University of Louisiana System State-of-the-System Annual Report

From: http://www.uls.state.la.us/site100-01/1001055/docs/uls_annual_report_2002.pdf University of Louisiana System State-of-the-System Annual Report Grambling State University Louisiana Tech University McNeese State University Nicholls State University Northwestern State University Southeastern LA University University of LA at Lafayette University of LA at Monroe opportunity Second Edition 2002

President s Statement EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The University of Louisiana System includes eight dynamic universities: Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and University of Louisiana at Monroe. The UL System institutions employ nearly 11,000 full- and part-time faculty and staff and they enroll more than 78,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The economic impact that these eight campuses have on the state exceeds $2.4 billion annually. While the UL System is the largest postsecondary education system in Louisiana, the focus of the System is quality and continuous improvement rather than quantity. The University of Louisiana System State-of-the-System Annual Report provides information that charts progress and acknowledges future challenges. The UL System Strategic Goals and Objectives and the Board of Regents Master Plan reflect the type of Quality and Accountability indicators that will ensure student success in Louisiana. Hence, the facts and figures contained in this report represent continuous institutional growth toward higher standards for programs and higher expectations of students. Areas of Progress Worthy of Note: Academic program accreditation of all eligible programs has increased from 77.2% in 1994 to 95.3% in 2002. Northwestern is at 100%. Academic program accreditation of mandatory programs has increased from 96.1% in 2001 to 97.6% in 2002. Louisiana Tech, Nicholls, Northwestern, Southeastern, UL Monroe are at 100%. In Fall UL System institutions offered 80% of Distance Learning Courses and enrolled 80% of the students at public 4-year institutions in the state. Northwestern and Southeastern together enrolled 56% of Distance Learning students. Research and Grant funds increased 50.3% since 1996-97. Southeastern increased 120%. Thirty-three percent ($26.1 million) of the 2000-01 Research and Grant funds were awarded to UL Lafayette. Grambling s 89.6% rate is the highest percent of students in the state maintaining TOPS eligibility as of September 2002. Retention rates of full-time first-time freshmen to sophomore year increased from 69.7% in 1996 to 74.5% in 2001. Louisiana Tech is 82%. UL Monroe has 100% Teacher Education Pass rate, the only public four-year institution in the state in 2001. Nursing Pass Rate of first-time test-takers is 91% in 2000 and 2001. UL Lafayette pass rate of 97.4% was the highest in the state in 2001. Calcasieu Community Clinic is a partnership between McNeese College of Nursing and over 300 area medical professionals that provides free care to approximately 1,000 working people who cannot afford insurance. State-of-the-System 2002 Page i

President s Statement Six-year graduation rate increased from 29.7% in 1997-98 to 35.1% in 2001-02. Louisiana Tech is 57%. Faculty Salaries increased 5.5% in 2001-02 over the previous year. Average faculty salaries in 2001-02 are only 4.9% below the SREB average. Louisiana Tech exceeds the SREB average by 1.4%. Nicholls reduced the percent of remedial SCH by 40% in 2001-02 over the previous year. Challenges Worthy of Note: Enrolling more high quality students who meet admission criteria. Addressing the significant decline of high quality students enrolling in teacher education programs. Assessing and ensuring academic preparation and job readiness of college students prior to their senior year. Sally Clausen, President University of Louisiana System State-of-the-System 2002 Page ii

Table of Contents Page President s Statement... i I. Introduction... 1 II. III. IV. Institution A. Headcount Enrollment... 2 B. State Appropriations... 7 C. Board of Regents Support Funds... 9 D. Endowed Chairs and Professorships...10 E. Library Holdings...12 Faculty A. Faculty and Staff...13 B. Average Faculty Salaries...16 Instruction A. Academic Programs and Program Accreditation...18 B. Distance Learning Activities...21 C. Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)...23 D. Freshman Retention...25 E. Mean ACT Composite...26 F. Graduation Rates...28 G. Degrees Awarded...30 H. National Exams Pass Rates...31 I. Student Credit Hours (Total and Remedial)...36 V. Research A. Research and Grant Funding...37 B. Faculty Publications...38 Summary...39 Appendices A. Goals and Objectives Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System...41 B. Performance Accountability Measures House Bill 1...42 State-of-the-System 2002 Page iii

