UNO Transition, START Program Security Highlight Regents’ June Meetings

BATON ROUGE, La. – In a major step toward securing the future of one of the state’s important research institutions, the Louisiana Board of Regents received an update Wednesday on the transition of the University of New Orleans (UNO) to the LSU System.

UNO will officially become an LSU System institution, becoming LSU New Orleans (LSUNO), on July 1. LSU System President Dr. Wade Rousse shared his vision for the System and LSUNO with the Board. Though it is moving to new governance, LSUNO will continue to serve a critical role in Louisiana’s higher education landscape, providing access to academic programs, research opportunities, and workforce pathways that support one of the state’s largest economic regions.

President Rousse, who earned his first MBA from the University of New Orleans, emphasized UNO’s clear enrollment target heading into the Fall 2026 semester.

“We all have a goal to get enrollment back to 6,000 students in the fall,” said President Rousse. “We are laser focused on that goal, and we have a budget built for that enrollment that would allow us to have a positive cash balance and get through the 2026-2027 academic year and start to rebuild what we think can be something incredible.”

When asked how LSU’s brand can drive UNO’s recovery, President Rousse noted: “What binds all of us together is very simple. There are three letters, two colors, and one state. We’re all LSU. That brand matters, and how we rebrand LSU New Orleans matters.”

In his closing comments, he emphasized the importance of higher education attainment to workforce development and maximizing the capital pouring into Louisiana.

The Board also approved FY27 funding recommendations, including $56M in new higher education formula funding, investments in institutional workforce initiatives, and capital outlay and deferred maintenance projects across the state.

Last Tuesday, Governor Jeff Landry signed Act 671, authored by Representative Kim Carver and Senator Franklin Foil, authorizing the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority (LATTA) to engage a program manager and administrator of Louisiana’s 529 Saving Programs. On Wednesday, LATTA authorized Regents to enter into a contract for the management of Louisiana’s START College/529 Saving, START K-12/529 Saving, and LA ABLE/529A Programs.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to significantly advance security around Louisiana’s 529 Saving programs in addition to improving customer offerings and the user interface,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed. “Thanks to Rep. Kim Carver and Sen. Franklin Foil, with the full support of Governor Landry and the Legislature, enhanced security and improved services are on the way.”

Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and Board of Regents met for the first of their two regularly scheduled annual joint meetings. Both boards approved TOPS University and TOPS Tech Core requirements, and proposed changes to the Math Standards for TOPS and Regents Core. Regents and LDOE staff also provided the boards with updates on dual enrollment, the Task Force on Career Alignment, the Tri-Agency Teacher Apprenticeship Initiative, and Louisiana’s AI readiness pipeline.

“We are always grateful for our partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education and BESE,” said Chair Misti S. Cordell. “These meetings are not simply procedural; joint sessions like the one today include meaningful updates and action items that require us to work together for the betterment of our students. This collaborative approach ensures that Louisiana’s workforce pipeline can be strengthened and enable the state to prosper.”

Additionally, the Board of Regents welcomed its new student member Maria Nechaeva. Maria is a senior biological sciences major at Southeastern Louisiana University, where she currently serves as the Student Government Association (SGA) President. Nechaeva previously served on the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors as the Student Board Member in 2025–2026.

In other action, Regents approved the contract renewal for Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed and $1M in funding recommendations from the Cyber Education Management Council (CEMC).

With no meeting scheduled for July, the Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will occur on Wednesday, August 26.