The River Region Chamber of Commerce recognizes that the State of Louisiana has a severe budget crisis and that serious measures must be taken to balance this budget.

We do, however, take exception to the continued cuts to higher educational institutions without a comprehensive approach to the issues.

The River Region Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors respectively calls on Governor Jindal and legislators to lead discussion on a) short-term solutions; and b) long-term solutions using the most recent university efficiency study.

Short-term solutions should consider allowing universities to be autonomous in their ability to increase fees and/or tuition.

Long-term solutions could include consolidation based on university enrollment rates, academic duplicity and graduation rates. Additionally, changes must be made to an outdated state constitution that leaves higher education as merely one of few unprotected budget items vulnerable to being cut to help balance the state’s budget.

This important issue cannot continue to be ignored just because it is a non-dedicated budget item.

We must nurture and develop a stable funding source for higher education that can better prepare for market changes.

We are losing teachers (in six years, the UL system alone has cut nearly 900 faculty members and 600 administrators) and sending a negative message to our students.

Further, classes are being cut and programs deferred at the detriment of the students who are trying to become productive citizens. Just in the LSU system, 60 programs have been terminated or consolidated.

We will be in discussion with our elected officials, system heads and university officials to look for solutions to the pending crisis and hope that the legislators, with or without the leadership of the Governor; will act swiftly and in the best interest of turning around this grave situation.

The continued cutting of higher education funding can no longer be the solution to bridge the state’s deficit.

For more about the River Region Chamber of Commerce, call the office at 985-359-9777 or visit riverregionchamber.org.