April 18, 2018              Volume 6, Issue 4           


DR. KIM HUNTER REED NAMED COMMISSIONER APPOINTEE
Baton Rouge, LA  The Louisiana Board of Regents unanimously selected Dr. Kim Hunter Reed as the ninth Commissioner of Higher Education today.

L to R: Dr. Joseph C. Rallo, Commissioner of Higher Education, Regent Robert W. Levy, Regents Board Chair, Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Commissioner Appointee, Governor John Bel Edwards, & Regent Marty J. Chabert, Board Vice Chair

Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Commissioner Appointee and Regent Robert W. Levy, Board Chair 

"This was a difficult decision for the board as we had three worthy candidates for the position," said Board Chair Robert W. Levy. "We believe that Dr. Kim Hunter Reed is uniquely positioned to lead Louisiana Higher Education into the future and is poised to face the challenges that lie ahead." 

After two days of interviews with the board, staff, stakeholders, business leaders and heads of the LSU, Southern University, University of Louisiana, and Louisiana Community and Technical College systems, the finalists gave public statements today, sharing their backgrounds and expressing their interest in the commissioner position. 
 
Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Commissioner Appointee, Governor John Bel Edwards
During a press announcement this afternoon, Governor John Bel Edwards commented to Reed,  "We are looking forward to your leadership and know that you bring a lot of experience both at the U.S. Department of Education and most recently as the Director of Higher Education for the state of Colorado, but you've got deep roots here in Louisiana. So I believe it's the perfect fit. We are excited to have you and I look forward to working with you." 

Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Commissioner Appointee
Reed replied,  "This is a wonderful opportunity. It's critical that we talk about the importance of making sure more people have access to good education and training, that our funding is stable, that our vision is big and bright, that we align workforce and that we are doing all we can to ensure there is more opportunity. So I look forward to this work."

As Louisiana's Commissioner of Higher Education, Reed will provide coordinating, collaborative leadership with the presidents of Louisiana's four systems of public postsecondary education. She will lead Regents' efforts of  statewide academic planning and review, budgeting and performance funding, research, and accountability.
 
Reed currently serves as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education, assuming the role on February 15, 2017.  Working with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, she leads efforts to drive increased educational attainment and erase equity gaps as identified in the statewide strategic plan for higher education, Colorado Rises.

Reed previously served in President Barack Obama's administration as Deputy Undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Education, leading postsecondary diversity and inclusion work, supporting strong student and outcomes-focused policies and aggressive national outreach efforts. She also led the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. 

A Lake Charles native, Reed chaired the State's higher education transition team in 2015 and has served as Louisiana's state policy director. Earlier, Reed worked at the Louisiana Board of Regents as chief of staff and deputy commissioner for public affairs. 

Reed received a doctorate in public policy from Southern University, a master's of public administration and a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Louisiana State University.

It is anticipated that Reed will assume the position in July, following the retirement of current Commissioner, Dr. Joseph C. Rallo.

Board of Regents Support Fund Awards
By Carrie Robison,  Deputy Commissioner for Sponsored Programs, Louisiana Board of Regents

The Board of Regents approved more than $10.5 million in funds to enhance education, research, and workforce training at Louisiana's public and independent campuses.   A total of 74 grant projects were approved - a total investment of $4.9 million - to provide monies for equipment and supplies purchases, as well as research activities, student support, and curriculum enhancement. Projects were selected from 349 proposals submitted by 34 campuses and competitively reviewed by out-of-state experts.  

