Leaders of One Acadiana and other groups are encouraging voters to help give Louisiana colleges and universities the authority to set fees instead of leaving it up to the state legislature.
If a school wants to raise fees or tuition, it requires a two-thirds vote of the legislature. Louisiana is the only state that requires such a majority and is one of two states that involve the legislature at all.
But Constitutional Amendment 2 would shift the power to determine tuition and fees to post-secondary education management boards that govern public Louisiana colleges and universities, like the University of Louisiana System.
Jason El Koubi, president and CEO of One Acadiana, and leaders of local chambers and colleges said Thursday this change would put Louisiana on an even playing field to better compete with schools in nearby states.
“It would provide colleges and universities, including the ones represented here today, … much greater ability to manage their university the way they want to,” he said. “… It would allow our higher education professionals to focus on smart policies that focus on student success.”