Also Approves First-in-the-State Marine Transportation Program
BATON ROUGE, La. – Ascendium Education Group awarded the Board of Regents a $3.815 million multi-year grant to pursue student success reforms in Louisiana. The announcement designed to improve student outcomes was shared Wednesday during Regents’ December Board meeting.
The Ascendium grant will fund the project “Supporting Scaled Implementation of Student Success Reforms in Louisiana” and ensure the direct implementation of evidence-based practices (the Meauxmentum Framework) at public postsecondary institutions.
“Thanks to the forward-thinking of Dr. Tristan Denley and his team, the Board of Regents continues to advance student success reforms and drive transformational change in higher education,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Kim Hunter Reed. “We are grateful to receive this support from the Ascendium Education Group, which will further build the ‘Meauxmentum’ happening on campuses across our state.”
In its final meeting of 2024, Regents approved the proposed Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation at Nicholls State University. Created in response to House Bill 258 of 2023, this baccalaureate degree program will play a vital role in meeting the maritime industries’ critical workforce needs by providing an in-state option to prepare students to enter the maritime workforce operating unlimited tonnage marine vessels. This training will play a vital role in meeting maritime industries’ critical workforce needs and fill a gap in the state’s Maritime Academy degree offerings. The program, scheduled to launch in fall 2026, will be available at the Universities of Louisiana Maritime Academy, located at Nicholls State in Thibodaux.
“We must continue to invest in the talent development of our people, and this program at Nicholls State and the Maritime Academy accomplishes that,” said Regents Chair Misti S. Cordell. “An estimated one in five jobs in Louisiana is connected to the maritime industry. It’s critical that we educate our workforce here to keep our workforce in Louisiana.”
“Louisiana is one of the world’s most important ports, and this new program at Nicholls State is a game-changer for our workforce development,” said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. “It will allow us to train the next generation of maritime professionals here in Louisiana and continue to build a strong workforce pipeline within higher education.”
During its meetings, Regents also approved its 2025 slate of officers. Joining Chair Cordell in leadership positions are:
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- Terrie P. Sterling, Vice Chair
- Phillip R. May Jr., Secretary
In addition, the Board received three legislative reports – Articulation and Transfer, Hunger-Free Campus, and the Postsecondary Inclusive Education Advisory Council. Key findings from each include:
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- Articulation and Transfer Report: 2024 was the first year of full implementation of the initial 24 Universal Transfer Pathways (UTPs). Each universal transfer pathway consists of 60 credit hours of coursework that can be seamlessly transferred and applied toward the requirements of a BA or BS degree at any public four-year institution in Louisiana that offers that degree. Regents staff is developing 16 additional Universal Transfer Pathways in programs with high enrollment.
- Hunger-Free Campus Report: In its first report, Regents discussed the results of a needs assessment survey of all 35 Hunger-Free Campus designees, which provides insights into ways to help institutions augment the cost of services they provide to students and identify their greatest needs. The Hunger-Free Campus Program plans to create Tiers of Distinction (Gold, Silver, Bronze) to recognize additional efforts beyond those required for the HFC designation.
- Postsecondary Inclusive Education Report: Currently eight Inclusive Education programs are operating across Louisiana, with three more programs slated to start in Fall 2025. Seven institutions received funds to expand existing programs, while two others received planning grants for new program development.
All three reports can be accessed here.
In other business, the Board approved Elizabeth Bentley-Smith’s appointment to the Deputy Commissioner for Finance and Administration role. Bentley-Smith joined Regents as Associate Commissioner in November 2021 after serving four years in the Office of Planning and Budget within the Louisiana Division of Administration.
At the conclusion of the full Board meeting, Chair Cordell recognized the five Board members whose terms expire at the end of the year: David J. Aubrey, Robert W. Levy, Darren G. Mire, Gary N. Solomon, Jr., and Felix R. Weill. Regent Levy is the longest-serving member in the Board of Regents’ 50-year history, serving 24 years.
With its 2024 meeting schedule concluded, the Board of Regents will hold its first regularly scheduled meeting of 2025 on Tuesday, January 28.
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Contact
Chris Yandle, Ph.D., APR, Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications
chris.yandle@laregents.edu • 985-373-5845