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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 133
BY SENATOR BUFFINGTON
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES. Relative to the La. State University Shreveport Commitment
Plan as unanimously endorsed by the LSU Board of Supervisors on April 27, 2012, provides
legislative findings and for certain reports to the legislature, the legislative education
committees, and the Board of Regents for the next three academic years.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To provide legislative findings relative to the Louisiana State University Shreveport2
Commitment Plan as unanimously endorsed by the Board of Supervisors of3
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College on April 27,4
2012, to urge and request all public postsecondary education institutions in the5
region to fully cooperate and support plan implementation; and to specify that the6
Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical7
College shall make certain written reports to the legislature, the legislative education8
committees, and the Board of Regents for the next three academic years on its9
progress in plan implementation.10
WHEREAS, Shreveport-Bossier is the third largest metropolitan area in Louisiana11
and deserves a strong, vibrant, comprehensive research university to meet the education,12
workforce, and economic development needs of the region; and13
WHEREAS, many civic and business leaders in the region have expressed deep14
interest in exploring various methods for expanding the regional capacity for additional15
academic programs; and16
WHEREAS, while current postsecondary programs at the technical and associate17
degree level are ample and diverse, there are still limited opportunities for comprehensive18 SCR NO. 133
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undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Northwest Louisiana; and1
WHEREAS, Louisiana State University at Shreveport, as the area's urban university,2
is best positioned to serve regional needs through an expansion of current course offerings3
in targeted program areas; and4
WHEREAS, Louisiana State University at Shreveport, in collaboration with5
colleagues at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport and6
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, has developed the7
Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan for the continued growth of8
Louisiana State University at Shreveport; and9
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural10
and Mechanical College on April 27, 2012, unanimously endorsed the Louisiana State11
University Shreveport Commitment Plan and directed its implementation through close12
collaboration with all institutions in the Louisiana State University System thereby13
recognizing that all Louisiana State University entities have a stake in the successful14
development of Louisiana State University at Shreveport; and15
WHEREAS, the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan defines16
both a series of short-term initiatives designed to provide immediate impact from new17
program offerings combined with longer-term initiatives to grow selected graduate18
programs; and19
WHEREAS, as institutional, regional, and state funding resources permit,20
investments should be made to further grow Louisiana State University at Shreveport into21
a strong urban research university with a mix of baccalaureate, master's, professional, and22
targeted doctoral programs, accompanied by strategic research endeavors that enhance23
economic development in the metropolitan area; and24
WHEREAS, during this period of budget austerity, the implementation of the25
Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan presents a cost-effective,26
expeditious, and efficient way to address regional postsecondary education needs.27
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby find28
that the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan as adopted by the Board29
of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College on30 SCR NO. 133
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April 27, 2012, can be a cost-effective, efficient, and immediate strategy for enhancing1
postsecondary education needs in the region, including raising the educational attainment2
of the population; improving the quality of life and economic well-being of Shreveport-3
Bossier residents; ensuring that students are provided the educational resources they need4
to have a reasonable chance for success in their academic pursuits; making optimal use of5
facilities, faculties, and other academic and fiscal resources associated with the public6
postsecondary institutions; and maintaining and growing foundation and alumni monies7
attained for the purpose of supporting Louisiana State University at Shreveport.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all public institutions of postsecondary9
education in the region and the Board of Regents are urged and requested to fully cooperate10
and support implementation of the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State12
University and Agricultural and Mechanical College shall report in writing to the legislature13
as provided by R.S. 17:771 and 772, the House Committee on Education and the Senate14
Committee on Education, and the Board of Regents two weeks after the end of each Fall and15
Spring semester for the next three academic years on its progress in implementing the16
Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan, which report shall include but not17
be limited to details on new programs offered and put into effect as well as student18
enrollment and completion data for such programs.19
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution shall be transmitted20
to the presiding officer of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and21
Agricultural and Mechanical College, the president of the Louisiana State University22
System, the presiding officer of the Board of Regents, and the commissioner of higher23
education.24
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Thomas L. Tyler.
DIGEST
Buffington SCR No.
Provides legislative findings relative to the La. State University Shreveport Commitment
Plan as unanimously endorsed by the LSU Board of Supervisors on April 27, 2012, requests
all public postsecondary education institutions in the region to fully cooperate and support
plan implementation, and specifies that the LSU Board of Supervisors shall make certain SCR NO. 133
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written reports to the legislature, the legislative education committees, and the Board of
Regents for the next three academic years on the progress of plan implementation.