College/University
Postsecondary, pre-baccalaureate education in Cenla is delivered by six branches of Louisiana Technical College, the Learning Center for Rapides Parish (LCRP); LSU-Alexandria (LSU-A); Northwestern State University (NSU); and LSU-Eunice (LSU-E). 
This means that postsecondary, pre-baccalaureate education is delivered by three systems – LCTCS, the LSU System, and the University of Louisiana System – and one general facility under the Board of Regents. The table below shows the number and types of non-general education certificates and degrees conferred by public colleges and universities in Cenla, as well as Louisiana College.
Other pre-baccalaureate postsecondary education is offered to adult learners through program funding from the Louisiana Department of Education, and some training is done at the Career Solutions Centers (one-stops). There are also four proprietary schools registered with the Board of Regents offering training in the region. All of these proprietary schools are located in Alexandria
Number of Credentials* by Institution, 2007 – 2008
|
Total
Institution
|
Associate Degrees
|
Diplomas
|
Certificates
|
Total
|
|
NSU
|
238
|
0
|
0
|
238
|
|
LSU-A
|
156
|
0
|
8
|
164
|
|
LSU-E*
|
12
|
0
|
0
|
12
|
|
LTC- Alexandria
|
4
|
85
|
3
|
92
|
|
LTC-Avoyelles
|
0
|
51
|
6
|
57
|
|
LTC - Huey Long
|
0
|
21
|
21
|
42
|
|
LTC – Lamar Salter
|
0
|
44
|
7
|
51
|
|
LTC - Natchitoches
|
11
|
28
|
5
|
44
|
|
LTC - Oakdale
|
11
|
49
|
3
|
63
|
|
Totals
|
432
|
278
|
53
|
763
|
** The number of credentials listed for LSU-E are the number awarded to students from the 9-parish
Rapides Foundation region, as shown in the Board of Regents data available at ://as400.regents.state.la.us/pdfs/cmpl/cmpl0708/cmplprsh.pdf.
Source: Louisiana Board of Regents
The only way that Central Louisiana can address its multiple problems in the workforce development system is to establish one institution that will focus full-time on workforce development and provide a specific “go-to” point for businesses and jobseekers. This comprehensive community college, should have the following functions:
- Articulation agreements with a four-year school
- Specialized or customized training for employers
- Occupation degrees and certification
- Technical certification
- Continuing education
- New technology and process diffusion activities
- Cultural activities
- Economic development mission
- Entrepreneurial and business support
The comprehensive community college will be able to coordinate with the fragmented workforce training that already exists. It will be able to work hand in glove with businesses that need specialized training for new or incumbent workers. It will also be able to gain additional levels of funding from the Incumbent Worker Training Program. Cenla is nearly one-tenth the population of Louisiana and therefore should average more than three million dollars annually from the state funds.
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