2018 Geaux Higher

Louisiana State University Higher Education Administration Magazine

SPRING 2018

EXECUTIVE EDITORS DEAN DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY

Joy Blanchard, PhD Sydney Epps, EdS Damon Andrew, PhD

F. Neil Mathews, PhD

Joy Blanchard, PhD Yu "April" Chen, PhD Ashley Clayton, PhD Roland Mitchell, PhD

The LSU Higher Education Administration program prepares practitioner-scholars for rewarding careers in higher education.

The program offers a traditional and online Master of Arts and doctoral degree. The curriculum helps candidates develop the leadership vision, higher education knowledge, and management skills needed to assume leadership positions across a broad spectrum of higher education fields—including (but not exclusive to) recruiting, admissions, orientation, financial aid, counseling, Greek affairs, student activities, academic support services, student athlete support services, career planning and placement, and faculty.

CONTENTS 2

4 8 10 11 12 14 16 18 19

Welcome

Dean’s Letter and a Message from the Director

HEA Faculty and Accomplishments An Inclusive Union

A Highlight of the 2018 LSU Higher Education Program Graduate Students

Where Are They Now?

Tracking Recent Graduate Student Placements

Thinking Higher

HEA Student Views on Current Events

Achieving Higher HEA Alumni Spotlight

Home Base

Doctoral Student discusses winning service award from the American College Professional Association

In the Field

Alumna Honored in Baton Rouge Business Report's 40 Under 40

Preparing for Conferences Final Thought

facebook.com/LSUHigherEd

twitter.com/LSUHigherEd

www.lsu.edu/chse

WELCOME FROM THE DEAN

The LSU Higher Education Administration program is among the largest, most diverse, and vibrant graduate programs in the College of Human Sciences & Education. By participating in this program students will join the ranks of distinguished alumni who have gone on to be university presidents, noted administrators, policymakers, and faculty addressing critical educational, professional, and communal needs. Without a doubt our greatest strength is our people and we invite you to discover what our current students already know; the LSU Higher Education program is making an incredible impact on our state, nation, and world.

Geaux Tigers, Damon Andrew, PhD Dean, College of Human Sciences & Education

Damon Andrew, PhD Dean, E.B. "Ted" Roberts Endowed Professor

The College of Human Sciences & Education enhances quality of life across the lifespan by actively engaging in research, teaching, professional service, and global engagement that enables individuals and communities to achieve their full potential.

02

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR The LSU School of Education’s Higher Education graduate program has been meeting students’ educational needs since the early 1990s. The program was the first in Louisiana with full enrollment, and it has increased diversity among its students and faculty as it has grown. Over the years, additional degree specializations have been developed within the M.A. and PhD in Higher Education. For example, the M.A. program has expanded to include online courses and services a broader range of students who previously lacked access to a high-quality Higher Education graduate program. It caters to an increasing student population with diverse needs and varied career goals.

I invite you to read the third edition of the “Geaux Higher” publication to learn more about our graduates, faculty accomplishments, sponsored events,

F. Neil Mathews, PhD

and research currently underway. At the conclusion of your perusal of this publication, please let us know your thoughts as to how we can improve the

Director, Olinde Endowed

magazine for future editions. To our alumni, please remember that we want

Professor

to continue to remain in contact with you as we serve your higher education career needs.

We are proud of our ambitious program and believe that our students and faculty have a bright future meeting the needs of the higher education community though their teaching, research, and service. LSU’s Higher Education program is helping shape the future of higher education in Louisiana, throughout the nation, and world. I personally wish you well if you are an LSU Higher Education graduate and, if not, I hope to see you on campus soon if you are considering a career in higher education.

