Plummeting oil prices devastated the local economy. Suddenly, workers with little or no skill or education were unemployed and could not find jobs. This recession forced the business community and the university to reassess the loosely organized advisory board. Since its initial reorganization, the Council has fine-tuned its structure and goals. It has become financially self-sufficient, technologically up to date, and collectively motivated toward a common goal.
Initiatives target precise objectives that focus on the organization mission statement.
This unique partnership between business and higher education has reshaped the relationship between UNO and the business community. The Council supports the growth of the University of New Orleans and other higher education institutions in the community as a central strategy to enable this region and its citizens to compete successfully in the global marketplace. The Council promotes innovation in community alliances, educational access, workforce training, and technology transfer. The Council will develop and promote community alliances among business, government, institutions of higher education, and other organizations in order to achieve a more competitive workforce and a stronger economy. The Council will foster enhanced access to educational opportunities for citizens of the region and will promote recognition of the importance of lifelong learning to economic development.