In addition, the Board approved matching for 117 endowment requests: 3 Endowed Chairs; 18 Endowed Workforce Scholarships; 11 Endowed Graduate Student Scholarships; 8 Endowed First-Generation Scholarships; and 77 Endowed Professorships. A total of 17 campuses submitted 338 requests for BoRSF matching dollars, to pair $15 million in State funds with $28 million raised in non-State contributions. Decisions were made on a competitive basis for Chairs, Workforce Scholarships, and Graduate Scholarships and on a per-campus guarantee for Professorships and First-Generation Scholarships. The Support Fund continues to be a major opportunity for campuses to compete for funds to support their roles, scopes, missions, and strategic priorities, and these funds will contribute to their capacity and success at all levels.
LOSFA Field Outreach Services Kicks off the Season of College Acceptance Day Ceremonies with Landry-Walker High School's First Academic Signing Day
By Tiera LeBlanc , Field Outreach Services Media Specialist,  Louisiana Office of Student 
Financial Assistance

A Program of the Board of Regents
  "I've been accepted into Loyola University New Orleans, Talladega College, Bethune-Cookman University, Clark-Atlanta University, Grambling State University, and Langston University," Nicholas Marshall recalls as he stands next to his mother, Pamela. Nicholas was one of more than100 students celebrated at the first Academic Signing Day hosted by L.B. Landry-O.P. Walker College and Career Preparatory High School in New Orleans.

Landry-Walker's Academic Signing Day, which was held on April 13, 2018, was hosted to recognize Nicholas and his fellow classmates for being accepted into over 25 post-secondary institutions, which included 14 Louisiana colleges and universities as well as the U.S. Army National Guard.

During the ceremony, college representatives from across the State of Louisiana presented individual students with college t-shirts, bags, and pennants as the students entered the stage. As each individual student was called, the announcer listed each of the post-secondary institutions that the students had been accepted into along with some of the scholarship awards that the students received.

Like Nicholas, Shaina Sylve and Kenard Zuniga were two students who also received multiple acceptances and thousands of dollars in scholarship awards. After the ceremony, Shaina and Kenard were both asked about their acceptances and post-secondary plans.

Shaina eagerly responded, "I have been accepted into Southeastern Louisiana University, the University of Southern Mississippi, Grambling State University, and Spring Hill College. I plan to attend Southeastern Louisiana University to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice."

Likewise, Kenard, who is 16 years old, enthusiastically shared his acceptances and plans: "I have been accepted into Alcorn State University and Talladega College, and I'll be attending Alcorn State University on a full-ride band scholarship."
In the upcoming month, more intensive service schools like Landry-Walker High School will highlight the heights that Louisiana students are reaching at College Acceptance Day ceremonies across the State of Louisiana.

Nicholas Marshall and his mom, Pamela, hold up t-shirts from LOSFA and two of the institutions of which Nicholas has been accepted.


Kenard Zuniga and his mom hold up t-shirts from LOSFA and Talladega College, which is one of the schools where Kenard has been accepted.


Shaina and her mom hold up a t-shirt from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she plans to attend in the fall.



COSBP Community Involvement  Meeting at Southern University Baton Rouge

The  Council of Student Body Presidents (COSBP) visited Southern University and A&M College Baton Rouge campus this month for their leadership development meeting.  Guest speaker, Louisiana State Representative, Edmond Jordan, District 29, shared the importance of using social media platforms to help promote and encourage community involvement. 

Next month, COSBP will host orientation and conduct elections to welcome the incoming Council of Student Body Presidents for the 2018-2019 academic school year.

Louisiana State Representative, Edmond Jordan, District 29

2017-2018 Council of Student Body Presidents 

COSBP Representatives Testifying at House Appropriations 

Louisiana Tech University's SGA President, Ben Rice, Louisiana Delta Community College's SGA President, Zachary Hitt, and Nichols State University's SGA Vice President, Austin Wendt, testifying during House Appropriations. 
COSBP Chair & SGA President at Southern University Law Center, Arthur Williams, SGA President at Southern University Baton Rouge, Anthony Kenney, and Grambling State University's SGA President and Board of Regents Student Representative, Adarian Williams, testifying during House Appropriations. 
Representatives from the Council of Student Body Presidents (COSBP) with Dr. Joseph C. Rallo, Commissioner of Higher Education, and COSBP Advisor, Harold Boutte

LONI HOSTS A CYBERSECURITY DISCUSSION
By Lonnie Leger, Executive Director,  LONI: Louisiana Optical Network Infrastrucutre
A Program of the Board of Regents
 
On Monday, April 9, 2018, the LONI Statewide Project hosted a cybersecurity discussion with keynote speaker, Dr. Les Guice, President of Louisiana Tech University and former Chair of the LONI Management Council.  The discussion took place in the Louisiana Tech University Cyber Security Center jointed occupied by Louisiana Tech University and Bossier Parish Community College in the Cyber Innovation Center development in Bossier City.

