eager eagle
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RE: Why don't La. Tech. And La. Monroe merge??
(09-11-2016 06:44 AM)chuckk3 Wrote: (09-10-2016 06:14 PM)eager eagle Wrote: (09-10-2016 06:01 PM)eager eagle Wrote: (09-09-2016 07:01 AM)chuckk3 Wrote: (09-07-2016 12:11 PM)eager eagle Wrote: No, not EE. If it had been me I would have suggested that Grambling be included since they are only five miles from Tech. Close both Grambling and Tech and move it all from the country into the city, Monroe. You would have tv stations, airport, and other amenities not available in the small towns of Ruston and Grambling. Call it U of North La or whatever. Initial full time enrollment would be around 15,000 and grow it from there.
Now EE, we've been reading your posts for a long time. You would NOT have said combine Grambling and Tech, because you're smarter than that. You're trying to jab Tech fans. You have regularly talked about the politics of Louisiana, so YOU KNOW that ANY effort to remove or diminish Grambling's status as an HBCU would NEVER happen.
Besides being a political stick of dynamite, the missions of the 2 universities are completely different. Tech is a National Research University, legislated by the state of Louisiana as a "Statewide" Doctoral university. Grambling is a regional, masters school. But, like I said, you KNOW this.
I also think it is a legitimate question about Tech and ULM. Contrary to what you may read or hear, we don't all hate them. Truth is, most of us in north Louisiana have family members who either went to school at both, or the other. When we talk about bad blood -- it's more of a family thing, so it doesn't really count, at least to me. I don't LOVE them, but I am enough of a business person to realize what they mean to our regional economy.
Several years ago, under a different president, it was being talked...apparently OFTEN...about Tech consolidating with ULM. ULM was a hot mess. They barely had enough money to keep the parking lot lights on...and that is no exaggeration. That once proud institution was literally on the verge of bankruptcy. If a consolidation or merger could have taken place, THAT was the time to do it...(around 1998-2005).
There were/are programs at ULM that TECH would benefit greatly from, and vice-versa. The problems that you would run into again are political in the 1998-2005 scenario, the conventional wisdom would state that Tech takes over ULM, ULM becomes Louisiana Tech-Monroe. Enter Nick Bruno as President of ULM in 2010. Dr. Bruno, whom I know to be a good guy, has done a great job with the pile of crap he was handed...and the school in Monroe is turning around under his leadership. The campus looks better than it has in many years, and a pride is returning to their students and alumni that has been sorely missing for years. I truly am happy to see the turnaround.
The only way a merger or consolidation would happen is if it were forced by the state, and I don't see that happening...because of Louisiana politics...2 chickens in every pot, ya know!
I am fully aware that Grambling is a HBCU and untouchable under the present day political climate. However that DOES NOT prohibit one from suggesting they be included in a merger of the universities in north Louisiana.
On that point, you're correct. This is STILL America, and you are STILL free say the most assinine, however unlikely, bull**** as you want to, short of breaking the law. So, by all means, have at it.
I think you need to "recheck" your facts. I did, and it was relatively easy with a simple Google search. Since most reading this won't look it up, I'll keep it very high level:
There are significant differences between Flagship, Statewide and Regional classifications for Louisiana's schools, the structure of which, developed by the BoR and yes, approved by the state, has been in place much longer than "2 or 3 years". These differences include scope, mission, serving area, admission standards, and degrees available.
Chuck said La Tech was LEGISLATED BY THE STATE as a doctoral university and that is NOT correct. The fact is the legislature established the LSU System, Southern University System, and the University of Louisiana Systems a long time ago. Disregard the LSU and Southern Systems as they were not mentioned as part of this discussion. PRIOR to 2-3yrs ago, the time U of New Orleans was transferred from LSU System to U of La System, the UL System schools, one of which was La Tech, were considered regional schools. They were built as regional schools and nothing was ever done officially to change those designations. Shortly after UNO moved into the UL system, 2-3yrs ago, the Board of Supervisors and Regents in reorganizing the structure of the system designated UL Lafayette, U of New Orleans, and La Tech as statewide doctoral schools. The change was done administratively by the boards and NOT by the legislature. There has been little if any visible changes in their day to day business.
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