Tri-parish area groups join coalitions’ aims to reform state’s higher education

More than 30 businesses across the state have acknowledged their commitment to higher education reform by joining a coalition called Businesses for Improving Louisiana’s Development, or BILD.

Area groups are also throwing in their hats. Terrebonne Economic Development Authority (TEDA), South Central Industrial Association (SCIA) and South Louisiana Economic Council (SLEC) are among the locals taking part in the initiative.

BILD is largely focused on changing the way higher education institutions operate in order to develop a better workforce. Some of the coalition’s top reforms include raising admission standards at four-year institutions and establishing centers of excellence – or specialty programs – at community and technical colleges throughout the state, according to a news release issued by TEDA.

Eliminating unproductive and duplicative academic programs are also on the docket.

“Refining Louisiana’s higher education system improves our community’s most important resource, our people,” said TEDA CEO Mike Ferdinand in the release. “The availability of a competitive labor force is a key deciding factor in every company’s expansion, joint venture, relocation and acquisition. Our labor force and the role education plays in workforce development is key to competing with other states.”

TEDA joined the consortium to meet the workforce needs of local businesses and the entire state by improving academic standards. BILD would help streamline the reform process, making higher education institutions “…more responsive to business and industry and their needs for a [bigger] employment base,” explained Ferdinand.

The CEO also said talks with legislators and officials in the higher education sphere have been ongoing. “Different areas of the state have different wants and needs. For us, we’re fortunate that [Nicholls State University] and [L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College] already have in place some of the milestones that we’re looking to establish statewide,” he noted.

Officials with SCIA, a local industrial group, are jogging down the same trail.

“It’s critical that businesses have a workforce. You get your workforce from your education system, so it’s critically important that we support and develop the education system so that we can develop our workforce needs. Thus, [creating] economic development,” said Jane Arnette, SCIA executive director.

Efforts to raise admission standards are already underway at some colleges, she said. “The point is not to deter students from going to school…you just want to increase the graduation rate.”

However, there is some reservation from local schools in joining the group’s aims.

“The schools aren’t ready to make a commitment on the coalition, because they’re fighting their own battles right now. They’re fighting [budget] cuts,” touted Arnette. “That’s their focus right now.”

For the slew of economic development organizations and industry groups that have joined, unity is making an impact. “For the first time, the whole state is coming together…and that’s what’s important,” she said.

But following last year’s debacle over a lack of communication between TEDA and SLEC, “…we haven’t had any direct contact with SLEC on this,” Ferdinand explained.

TEDA issued a letter to Louisiana Economic Development secretary Stephen Moret last December, officially ending their relationship with SLEC.

Attempts to create a cooperative endeavor agreement – which would define SLEC’s roles in the economic development process – fell on deaf ears. A deadline to move forward with the agreement was set, however, SLEC didn’t respond.