UL System Releases Institutional Review of Louisiana Tech University

Published on June 11, 2008 under 2007 / Institutional Reviews / News / Publications

UL System Releases Institutional Review of Louisiana Tech University – May 30, 2007

“An institution of excellence and model of leadership”

BATON ROUGE, La. – The University of Louisiana System released an institutional review of Louisiana Tech University today. The report, which is available on the UL System website at www.ulsystem.net, is very positive.

Conducted by a team of national education specialists, Tech is the fifth university in the System to undergo an assessment of this kind in the past six years.

“Our Board commissions these institutional reviews to assess the general condition of the institution and to provide guidance for improvement,” said UL System Board Chair Jimmy Long, Sr.

Institutional reviews have already been conducted at Grambling State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

The review team spent February and March analyzing campus information on various aspects such as academic programs, budget, fund-raising, communications, technology, and governance. They interviewed over 300 faculty, students, staff, alumni, elected and appointed officials, and community members, as well as regional and national higher education professionals.

The report begins by acknowledging the university as “a high-performing institution that has accomplished much despite its historically modest funding base.” It goes on to laud the overwhelming sense of community at Tech. “One cannot help but be impressed by how many members of the Louisiana Tech community refer to the ‘Tech Family.’”

“The report captures the essence of Louisiana Tech University,” said Tech President Dan Reneau. “The process was very professional, thorough, and intense, and I want to compliment the Tech family on their full participation in this effort.”

Recommendations for moving the university forward include attracting more women and minorities for its science, technology, and math programs; investing in state-of-the-art student housing; making faculty, staff, and administrator salaries competitive with its peers; continue working to upgrade faculty technology skills; investing more attention and resources in fund-raising; and establishing a research park.

Wayne Parker, a ULS Board Member from Ruston, believes the review reflects the overall quality of Tech while giving the university, community, and state areas on which to improve.

“Think of the immediate and long-term impact of a research park in North Louisiana,” said Parker. “The economic vitality and collaborative opportunities among our northern universities could be infinitely multiplied.”

ULS President Sally Clausen praised Reneau for volunteering his university to undergo such an extensive assessment. “President Reneau’s extraordinary leadership is no secret, but it helps to have outside consultants confirm his progress and vision.”

Clausen further explained the relation between these reviews and Governor Blanco’s education budget currently going through the Legislature. “Sufficient resources will be needed to implement many of these recommendations. This is just the type of road map higher education needs so we can be accountable to the public for their investments in the educational capital of this state.”

Plans are underway to conduct institutional reviews at the remaining three UL System universities. The next review will be conducted at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where the nation’s longest serving public university president, Ray Authement, has announced his plans to retire.

The University of Louisiana System enrolls over 80,000 students at eight universities. ULS institutions are Grambling, Louisiana Tech, McNeese State University, Nicholls, Northwestern, Southeastern Louisiana University, UL Lafayette, and UL Monroe.

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For More Information Contact:
Jackie Tisdell
225-342-6950
jtisdell@uls.state.la.us
http://www.ulsystem.net

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UL System Releases Institutional Review of Louisiana Tech University

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