Best regards, F. Neil Mathews, PhD Director, School of Education

03

HE A FACULTY IN RESEAR Areas of research: Higher education law; intercollegiate athletics; campus safety and negligence Blanchard, J. (Ed.). (2018) Controversies on campus: Debating the issues confronting American universities in the 21st century. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

Joy Blanchard Associate Professor (University of Georgia)

Blanchard, J. (2018). Sexual violence on college campuses. In J. Blanchard (Ed.), Controversies on campus: Debating the issues confronting American universities in the 21st century. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

Blanchard, J. (2018). The struggle for equity in intercollegiate athletics. In J. Blanchard (Ed.), Controversies on campus: Debating the issues confronting American universities in the

Controversies on Campus Debating the Issues Confronting American Universities in the 21st Century It is with great pleasure that the School of Education highlights the release of Joy Blanchard's first edited book, Controversies on Campus. The book examines pressing campus community issues, such as academic freedom, drug and alcohol abuse, finance issues, and affirmative action in admissions. The text contains contributions from fellow LSU faculty President F. King Alexander, national leader on higher education finance reform; Roland Mitchell, scholar on racial issues in higher education; and numerous other national experts on higher education.

04

21st century. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

Blanchard, J & Rojas, F. A.. (2018).

Substance abuse policies on college campuses: Is practice inline with the law?. In J. Blanchard (Ed.), Controversies on campus: Debating the issues confronting American universities in the 21st century. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger.

Lugg, E.T. & Blanchard, J. (2018).

Students in higher education. In C.J. Russo & E.A. Shaver (Eds.), The yearbook of education law 2017. Cleveland, OH: Education Law Association.

Blanchard, J. Report from the judicial sidelines: An update to legal challenges involving the NCAA. Education Law Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA. November 2017.

RCH Areas of research: community college student success, international students, STEM education, and data driven decision-making Chen, Y. & Starobin, S.S. (accepted).

Formation of social capital for community college students: A second-order confirmatory factor analysis approach. Community College Review.

Yu "April" Chen Assistant Professor (Iowa State University)

Chen, Y., Kemis, M., & DelaMora, A. (2017). Recruiting and retaining women in information technology programs: Practices and challenges in Iowa. New Directions for Community Colleges, Summer 2017, 79-90.

Chen, Y. & Starobin, S.S. (2017).

Measuring general self-efficacy

HEA Affiliate Faculty Chaunda Allen Mitchell, PhD, Director of Drug Policy, Office of the Governor, State of Louisiana

among community college students: A structural equation modeling approach. Community College Journal of Research and Practice. Published on-line 10 Feb 2017, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/ 10668926.2017.1281178 Chen, Y. (2017). Using structural equation modeling in community college research: Comparing the effects of psychological latent factors between Hispanic and nonHispanic students. Sage Research Methods Case. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4135/9781526406736 Jorstad, J., Starobin, S., Chen, Y. & Kollasch, A. (2017). STEM aspiration: The influence of social capital and chilly climate of female community college students.

Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 41(4-5), 253-266.

Missy Korduner, PhD, Director, Campus Connections Ed Leonard, PhD, past president of BirminghamSouthern College

Monique Cain, PhD, Associate Director, Information and Security Services

Lakeitha Poole, PhD, LPC, NCC, Director, Sport Psychology & Counseling

Imre Emeric Csaszar, PhD, Instructor

Jonathan Sanders , PhD, Associate Dean of Students & Director, Student Advocacy & Accountability

Jennifer Curry, PhD, Associate Dean for Programs and Services & Associate Professor Mari Fuentes-Martin, EdD, Associate Vice President & Dean of Students

Celena Trahan, Associate Director, Housing Operations

05

HE A FACULTY IN RESEAR American high school students and college Access. The Review of Higher Education, 39(4), 543-569.

Clayton, A. B., & Means, D. R. (2018). Access granted?

Challenges, controversies, and opportunities around college access in American higher education. In J. Blanchard (Ed.), Controversies on Campus: Debating the Issues Confronting American Universities in the 21st Century. Santa Barbara, CA: ABCCLIO.

