SLS 12RS-4781 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 5 Regular Session, 2012 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 130 BY SENATORS PEACOCK, ADLEY AND TARVER COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES. Endorses the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan, establishes the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan Implementation Group, and requires semiannual reports on the progress of implementing the plan. A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1 To endorse the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan, as adopted by the2 Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical3 College, to enhance programs to meet higher education needs in the region, to4 establish the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan5 Implementation Group to monitor the implementation of the plan, and to requires the6 Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors to provide a written report to the7 Senate and House committees on education semiannually for the next five academic8 years on the progress of implementing the plan.9 WHEREAS, Shreveport-Bossier is the third largest metropolitan area in Louisiana10 and deserves a strong, vibrant, comprehensive research university to meet the educational,11 workforce, and economic development needs of the region; and12 WHEREAS, many civic and business leaders in the region have expressed deep13 interest in exploring various methods for expanding the regional capacity for additional14 academic programs; and15 WHEREAS, there are still limited opportunities for comprehensive undergraduate16 and graduate degree programs in Northwest Louisiana; and17 WHEREAS, Louisiana State University at Shreveport (LSUS), as18 SCR NO. 130 SLS 12RS-4781 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 5 Shreveport-Bossier's urban university, is best positioned to serve regional needs through an1 expansion of current course offerings in targeted program areas; and2 WHEREAS, LSUS, in collaboration with colleagues at the LSU Health Sciences3 Center at Shreveport and LSU A&M, developed the Louisiana State University Shreveport4 Commitment Plan for the continued growth of LSUS; and5 WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural6 and Mechanical College on April 27, 2012, unanimously endorsed the Louisiana State7 University Shreveport Commitment Plan and directed its implementation through close8 collaboration with all institutions in the LSU System by recognizing that all LSU entities9 have a stake in the successful development of LSUS; and10 WHEREAS, the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan defines11 both a series of short-term initiatives with immediate impact from new program offerings12 and longer-term initiatives to grow selected graduate programs; and13 WHEREAS, as institutional, regional, and state funding resources permit,14 investments should be made to further grow LSUS into a strong urban research university15 with a mix of baccalaureate, master's, professional, and targeted doctoral programs,16 accompanied by strategic research endeavors that enhance economic development in the17 metro area; and18 WHEREAS, during this period of budget austerity, the implementation of the19 Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan represents the least expensive and20 most expeditious and efficient path for addressing regional higher education needs; and21 WHEREAS, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 69 of the 2008 Regular Session,22 which was adopted by the legislature, the Board of Regents was urged and requested "to take23 the necessary steps to approve the expanded role, scope and mission to include selected24 doctoral degrees at Louisiana State University in Shreveport..."; and25 WHEREAS, the energetic and full support of LSUS by the Louisiana Board of26 Regents and the Legislature, in partnership with regional community leaders, the LSU Board27 of Supervisors, and all LSU System campuses, would increase the capacity of LSUS to offer28 higher education degrees and certificates in Shreveport/Bossier to cultivate the managerial,29 educational, technical, and scientific workforce needs of the metro area.30 SCR NO. 130 SLS 12RS-4781 ORIGINAL Page 3 of 5 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Legislature of Louisiana that the1 Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan, as adopted by the Board of2 Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, is3 hereby endorsed as the most effective and immediate strategy for enhancing programs4 offered to meet higher education needs in the region, including raising the educational5 attainment of the population; improving the quality of life and economic wellbeing of6 Shreveport-Bossier residents; ensuring that students are provided the educational resources7 they need to have a reasonable chance for success in their academic pursuits; making optimal8 use of facilities, faculties, and other academic and fiscal resources associated with the public9 postsecondary institutions; and maintaining and growing foundation and alumni monies10 attained for the purpose of supporting Louisiana State University at Shreveport.11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all institutions of higher education in the region12 and the Louisiana Board of Regents are urged to fully cooperate and support implementation13 of the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan.14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Regents is hereby urged and15 requested to approve the proposed new role, scope, and mission of Louisiana State16 University at Shreveport to increase the institution's capacity to meet the managerial,17 educational, technical, and scientific workforce needs of the region.18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Regents is hereby urged and19 requested to make a written report to the Legislature and to the Senate and House20 committees on education not later than October 1, 2012, on the steps taken by the board21 since 2006 to expand the role, scope and mission, of Louisiana State University in22 Shreveport, including added doctoral degrees, and the current status of each step.23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there is hereby established an Louisiana State24 University Shreveport Commitment Plan Implementation Group to monitor the25 implementation of the plan, which shall consist of the following members:26 (1) Two representatives of the Louisiana State University System selected by the27 chairman of the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors.28 (2) Two representatives of the Board of Regents selected by the chairman of the29 board.30 SCR NO. 130 SLS 12RS-4781 ORIGINAL Page 4 of 5 (3) Two representatives of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and1 Mechanical College selected by the chancellor of the university.2 (4) Two representatives of Louisiana State University at Shreveport selected by the3 chancellor of the university.4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that individuals selected to be members of the5 Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan Implementation Group shall be6 submitted, on or before September 1, 2012, to the chancellor of LSUS who shall call the7 hearings provided by this Resolution.8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana State University Shreveport9 Commitment Plan Implementation Group shall, for the next five academic years, hold10 hearings on the LSUS campus regarding the implementation and status of the plan, including11 courses and programs added or dropped and the total enrollment numbers at the beginning12 and end of each semester of LSUS for the added courses and programs.13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana State University Board of14 Supervisors shall provide a written report to the Legislature and to Senate and House15 committees on education semiannually for the next five academic years, within one month16 following completion of the Fall and Spring semesters at LSUS, on the progress of17 implementing the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan, which report18 shall include details on new programs offered and put into effect, student enrollment and19 completion data as well as income from tuition, fees, state, and other sources for each20 semester.21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the22 Board of Regents, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University, the chancellor of23 Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the chancellor of24 Louisiana State University at Shreveport.25 The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot. DIGEST Peacock SCR No. Endorses the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan ("plan"), as adopted by the LSU Board of Supervisors, as the strategy for enhancing programs to meet higher SCR NO. 130 SLS 12RS-4781 ORIGINAL Page 5 of 5 education needs in the Shreveport/Bossier region. Urges all institutions of higher education in the region and the Board of Regents to fully cooperate and support implementation of the plan. Requests the Board of Regents to approve the proposed new role, scope, and mission of LSUS to increase the institution's capacity to meet the managerial, educational, technical, and scientific workforce needs of the region. Requests the Board of Regents to make a written report to the legislature and to the Senate and House committees on education not later than October 1, 2012, on the steps taken by the board since 2006 to expand the role, scope and mission, of LSUS, including added doctoral degrees. Establishes the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan Implementation Group ("group") to monitor the implementation of the plan, consisting of the following members: (1) Two representatives of the LSU System selected by the chairman of the LSU board of supervisors. (2) Two representatives of the Board of Regents selected by the chairman of the board. (3) Two representatives of LSU A&M selected by the chancellor of the university. (4) Two representatives of LSUS selected by the chancellor of the university. Provides that individuals selected to be members of the group shall be submitted, on or before September 1, 2012, to the LSUS chancellor who shall call the hearings provided by this Resolution. Requires that the group, for the next five academic years, hold hearings on the LSUS campus on the implementation and status of the plan. Requires that the LSU board of supervisors provide a written report to legislature and to the Senate and House committees on education semiannually for the next five academic years, within one month following completion of the Fall and Spring semesters at LSUS, on the progress of plan implementation.