central Louisiana students study energy conservation at Northwestern State
Northwestern State University recently held a session of Energy Camp Louisiana. The camp is designed to show area students the importance of energy efficiency and conservation, as well as introduce them to a variety of energy career pathways. Energy Camp Louisiana is a joint effort between regional intermediary CERT, the Consortium for Education, Research and Technology of North Louisiana, and platinum sponsors Encana Natural Gas and Shell, plus several additional sponsors. Full article.
Industrial training to help Cenla students' marketability
A group of Central LA educators is gathering this week to acquire training that will allow them to teach a new subject on industrial maintenance in high schools, which is designed to improve high school students' skills and employability out of high school. The training initiative is part of the Cenla Work Ready Network, a program of The Rapides and Orchard foundations in partnership with the LA Technical College in Alexandria. Full article.
Scope of digital media center changes
Bossier City officials have a new vision for the proposed digital media center initially planned as part of the Louisiana Hayride Music Village. The city plans to construct the digital media center on the national Cyber Research Park campus as another means to connect digital media companies to Bossier Parish Community College students interested in the field. Full article.
LA technical college system to get overhaul
Joe May, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System recently indicated that a planned overhaul of the current system for our technical college system’s mode of training could translate into an integrated higher-education system that will better prepare students and react swiftly to employers' needs. The model includes providing a combination community college-technical school in Alexandria and providing modern facilities for technicians in training. Full Article.
LA higher education ends boom-&-bust decade
David Cronrath came to LSU in 2000 with hopes of helping to build one of the finest arts and design schools in the Southeast. Cronrath is one of hundreds of college faculty members who have left LA, either by choice or through layoffs. His experience illustrates the boom-and-bust cycle that characterized higher education in LA during the past decade. Full article.
Jindal: Colleges cuts will be less than 10%
Gov. Bobby Jindal recently told higher education leaders to plan for budget cuts of less than 10% in state funds next year, which is less than projections. Higher education has been cut by $310 million in state funds since reductions began in 2008. Full article.
Central LA universities balance plans with declining funding
Over the past two years, higher education in the state has seen the loss of almost $300 million and local universities are facing even more cuts in 2011. Officials are hopeful their institutions will ride out the economic storm in the upcoming year. LSUA faces a $3.17 million cut and Chancellor Dave Manuel recently indicated that LSUA's challenge will come in finding opportunities. Full article.
UL System: Don't judge by graduation rate
Looking at La's official six-year higher education graduation rate, one would think more than half of the students never get a diploma. However, the Univ of LA System says the graduation rate paints an incorrect picture because many students take classes part-time while working a regular job. Full article.
CABL Blasts Legislative Micromanagement of Higher Ed
CABL (Council For A Better Louisiana) recently issued a commentary on the recent action by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget with regard to the interim Commissioner of Higher Education. Read commentary.