Ashley Clayton Assistant Professor (North Carolina State University)

Areas of research: College access and choice; college advising/ counseling; college athletics; community college transfer success; federal and state financial aid; field experiments in postsecondary education Means, D. R., Clayton, A. B., Conzelmann, J. G., Baynes, P., & Umbach, P. D. (2016). Bounded aspirations: Rural, African

06

Clayton, A. B., Medina, M. C., & Wiseman, A. M. (in press). Culture and community: Perspectives from first-year first-generation in college Latino students. Journal of Latinos and Education.

(Published online November 2017) Clayton, A. B., & Peters, B. A. (in press). Mission driven: Land-grant institutions and racial integration of the upper south. Journal of Negro Education.

Roland Mitchell Jo Ellen Levy Endowed Associate Prof.

Interim Dean: Research Engagement & Graduate Studies

(University of Alabama)

Areas of research: College Teaching; Race, Class, and Gender in Education; School-ToPrison-Pipeline; Sexual Assault on College Campuses Fasching-Varner, K.J., Martin, L.L., Mitchell, R., Bennett-Haron, K., Daneshzadeh, A. (Eds.) (2017).

Understanding, dismantling, and disrupting the prison-to-school pipeline. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Mitchell, R., Mitchell, C. A.,

RCH Whitmore, J., & Fasching-Varner, K. J. (in press). The Chief Diversity Officer Purpose and Preparation. In Joy Blanchard (Ed.) Controversies on campus: debating the issues confronting American universities in the 21st Century. Santa Barbra, CA Prager.

Mitchell, R., Mitchell, N.E., & Mitchell, C. A. (2017). Spirituality and education: humanities timeless search for certainty and security. In Matthew Harris (Ed.) Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Mitchell, R., *Wooten, S.C., LandryThomas, K., & Mitchell, C.A. (2017). Recruitment and retention of traditionally underrepresented students. In D. J. Clandinin and Jukka Husu (Ed.) International handbook of research on teacher education. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Welcome The School of Education welcomes Drs. Ashley Clayton and Yu Chen as Assistant Professors. As each concludes their first year with the university, both are teaching and advising both Master's- and doctoral-level students.

Clayton currently teaches Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education and a seminar on College Access and Choice; Chen is teaching the College Students in the U.S. and Student Development Theory courses. Chen received her doctorate in Educational Leadership with a higher education emphasis from Iowa State University; afterwards, she also completed work as a post-doctoral research fellow there. Clayton received her doctorate in Educational Research and Policy Analysis from North Carolina State University, and completed her postdoctral work at the University of Georgia's Institute of Higher Education.

Mitchell, R. (2017). Learning to negotiate political, social, and cultural responsibilities. In D. J. Clandinin (Ed.) International handbook of research on teacher education. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

President F. King Alexander speaks to a class

07

Kayla Gros Hometown: Slidell, La Undergraduate Institution: University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Bachelor’s Degree in Biology

"

When I graduated from UL I was unsure of my future career path but I knew I enjoyed working with students during my undergraduate years as a student aid. I knew I wanted to be in the Baton Rouge area and applied for some positions. I decided to give the world of Higher Education a try and accepted a position with LSU. I fell in love with working on campus and became aware of the many opportunities available within a career in Higher Education. I chose to stay at LSU and pursue my degree in Higher Education Administration because of the opportunities to grow through involvement on campus and in the community.

"

08

An Inclusive

From across the states and the Higher Education prog in its graduate programs.

HEA Master's and Doctoral students

e Union

d from a plethora of backgrounds, gram features unrivaled diversity

Master's Candidates

Austin Dixon Hometown: Trenton, NC Undergraduate Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies: Interpersonal and Organizational

"

As a first-generation graduate student, I wanted to make sure that I made a wise choice in selecting a university and program, but didn’t know what to look for/where to begin. LSU was never on my radar during my graduate school search until I stumbled across the Geaux Higher Magazine and saw a section on the work being done to promote African-American male student success and how the school of education graduates black males well above the national average. I also began noticing men of color who were making big impacts on college campuses who I also looked up to were graduates of LSU’s Higher Education program.

I knew then that in attending LSU, I would be in a challenging and supportive environment that would prepare me to become successful leader and higher education professional.

