SHREVEPORT-MONROE, La. — North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP), an Accredited Regional Economic Development Organization, supports Constitutional Amendment No. 2. The NLEP Board of Directors voted to endorse Constitutional Amendment No. 2 during its October 19th Board Meeting.  The amendment is on the November 8 ballot and allows Louisiana’s public colleges and universities—including the Bossier Parish Community College, Grambling State University, Louisiana Delta Community College, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport, Louisiana State University Shreveport, Louisiana Tech University, Northwest Louisiana Technical College, Northwestern State University, Southern University at Shreveport, and University of Louisiana at Monroe—greater control over their budgets and their future.

“Passing Constitutional Amendment No. 2 is important to the positive economic development of North Louisiana,” said Scott Martinez, CEcD, NLEP President. “Our higher education institutions should have greater control over their funding in order to respond more quickly to student and employer needs. The workforce training programs and workforce pipeline created by our higher education partners support our economy and ensure future economic growth.”  

Louisiana is the only state that requires a two-thirds vote of the legislature to adjust tuition. Constitutional Amendment No. 2 would shift college tuition and fee setting authority from the state legislature to the postsecondary education management boards (University of Louisiana board, LSU board, and Louisiana Community and Technical College System board), allowing higher-education professionals to focus on smart policy which supports student success.

NLEP joins seven other regional economic development organizations across Louisiana to support Constitutional Amendment No. 2, which we believe shifts control back to Louisiana’s higher education institutions who understand better what students and families need; allows our schools to compete globally against out-of-state colleges and universities; and creates more budget stability for schools.
 
All ten public universities and colleges in North Louisiana have signed off on a joint letter of support for Constitutional Amendment No. 2.  View the formal letter of support signed by the presidents and chancellors of the aforementioned ten schools.
                                               
About North Louisiana Economic Partnership
North Louisiana Economic Partnership, an Accredited Economic Development Organization, provides professional economic development services to the 14 parish region of North Louisiana, including lead generation and prospect management. The organization also represents the interests of North Louisiana with a unified voice and as a single point of contact. It acts as a catalyst, a convener, and a connector in the region to ensure that North Louisiana’s economic development potential is realized. Its vision is for North Louisiana to be a thriving region-a destination for high quality talent, innovative companies, and global investment.