List of Tables Tables Page Table 1: Historical Fall Headcount Enrollment by Institution, 1992 and 2001... 4 Table 2: Headcount Enrollment by Level, Fall 1992 and Fall 2001... 5 Table 3: Historical Headcount Enrollment by Race, 1992 and 2001... 6 Table 4: State General Funds Direct Appropriations, FY2001 - FY2003... 8 Table 5: Board of Regents Support Funds for Public 4-Year Institutions, 2000-01... 10 Table 6: Total Library Holdings, FY 2001 and 2002... 12 Table 7: Number of Volumes of Books, Serial Backfiles and Government Documents held per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Student: 2000 and 2001... 13 Table 8: Total Employees by Institution, Fall 2001... 14 Table 9: Full-Time (Instruction/Research/Public Service) Faculty, Fall 2001... 15 Table 10: Average Faculty Salaries by Rank, 2001-02... 17 Table 11: Faculty Salary Benchmarking Summary, 2001-02... 18 Table 12: Eligible Programs Accreditation Status, As of July 2002... 19 Table 13: Board of Regents Mandatory Program Accreditation Status As of July 2002... 21 Table 14: Distance Learning Courses and Enrollees, Fall 2001... 22 Table 15: Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)... 23 Table 16: Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS): Percent of Students Maintaining Eligibility, FY 2001 and FY 2002... 24 State-of-the-System 2002 Page iv

List of Tables (Continued) Tables Page Table 17: First-Time Full-Time Freshman Retention Rates, 1996-2001 (Students retained in Louisiana Higher Education System from Fall to Fall)...26 Table 18: Mean ACT Composite Scores, 1996 to 2001...28 Table 19: Trend in Six-Year Graduation Rates, 1997-98 to 2001-02...30 Table 20: Program Completers, 1995-96 2000-01...31 Table 21: Teacher Education Pass Rates and Performance Grades 1999-00 2000-01...32 Table 22: Fall Headcount Enrollment in Nursing Programs at Public Institutions in Louisiana, 1997-2001 (Undergraduates Only)...33 Table 23: Undergraduate Degrees Conferred in Nursing Programs at Public Institutions in Louisiana, 1996-97 to 2000-01 (Certificates, Associate & Bachelors)...34 Table 24: Nursing Pass Rates, 2000 and 2001...36 Table 25: Comparison of Remedial SCHs to Total SCHs, FY 2001 and FY 2002...37 Table 26: Research and Grant Funding, 1995-96 and 2000-01 (Excluding Federal Financial Aid)...38 State-of-the-System 2002 Page v

List of Charts Charts Page Chart 1: Fall 2001 Headcount Enrollment in Louisiana Public Higher Education...3 Chart 2: University of Louisiana System: Historical Trend of Endowed Professorships, 1990-91 to 2001-02...11 Chart 3: University of Louisiana System: Historical Trend of Endowed Chairs, 1990-91 to 2001-02...11 Chart 4: Percent of Employees in the UL System, Fall 2001...14 Chart 5: Percent of Full-time Instructional Faculty by Highest Degree, Fall 2001...16 Chart 6: Trend in Program Accreditation Rates, 1994-2002...20 Chart 7: First-Time Full-Time Freshman Retention Rates, 1997-2001...25 Chart 8: Mean ACT Composite Scores, 1996-97 to 2001-02...27 Chart 9: Graduation Rates, 1995-96 to 2000-01...29 Chart 10: NCLEX Passing Rates of First-time Test Takers, 2000...35 Chart 11: Research and Grant Funding, 1996-97 2000-01...38 State-of-the-System 2002 Page vi

University of Louisiana System State-of-the-System Annual Report I. Introduction The University of Louisiana System is a public multi-campus system dedicated to the service of Louisiana and its people. The System offers a broad spectrum of educational opportunities ranging from technical training at the associate level to research at the doctoral level. It encompasses eight diverse higher education institutions: Grambling State University (GSU), Louisiana Tech University (LTU), McNeese State University (MSU), Nicholls State University (NiSU), Northwestern State University (NSU), Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU), University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL) and University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). Each institution s specific mission is shaped by its historic and unique strengths. The fundamental mission of the System is to emphasize teaching, research and community service to enhance the quality of life for the State s citizens. Through this mission, students are afforded experiences to discover, create, transmit, and apply knowledge. The purpose of the System is to provide high-quality education that is costefficient to both students and taxpayers, enabling students to reach their highest potential. The UL System institutions are truly The Engine that Helps Drive the Economy. With an enrollment of nearly 80,000 students and employees totaling nearly 11,000, the UL System s annual economic impact to the state exceeds $2.4 billion. The map below details the economic contribution each institution makes to its surrounding area. State-of-the-System 2002 Page 1

