Segann March

segann.march@shreveporttimes.com

Louisiana State University Shreveport Chancellor Larry Clark on Monday hosted a conference to line out possible impacts if the school were to lose $1.2 million from proposed state higher education cuts.

The state's $750 million budget shortfall this year will require a $131 million reduction to higher education.Louisiana State University's statewide campuses would lose $65 million if the proposed plan is adopted. Louisiana system schools must come up with plans to make $38 million in mid-year cuts as a contingency in case Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Legislature can't agree on ways to fill the budget hole.

"I don't believe this is going to happen," Clark said Monday, adding that if cuts do come at the rate they're proposed, they'd impact students, not only faculty and staff.

The school would have to cut its budget by 32 percent, he told attendees of the conference.

The chancellor and other university heads across the state were to send strategic budget reduction plans to Baton Rouge Monday. Clark said LSUS sent its in Monday morning.

The school will need to cut its budget down by June 30 if the proposed cuts are implemented.

Proposed higher ed midyear cuts loom

"So much of our budget is composed of student scholarships, financial aid and faculty dollars," he said. "You can't be innovative when you're told Friday morning to submit something by Monday morning. We're trying to make the best out of the situation."

LSUS will attempt to avoid cuts to student programs if its budget is decreased. Clark said hourly personnel time in his plan would be cut by two to four hours per employee each week.

Clark said no specific plans have been outlined yet and says the $1.2 million will be a setback since this fiscal year is in the works.

Students expressed concerns about how the school's atmosphere would change if the proposal is adopted.

Dennis Henderson, LSUS students government association president, said his biggest concern is the students and programming.

"My biggest fear is that some programs will be cut because the faculty can't teach it and it breaks my heart to really think about that stuff," he said.

Henderson said the faculty hasn't had a pay raise in eight years due to significant cuts in the past.

"Now we may lose highly qualified teachers because we can't afford to keep them any longer," he said. "It's going to damage the school. We want students to graduate from this university in their program and if we lose quality faculty, it's going to hurt not only the university, but every student involved."