Latest news with #LAIlluminator
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UNO to rejoin LSU system after 14 years in a major Louisiana higher ed shift
University of New Orleans In a significant restructuring of the Louisiana higher education landscape, legislators have approved the transfer of the University of New Orleans ( UNO ) from the University of Louisiana (UL) System back to the Louisiana State University (LSU) System. This decision marks a major development in US public higher education, with implications for governance, funding, and institutional identity. The move, approved by both the Louisiana House and Senate, is part of a broader effort to address UNO's worsening financial crisis. Senate Bill 202, sponsored by Sen. Jimmy Harris of New Orleans, now awaits the signature of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry to take effect, as reported by the LA Illuminator. A return to LSU roots amid financial strain UNO was originally part of the LSU System from its founding in 1958 until 2011, when it was transferred to the UL System. At the time, the move was welcomed by alumni and boosters who felt the university had been overshadowed by LSU. However, a prolonged budget crisis has since placed UNO in a precarious financial position, prompting this reversal. The university currently faces a $30 million shortfall and has already implemented a spending freeze, layoffs, and furloughs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experts Tested 17 Hearing Aids. Their #1 Pick Will Shock You Undo According to the LA Illuminator, the proposed state budget includes $20 million to settle UNO's outstanding debts and an additional $450,000 for a comprehensive academic and financial audit to inform the transition. Enrollment decline and shifting system dynamics UNO's fiscal challenges are closely tied to a significant decline in student enrollment. Prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the university enrolled approximately 17,000 students. That number plummeted to around 6,000 post-storm and has remained stagnant. As of the Fall 2024 semester, enrollment stood at just 6,488 students. In contrast, all institutions within the LSU System have reported enrollment growth in recent years, defying national trends of declining college attendance. This contrast reinforces the state's hope that aligning UNO with the LSU System could revitalize its appeal and performance. Oversight and transition steps outlined As detailed by the LA Illuminator, the legislation mandates a step-by-step transition. By August 1, UNO President Kathy Johnson must notify the Southern Association for Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the accrediting body, of the planned governance change. The LSU System Board of Supervisors is required to form a transition committee composed of legislators and stakeholders from the greater New Orleans area. This committee must operate under the state's open meetings law and submit its findings to the state Board of Regents and legislative education committees no later than April 1. Academic standing and athletic alignment The move will also shift the academic and athletic positioning of UNO. Within the LSU System, UNO would be the only undergraduate R2 research institution—classified as having high research activity—second only to LSU's flagship R1 campus. It would also be the only other LSU System school with an NCAA Division I athletics program. The legislation instructs both the UL and LSU boards to work cooperatively during the transition. Even before SACSCOC gives final approval, administrative and supervisory responsibilities are to be gradually transferred, ensuring UNO's budget is balanced in collaboration with the LSU board. As quoted by the LA Illuminator, Sen. Harris emphasized that 'this is about saving an institution that means a great deal to New Orleans' and steering it toward a sustainable and competitive future. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roofers could be banned from helping customers with insurance claims
A garage of a home on Ethel Street in Lake Charles is destroyed by Hurricane Laura. (Photo by Wes Muller/LA Illuminator, Saturday Aug. 29, 2020.) Louisiana lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would prohibit roofing contractors from assisting homeowners with insurance claims. It would also stop insurance adjusters from performing construction work in connection with the claims they handle. House Bill 121, sponsored by Rep. Roy Daryl Adams, D-Jackson, unanimously cleared the House Committee on Insurance and goes next to the floor for consideration. The proposal is one of dozens that lawmakers have filed, with the backing of insurance companies, in an effort to try to lower coverage premiums in the state. The bill intends to prevent conflicts of interest with adjusters who are also residential contractors. It would also prohibit roofing contractors from providing, advertising or soliciting insurance claims handling services for their customers. Roofers would further have to end the use of contingency contracts in which they agree to perform work only if the homeowner's insurance company approves the cost. Adams said he hopes his measure will stop contractors from going door to door after a storm to talk homeowners into filing insurance claims for roof work. Several committee members praised the bill and asked Adams to amend it so that it applies to all types of construction contractors and subcontractors. However, several roofers testified in opposition to the proposal. Josh Lovell, a sales manager with Gator Roofing in Baton Rouge, said the bill would essentially make it illegal for him to help customers with a task they often want help with. Insurance companies will sometimes deny claims and leave homeowners unaware that they can challenge the denial or ask for a second opinion, which contractors can provide, he said. 'If we can't even talk about any of the process, then you're just giving all the power to the insurance company,' Lovell said. 'And do you trust insurance companies like that?' Johnathan Davis, a board member with the Residential Roofing Association of Louisiana, said contingency agreements and working with insurance companies are a vital part of his profession. Fortified roof grant program is proving effective in lowering homeowner insurance rates, audit finds 'I know there are good and bad companies just like every industry,' Davis said. 'I think that this would hurt everybody — not just the bad actors.' Committee Chairman Gabe Firment, R-Pollock, who works as an insurance consultant, said it's wrong for contractors to assist homeowners with insurance claims because it's not within their area of expertise. 'That is outside of what you're licensed to do,' Firment said. 'There's other avenues for the homeowner to take if there's a dispute.' There is a 'big problem' with shady contractors in the roofing industry who find damage where none actually exists, Firment added. 'I think we've got to get back to roofers being tradesmen and not salesmen,' he said. Rep. Chance Henry, R-Crowley, who owns an insurance agency, echoed Firment's statements, pointing out that homeowners can hire public adjusters to handle any disputes that might arise. Public adjusters are independent claims assessors whom policyholders can hire to represent their interests as opposed to adjusters who work on behalf of insurance companies. They typically charge homeowners a fee of around 15% of the final settled claim amount. Davis with the roofers' association challenged the lawmakers' stance, saying adjusters are experts in interpreting insurance policies but are not generally the most knowledgeable on roof construction and damage assessments. Many homeowners are hesitant to hire a public adjuster because it can be costly, usually escalates the claim and adds another layer to the process, he said. The bill's provisions are so ambiguous, according to Davis, they could make it illegal for roofers just to send damage estimates to an insurance adjuster. 'I don't want to be in court one day defending sending an … estimate to an adjuster,' he said. Lovell said he would be afraid to even say the word 'insurance' in the presence of a customer if the bill becomes law. Hearing their concerns, Firment said the bill might need to be amended to better define some provisions so roofers aren't blocked from offering some of their routine services. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
