Page 1 of 2 Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 125 BY SENATOR APPEL A RESOLUTION To urge and request the University of New Orleans and the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System to develop a new degree program in International Business and a new degree program in Transportation/Port Management and Logistics to be offered at the university. WHEREAS, businesses routinely cross boundaries around the globe as they engage in worldwide commerce, making it imperative that business majors have the opportunity to study, in depth, the relationship between business and globalization in order to be prepared to navigate the borderless world of 21 st century business; and WHEREAS, as the global economy continues to expand, the demand for international business education continues to grow, and a specialist who understands the diversity of international business has the toolkit necessary to be a successful participant in global business ventures; and WHEREAS, the complexities and processes integral to the international business community require a dedicated course of study that provides students with exposure to the historical, legal, political, and economic factors that are key elements to success in a global economy; and WHEREAS, global production and sophisticated distribution channels make the coordination of global supply chains of utmost importance to consumers, producers, and state and national economies; and WHEREAS, ports are crucial nodes in global supply chains, deepening the importance of increased efficiency in port and terminal operations and logistics; and WHEREAS, Louisiana's port system is one of the largest in the world and, as such, should be developed and leveraged in a manner that will produce the maximum economic advantage for the state and its citizens; and WHEREAS, as the largest port complex in the western hemisphere is located on the Mississippi River in Louisiana, the potential for student internships and high-paying jobs for state residents is significant; and SR NO. 125 ENROLLED Page 2 of 2 WHEREAS, a degree program that prepares students to understand the processes underlying international supply chains, from both an economics and management perspective, including maritime economics, international transport, and terminal and port management and logistics, can only serve to enhance the state's ability to maximize the amazing economic development tool our port system represents; and WHEREAS, the inter-linkages between international business and international transportation and logistics and the role that the international transport and port sectors play in facilitating international business make development of these two degree programs not only logical, but necessary to the state's overall economic development strategy. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the University of New Orleans and the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System to develop a new degree program in International Business and a new degree program in Transportation/Port Management and Logistics to be offered at the university. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the University of New Orleans and the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System shall submit a written report on the progress made toward development of the requested degree programs to the Senate Committee on Education not later than March 1, 2013. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the president of the University of New Orleans and the president of the University of Louisiana System. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE