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.
