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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 145
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 RESOLUTION1
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 require the6
Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical7
College to provide a written report semiannually for the next five academic years on8
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 SR NO. 145
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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 SR NO. 145
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana1
that the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan, as adopted by the Board2
of 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 well-being 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 Senate and to the Senate Committee on Education20
not later than October 1, 2012, on the steps taken by the board since 2006 to expand the role,21
scope and mission, of Louisiana State University in Shreveport, including added doctoral22
degrees, and the current status of each step.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that there is hereby established the 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 SR NO. 145
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(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 Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State14
University and Agricultural and Mechanical College shall provide a written report to the15
Senate and to the Senate Committee on Education semiannually for the next five academic16
years, within one month following completion of the Fall and Spring semesters at LSUS, on17
the progress of implementing the Louisiana State University Shreveport Commitment Plan,18
which report shall include details on new programs offered and put into effect, student19
enrollment and completion data as well as income from tuition, fees, state, and other sources20
for each 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 and Agricultural23
and Mechanical College, the chancellor of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and24
Mechanical College, and the chancellor of 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 SR 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 SR NO. 145
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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 Senate and to the Senate
Committee 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 the Senate and to the
Senate Committee 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.