The strategic goals and objectives of the University of Louisiana System (Appendix A) parallel the educational goals and objectives outlined in the Board of Regents State of Louisiana Master Plan For Public Postsecondary Education: 2001. This document also addresses the performance accountability measures outlined in House Bill 1 (Appendix B). The information provided in this report was obtained from several sources including National, Regional, and State agencies and the UL System institutions. II. Institution A. Headcount Enrollment The University of Louisiana System institutions make a substantial contribution to the higher education mission of the state. During Fall 2001 the UL System headcount enrollment State-of-the-System 2002 Page 2

was over 78,000 students, which constitutes 55 percent of all students enrolled in public fouryear institutions and nearly 44 percent of the total enrollment in postsecondary education in Louisiana (see Chart 1). Chart 1 Fall 2001 Headcount Enrollment in Louisiana Public Higher Education 180,000 160,000 140,000 178,990 120,000 100,000 80,000 143,736 60,000 40,000 78,371 20,000 0 UL System Public 4-Year Institutions All Public Institutions Source of Data: BOR Statewide Student Profile System As a proportion of total enrollment in public four-year institutions in Louisiana, enrollment in the UL System declined only two percentage points over a ten-year period, dropping from 57 percent in Fall 1992 to 55 percent in Fall 2001. The following table provides a breakdown of headcount enrollment in public four-year institutions as well as the total enrollment in public higher education in Louisiana. State-of-the-System 2002 Page 3

Table 1 Historical Fall Headcount Enrollment by Institution 1992 2001 Institution 1992 2001 % Chg Grambling State University 7,533 4,500-40.3% Louisiana Tech University 10,197 10,694 4.9% McNeese State University 8,473 7,780-8.2% Nicholls State University 7,605 7,206-5.2% Northwestern State University 8,412 9,415 11.9% Southeastern Louisiana University 12,681 14,522 14.5% University of Louisiana at Lafayette 16,652 15,489-7.0% University of Louisiana at Monroe 11,732 8,765-25.3% UL System Total 83,285 78,371-5.9% As a % of Public 4-Year 57% 55% Louisiana State University-BR 26,603 31,402 18.0% Louisiana State University-S 4,665 4,113-11.8% University of New Orleans 16,308 17,014 4.3% LSU System Total 47,576 52,529 10.4% Southern University-BR 10,548 9,095-13.8% Southern University-NO 4,705 3,741-20.5% SU System Total 15,253 12,836-15.8% Total Public 4-Yr Institutions 146,114 143,736-1.6% Total State Public Institutions 171,891 178,990 4.1% Source of Data: BOR Statewide Student Profile Between 1992 and 2001, headcount enrollment in the University of Louisiana System has declined 5.9 percent. Reasons for the decline include initiatives undertaken by the state in 1996 and 1997 to increase out-of-state fee charges in order to bridge the tuition and fee gap between Louisiana and the SREB average; and to impose an admissions stipulation of an ACT composite of at least 17 (or SAT equivalent) on out-of-state first-time full-time freshmen. The enrollment decline is also attributed to the gradual implementation of admissions criteria in seven of the eight institutions in the UL System as well as the continued development of the community college system. Ninety-one percent of the students enrolled in UL System institutions in Fall 2001 were Louisiana residents. Seven of the 64 parishes in Louisiana provide the UL System with over 41 percent of its in-state students. The UL System s top feeder parishes are Lafayette, State-of-the-System 2002 Page 4

