Acadiana's News Leader Governor Jindal Signs GRAD Act 2.0 Into Law

Governor Jindal Signs GRAD Act 2.0 Into Law

 LAFAYETTE –  The  Greater  Lafayette  Chamber  of  Commerce  commends  the  2011  Louisiana  Legislature  for  the  recent  passage  of  one  of  its  key  initiatives,  House  Bill  549,  also  known  as  the  GRAD  ACT  2.0.   

 Governor  Bobby  Jindal  this  week  signed  the  bill  into  law,  which  was  sponsored  by  House  Speaker  Jim  Tucker.  Joining  the  Governor  at  Louisiana  State  University's  Baton  Rouge  campus  were  lawmakers,  college  presidents,  and  representatives  of  the  Businesses  for  Improving  Louisiana's  Development  (BILD)  Coalition.  

 "The  Lafayette  Chamber,  as  part  of  the  Businesses  for  Improving  Louisiana's  Development  Coalition  (BILD),  has  worked  for  two  years  on  passing  this  bill.   It  is  a  progressive  move  that  will  immediately  help  UL]Lafayette  move  from  a  good  university  to  a  great  university,"  said  Chamber  President  Rob  Guidry.  

 The  newly  signed  legislation  offers  more  financial  flexibility  to  the  state's  colleges  in  exchange  for  commitments  from  the  schools  to  meet  three  performance  standards:  graduation  rates,  retention  rates,  and  percent  completers.  The  legislation  also  grants  operational  autonomies  to  post]secondary  schools  based  on  performance  levels.   

 "HB  549  combines  a  two]year  effort  that  sets  a  bold  new  policy  direction  for  higher  education,  with  long]term  improvements  expected  for  academic  achievement,  campus  resources,  and  better  quality  output,"  said  House  Speaker  Jim  Tucker.   

 The  bill  also  standardizes,  expands,  and  coordinates  student]tracking  systems  of  course  credits  to  facilitate  on]time  graduation,  articulation,  and  transfers.  Finally,  it  improves  data  and  transparency  by  adding  a  cost]performance  analysis  of  resources  and  outcomes  to  the  Board  of  Regents'  annual  report  on  GRAD  Act  institutional  progress.