Several  higher education presidents and chancellors and their respective staff members, along the I-20 corridor, participated in a conversation on the possibilities of coupling LONI's cyberinfrastructure to the human relationships built between higher education and industry, cybersecurity workforce and curriculum for teaching and learning.

The attendees represented LouisianaTech, LSU Shreveport, University of Louisiana Monroe, Northwestern, Southern University Shreveport, Bossier Parish Community College, Louisiana Delta Community College, and the Cyber Innovation Center. At the conclusion of the event, Dr. Guice volunteered to lead a discussion with faculty representatives centering around determining the value and usefulness of a cybersecurity sandbox and platform idea proposed by Lonnie Leger, LONI Executive Director. Guice will report back findings from the faculty during future events.

"We were delighted to be involved and are committed to the success of our region and state," Denise Epps, Chancellor of Louisiana Delta Community College.

"Thank you for bringing us all together. As I mentioned, you're assuming a role of leadership beyond the 'utility company' role and I certainly appreciated that," noted Dr. Larry Clark, Chancellor of LSU Shreveport.

More information about LONI is available at http://www.loni.org.

April Board Meeting 

The three Finalists for the position of Commissioner of Higher Education

"I believe in three principles: communication, communication, communication. That's been my philosophy in building a relationship with all key stakeholders." -Dr. Robert Donley, Finalist


"My long term goal in  higher education is to be the person to shape the vision for the state I'm working in." -Dr. Paul Turman, Finalist


"I'm passionate about this work because I consider it to be part of my DNA. I'm here because this is my home agency here in Louisiana. A good Commissioner ensures that opportunity for all isn't just a compelling statement, but it is a reality." -Dr. Kim Hunter Reed, Finalist

Additional  Highlights

Dr. Joseph C. Rallo, Commissioner of Louisiana Higher Education, & Terrence Ginn, Deputy Commissioner for Finance & Administration, testifying during House Appropriations for h igher education.

The Board of Regents approved the following  Sponsored Programs items

IFY 2017-18 Board of Regents Support Fund Award Recommendations
     
II. Consent Agenda 
          A. Use of Expendable Earnings in Vacant Endowed Chair: University of
               Louisiana  at Monroe
           B. Appointment of Endowed Chairholder without National Search: Tulane                     University Health Services Center
          C. Louisiana Nominations to the National Science Board

The Board of Regents approved the following Planning, Research and Performance items:

I. Consent Agenda
          A. R.S. 17:1808 (Licensure)
               1. Initial Licenses
                  a. Boston University
               2. License Renewals
                  a. Central Texas College
                  b. Northeastern University 
          B. State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) Institutional                               Renewals
               1. Bossier Parish Community College
               2. Tulane University
               3. University of Louisiana Lafayette
               4. University of Louisiana Monroe

  Interview with Dr. Robert Donley on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.

Interview with Dr. Paul Turman on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 10:45 a.m.

Interview with Dr. Kim Hunter Reed on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 1:15 p.m.

Selection of the Next Commissioner of Higher Education

Other Business            

About Regents
The Board of Regents, a state agency created by the 1974 Louisiana Constitution, coordinates all public higher education in Louisiana. The Board of Regents believes that a robust public postsecondary education system is critical in order to enhance Louisiana's social and economic environment. Through statewide academic planning and review, budgeting and performance funding, research, and accountability, Regents strives to ensure that all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities. 
 
Regents Recap is produced by the Louisiana Board of Regents Office of Public Affairs
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the Office of Public Affairs at [email protected].

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