Calcasieu, Ouachita, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, East Baton Rouge and Caddo, respectively. Each of those parishes feeds more than 3,000 students into UL System institutions. National trend data indicate that the proportion of students enrolled in colleges and universities between the ages of 18 and 24 increased from 56% in 1991 to 60% in 1999. In contrast to recent patterns, younger students are becoming more prevalent on college campuses. 1 The proportion of students between the ages of 18 and 24 in UL System institutions increased two percentage points between 1994 and 2001, changing from 68% to 70%, respectively. Nationally, graduate enrollment increased 26 percent between 1986 and 1999. Graduate school enrollment in the UL System increased 7.4 percent between 1992 and 2001. However, while the proportion of graduate to undergraduate enrollment in all public institutions in Louisiana remained constant at 13 percent between 1992 and 2001, the proportion of graduate school enrollment in the UL System institutions increased from 10 to 12 percent. The following table provides a breakdown of headcount enrollment by level and by institution for 1992 and 2001. Institution Graduate Table 2 Headcount Enrollment By Level Fall 1992 and Fall 2001 Fall 1992 Fall 2001 Total Percent Graduate Undergraduate Undergraduate Graduate Total Percent Graduate GSU 6,828 705 7,533 9% 4,052 448 4,500 10% LTU 8,958 1,239 10,197 12% 9,060 1,634 10,694 15% MSU 7,315 1,158 8,473 14% 6,845 935 7,780 12% NiSU 6,775 830 7,605 11% 6,543 663 7,206 9% NSU 7,625 787 8,412 9% 8,373 1,042 9,415 11% SLU 11,489 1,192 12,681 9% 12,821 1,701 14,522 12% ULL 14,967 1,685 16,652 10% 13,876 1,613 15,489 10% ULM 10,617 1,115 11,732 10% 7,448 1,317 8,765 15% UL System Total 74,574 8,711 83,285 10% 69,018 9,353 78,371 12% State Public Institutions Total 148,995 22,896 171,891 13% 155,097 23,893 178,990 13% Source of Data: BOR Statewide Student Profile System 1 National Center for Education Statistics, Projections of Education Statistics to 2011 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 5

In accordance with Act 1465 of 1997, the Board of Regents Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education: 2001 identifies three primary goals: (1) increase opportunities for student access and success, (2) ensure quality and accountability, (3) enhance services to community and state. Under Goal 1: Objective II, the state requires public postsecondary education institutions to increase minority participation by five percent by 2005. According to the Louisiana Department of Education, the number of minority high school graduates enrolling as first-time freshmen in the Louisiana higher education system has continuously declined since 1997. The percent of non-white students enrolling as firsttime freshmen declined from 36 percent in Fall 1997 to 30 percent in Fall 2001. A ten-year depiction of the state s total headcount enrollment by race indicates that the proportion of minorities in the state s public institutions of higher education increased from 32.1 percent in 1992 to 37.1 percent in 2001. In comparison, the percent of minorities enrolled in UL System institutions changed from 26.5 percent to 29.9 percent during this time (see Table 3). Table 3 Historical Headcount Enrollment By Race Institution Black White Other Total 1992 2001 Percent Minority Black White Other Total Percent Minority GSU 7,065 326 142 7,533 95.7% 4,286 139 75 4,500 96.9% LTU 1,431 7,846 920 10,197 23.1% 1,570 7,833 1,291 10,694 26.8% MSU 1,057 7,155 261 8,473 15.6% 1,348 6,037 395 7,780 22.4% NiSU 842 6,509 254 7,605 14.4% 1,126 5,644 436 7,206 21.7% NSU 1,584 6,209 619 8,412 26.2% 2,426 6,112 877 9,415 35.1% SLU 806 11,581 294 12,681 8.7% 2,049 11,838 635 14,522 18.5% ULL 2,713 12,439 1,500 16,652 25.3% 2,503 11,432 1,554 15,489 26.2% ULM 2,004 9,125 603 11,732 22.2% 2,339 5,925 501 8,765 32.4% UL System Total 17,502 61,190 4,593 83,285 26.5% 17,647 54,960 5,764 78,371 29.9% State Public Institutions 42,782 116,796 12,313 171,891 32.1% 47,924 112,595 18,471 178,990 37.1% Source of Data: BOR Statewide Student Profile System State-of-the-System 2002 Page 6

B. State Appropriations As a constitutional requirement, the Board of Regents developed a formula for the equitable distribution of funds to the institutions of postsecondary education. The Board has adopted a new mission-driven formula that consists of an operational funding plan that includes three broad components: Core Funding, Quality/Campus Improvement and State Priorities Funding. 2 Since 2000-01, state general funds direct appropriations to the eight institutions in the UL System have increased from $250 million to $283 million, a two-year change of 13 percent. The three percent increase in state funding in 2002-03 over the previous year was substantially less than the 10 percent increase appropriated in 2001-02 over 2000-01. However, in retrospect, Louisiana was only one of a few states not facing higher education budget cuts for fiscal year 2002-03. State general funds direct appropriations for fiscal year 2002-03 increased 6.2 percent over the previous year and nearly 17 percent since 2000-01. The two-year change per System is as follows: LSU (19.6%), SU (16.1%), LCTC (14.8%), ULS (13.1%). Although the UL System continues to enroll at least 44 percent of all students in postsecondary education in Louisiana, their proportion of state appropriations declined from 30 percent in 2000-01 to 29 percent in 2002-03. The allocation of state statutory and dedicated funds for Louisiana public postsecondary education for the past three years is provided in Table 4. 2 House Bill No. 1 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 7

