Community, tech college to merge 8 departments

Louisiana Delta Community College and Northeast Louisiana Technical College say they’ll consolidate eight departments to increase efficiency and save money, at a time when there’s more demand for their services. The departments to be consolidated include facilities, finance, grants and contracts, human resources, public relations and marketing, information technology, purchasing, and workforce training/continuing education. “We believe it’s time to radically rethink our approach to a number of routine business operations that are a part of our daily work at the colleges,” says Delta Chancellor Luke Robins, who is also interim regional director for Northeast Louisiana Technical College. “We believe this agreement will usher in a new level of collaboration and cooperation between the two colleges.” He and Margie Mixon, dean of the technical system’s Delta Ouachita Campus, signed the official papers Monday. Robins says the schools’ human resources departments were consolidated in August without cutting any jobs, and the joint department is providing better service and saving money. Officials from both schools will next decide how to consolidate each department.