Rhonda Webber

The Board of Regents met to address several key items, including the swearing-in of new officers and executive committee members. Discussions focused on transparency regarding federal performance objective inquiries, updates on the Meauxmentum Summit, and student leadership activities in Washington, D.C. The Board reviewed audit findings for the fiscal year 2024-2025 and the START program, addressed finance matters including the executive budget overview and preliminary funding recommendations, and received legislative updates on priorities such as career alignment, hazing prevention, and digital misuse. Additionally, the Board approved academic program proposals, including accelerated bachelor's degrees, and reviewed capital outlay project additions, Support Fund award recommendations, and statewide program reports on TOPS exceptions and the Healthworks Commission.

The board meeting included the swearing-in of a new student member and a presentation regarding the management of the START 529 savings program and the Louisiana ABLE fund. Discussions covered plans for transitioning these programs to a new third-party platform to enhance security, customer service, and account holder autonomy, supported by legislative budget funding. Additionally, the audit committee held a meeting to review updates on the annual internal audit plan, focusing on contract management and follow-up audits for various university divisions.

The meeting focused on the implementation of work-integrated learning (WIL) programs, examining historical context from the University of Cincinnati co-op model and current practices at the University of Waterloo. Key topics included the benefits of WIL for students such as skill development and employability, organizational capacity gains and leadership opportunities for employers, and institutional reputation enhancements. The discussion highlighted the importance of connecting academic curricula with real-world work experiences and addressed strategies for building a WIL ecosystem to support regional workforce needs.

The plan outlines the Louisiana Board of Regents' strategic direction to enhance higher education attainment and student success. Key areas include optimizing essential resources, coordinating state institutions, advancing academic affairs and innovation, improving strategic communications, fostering research initiatives, managing finance and administration, and promoting dual enrollment and hunger-free campuses. The overarching goal is to achieve 85,000 graduates by 2030 and enrich the educational experience across Louisiana.

The Board of Regents meeting included the approval of a consent agenda, specifically the annual interest rates for the principal protection plan and earnings enhancements managed by the state treasurer. A legislative update was provided, highlighting various bills related to career-connected campuses, hazing prevention, digital misuse, 529 savings account transfers, dual enrollment, and TOPS tech eligibility. Additionally, the Legislative Committee and Academic and Student Affairs Committee held sessions where they discussed further legislative matters, right-sizing institutional portfolios, and the consideration of new academic degree programs, including a bachelor's degree in health administration and an associate degree in physical therapy assistant.