2018 Third Extraordinary Session ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 12 BY SENATOR MORRISH A RESOLUTION To commend the University of Louisiana System, its president, board of supervisors, and member universities, on an outstanding performance in the strategic planning and delivery of high-quality educational opportunities in the state of Louisiana. WHEREAS, the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors oversees one of the largest systems in the nation, and the University of Louisiana System offers a broad spectrum of educational possibilities ranging from associate degrees in specialty training to advanced degrees in post-graduate research; and WHEREAS, the University of Louisiana System is an assemblage of nine distinctive higher education institutions located in every corner of the state that serve more than 91,500 students and award more than 16,500 degrees annually; and WHEREAS, the new Louisiana Constitution of 1974 established the management board known as the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities whose purpose was the governance of ten higher education institutions, excluding the systems of Louisiana State University and Southern University; it was the forerunner of the University of Louisiana System (UL) that was renamed in 1998; and WHEREAS, the University of Louisiana System is comprised of the postsecondary institutions of Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Louisiana at Monroe, and the University of New Orleans; and WHEREAS, the mission of the University of Louisiana System is to uphold the idealistic tenets of scholarship, to provide top-quality educational opportunities that are cost efficient for both students and taxpayers, and to enable students to reach their highest potential; and Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 12 ENROLLED WHEREAS, while the University of Louisiana System operates at the lowest unit cost per student per capita, all nine universities within the system continue to experience increases in student enrollment, retention, and graduation rates; and WHEREAS, the University of Louisiana System develops enthusiasm in individuals who are destined to become the future leaders of education and in scholars whose pursuit of technical advancement and scientific research have created next-generation technology services and solutions; and WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System is composed of sixteen members that include Board Chairman Alejandro "Al" Perkins, Vice Chairman, Mark Romero, James Carter, John Condos, Edward J. Crawford III, Richard Davis Jr., Lola Dunahoe, Pamela Egan, Thomas Kitchen, Jimmie "Beau" Martin Jr., Johnny McFerren, Shawn Murphy, Elizabeth Pierce, Virgil Robinson, Robert Shreve, and Winfred Sibille; and WHEREAS, the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors, System President Dr. Jim Henderson, and the nine university presidents that include Rick Gallot of Grambling University, John Nicklow of the University of New Orleans, Chris Maggio of Northwestern State University, Jay Clune of Nicholls State University, Joseph Savoie of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Nick Bruno of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Les Guice of Louisiana Tech University, Daryl Burckel of McNeese State University, and John Crain of Southeastern Louisiana University, collaborate to create market-responsive programs that provide workforce development, career education, and technical training; and WHEREAS, with stabilized funding, the University of Louisiana System has gained a firm footing to develop a strategic framework of academic curricula that will produce the most educated generation in the history of the state; and WHEREAS, by the year 2025, the University of Louisiana System projects that its universities will prepare more than 160,000 new graduates to meet the employment needs of the workforce market; and WHEREAS, these graduates, both present and future, contribute to economic development, create competition, start new businesses, educate youth, care for the infirm, discover new technologies, and enrich community development; and Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 12 ENROLLED WHEREAS, the University of Louisiana System will continue to shape the advancement of educational opportunity statewide, to meet the needs of business, industry, and governments, to aid economic growth, and to enrich its communities. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the University of Louisiana System on an outstanding performance in the strategic planning and delivery of high-quality educational opportunities throughout the state of Louisiana. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to Dr. Jim Henderson, President of the University of Louisiana System. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 3 of 3