Despite eight consecutive years of state budget cuts that have resulted in the largest shift in revenue sources for higher education in state history, the University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette continues to protect its academic core.
UL Lafayette received two-thirds of its funding from the state eight years ago, Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, said Friday. This year, state funding fell below 30 percent, he told faculty and staff in an annual address.
鈥淭his dramatic change in the funding paradigm created significant challenges, but we met the challenges head-on. We didn鈥檛 whine or whimper. We implemented strategies to increase self-generated revenues and protect the core academic mission of the University,鈥 he said.
UL Lafayette's new financial model relies on more auxiliary business operations, research funding and private philanthropy.
The University鈥檚 budget for fiscal year 2016-17 is comparable to its fiscal year 2015-16 budget. In fiscal year 2015-16, the budget was $161.2 million. For fiscal year 2016-17, it is $161.6 million 鈥 if there are no mid-year cuts in state funding.
鈥淔or the first time in many years, the budget is stable,鈥 Savoie said.
One of the primary reasons the University鈥檚 budget has remained steady is 鈥渂ecause of aggressive efforts to grow enrollment, in both quantity and quality. Following a slight dip a few years ago caused by raising our admissions requirements, we鈥檝e had solid growth,鈥 Savoie explained.
Despite a significant increase in student enrollment, he said, 鈥渨e鈥檝e been able to hold our student-to-faculty ratio steady at 22-to-1. It鈥檚 the same today as it was in 2008.鈥
Changes to the state鈥檚 TOPS funding could affect future enrollment.
鈥淎 new law capped future award increases, which means TOPS may not match future tuition rates. In the event of future state budget shortfalls, another law requires all TOPS awards to be reduced on a pro-rata basis.
鈥淔or this year, due to shortfalls of state funding, TOPS was not fully funded. TOPS was funded at 93 percent for this semester and is only funded at 47 percent for Spring 2017. That leaves many students, across 棉花糖直播, having to make up the difference. This has implications for University-funded scholarship offerings,鈥 Savoie said.
He noted that the University raised $15 million in private funds during fiscal year 2016 and increased the number of donors by nearly 11 percent over the previous year.
The University also has made significant progress in distance learning. It now offers 11 online degree programs and 287 online courses. 鈥淲e鈥檝e tripled the number of online and hybrid sections offered in five years,鈥 Savoie said.
In another effort to combat dwindling state revenue for higher education, UL Lafayette has developed its own capital outlay program for campus improvements. The University has a backlog of $37.5 million in major repairs that are needed.
鈥淢any of the improvements are about function rather than cosmetics. For example, we need to replace air conditioning units, windows and roofs, flooring, ceiling tiles and do lots of painting,鈥 he said.
Another project, which will be funded by students鈥 self-assessed fees, will be an outdoor amphitheater adjacent to the Student Union and Cypress Lake. 鈥淲e are working with student leaders and architects to complete the unfinished area,鈥 Savoie said.
Caption: UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie addresses faculty and staff Friday.
Photo by Doug Dugas