Closures and mergers of Louisiana universities are being considered by state legslatures to help mend the $700 million in higher education budget cuts, and with tuition prices skyrocketing, some officials argue that doing so could leave higher education worse off than before.

In the University of Louisiana System’s Budget Briefing, Webinar on Mar. 20 system president Sandra K. Woodley said closures would restrict access to students, widen the work-force gap and initially cost the state more money.

Using a 2012 survey from the New York Times, Woodley pointed out that people born in Louisiana go to school and work here and that having a university close to home is important for students. That geographic location is what allows students to be what she refers to as the “cost-drivers” of institutions.

“That’s why it’s important to note that any changes that we make that would restrict access for students could be detrimental to our goal,” said Woodley.

Less students equals less money for the institutions, and less graduates to fill the workforce gap. Woodley said Louisiana will need $17 thousand more a year to put a dent in the gap by 2018 according to a WISE Gap Analysis from 2014. Not only would it affect the workforce, but the initial cost of closing and merging universities would be also be detrimental, she said, when looking at the obligated funds of retirement costs, bond debt for the buildings and employee release costs.

State Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard agrees that closures and mergers are not the answer to saving higher education for all the same reasons, and is still pushing for the House Bill that would cut back on state-contracts and the funding of non-government organizations, a bill that passed by a two-thirds vote last year to then be vetoed by Governor Bobby Jindal. Richard said Woodley and Nicholls State University President Bruce Murphy were “nowhere in sight” to support it at the time, but had it passed, funding would be coming from that.

Richard said another increase in tuition, the other alternative to help with the budget, is not the answer either. He pointed out that the state funding to parent tuition ratio is now 30-70, a number that has completely reversed since 2009.

“We’re pricing our way out of the market by raising tuition so much,” said Richard. “That’s something I’m against. I must say, Dr. Murphy’s people are taking a stand and saying raising tuition is not the way of saving higher education, and it’s not.”

Richard said Nicholls should be able to stand on its own but adds “with this governor, you never know.” He was present this Monday for the start of the year’s Legislative session in Baton Rouge, and said the governor didn’t mention higher education in his speech on education that day.

With the current price of tuition at Nicholls State, it is still the choice university for many students, if not for cost then for location.

“I chose Nicholls because it was close to home,” said Cole Walker, a mass communication senior from Luling. “It’s in a location where I can go home whenever I want, but I’m still an hour away.”
Joseph Blake, an art junior from Chackbay, said he came to Nicholls for both reasons.

“The location is not the only reason. I also come here because my parents work here and I get ‘hella’ discount,” said Blake. “As an art student, you wouldn’t want to go to any place that’s ridiculously expensive.”