The Jindal Administration announced a $165.5 million mid-year cut this morning to various state entities, including Louisiana public colleges that face a $22 million decrease in state funding collectively.

In an email to University administration and faculty, University President Stephen Hulbert said Nicholls is facing a $455, 349 cut come January, a figure released to the media before the University.

“This morning, we were greeted with newspaper and television coverage speaking of a shortfall and anticipated cuts,” Hulbert said. “While we finally learned of our share of the twenty-two million dollar reduction to higher education just before noon, the state administration had already notified the media with the specifics.  As such, while we had barely learned of the $455,349 cut figure, the local media already had that information and was asking for specifics regarding the impact campus-wide.”

According to the Associated Press, the Jindal administration said the cut should not be a problem for Louisiana public colleges because the schools have generated more tuition than expects and saved millions of dollars this year with hiring freezes.

Hulbert said in the email that this cut was anticipated and that University administration will work to create possible scenarios for the next fiscal year. The University has not yet been given specific timelines for turning in the data regarding the implications of the cut.

This is the fifth consecutive year the state has had to enact a midyear budget cut.