State Government Affairs

Louisiana is the only state in the nation where any tuition or fee increase at public universities requires the approval of two-thirds of the legislature. As a result, OEA devotes significant time and effort to tracking legislative measures that would aid the campus in generating revenue and providing information to lawmakers about proposed bills.

Examples of revenue-generating policies and amounts:

• Recouping credit card swipe fees -- $300,000
• 5% tuition increase for four years -- $8 million
• Graduate Enhancement Fee -- $3.3 million
• GRAD Act -- $4.2 million in first year of enactment (The final bill contained two suggested amendments by UNO: (1) allowed graduation to be measured by a productivity index and (2) allowed new funding to flow prior to the end of the initial performance agreement.)

 

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Capital Improvements

OEA works to secure state funding and legislative support for capital improvements to its state facilities.

• In 2009, UNO was fully funded with $6.6 million for the completion of the 4th Floor of the Earl K. Long Library, a project that had been on capital outlay funding list for more than 10 years.
• UNO received $500,000 in capital outlay funds from UNO alumnus Rep. Nick Lorusso in support of the Fine Arts Building, which has been on the capital outlay list since 1989.
• UNO received $4 million for renovations and updates to the Science Building.
• Through the LA Dept. of Natural Resources UNO secured $1.8 million in federal stimulus funds for improving energy efficiency on campus.