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BILD: Higher Education Supports LA GRAD Act
GNO, Inc. Release
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| For Immediate Release: May 4, 2010 |
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Contact Information:
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Austin Marks
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BILD: Higher Education Supports LA GRAD Act
Business coalition says legislation is important first step in higher education reform
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The Businesses for Improving Louisiana's Development (BILD): Higher Education coalition announced today their support of Governor Bobby Jindal's LA GRAD Act, which aligns with many of the coalition's strategic reform measures. Specifically,
BILD officials said that the act's provision for returning tuition and fee authority to the management boards of Louisiana's colleges and universities is a crucial first step in addressing the financial crisis that is now devastating the state's higher education system. The legislation has been
filed by House of Representatives' Speaker Jim Tucker and is scheduled to be heard by the education committee this week.
"Governor Jindal's LA GRAD Act is a bold statement that Louisiana is committed to creating long-term solutions that will build a stronger, more productive higher education system," said Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. "We support this legislation because it will assist
our colleges and universities to become more self-sufficient and increase their ability to become the true economic drivers that we need them to be."
The LA GRAD Act provides tuition and fee authority to Louisiana's colleges and universities in exchange for six-year performance agreements that are designed to increase graduation rates and admission standards among other key performance indicators. The act would allow higher education entities
to increase tuition and fees up to ten percent until the institutions reach their peer group average. Once the institution reaches its peer group average, the cap is reduced to five percent. The legislation has been filed as House Bill 1171.
The coalition's previously-announced platform consists of four strategic reforms. Those include:
1. Implementing the Louisiana Board of Regents-proposed performance-funding formula
2. Raising admission standards at four-year institutions
3. Granting sole authority to adjust self-generated revenue to the system's management boards
4. Establishing "centers of excellence" at Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) campuses and eliminating unproductive and duplicative programs
BILD: Higher Education also announced that it has created a coalition blog to keep citizens aware of the status of pending legislation, broadcast calls-to-action, and inform of its progress. The blog can be found at www.bildcoalition.blogspot.com/.
Current BILD: Higher Education partners include:
Acadiana Economic Development Council
Ascension Chamber of Commerce
Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Blueprint Louisiana
Bossier Chamber of Commerce
Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region
Cenla Advantage Partnership
Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce
Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc.
Council for a Better Louisiana
East Feliciana Economic Development District
East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce
Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
Jefferson Business Council
Jefferson Chamber of Commerce
Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission
Hammond Chamber of Commerce
Harris Deville & Associates
Lafayette Economic Development Authority
Livingston Economic Development Council
Monroe Chamber of Commerce
New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
Northshore Business Council
Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry
Plaquemines Parish Government „Â Economic Development & Tourism
River Region Chamber of Commerce
Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
South Central Industrial Association
South Louisiana Economic Council
Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce
St. Bernard Economic Development Commission
St. Charles Department of Economic Development and Tourism
St. Helena Parish Office of Economic Development
St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation
St. Tammany Healthcare Alliance
St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce
Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation
Terrebonne Economic Development Authority
West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
About BILD: Higher Education
BILD: Higher Education is a statewide coalition of business organizations focused on strategic higher education reforms designed to ensure that Louisiana develops a robust economic foundation by implementing the Louisiana Board of Regents-proposed performance-funding formula, raising admission
standards at four-year institutions, granting sole authority to adjust self-generated revenue to the system's management boards, and establishing "centers of excellence" at Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) campuses and eliminating unproductive and duplicative
programs.
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policy, workforce and research initiatives.
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