Dixon is a first-year Master's student.

"

09

Where are they now?

Justin Maclin - Director of the Beach Athletic Club at Long Beach State University

by Sydney Epps

98%

Justin Maclin’s position supports the Athletic Director & Director of Major Gifts. Together, they organize and manage the Percentage Annual Fund of PhD for students the athletic who are department. full time. Maclin is also in charge managing a personal portfolio of 30-40 donors and prospective donors of the University. “I invite friends of the university and athletics to engage with our athletic department. In layman’s terms, I raise money to support 350 student-athletes, whether it be through scholarship money, capital projects, utilities projects (student-athlete overseas trips and operation money for 19 athletic teams), and endowments through numerous campaigns.”

Maclin’s credits his experience as a graduate assistant with LSU Athletics as the cause for his immediate hire. “While at LSU, I worked multiple areas of the athletic department such as administration, facilities, event management, student-athlete life skill development, and fundraising with the L-Club.”

However, his primary highlight for career preparedness is the Higher Education program, where he received his Master’s in May 2017. “It taught me about how higher education works, how the different departments and colleges are organized, and most importantly it taught me how to support students and help them reach their goals by focusing on retention, college preparedness, diversity, inclusion, and the law of higher education.” ■

10

My inspiration to pursue doctoral study in Higher Education (rather than Nursing) was a former dean of our school who obtained her doctoral degree in HEA. She was a much more effective leader than previous (and subsequent) deans whose doctoral studies were in nursing or curriculum and instruction. –Michele Lemoine, PhD student

Geaux Higher asks students...

Who influenced your decision to pursue a career in higher ed?

Going into Higher Education was really based off my experience in undergrad.

In my first semester I was overwhelmed by an institution that was 4-5 times larger than my hometown with vastly different demog raphics and I was preparing to drop out at the conclusion of the semester. The people that convinced me to join a student organization and find my home were who kept me in school. A combination of my University's Greek Advisor, Casey Jordan Krone, and an employee of the North American Interfraternity Conference, Jason Hinson-Nolen, helped me realize I could pursue a life in Higher Education regardless of what my undergraduate degree was in. I pursue working in Higher Education so that I can help other people stay in school so they can accomplish their dreams.

HEA Students Share Career Inspiration

Thinking Higher

–Jacob Butterfield, MA student

11

Achieving Higher HEA Alumni Spotlight

A Small Town in a Big State

Doctoral HEA Graduate Eaton Encourages Graduating Students to Develop Organizational Bonds and Apply Far and Wide for Jobs education

Eaton

was, I wouldn't say it was late in the

notes the newness of working within

process, but it was starting to get

the online program as a fitting task

nerve-racking because it was pretty

for him to obtain mastery. "It was a

close to commencement. I didn't

challenging place for me to come

have a job yet, but once it happened it

because the Masters program here

happened really fast, interview phone

is fully online [...] we don't have a

interview on campus the next week, I

face to face masters program [...]

got offered the job the week after that,

my research interests and how

and I was done. So in three weeks it

by Sydney Epps

digital technologies influence the

moved really fast [...] which is another

After completing the HEA

way people experience college made

interesting part of the conference

doctoral program in 2015, Paul Eaton

that a kind of natural fit for me."

process; it's so glacial, you send this

is now an Assistant Professor of

Eaton also oversees alumni

information out into the ether and you

Higher Education in the Department

relations and serves on department

don't even know if they read your stuff,

of

and

committees,

and then all of the sudden, just bang

Sam Houston State University, a

including the International Education

bang bang, but that's pretty much the

public liberal arts college located

Committee.

his

experience of everyone I've talked

in Huntsville, TX.

In this position,

recruitment experience, Eaton urges

to. They're starting to feel defeated

Eaton is responsible for teaching in

those who are interested in faculty

and depleted about applying for jobs

the online masters program and in-

positions to stay diligent in the

and then all of the sudden everything

person doctoral program in higher

process. "I got my offer in April so it

just moves, and then you have a job.

