As the University of Louisiana at Lafayette continues its efforts to address the financial deficit, it has launched louisiana.edu/foward, a website for transparency during its “ongoing fiscal work,” as described in an email sent to faculty and staff on Nov. 4.
According to the email, sent by Interim President Dr. Jaimie Hebert, the site includes regular updates, key documents and plain language explanations of the efforts of the University.
It has a section for frequently asked questions and an online feedback forum. At the time the email was sent, Hebert said the feedback form had received more than 120 submissions.
In the future, the site will include a section specifically for students and a section highlighting questions and answers from the feedback they receive.
Hebert explained that the name, “Forward,” “is more than a name — it’s a theme that guides our continuing efforts. It reflects a collective commitment to transparency, accountability and progress as we address financial challenges and build a stronger, more resilient university for the future.”
To conclude the email, Hebert said, “Keeping the University community informed, involved and confident in the steps we are taking has been a guiding principle throughout this process. Thank you for your continued engagement, your ideas and your commitment to the University.”
According to an article by The Current, the University, through large cuts, has decreased its $25 million structural deficit to “roughly” $2 million.
Remaining is an accumulated debt of $10 million from prior years.
In an interview with The Current, Hebert explained that the financial target was always $35 million; the $25 structural deficit plus the $10 million carried over from prior years.
In September the University’s financial deficit was announced and, since then, there have been large cuts made in order to address it.
All departments were ordered to cut 10% of their budgets, except Academic Affairs, which was cut by 5% to reduce the impact on instruction.
These cuts are supposed to save the University about $15 million.
As of now, there have been 76 employees impacted by decisions made to address the deficit.
Of the 76 employees impacted, six employees were eliminated in September and 51 more were at the end of October.
Of the 51 eliminations in October, 28 were unclassified employees and 23 were classified employees, who are subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Rules. The remaining 19 employees impacted reflected retirements, resignations and reassignments.
Along with eliminations, the University has reduced the budget by reducing travel, special meals and hiring.
In October, the University announced it was terminating its contract with the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel, which served as overflow housing for students. Ending the contract will save the University $900,000.
Those students will be relocated to campus for the spring semester. The University is also looking into increasing the amount of parking passes sold for Girard Park Circle Parking Garage.
In his interview with The Current, Hebert maintained that the University has been working hard to fix the financial deficit and are continuing to uncover what else can be done.
“We’re trying, trying our darndest to keep the student experience whole and wholesome at the front end. I feel like for the most part, we have done that,” Hebert said.
Josiah Whitaker, a junior majoring in psychology, said he doesn’t feel like the University has been transparent enough with the current financial situation, and that students, faculty and staff would greatly benefit from the new website.
Despite his concern, Whitaker said his future at the University remains the same. He noted, “It’d probably be a little different if I was a freshman, but I mean, I’m almost close to graduating, so I think I’ll just ride it out.”
Marissa Davenport, a junior majoring in anthropology, said the website relaxes some of the anxieties she felt about the financial situation at the University.
“It’s just the fact that we’re having to do that in the first place,” Davenport said.
She explained that because of the deficit she is focused on getting through school as soon as possible.
“I need to graduate as soon as I can. But I am hoping that it does not impact my graduation in [2027].”