Louisiana’s higher education board recommends that the University of New Orleans should be managed by the LSU System, instead of the U-L System. UNO’s enrollment has dropped significantly since 2003, which has resulted in a financial crisis at the school. Board of Regents member Darren Mire (Mear) says last month legislative leaders asked the board to examine a proposed system change, but they didn’t need a year to study it.
“We already had a lot of data and we didn’t want to delay a report to the legislature before the session starts in the middle of April,” Mire said.
The Louisiana Legislature will have to approve a change in management for UNO from UL System to the LSU System. A bill will likely be filled in the legislative session that begins next month. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges must also approve the move.
UNO has attempted to resize the university by cutting its budget, which has resulted in layoffs of administrators and the consolidation of some colleges. But the school is still facing a 30-million-dollar shortfall.
Mire says they are also recommending that the Legislature hires a third-party to perform a financial audit.
“We want an in depth forensics financial audit from an oustide accounting firm,” Mire said.
Mire says a third-party also needs to be hired to do an academic programs assessment and a comprehensive facilities assessment. Mire says there’s a lot of deferred maintenance that needs to be done on the campus.
UNO was previously in the LSU system, but moved to the UL System in 2011. Alumni and supporters of UNO said the school was not getting enough attention within the LSU System.
Senate President Cameron Henry told the Louisiana Illuminator that the LSU System is better equipped at addressing UNO’s financial troubles.
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