Inside Report: Sequester to hit La. higher education

When the U.S. Congress failed to reach a deal last month to avert the so-called sequester, much of the talk was how nearly $200 billion in spending cuts spread out over several years was going to affect federal health and defense programs.

Less talked about was the impact it was going to have on states or state entities such as postsecondary education.

The sequester was originally passed as part of the 2011 Budget Control Act more commonly known as the debt ceiling compromise.

The automatic cuts to programs were supposed to be so onerous that they would compel some members of Congress known as the “super committee” to reach a deal to cut $1.5 trillion from the federal budget spanning 10 years.

The super committee’s inability to reach that deal, and later Congress’ failure to do something to avoid the cuts, means the cuts are here: $85.4 billion this year alone.

Here in Louisiana, some would say the state already is reeling after repeated state budget cuts to health care and higher education.

The state’s higher education policy board, the Board of Regents, recently reported the sequestration cuts will result in broad disruptions ranging from a 2 percent cut in Medicare payments to university hospitals to a $2.6 million, or 9 percent, cut to adult education and career-technical education programs provided by Louisiana’s two-year schools.

So far, colleges have predicted that people will lose their jobs and programs will be cut. It may not get that bad, but most agree that some of the state’s most vulnerable people — low income college students will feel pain.

One area especially hard hit is federal TRIO outreach and student service programs designed to provide services for low-income individuals, people from disadvantaged backgrounds and first-generation college students.

Some of the TRIO programs include the Ronald E. McNair Research Scholars Program at LSU which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year after having helped 350 first-generation college students pursue doctoral degrees.

In its report to the regents, LSU estimated 280 low-income, first generation students overall will be affected by the sequester.

“As this population is one of the most at-risk populations for college completion, the loss of these services would be expected to also negatively impact retention and graduation objectives,” the report says.

TRIO programs at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, are likely going to take a 8 percent cut limiting both the number of students who can participate and the number of programs the school can offer.

The University of New Orleans is expected to absorb more than $114,000 in TRIO and other program funding losses. Spokesman Adam Norris said the sequestration could also result in the loss of some federal financial aid to two dozen students.

Southern University Chancellor James Llorens said this week the sequester will affect the popular Upward Bound program, which helps high school students from low-income families and families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree enroll in and graduate from postsecondary institutions.

Southern’s report to the regents estimates faculty and staff job losses and corresponding cuts to programs in “high wage, high demand clusters of allied health and nursing,” elimination of supportive services to students and reduction of the number of middle and high school students receiving academic remediation through Southern’s outreach programs.

“This is going to hurt our less-affluent and those relying on some type of assistance the most,” Llorens said. “Especially at Southern where a large percentage of our population is on financial aid.”

Koran Addo covers higher education for The Advocate. His email address is kaddo@theadvocate. com

Comments

1) Comment by Ohsofedup - 18/03/2013

A quick peek indicates that some of the unclassified salaries seem to proliferate in the Department of Education: • John White, Superintendent: $275,000; • Michael Rounds, Deputy Superintendent: $170,000; • Howard Drake and Gayle Sloan, Liaison Officers: $160,000 each; • Kerry Laster, Executive Officer: $155,000; • David Lefkowith, precise title still a mystery: $146,000; • Kunjan Narechania, Chief of Staff to John White: $145,000; • Gary Jones, Executive Officer: $145,000; • Deirdre Finn, part time PR Director (working from home in Tallahassee, FL.): $144,000; • James P. Wilson, Director (of what?): $142,000; • Melissa Stilley, Liaison Officer: $135,000; • Elizabeth Scioneaux, Deputy Superintendent: $132,800; • Debra Schum, Executive Officer: $132,000; • Hannah Dietsch, Assistant Superintendent (someone please explain the difference between an assistant superintendent and a deputy superintendent.): $130,000; • Nicholas Bolt, Deputy Chief of Staff (as opposed to assistant chief of staff): $105,000. Perhaps you may have noticed in that lengthy laundry list of high-paying position, there was not a single name followed by the title “Instructor” or any other title that would indicate classroom experience. No sequester affects going on in this department!!!!!!!!!!

2) Comment by Scrooge - 16/03/2013

So, [e-mail], regarding a "progressive propaganda plan"might that include the teaching of intelligent design? Interesting how the media propagandists have made the word progressive into a denigration, I suppose that makes the attempted transition back to a miserable19th century oligarchy more palatable by demonizing women's right to vote, child labor laws, work place safety law, environmental protection laws, public education,etc. Also fascinating yet sad from a schadenfreudean is that most of the parroting comes from persons who are unwittingly hurting themselves and their families by their unthinking embrace of the fear mongering, advertising driven propagandists whose only real motive is profit, not the elevation of their prey.

3) Comment by InPVille - 15/03/2013

Of course you realize the sequester cuts are cuts in the amount by which federal spending was to be INCREASED over the amount spent in the previous year. The federal government will still be spending more $$ than was spent during the previous fiscal year. It is only that they will not be increasing spending by the amount they would have spent from taxes and borrowing that would have been spent had the sequester not remained in place. The national indebtedness will just not grow quite as fast with the sequester in place.

4) Comment by [e-mail] - 15/03/2013

Higher Education ought to be free of the Federal Dime; as soon as any school takes a nickel the Feds will be there the next day to tell them how they have to spend it. Usually that way is the progressive propaganda plan courtesy of the US "Dept of Education", which is a misnomer if there ever was one.

5) Comment by tradewinns - 15/03/2013

higher education should be for those capable of performing such critical thinking. in today's society, everyone HAS to go to college. that has driven up the cost of education well past any credible point. a bachleors today is looked upon as a HSD was a few years ago. nothing particular spectacular about it. the next big bubble is the education financing bubble. that's a trillion dollars.