Louisiana higher education facing budget cuts, declining enrollment

(The Center Square) − Louisiana's higher education system is grappling with potential budget cuts and declining enrollment, threatening recent successes in historic educational attainment rates.

The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Monty Sullivan, warned at a webinar on Friday hosted by the Louisiana Public Affairs Research Council that if cuts continue, the system could face layoffs, program eliminations and campus closures.

"We're already $800 million short of what we need to provide the education our state requires," Sullivan said. The worst-case scenario could see 420 layoffs, the cutting of 50-55 programs and the closure of 20 satellite campuses.

Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Louisiana's Commissioner of Higher Education, highlighted a milestone for the state. Louisiana has reached its highest-ever educational attainment rate, with 51% of adults having earned a degree or certificate.

The progress is a significant step toward the state's 2030 goal of 60% attainment, established by the Louisiana Board of Regents in 2015, but could be threatened by the state's looming fiscal cliff, which leaves higher education particularly vulnerable.

According to data presented by the group, for every percentage point increase in attainment, approximately 20,000 more Louisianans are accredited. In this demographic, Louisiana's 54% attainment rate outpaces neighboring states like Alabama, Texas, and Mississippi.

The importance of higher education is crucial to addressing Louisiana's significant workforce deficit. Forty-one percent of Louisiana citizens are "not engaged with the economy," Sullivan said, who highlighted the potential for educational investment to bring the state more taxpayers.

Bringing that 41% into the work-force has been a priority for the state's educators, who are making efforts to offer scholarships for programs in marketable skills and industries, like nursing and truck driving.

Getting people accredited for such industries helps them more easily climb the industry ladder. Getting accredited can help a truck driver move to a warehouse manager, Sullivan said.

Without proper funding, the state risks losing more faculty, cutting scholarships, and reducing access to educational opportunities for the most economically disadvantaged populations, Sullivan said.

In addition to the threat of budget cuts, enrollment rates are beginning to decline.

"Enrollment numbers have steadily declined since 2014 and took a further nosedive at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic," according to a report from the Public Affairs Research Council. "Between fall 2019 to fall 2022 enrollment dropped by about 8,500 students."

Declining birth rates, natural disasters and the COVID pandemic have left enrollment gaps in higher education, heightening concerns about funding, especially for community colleges and bachelor's programs.

"Economists expect regional bachelor's institutions will be hit the hardest, whereas elite institutions may see enrollment increases," the PAR report continues. "Since colleges are highly dependent on tuition for funding, this presents a fiscal crunch for higher education in Louisiana."