Paul Eaton,'15

Educational

12

Leadership

at

administration.

college

wide

Reflecting

on

You just have to trust the process

Eaton noted: "That's another thing

up

and know that it's going to come."

people need to know. I was willing to

move your life; that makes

A student looking for faculty

go anywhere. I mean I literally applied

your

job

roles should not limit themselves

for any job that I was qualified for."

Eaton

by the field of their degree program.

Eaton continued, "I applied for jobs in

importance of knowing where your

"Some people will say, you should be

Europe and China. Because literally I

"people" are within the education

very selective about the type of faculty

was like, coming out I was like, 'oh, if

community.

jobs you're going to apply to, and

I got to go abroad and teach abroad,

conferences now that I think I'm

other people will say that you should

that would be cool' and I actually did

going to go to every year, these are

be very broad. I applied for jobs that

an interview for a university in China."

like my home basis, so conferences

were in Higher Ed Administration

like that for me are the International

which is the type of job that I have

household makeup makes every

Congress

now. I applied for jobs in educational

search different. He is confident

(ICQI), that happens every May and

research departments, particularly

that those who are open to varying

I go to that conference whether I get

since I was doing research on

opportunities will find a place that

something accepted or not, because

digital technologies and qualitative

works for their personal relationships.

I do qualitative research and I like

networks, and then I applied to some

"At the time I was in a relationship but

to be around other people who are

jobs which were specifically not in

my partner at the time was in school

doing qualitative research and talking

colleges of education but dealt with

also, and it was a consideration but the

about research issues in qualitative

things around social media, so I

way he and I had this understanding

methods. And then, minus last year I

applied for some jobs there, and some

that I was going to go where the job

always go to ACPA [American College

in

was and he was going to stay and

Personnel Association], so that's just

postings

finish law school, and come join me

because ACPA is my home base. "

themselves were specifically about

wherever I was at, so that was always

digital technologies, like assistant

known for most of the time we were

his alma mater, Eaton says, "I miss

director of social media technologies

together." Though the

opportunity

LSU a lot of days but on the other hand

[...] so I feel like those jobs I could

at Sam Houston is geographically

it's always here in my heart. And I do

also be competitive because I was

close to Louisiana, Eaton states it did

come back to Baton Rouge actually

doing research on social media."

not influence his decision to accept.

pretty frequently. At least once a

Another strategy Eaton used in

"Some people do a geographic job

semester I'm over there and so that's

his application process was applying

search because they have kids or a

kind of nice that I'm that close. It's

across the globe. When asked what

husband or a partner, and all those

only four hours, and I still stay in touch

role did location play in his search,

types of things, so you can't really

with many people that are there." â–

[...]

communications because

the

departments job

Eaton

also

notes

that

and search

emphasizes

"I

of

different."

have

Qualitative

the

certain

Inquiry

Regarding his connection with

13

Home Base HEA Doctoral Student Sydney Epps talks to Geaux Higher about her national award for program development.

by Joy Blanchard, PhD

Higher Education doctoral student Sydney Epps was named the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Coalition for Multicultural Affairs Award from the American College Personnel Association (ACPA).

Prior to matriculating at LSU, Epps worked in student affairs at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. There she implemented leadership development programs focused on relationship violence and sexual assault prevention.

She worked with local police and multiple mental health providers to provide programming focused on mental health awareness. She also served on EmbryRiddle’s diversity advisory board and sexual assault misconduct team and was a community affiliate for the family violence prevention unit in Prescott, Arizona.

She won the Visionary Award from the Prescott Young Professionals organizaiton in 2016, before her departure from Arizona to pursue her doctorate.

Additionally, Epps was a trailblazer on her campus in supporting LGBT students.

She started the first Relationship Violence Awareness Week and orchestrated the first and second annual Take Back the Night and Walk a Mile in Her Shoes events.

14

What does this award mean to you in light of the work you’ve done?

What work did you do in student affairs?

What are your future plans?

