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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 171
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Board of Regents to study and determine the feasibility of
developing a plan for designating public postsecondary education institutions as
charter colleges or universities.
WHEREAS, the state recognizes that postsecondary education and long-term
economic strength and viability are inextricably linked, and consequently looks to and
depends upon our public colleges and universities to drive economic development by
demonstrating leadership in research, innovation, commercialization, and technology
transfer; and
WHEREAS, in times of budgetary constraints, it is incumbent upon the state to
explore all avenues that will enable our public colleges and universities to be more
productive and provide students with effective, high quality postsecondary education and
training with less public money; and
WHEREAS, we should also consider mechanisms which would afford our public
colleges and universities increased authority and decision making in managing their finances
and operations, while still maintaining optimal state oversight and appropriate performance
and accountability standards; and
WHEREAS, based upon the premise that restructuring the relationship between state
government and public postsecondary education will drive innovation and enable eligible
public colleges and universities to reinvent themselves in a manner that will allow them to
become more responsive, accessible, and sustainable, a number of states, including Ohio,
are implementing a charter model for their public institutions of postsecondary education.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the Board of Regents to study and determine the feasibility of
developing a plan for designating public postsecondary education institutions as charter
colleges or universities. SR NO. 171 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting such study, the Board of Regents
shall:
(1)Study the administrative and financial relationships between the state and
public institutions of postsecondary education to determine the extent to
which public colleges and universities can manage their operations more
effectively and more efficiently if allowed increased flexibility in managing
their finances and operations.
(2)Examine the statutory, policy, administrative, and other legal issues related
to the feasibility and practicability of the restructuring of the traditional
administrative and financial relationships between the state and our public
institutions of postsecondary education that would be required to facilitate
the designation of a public postsecondary institution as a charter college or
university.
(3)Fully engage the public postsecondary education management boards, the
presidents of the public colleges and universities, and the division of
administration in all facets of the study.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Regents shall submit a written
report of its findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education, the
House Committee on Education, and the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget not later
than February 1, 2014.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
chairman of the Board of Regents, the commissioner of higher education, and the chairman
of each of the public postsecondary education management boards.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE