Article archive / May 1, 2015

Originally published: May 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 5. Source pages: 1, 5.

Legislators Search for Ways to Fund Higher Ed/Healthcare Budget Crisis Draws Host of Bills

Responding with ideas to the $1.6 billion shortfall, legislators have come out with a host of bills to piece together a state budget during the crisis. The outlook is particularly gloomy for education and healthcare, but measures include efforts to change the state’s constitution to help lawmakers take some of the pressure off the two areas that are not protected from the chopping block. The patchwork quilt of bills put forward to both to help balance the budget include a number of measures to do away with tax credits. Examples are HB 366 by Representative Bryan Adams that would change refundable tax credits to nonrefundable credits. HB 563 would also reduce tax credits, HB 659 sunsets all tax credits, and HB 749 calls for a review of all tax credits. HB 629 reduces corporation tax credits. But most of these measures are pending. HB 766, also by Bryan Adams would allow educational institutions more autonomy over their operations and decisions. This measure moved out of committee on April 21 with a favorable vote of 15 to 1, but also was returned to the calendar.

Representative Adams’ office told the Times he is working around the clock, and consulting with the Board of Regents, to find compromises and ways to help higher education.

Bills that search out additional tax revenues are mostly pending in committees, perhaps because of the interconnected tapestry of nickels and dime saving efforts. Bills include HB 80 by Carmody that would funnel a certain portion of state sales and use taxes from out-of-state vendors to a fund from highways and education. HB 523 would use funds from Deepwater Horizon collection fund and dedicate it to higher education. HB 768 would dedicate part of the current personal property tax for education.

Some efforts to give the university systems more autonomy are doing a little better. HB168, authored by Rep. Steve Carter, authorizes higher education management boards to establish and modify, as they deem necessary, tuition and fees charged for graduate, professional, and other postbaccalaureate programs. It passed favorably out of committee, 11 to 0 and was scheduled for debate on April 30. But then the bill was returned to calendar.

Two bills to expand Medicaid and retrieve money from the federal system have stalled in committee. One such measure, HCR 3 was heard on April 29 and failed. Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Kathy Kliebert and Undersecretary Jeff Reynolds testified about how the department was planning to cope with the budget shortfalls and uncompensated costs of uninsured people served at hospitals. She noted that her group planned a “more flexible use of federal dollars” and “better integration of behavioral health services and public-private partnerships.”

The legislature has until June 11 to work out the billion plus shortfall, when it must adjourn by 6 pm.

Left: DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert and Under- secretary Jeff Reynolds testify about Medicaid. Legislators scramble to find ways to cut and paste the state’s budget. Here, members of the film industry ask the lawmakers not to cut tax credits to their industry. At the center microphone is Michael Papajohn, an actor and stuntman, who tells how he was able to return to Louisiana from Hollywood due to the tax incentives. Papajohn played for the LSU Tigers baseball team coached by Coach Skip Bertman. In the movie Spiderman, Papajohn played the man who killed Uncle Ben. He told the Committee, “I’ve made over 30 movies, and died in most of them.”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / May 1, 2015

Originally published: May 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 5. Source pages: 11.

Dr. Carl Weems, Professor and Vice Chair of Psychology at University of New Orleans (UNO) will assume the leadership of Iowa State University’s Dept of Human Development and Family Studies beginning this July.

Dr. Monica Marsee, faculty member at UNO will also be taking a new position at Iowa State, as Associate Professor in the Psychology Department, she noted to the Times.

According to the press release from the Iowa State U., Dr. Weems will lead a large academic department known for research, teaching, and outreach that improves the human condition. Iowa State’s Department of Human Sciences offers programs that prepare students for careers helping diverse individuals and families across their life-span.The department’s teaching and research focus on family health, child and youth development, adult development and aging, family studies, family finances, and research methods.

“It’s a great job,” Dr. Weems told the Times. But, he said, he’ll “miss Nola.”

Dr. Marsee said “It’s an exciting opportunity!” She starts her new position in August.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / May 1, 2015

Originally published: May 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 5. Source pages: 2.

The SSA Flies Like a Beetle by J. Nelson

The Institute of Medicine came out hands down in favor of science––empirical rather than emotional problem-solving methods. This is in no small way due to our colleague Dr. Mike Chafetz. Two points to Mike, psychological science, and innovation, for dunking the ball. But we shouldn’t break out the champagne yet.

This is not the first time the SSA has been told by its authority figures to make changes. Its Inspector General (OIG) told it to conduct disability reviews when they are due, to conduct additional work-related reviews, to revise future benefit payments regardless of when the error is discovered, and to seek prosecutions or sanctions for false applications. Did any of this get done? Nope.

If the SSA were open to feedback, the early efforts of the neuropsychologists would have been enough, rather than having to be nagged for almost a decade.

The SSA exhibits some of the same organizational symptoms that we have seen in the IRS recently, marked group defensiveness and arrogance. IRS Commissioner John Koskinen repeatedly said––under oath––that Louis Lerner’s emails could not be recovered. The Oversight Commission sent subpoenas, held hearings, and sent letters. The IRS said, ‘Nope, there are no emails. They’re all destroyed, not available, can’t be recovered, yada yada.’

Oops. Now a Deputy OIG has located about 33,000 of Lerner’s emails, in only two weeks. And he’s discovered that the IT guys in charge of those emails had never even been asked for them.

Perhaps instead of an Office of Inspector General, whose job appears to be to nag the SSA and the IRS, the taxpayer might be better served if we install a Twelve-Step Program. What symptoms tell us that a group or organization is dysfunctional? Characteristics we can observe fairly easily are the group’s boundary and its leadership. Group boundaries are important causes of other group outcomes, described by Clayton Alderfer in his theory of embedded group relations. When a group becomes resistant to information and defensive, faulty decision- making occurs because of lack of information flow. Then, group– think can increase and so can over-confidence in leaders and members. Did Commissioner Koskinen have the correct information when he told Congress that there were no emails to give them, or was this something even more serious?

Groups that malfunction like this can lose track of their core mission. The SSA seems very resistant to innovation, the OIG, and Congress. Who does SSA really consider its customer to be? The claimant, the taxpayer, or itself?

Things should go more smoothly. We are in need of knowledgeable, virtuous, and wise leaders, who work to understand these complexities. We can’t always count on someone like Chafetz to stumble into a leadership role for the rest of us. Not only did he stumble into the data, he also conducted scientific studies, withstood unusual pressure from his client, reported to authorities, and persisted for a decade. It doesn’t matter if he is right in every single issue, he is a model for the rest of us as to the role of applied science in our society.

But, maybe humankind makes changes in just this awkward way. Bertrand Russell wrote an essay about his friend and author, Joseph Conrad, remarking on Conrad’s “deep-seated sense of fatality governing this man-inhabited world.”

“Man,” Conrad told Russell, “…doesn’t fly like an eagle, he flies like a beetle. You must have noticed,” Conrad said, “how ugly, ridiculous and fatuous is the flight of a beetle.”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / May 1, 2015

Originally published: May 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 5. Source pages: 11.

In an email to psychologists this week, the current Executive Director of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, Ms. Kelly Parker, announced that she would be leaving due to her upcoming marriage and to coordinate with her fiancé for his federal employment in Texas. She noted that she will keep the incoming Executive Director informed on key issues in the community. “I hope to make this a smooth transition for everyone,” she wrote.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 4.

On March 19 the publisher of the Times, J. Nelson, visited the Louisiana Board of Examiners of Psychologists and asked to examine public documents. The right to examine public documents is provided for to all citizens over the age of 18.

Nelson was greeted by the Executive Director, Ms. Kelley Parker, who reviewed Nelson’s request to examine five items. These were: 1) board’s internal policies and procedures for conducting investigations of psychologists; 2) board’s job descriptions for staff, including paid investigators, and also any documents setting out the policies and procedures for hiring of staff; 3) the resumes and job applications for the current executive director and investigators; 4) the policy and procedures for hiring consulting attorneys, the resumes of current contract attorneys; and 5) a copy of Mr. Lunceford’s 2009 memo listed in the minutes of May 8, 2009, concerning the effects of Act 251 on the operators of board.

Parker stated to Nelson that it was Parker’s right to consult with legal counsel and after some discussion about the five different items, Parker left the lobby saying she would call the board’s attorney to review the request.

Parker returned approximately 15 minutes later with a written response. The response acknowledged Nelson’s request and “I am invoking our right to have your request and responsive documents reviewed by legal counsel prior to disclosure.” And, that a response would be provided on March 31.

Nelson asked if all the items needed to be reviewed and Parker said she was invoking the right on all the items. However, Parker said that there were no documents on hiring, item number four. After a brief discussion, Nelson left.

On March 25, Parker emailed Nelson, saying that she was updating Nelson on the status of the March 19 request, and that due to the office schedule and staffing issues, she would be unable to fulfill the request by March 31. She anticipated that the documents would be available on April 2. Nelson asked if she (Nelson) would come into the office on Monday the 30th and examine documents but Parker said the documents would not be available until April 2.

Public Records law allows citizens to examine public documents, except in cases established by law. If any record contains material which is not a public record, the custodian may separate the nonpublic record and make the public record available for examination. It is not clear what confidential material would be kept in the policies and procedures manuals.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 4.

In a March 18 press release, Governor Jinal introduced a plan to remove Common Core from Louisiana, saying that he will replace it with high-quality Louisiana standards, “… while ensuring that Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BES) contracts, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and Cooperative Endeavor Agreemens (CEAs) do not hand over control of Louisiana schools to third-party entities or the federal government. Governor Jindal said, “This legislation will help us get Common Core out of Louisiana once and for all. We will not accept this one- sized- fits-all approach to our children’s education. The package of legislation will make clear that the federal government or third parties do not have control over Louisiana’s schools, …”

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Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 7.

In February the American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives approved a major change from its current training standards moving to a new model for “Health Service Psychology.” While a final vote is still to come, sources note that the change is assured. The new guidelines will restructure the training of clinical psychologists toward a new primary-care and prevention health model.

The revision, “Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology,” notes “… ‘health service psychology’ is defined as the integration of psychological science and practice in order to facilitate human development and functioning. Health service psychology includes the generation and provision of knowledge and practices that encompass a wide range of professional activities relevant to health promotion, prevention, consultation, assessment, and treatment for psychological and other health-related disorders.”

The new model is to be used for APA accreditation, and replace the previous standards. Proposed regulations will open to public comment during late spring and summer 2015, according to a report from APA.

Authors of the new standards write, “Health service psychology includes several practice areas in which an accredited program may focus, including the areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, school psychology, combinations of these areas, and other developed practice areas.” The program recognizes the importance of cultural and individual differences and diversity in the training of psychologists.

Discipline-­‐Specific Knowledge and Profession-­‐Wide Competencies include research, ethical and legal standards, individual and cultural diversity, professional values, attitudes, and behaviors; communication and interpersonal skills; assessment; intervention; and supervision. Accredited programs with a site visit scheduled in 2016 will be reviewed under the older guidelines and program with a site visit in 2017 will be reviewed under the new Standards of Accreditation.

The authors note that the change is “…providing greater clarity to the public and enhanced opportunities for innovation in health service psychology education and training.”

Standards of Accreditation for Health Service Psychology will serve as a guiding document for health service psychology training programs seeking initial or continued accreditation, notes APA. The document is available on the APA website at http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/about/policies/standard s-of-accreditation.pdf

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 11.

Tulane’s Dr. Jeffrey Lockman co-chaired the biennial conference of the national Society for Research in Child Development, held March 19 –21 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Tulane’s researchers and scientists presented numerous studies, and Tulane’s Dr. Oscar Barbarin was honored with the award for Distinguished Contributions to Understanding International, Cultural and Contextual Diversity in Child Development by the Society.

In Lockman’s welcome address, he and co- chair, Catherine Tamis-LeMonda, noted that they designed the invited program to span, “ developmental domains and levels, including epigenetics, brain processes and development, children of war, ethnic and racial identity, gender development, …” and many others. And, they included new formats to facilitate dialogue where presenters and members follow-up the session with discussion. Also, Lockman said they included “Sessions that address the public face of science –– including research media collaboration and ‘taking science to the streets.’”

Among this year’s activities, Dr. Oscar Barbarin chaired the Invited Address, “Ethnic-Racial Identity Across Space and Time: Considerations for Future Research and Intervention.”

Included in Tulane’s researchers was Stephanie Aaron and Dr. Courtney Baker, with “The Role of Parental Involvement and Peer-Mediation on the Effectiveness of Early Interventions for Children with Autism.”

“Better Understanding Associations of Social Cognitions, Distress, and Leadership with Aggression for High Risk Urban Youth,” was presented by Stephen Leff, Dr. Baker, and Tracy Evian Waasdorp.

“Social Learning in Early Manual Skill Development,” was offerend by Tulane’s Jennifer Erin Maldarelli, Claire Burns, Bjoern Kahrs, and Dr. Jeffrey Lockman.

Nicholas Fears, Kahrs, and Lockman also presented “Visual Efficiency in Handwriting.”

“Preschoolers’ Core Number Abilities Predict Emerging Math Competence; A Latent Profile Approach,” was presented by Tulane Assistant Professor Dr. Sarah Gray and Robert A Reeve.

“Planning and End-State Comfort when Grasping Baby Bottles,” was presented by Wendy Jung, Bjoern Kahrs, Brittany DeVries, Madeleine Schwartz, and Dr. Lockman.

“Strategies for Orienting Objects during Hand-to-Mouth Transport in Infants,” was presented by Ashley Smith, Bjoern Kahrs, and Dr. Lockman.

“Culture influences action understanding in infancy: A comparative study of action prediction in Chinese and Swedish infants,” is a work presented by Dorota Green, Qi Li, Jeffrey Lockman, and Gustaf Gredebäck.

“How children learn to open containers,” was presented by Lana Karasik, David Comalli, Lok Yu Gladys Yu Gladys Chan, Danielle Kellier, Catherine Tamis-Lemonda, Jeffrey Lockman, Sneha Radhakrishnan, and Karen Adolph.

“Predictive validity of the BESS universal screener: Does student sex matter?” was presented by Elizabeth McIntyre, Paulette Carter, and Tulane Psychology Chair, Dr. Stacy Overstreet.

Katie Simon, Shereen Naser, Paulette Carter, and Dr. Overstreet presented, “What can the BESS universal screener tell us about positive student behavior?

“Universal screening in schools: Worth the time and effort,” was presented by Jorge Vallery Verlenden

Recovery of EEG Alpha Rhythm Power Following Foster Care Intervention in Previously Institutionalized Children,” was presented by Ross E Vanderwert, Charles Zeanah, Nathan A Fox, Charles Nelson.

“Bucharest Early Intervention Project: The Case for Policies Providing High Quality Foster Care for Abandoned Children,” was presented by Kathryn Humphreys, Charles Zeanah, Charles A. Nelson, and Nathan Fox.

“Psychopathology at 12 Years of Age in the Bucharest Early Intervention Project,” was presented by Dr. Charles Zeanah.

“Preschoolers’ Empathy-Related Responding to Distress in Social Partners,” was presented by Hung-Chu Lin, Associate Professor at University of Louisiana, Lafayette, and Philip Richard, Michelle Grisham, Rebecca Tacke, and Jacob Amrose.

“Use of the First Year Inventory (FYI) with Children at High- Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorders,” included researchers Dr. Sarah Thomas, Juhi Pandey, Jennifer Maldarelli, Chad Chappell, Lauren Turner Brown, Annette Mercer Estes, Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, Robert Schultz, Grace Baranek, and Joseph Piven.

Jeffrey Lockman chaired the Paper Symposium on “Cultural Action Understanding and Development.”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 12.

Louisiana Psychological Association President, Dr. Joe Tramontana, and Dr. Darlyne Nemeth, medical psychologist and delegate to the American Psychological Association, wrote an article for the National Psychologist March/April issue, “How medical psychology really works in Louisiana.”

Dr. Nemeth described how she became a medical psychologist and her experiences, noting, “One of my best experiences was the collegiality I shared with so many other psychologists.” She also described the ease of sharing information with physicians. “Now, they are free to consult a medical psychologist, rather than a psychiatrist or non-psychiatric medical practitioner, …”

In his statement, Dr. Tramontana wrote that he had enrolled at one time in the psychopharmacology training but decided rather to focus on his books on hypnosis. He summed up that “medical psychology really works” and “Collegiality is enhanced on all levels and psychology’s contribution to integrated healthcare is even more robust.”

The authors concluded that there is a very positive future for medical psychology and healthcare psychology in Louisiana. The article was in part a response to an article in the November/December National Psychologist by the the Times publisher, J. Nelson, “Be careful what you ask for: RxP and psychology in Louisiana.” Tramontana wrote that he had difficulty recruiting medical psychologists back to LPA because of Nelson, but that he could see some problems with Act 251.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 12.

According to the agenda the Behavior Analyst Board was to meet with James E. Hussey, M.D., Medical Director Medicaid Behavioral Health, Dept of Health and Hospitals on March 31. Dr. Hussey emailed the board to discuss, “concerns related to line technicians.” The board decided to invite Dr. Hussey for the meeting. No further details were described.

According to the minutes, renewals of 20 behavior analysts and 62 line technicians had been received as of the date of the December 2014 meeting.

The board will not be meeting in April, but will meet May 5th and June 2nd.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 12.

The Louisiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy honored members at their recent convention held in Baton Rouge.

Dr. Kathryn Steele was named the Distinguished Educator for 2015. She was noted for her outstanding teaching in the field of marriage and family and for fostering and maintaining strong connections with students and developing therapists.

Dr. James Hightower was noted for the Excellence in Supervision award, given to those who build strong relationships with supervisees and the demonstration of clinical and ethical excellence.

Dr. Jana Sutton was honored for Meritorious Service, given to those whose accomplishments are extraordinary, who go far beyond what is expected in preparing Marriage and Family Therapists to serve families and to lead others.

The Inaugural Dr. George Hay Distinguished Life Enhancer Award was presented to Dr. Hay himself, in recognition of his distinguished career that has enhanced the lives of students, colleagues and clients, noting that his contributions have spanned over 40 years.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 12.

In March the state Psychology Board posted their minutes for the January 2015 meeting, where they discussed proposed legislation for 2015. “Legislative Oversight Committee: Ms. Parker updated the Board regarding the proposed legislation for the 2015 Legislative Session. She reported that a draft document should be available at the next meeting for approval.” However, the minutes did not list what legislative bills the board would put forth.

Also at the January meeting the board discussed the budget, including a proposed contract for Deborah Harkins, Esquire, as a Legislative Consultant for the 2015 Legislative session. “Dr. Culross moved to deny the contract because the cost was too high for the current year’s budget. The motion was discussed. The motion passed unanimously.”

Also discussed was a new proposal from the Behavior Analyst Board to enter into a new Memorandum of Understanding beginning February 1 and extending to July 2015. “… which would require each board to pay a 50/50 percentage of the operational expenses (e.g., rent) and pay salaries at a 70/30 split.” The board members approved the new arrangement.

The board members decided to join the Federal Association of Regulatory Boards [FARB] in addition to the current ASPPB (Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards) membership.

The board members approved Ms. Parker and Dr. Comaty to participate in the in Behavior Health Integration Advisory Group beginning in January. The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) group “will discuss issues and areas of concern for the Medicaid transition of behavioral health services from Magellan to the Bayou Health Plan,” according to the minutes.

The board discussed the issues regarding medical psychologists and use of the psychologist title. “Dr. Zimmermann discussed with the board the use of the title “licensed psychologist” by individuals no longer licensed with the LSBEP. He noted that the proper title for MPs (medical psychologists) licensed only with the LSBME is ‘licensed medical psychologist.’ The Board discussed the issue. Dr. Zimmermann moved for Ms. Parker to contact Dr. Mouton to discuss the issue further. The motion passed unanimously.”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 14.

The 6th Annual Mindfulness Day for Mental Health Professionals will be held on Saturday April 18 at the Tam Bao Temple, 975 Monterrey Blvd., in Baton Rouge. The theme is also “Mindfulness and Compassion Practices in Psychotherapy.” Registration begins at 8 am and the day concludes at about 5 pm.

Training includes an introduction to “Meditation and Mindfulness,” followed by “Guided Sitting Meditation” and a question and answer period.

“Sitting Together” is a section on Mindfulness in Therapy, and this is followed by “Mindful Lunch.”

During the afternoon session trainers will offer “Compassion Practices for Psychotherapists and their Clients.” This is followed by “Walking Meditation.”

The training concludes with “Troubling Emotions: Welcoming undesirable Guests,” and another Guided Sitting Meditation.”

This year’s presenters will include Sherry Desselle, Ph.D., a staff psychologist at Louisiana State University's Mental Health Services. She is the owner of Baton Rouge Center for Anxiety Treatment.

Also presenting is Nicole Falgoust, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., is a licensed clinical social worker with a Ph.D. in psychological anthropology. She has a private practice in Baton Rouge.

David Weibel, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice in Baton Rouge will also present.

Thay Dao Quang, M.Ed., is the abbot of Tam Bao Buddhist Temple in Baton Rouge.

Six CEUs is offered for psychologists and social workers, according to organizers. The fee is $75 for professionals and $25 for students. Lunch is included.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 14.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome

Any person who has persistent symptoms from one or more concussions that have occurred within the last six months to ten years is eligible.

Referring practitioners and individuals wanting to participate can contact the research coordinator at 504-427-5632 for more information.

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.

Article archive / April 1, 2015

Originally published: April 1, 2015. Volume 6, No. 4. Source pages: 1, 3.

At their March 25 finance meeting, the Board of Regents reviewed funding for the upcoming fiscal year. The agenda noted that the Executive Budget guaranteed only a small portion of what they need to operate. The agenda summarized,

“Therefore, $123.5 million is available to fund all higher education entities.” This worse case situation represents an 82 percent reduction from 2008 funding. The Regents noted they would recommend spreading the small amount out on a pro rata basis.

Higher education has been cut significantly over the last years and has been cut more than any other state in the nation, with the exception of Arizona, with funding 43 percent less per student compared to 2008, according to a Times- Picayune report this past February.

The Regent’s agenda noted that that this is the status and the final funding will come after the appropriations bill, House Bill 1, is presented. The House Committee on Appropriations is scheduled to meet next week, April 8, on the budget bill and Higher Education.

Dr. Josepha Rallo, Commissioner of Higher Education, told WGNO in New Orleans, on March 22, that this worse case situation would constitute an 82 percent reduction.

“Five years ago, the state budget to Higher Education was $1.4 billion,” he explained. “Over the last five years that $1.4 has gone to $762 million.”

Rallo said that the “national trends in public Higher Education is loss of state funding.”

“What makes it more dramatic, if you will, in Louisiana,” he said, “is the fact that we seem to go from year to year with one- time budget fixes. And then next year will be always better, but then we get to that point in time. It’s really the lack of certainty, speaking on behalf of the presidents and the chancellors,” Rallo said. “So, that’s what we are facing.”

“I believe that we are going to have an outcome that’s more positive.” However, he gave no specifics on how this picture could improve.

The April 8 Appropriations meeting will include an overview and discussion regarding the proposed in House Bill No. 1 of the 2015 Regular Session, on Higher Education. The meeting is public and more information is available at the Legislative website.

One knowledgeable source commented to the Times, “It is an interesting situation. Constitutionally they can't close schools without 2/3rds legislative approval. But they can't run them with no money, either.”

This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.