It was very humbling. Considering how long I have worked in student affairs—I was a paraprofessional for four years in undergrad as an RA and continued my career afterwards within residence life—a lot of what the award spoke to were tasks that may not traditionally be seen as relative to living in the residence halls, which really sheds light on how multifaceted the student experience is and thus how diverse and engaging our skills have to be as student affairs professionals.

When I started my professional career, I worked with a dance institution in Philadelphia that housed students from the ages 12-25, about 70% of whom were international students. It was my responsibility to not only pair them with students who would be open minded to new experiences but also to develop the cultural competency of all students to be open to learning and appreciating the worldliness that these students brought to the institution. It was much the same when I transitioned back into higher education, working at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

My research right now is focused on the experience of LGBT students in higher education and how institutions can reduce interwoven discrimination within the way we do admissions, for instance, the conflation of the terms for "sex" and "gender" on applications; the ease of name changes for transgender students once they get to the university; and bathroom labeling.

Presentations Ain't I a Woman?: Examining Trans Exclusion in Chimamanda's "Women's Club" (2018).

American College Personnel Association Conference (Houston, TX) and American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Conference (New Orleans, LA).

Navigating Black Women’s Sexuality and Combating Socioeconomic/Workplace Insecurity. (2017). National Association for Ethnic Studies Conference (San Francisco) and National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (Fort Worth, TX).

You Can't Be About Black Lives Unless You're About LGBT Black Lives. (2017).

National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (Fort Worth, TX).

15

IN THE FIELD:

Alumna Honored in Baton Rouge Business Report's 40 Under 40

16

Ryann Denham serves as the Regional Vice President of City Year, Inc. In this role, she oversees six sites, and works closely with Executive Directors and their teams to ensure operational success and growth, by generating resources and building support from the public and private sectors.

What was happening in your life immediately before the announcement of the 40 Under 40 recognition??

I was transitioning from the City Year Baton Rouge Executive Director role to the Regional Vice President role with City Year, Inc.

How has receiving the award inspired you?

I was proud to receive this recognition on behalf of City Year Baton Rouge. For me it was a strong testament to the service and impact of our entire team in local schools and across the community.

What activities were you involved in while working on your degree?

I am most proud of my involvement in planning the inaugural LSU Family Weekend in 2008, helping lay the foundation for the LSU Family Association, and establishing the Parent Orientation Leader role in 2009 (and presenting on our learning at NODA in 2009!) All of this would not have been possible without the belief, partnership and support of Aimee Frierson, my graduate assistant supervisor.

How you believe the LSU program prepared you for your career field?

My time in the Higher Education & Student Affairs program at LSU gave me a strong foundation in relationship management, leadership development and building and executing short-term and long-term strategies to achieve goals.

It was also during this time I developed my passion for education and gained a deeper appreciation for working on diverse teams within an institution or organization that has a strong sense of history and tradition. I am also grateful for my cohort mates now good friends- Cammie Jones and Chris Landry who continue to support one another and share best practices throughout every step of our careers post-LSU.

Do you have any tips for current students searching for jobs?

In my eight-year tenure at City Year, I've done a lot of hiring. The candidates that always stand out to me have a cover letter that show their commitment to an organization, mission, or to the position you have applied to through a narrative of your unique experiences. Their resume is clear and concise and most importantly, use data or statistics to demonstrate success. Finally, follow up, follow up, follow up. Thank those who spend time with you throughout the process. Lastly, I would encourage students to go outside of their comfort zone-- in terms of geographic location, institution size, department/area of expertise, etc. when looking for jobs. This is the best time in your life to try something new and push yourself to new heights.

