Commissioner of Higher Education, Kim Hunter Reed
Louisiana’s public colleges are seeking $142 million in additional state funding for the next fiscal year. The Board of Regents is seeking this additional cash, despite projections the state will have fewer dollars to spend. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says they are requesting more money because private employers are looking for more qualified workers…
“Higher education is critical for the state of Louisiana, and we’ve been asked to focus more and more on the education-to-employment pipeline.”
Hunter Reed says the funding request includes more dollars to support dual enrollment and the M-J Foster Promise Program which provides aid to adults seeking to earn high-demand, short-term credentials at Louisiana Community College or technical school
“People who have completed, who are working where we can match their labor/wage information we are seeing an increase of about $20 thousand on average in their salary.”
The higher ed’s budget request goes to the Landry administration, who present a budget to lawmakers early next year. Reed understands the state has some financial challenges, but now is not the time to cut to higher ed…
“So our request to the administration, which is due by November 1st by law, will include the impact of budget cuts to higher education and it will also include the request for higher education.”
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