Institution Table 4 State General Funds Direct Appropriations Fiscal Year 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 Chg from 2000-01 to 2002-03 Grambling State University $21,665,809 $23,129,413 $23,640,994 9.1% Louisiana Tech University $35,076,788 $39,319,575 $40,831,100 16.4% McNeese State University $22,366,901 $24,385,585 $25,141,556 12.4% Nicholls State University $20,794,438 $22,471,411 $23,357,431 12.3% Northwestern State University $24,778,682 $26,927,794 $27,609,368 11.4% Southeastern Louisiana University $38,535,051 $41,942,288 $43,238,430 12.2% University of Louisiana at Lafayette $50,106,464 $56,940,972 $58,639,418 17.0% University of Louisiana at Monroe $36,931,448 $39,398,701 $40,515,210 9.7% UL System Total $250,255,581 $274,515,739 $282,973,507 As a % of State Total 30.0% 29.9% 29.0% 13.1% Louisiana State University-BR $127,112,758 $144,892,081 $150,388,158 18.3% Louisiana State University-S $10,906,742 $11,905,744 $12,214,165 12.0% University of New Orleans $43,277,159 $50,204,801 $51,724,598 19.5% Louisiana State University-Ag Center $64,007,176 $68,660,562 $71,531,828 11.8% Louisiana State University-Vet $15,214,084 $16,402,940 $17,048,401 12.1% Louisiana State University-HSC $126,392,438 $134,701,056 $159,012,912 25.8% Louisiana State University-A $5,413,093 $6,630,369 $6,702,628 23.8% Louisiana State University-E $4,963,856 $5,452,082 $6,316,970 27.3% Hebert Law Center $6,334,129 $7,477,083 $7,898,115 24.7% LSU System Total $403,621,435 $446,326,718 $482,837,775 As a % of State Total 48.3% 48.6% 49.5% 19.6% Southern University-BR $38,637,619 $42,782,817 $45,208,360 17.0% Southern University-NO $10,961,499 $12,470,973 $12,809,711 16.9% Southern University-S $4,512,745 $4,795,479 $5,160,134 14.3% Southern University-Law Center $4,997,877 $5,251,104 $5,455,542 9.2% SU System Total $59,109,740 $65,300,373 $68,633,747 As a % of State Total 7.1% 7.1% 7.0% 16.1% Baton Rouge CC $6,684,770 $7,028,179 $8,632,121 29.1% Bossier Parish CC $9,973,976 $10,468,668 $11,144,769 11.7% Delgado CC $23,445,930 $26,220,336 $29,225,584 24.7% Delta CC $0 $1,505,460 $1,680,859 11.7% Elaine Nunez CC $3,974,524 $4,244,652 $4,569,937 15.0% River Parishes CC $1,382,363 $1,913,013 $1,947,349 40.9% South LA CC $1,725,794 $2,126,553 $2,646,926 53.4% LA Tech CC $75,189,685 $78,252,435 $80,665,378 7.3% LCTC System Total $122,377,042 $131,759,296 $140,512,923 As a % of State Total 14.6% 14.4% 14.4% 14.8% Total SGF Direct Appropriations $835,363,798 $917,902,126 $974,957,952 16.7% Source of Data: Board of Regents-10/02 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 8

C. Board of Regents Support Funds The Louisiana Education Quality Support Fund (LEQSF) is funding generated through a permanent trust fund approved by voters in a 1986 constitutional amendment. The Legislature appropriates a portion of the interest to the Board of Regents to be used for higher education initiatives. Annually, the Board of Regents provides funding to underwrite new endowed chairs and professorships and to award grants for research and development, superior graduate fellowships and to purchase scientific and teaching equipment 3. In 2000-01 the Board of Regents funded 219 awards totaling more than $17 million (not including matching funds for chairs and professorships) to postsecondary education in Louisiana. Of the total amount appropriated to higher education, $9.6 million (57%) was allocated to public four-year institutions in the state. The UL System institutions received $4.2 million (44.5%), LSU System $5.1 (52.5%), SU System $385,508 (3%) of the $9.6 million awarded as support funds The dollar amount of support funds were awarded based on the number of successful proposals submitted to the Louisiana Board of Regents. Of the 131 proposals submitted by public four-year institutions, the UL System institutions were successful in the submission of 63 (48%) of the total proposals receiving awards. The following table provides the allocation of awards to public four-year institutions for 2000-01. 3 Louisiana Board of Regents: Regents Report, Year In Review 2000-01 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 9