17

Preparing for Conferences American College Personnel Association (ACPA)

(proposals for next conference will open in June 2018) Houston, TX March 11-14, 2018

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

(proposals for next conference will open in June 2018) New York City, NY April 13-17, 2018

National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE)

(proposals for next conference will open in December 2017) New Orleans , LA May 29 - June 2, 2018

NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo

Philadelphia, PA

May 27 – June 1, 2018

Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) Denver, CO

July 7-10, 2018

Association for Orientation, Transition, Retention in Higher Education

(Deadline for conference proposals: April 18, 2018) San Diego, CA October 21-24, 2018

Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)

(Deadline for conference proposals: May 4, 2018) Tampa, FL Nov 15 - 17, 2018

Education Law Association

Cleveland, OH

18

Nov. 7-10, 2018

Final Thought “Wisdom is notanda printed product schooling but of the lifelong tothat acquire Originally written in of It matters because students are facing a less than attempt a decade. States will soon The Washington Post, August 8 cost crisis. While many hypotheses about follow include Louisiana (2027), Iowa it.”

2016 why tuition has increased have been (2029), Michigan (2030), and Arizona -Albert Einstein bandied about, studies have shown that

(2032). The federal government currently

contentious

more than 80 percent of public higher

supplies approximately $170 billion in

presidential election season, most of the

education tuition increases during the

higher education funding through tuition-

dialogue we’ve heard from candidates

past two decades were directly related

and fee-based student grants, loans, and

As

we

head

into

a

regarding higher education has focused on the concept of free college. While I understand the sensationalism that comes along with the word "free," it is

to state disinvestment.

Master's In otherStudent words, tax Kayla credits,Gros while states and provide Dr. Freya just $75

as states backed Anderson out of theirRivers previous - one billion.of In other six African-American words, without a federalfunding commitments, undergraduates colleges and state to integrate match to incentivize LSU instate 1964 funding

universities were forced - at the to charge 11thmore Annual decisions, Multicultural the trend ofStudent "federalizing"

a shame that the public has heard very

just to cover basic costs and maintain Leadership America’s Conference higher education system will

little about the key element behind

competitiveness. The long-term result of

continue to the detriment of our public

providing free higher education or even

this ongoing trend is that state tax effort

colleges and universities. A federal-

just maintaining affordable options: a

for higher education (which measures

state partnership is not a new idea.

federal-state partnership to incentivize

actual state spending by a state’s total

The Morrill Act of 1862, which created

continued or enhanced state investment

taxable resources per capita) is currently

land-grant

in public colleges and universities. This

down to 1965 funding levels. If nothing

the greatest example of how federal

is a simple concept already used to

is done to stop our states’ strategy of

incentives can encourage progressive

encourage state funding for healthcare,

distancing themselves from funding

state policies. Territorial lands and other

highways and hospitals. Simply put, it

responsibilities for maintaining affordable

federal assets were offered to states in

Doctoral students Hobbs, leverages federal dollars Khristopher to incentivize public colleges and universities, Sydney Epps, and Franklin Soares, and states to maintain at least a base level Colorado will become the first state not Master's Student Trevor McCray serve of funding for their public colleges and to spend a single penny on public higher a universities. meal on ItThanksgiving at a local food has been advocated by education as early as 2025. This means bank.

universities,

is

perhaps

exchange for the creation of new public colleges and universities. The outcomes of this partnership still benefit us today — increases in college graduates,

everyone from politicians and higher

that Colorado children who are now in

scientific breakthroughs, improvements

education leaders to D.C.-based think

pre-K classes will have no affordable

in disease prevention and treatment,

tanks and scholars. Why does this matter?

public college or university options in

and technological discoveries, all of

(L to R): Hobbs, Epps, McCray and Soares

19

Geaux Give 1. Geaux to www.lsufoundation.org.

2. Select the “Give Now” tab in the upper right corner 3. Choose “Human Sciences & Ed” from Give Now list on right 4. Under Gift/Designations section on left, select “choose a fund(s)” 5. On the “College of Human Sciences & Education Funds” dropdown, select the last entry at the bottom, “Other” under “Fund not listed above?”

6. In the “Gift Comments” box, indicate “Higher Education Administration General Fund”.

For more information, please contact: Wayne Miller, Senior Director of Development College of Human Sciences and Education, LSU (225) 578-6384 I miller@lsu.edu