Bad news for the digital media industry in Baton Rouge: One of the key components touted by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium, the AVATAR (Arts, Visualization, Advanced Technologies and Research) program will have all of its dedicated funding on the chopping block if LSU’s “worst case scenario” becomes reality. The portion of AVATAR impacted will be the hiring initiative -- bringing top digital media talent to the university’s research faculty.
The proposed budget cut scenario from LSU indicates a cut of $1.2 million from AVATAR and the pilot Truancy Program, which was a part of the LSU School of Social Work. In addition, LSU would also cut 50 jobs and $9.2 million from other technological programs like the world-renowned Center for Computation & Technology. The document states, “some of these centers must be closed or materially downsized.”
Adam Knapp, BRAC president and CEO, says that while the AVATAR funding cuts were always a part of the mid-year budget reduction plans, the “scenario” released by LSU further reduces the university’s ability to take the lead on digital media technology. However, he cautions, “AVATAR is still going forward (offering classes) and is still going to be a life-blood to new talent.”
To put all of the university budget cuts into perspective, Knapp says the cuts are worse than what was implemented during the oil bust of 1990s. Start with the 4.6% budget cut from mid-year projections, add on the 15% they are asking the university to make, and then add in another 5% to 6% that each institution is being asked to absorb from their mandated costs. That puts the university at a total loss of 25% to 26% of its budget. “Someone told me recently,” says Knapp, “that this is the single largest cut to higher education in Louisiana since Louisiana joined the union.”
Read more about the digital media industry and the AVATAR program here.
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