Corridor universities suffer $33 million cut

Three corridor campuses in the University of Louisiana System will lose a combined $33 million next year, thanks to budget cuts. The University of Louisiana Lafayette will lose nearly $14 million; Southeastern Louisiana University will lose just over $12 million; and McNeese State University in Lake Charles will lose $6.7 million, according to figures released today. The system passed on a total of $66 million in budget reductions to its eight campuses, in addition to the $19.6 million in mid-year cuts. “The realities of these cuts are sobering,” UL System President Randy Moffett says. “An $86 million drop in funding in one year is drastic and will impact the ability of our campuses to deliver services to students.” Moffett says this could mean tuition and fee increases, and the Legislature has already authorized colleges and universities to implement a 5% hike next year.