HLS 11RS-790 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 182
BY REPRESENTATIVE NOWLIN AND SENATOR LONG
COLLEGES/COMMUNITY: Requests the Board of Regents to study the need, structure,
and location of a community college in the Natchitoches area
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Board of Regents to work with the Board of Supervisors of2
Community and Technical Colleges, the Board of Supervisors for the University of3
Louisiana System, and Northwestern State University to study the feasibility of4
offering community college services to the Greater Natchitoches Region and to5
determine how the state can best meet the educational needs of students and the6
economic and workforce development needs of this region of the state.7
WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5(D)(2) of the Constitution of Louisiana provides,8
relative to public institutions of postsecondary education, that it is a power, duty, and9
responsibility of the Board of Regents to approve a proposed degree program, department10
of instruction, division, or similar subdivision; and 11
WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5(D)(3)(a) of the constitution further provides that12
it also is a power, duty, and responsibility of the board to study the need for and feasibility13
of creating a new institution of postsecondary education, which includes establishing a14
branch of such an institution or converting any nondegree granting institution to an15
institution which grants degrees; and 16
WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5(D)(3)(b) of the constitution specifies that if the17
creation of a new institution is proposed, the Board of Regents shall report its written18
findings and recommendations to the legislature within one year and specifies further that19
only after the report has been filed, or after one year from the receipt of a request for a report20
from the legislature if no report is filed, may the legislature take affirmative action on such21 HLS 11RS-790 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 182
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a proposal and then only by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house;1
and2
WHEREAS, community college services, provided through the Louisiana3
Community and Technical College System, have proven effective in serving individuals and4
communities by offering targeted academic programs, technical education, and occupational5
training programs designed to meet the state's workforce and economic development needs;6
and7
WHEREAS, there is a need for increased access to public postsecondary education8
two-year academic degree programs that meet the educational needs of students and the9
economic and workforce development needs in the Greater Natchitoches Region; and10
WHEREAS, the availability of community college services in the Greater11
Natchitoches Region would provide access to these educational opportunities in an12
underserved area of the state; and13
WHEREAS, the Board of Regents has adopted a policy under which all associate14
degree and certificate programs are to be removed from the four-year public institutions of15
postsecondary education in the state; and16
WHEREAS, the capital outlay requirements of the state are such that the funds for17
the design and construction of a new community college are not available now nor are they18
expected to be in the foreseeable future; and19
WHEREAS, it is critically important to maximize the cost-effectiveness of the20
proposed community college services, especially during this period of economic recession21
that is placing extreme pressure on the operating and capital outlay budgets of the state.22
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby23
urge and request that the Board of Regents work with the Board of Supervisors of24
Community and Technical Colleges, the Board of Supervisors for the University of25
Louisiana System, and Northwestern State University to study the feasibility of offering26
community college services to the Greater Natchitoches Region and to determine how the27
state can best meet the educational needs of students and the economic and workforce28
development needs of this region of the state.29 HLS 11RS-790 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 182
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include but not be limited to1
consideration of the potential use of physical facilities and other resources of Northwestern2
State University in the provision of the proposed community college services and3
identification of the role, scope, and authority of Northwestern State University in the4
planning and operation of the proposed community college if the resources of Northwestern5
State University are to be utilized in the development and operation of the proposed6
community college.7
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana further requests the8
Board of Regents to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the9
Senate Committee on Education, the House Committee on Education, the member of the10
Senate representing Senate District 31, and the member of the House of Representatives11
representing House District 23 not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 201212
Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.13
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the14
commissioner of higher education, the chairman of the Board of Regents, the president of15
the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, the president of the University of16
Louisiana System, the president of Northwestern State University, and the regional director17
of the Northwest Louisiana Technical College.18
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Nowlin HCR No. 182
Requests that the Board of Regents work with the Board of Supervisors of Community and
Technical Colleges, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and
Northwestern State University to study the feasibility of offering community college services
to the Greater Natchitoches Region and to determine how the state can best meet the
educational needs of students and the economic and workforce development needs of this
region of the state. Requests that the study include consideration of the potential use of
facilities and resources of Northwestern State University in the provision of community
college services and identification of the role, scope, and authority of the university in the
planning and operation of the proposed community college if its resources are to be utilized
in the development and operation of the proposed community college. Provides that the
Board of Regents shall report to the House and Senate education committees and to the
Senator representing Senate District 31 and the Representative representing House District
23 not later than 60 days prior to the 2012 R.S.