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May 5, 2009 — Update on H1N1 Virus, the budget & other legislation

Dr. Joseph Savoie -- Tue, 05/05/2009 - 4:45pm

Dear Faculty, Staff & Students,
As we near the end of the semester, I’d like to share some information with you so that you will be informed of several issues of importance to the university. In this message, I’ll touch on the university’s economic impact; the current budget proposal being considered by the Louisiana Legislature, as well as other important legislation; and UL’s monitoring of the H1N1 virus.

UL’s Economic Impact and the Budget

Last August the University of Louisiana System coordinated an economic and community impact study for our eight-university system. The study was conducted by Applied Technology Research Corporation. It quantifies and describes the community impact of each university in the system in four key areas: spending, teaching, research and service, and quality of life.

For our university, local, regional and statewide results are impressive. For example:

  • In 2008, UL Lafayette had a total spending impact alone of $755 million annually in Louisiana, with $726 million of that total spending impact felt in Acadiana.
  • In 2008, UL Lafayette reported $51 million in external research funding from state, federal, private and self-generated funds.
  • In 2008, our economic development centers had the following impacts for clients: $1.2 billion in increased revenues; $1.8 billion in retained revenues; more than $101 million in savings; more than $56 million in increased investments; and about $28 million in cost avoidance (which is money that companies did not have to spend as a result of our centers’ assistance).
  • Nearly 23,000 jobs were created or retained by Louisiana businesses served by our economic development centers.
  • Faculty, staff and students volunteered about 508,000 hours last year.

Putting these figures into context, if UL Lafayette were a private business, it would be the largest private employer in Lafayette Parish. If UL Lafayette were a city, it would be the 17th largest city in Louisiana. Every dollar of state funding invested in UL Lafayette generates more than an $8 return. We employ nearly 2,100 people and the university has a total jobs impact of 7,783. This means that for every person who works for UL Lafayette, there are nearly four additional individuals in the community who have jobs as a direct result. You may click here to view the full report.

The paradox to these impressive numbers is that the Legislature is now considering next year’s budget for the state that, in its current form, would cut state funds by over $13 million (14%) from UL Lafayette’s budget. This level of budget cut would seriously damage the university, and the multiplier affect (mentioned above) means that over $110 million dollars would be taken out of the Acadiana economy.

Over the past several years, Louisiana has made steady progress in improving its higher education system. Budget reductions to the extent now being contemplated would reverse that progress overnight. We must be diligent in our efforts to significantly reduce, if not eliminate, this proposed education budget cut. Informing your elected state officials of your feelings in this matter would be helpful as they deliberate the issue.

Important Legislation

The Louisiana Legislature is also considering House Bill 27, by Representative Wooten, which prohibits the governing body of a college, university or postsecondary vocational-technical school from establishing rules or regulations prohibiting a person with a concealed handgun permit to lawfully carry a concealed handgun onto a college campus. I ask you to review the information from the system office found in this attachment  for more information on this bill (Additional Gun Bill Information). If you wish to express your views on these two important issues (higher ed budget cuts and concealed weapons on campus), I encourage you to contact your legislators.  For your convenience, listed below are legislators for contact by those who live in the Acadiana area.  I know they would appreciate hearing from their constituents. Please call or email them as soon as possible since both of these issues will be voted on shortly.

(District 46)  Rep. Fred H. Mills, Jr.  (337) 845-4240  larep046@legis.state.la.us
(District 39)  Rep. Bobby Badon  (337) 896-3482  badonb@legis.state.la.us
(District 42)  Rep. Jack Montoucet  (337) 783-2999  montoucj@legis.state.la.us
(District 44)  Rep. Rickey Hardy  (337) 262-2598  hardyr@legis.state.la.us
(District 47)  Rep. Jonathan W. Perry  (337) 893-5035  perryj@legis.state.la.us
(District 48)  Rep. Taylor Barras  (337) 373-4051  barrast@legis.state.la.us
(District 49)  Rep. Simone Champagne  (337) 276-4916  champags@legis.state.la.us
(District 50)  Rep. Sam Jones  (337) 828-4100  ext. 370  joness@legis.state.la.us
(District 38)  Rep. H. Bernard LeBas  (337) 363-0152  lebasb@legis.state.la.us
(District 23)  Sen. Mike Michot  (337) 262-1332  lasen23@legis.state.la.us
(District 43)  Rep. Page Cortez  (337) 993-7430  cortezp@legis.state.la.us
(District 41)  Rep. Mickey J. Guillory  (337) 457-0194  larep041@legis.state.la.us
(District 26)  Sen. Nick Gautreaux  (337) 740-6425  gautreauxn@legis.state.la.us
(District 45)  Rep. Joel C. Robideaux  (337) 984-1091  larep045@legis.state.la.us
(District 40)  Rep. Elbert L. Guillory  (337) 943-2457  larep040@legis.state.la.us
(District 22)  Sen. Troy Hebert  (337) 365-8484  hebertt@legis.state.la.us
(District 28)  Sen. Eric LaFleur  (337) 363-5019  lafleure@legis.state.la.us
(District 25)  Sen. Dan Morrish  (337) 824-3979  morrishd@legis.state.la.us
(District 31)  Rep. Nancy Landry  (337) 262-2252  landryn@legis.state.la.us

H1N1 Virus Update

We are continuing to monitor the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus situation, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health. Since there are confirmed cases of H1N1 in Lafayette Parish, I want to provide more information to our campus community. At this time, all operations at the University are continuing normally and there are no plans for school closure or disruption of scheduled activities. Because of the locally confirmed cases, the university is moving to the next phase of its Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan: Heightened Readiness. I remind you to heed the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that recommends the following everyday preventative actions for students and staff:

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
  • Avoid contact with sick people.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • If you get flu-like illness symptoms, stay home from work or school except to seek medical care and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

If you have not already done so, I invite you to review the university’s Pandemic Flu Preparedness Plan, which is found on the university’s safety website at www.safety.louisiana.edu. Updated information on the H1N1 virus, as well as other general information relating to the safety and well-being of our students and staff can be found there.

Best wishes,

E. Joseph Savoie
President
president@louisiana.edu