Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education in Louisiana: 2011. Revised
Author: Louisiana Board of Regents
Date: 2012-04-00
Type: Reports - Descriptive
Subjects: Public Education,Higher Education,Educational Objectives,Educational Attainment,Innovation,Scientific Research,Accountability,Efficiency,Educational Finance,State Legislation,Educational Legislation,Education Work Relationship,Educational Cooperation,Elementary Secondary Education,College Readiness,Career Readiness,High School Graduates,Adult Education,College Attendance,College Transfer Students,Labor Force Development,Interdisciplinary Approach,Commercialization,Economic Development,Data Collection,Funding Formulas,Information Sources,College Programs,Enrollment,Two Year Colleges,Outcomes of Education,Student Improvement

Article VIII of Louisiana's Constitution authorizes the Board of Regents (BoR) to develop a master plan for higher education in Louisiana. This Master Plan provides a broad vision for the State's higher education system and acknowledges its interdependence with the economy and its many contributions towards better lives for Louisiana's citizenry. The actions outlined in this Plan are guided by the reality that Louisiana must raise the educational attainment of its adult citizens if it is to compete successfully in the 21st century world economy. The Plan also addresses the need to strategically invest in targeted research to sustain and expand the State's economic development. Increased accountability is a common thread which undergirds every element of this Master Plan. In the development of the plan, the Board of Regents recognizes that almost three-fourths of Louisiana's adult residents have no postsecondary degree, and only 65% of the State's K-12 students complete high school at a time when the fastest growing and most rewarding jobs in the nation require at least some postsecondary education. The Board of Regents advances its vision for the future of postsecondary education by adopting the following three broad goals and activities: (1) Increase the educational attainment of the State's adult population to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) States' average by 2025; (2) Invest strategically in university research; and (3) Achieve greater efficiency and accountability in the postsecondary education system. The Plan outlines 18 objectives, 71 activities, and 65 performance measures to achieve these goals. Through these goals, related activities and the measurable performance metrics, the Plan assures that its implementation will be monitored, evaluated, and reported throughout its duration. To contribute to the State's economic prosperity through development of a skilled, educated citizenry, the Board of Regents has established the goal of increasing the educational attainment of its adult citizens to the SREB average of 42% by 2025 and designed a performance funding model to support and reward the achievement of that goal. The Master Plan provides a road map to reach the State's educational attainment goal for systems and campuses to follow as they exercise their authority to manage the day-to-day operations of their institutions. The Board of Regents will report on the State's progress toward these goals and continue to enact policies as necessary. It is the fidelity of implementation of this plan that will maximize the ability to meet the educational and workforce needs of Louisiana. The following are appended: (1) Conceptual Framework of Performance-Based Formula; (2) Board of Regents' Leadership Agenda, 2011-12; (3) Regional Distribution of Undergraduate Awards Necessary to Meet Educational Goals; (4) Role, Scope and Mission Designations; and (5) Master Plan Goal Performance Measures.