Institutions Table 5 Board of Regents Support Funds for Public Four-Year Institutions 2000-01 Research & Development Graduate Fellows Enhancement Total No. of Awards Amount of Awards No. of Awards Amount of Awards No. of Awards Amount of Awards No. of Awards Amount of Awards GSU 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 LTU 6 $762,991 2 $110,000 7 $390,878 15 $1,263,869 MSU 1 $106,040 0 $0 2 $112,550 3 $218,590 NiSU 2 $236,547 0 $0 8 $269,484 10 $506,031 NSU 0 $0 2 $48,000 4 $169,985 6 $217,985 SLU 2 $175,404 1 $22,000 1 $75,673 4 $273,077 ULL 5 $458,941 7 $427,000 8 $508,832 20 $1,394,773 ULM 1 $68,344 0 $0 4 $260,126 5 $328,470 UL System Total 17 $1,808,267 12 $607,000 34 $1,787,528 63 $4,202,795 As a % of Public 4-Yr 56.6% 27.0% 42.5% 43.5% LSU-BR 8 $754,346 11 $1,398,000 19 $1,525,261 38 $3,677,607 SLU-S 1 $72,000 0 $0 10 $304,959 11 $376,959 UNO 5 $562,280 4 $243,000 3 $202,600 12 $1,007,880 LSU System Total 14 $1,388,626 15 $1,641,000 32 $2,032,820 61 $5,062,446 As a % of Public 4-Yr 43.4% 73.0% 48.3% 52.5% SU-BR 0 $0 0 $0 6 $343,554 6 $343,554 SU-NO 0 $0 0 $0 1 $41,954 1 $41,954 SU System Total 0 $0 0 $0 7 $385,508 7 $385,508 As a % of Public 4-Yr 9.2% 4.0% Public 4-Year Institutions 31 $3,196,893 27 $2,248,000 73 $4,205,856 131 $9,650,749 Source of Data: Board of Regents D. Endowed Chairs and Professorships In 2001-02 the Board of Regents funded 75 new endowed professorships and seven new endowed chairs. Institutions in the UL System submitted 45 endowed professorships slots for funding for 2001-02 of which, 31 slots were funded by the Board of Regents Support Fund. The number of Board of Regents funded endowed professorships in the UL System has increased by 363 since 1990-91 (see Chart 2). State-of-the-System 2002 Page 10

Chart 2 University of Louisiana System Historical Trend of Endowed Professorships, 1990-91 to 2001-02 450 400 350 358 389 300 269 298 250 200 150 100 50 26 47 75 105 131 162 211 227 0 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 Source of Data: Board of Regents & UL System Institutions The number of endowed chairs in the UL System that are funded with the support of the Board of Regents is 44. This includes a $2 million super chair in Telecommunications at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Chart 3 depicts the growth in the number of endowed chairs in the UL System since 1990-91. Chart 3 University of Louisiana System Historical Trend of Endowed Chairs, 1990-91 to 2001-02 50 45 44 44 40 Number 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 7 9 13 15 15 16 19 27 31 33 0 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 Source of Data: Board of Regents & UL System Institutions State-of-the-System 2002 Page 11

E. Library Holdings The number of library volumes held in academic libraries nationwide increased 12.2 percent between 1987 and 1996, growing from approximately 719 million to 807 million. During this time, the number of books and bound serial volumes held per full-time equivalent (FTE) student in the nation s academic libraries fluctuated between 72 and 81, in part a reflection of differences in FTE student counts. 4 The total number of library holdings in the UL System increased by more than one million volumes or 8.1 percent in fiscal year 2002 over the previous year. Table 6 provides the total number of library holdings in UL System institutions for the past two years. It also gives the one-year percent change in total volumes held. Institution Table 6 Total Library Holdings Year Ending 6/30 FY 2001 FY 2002 % Chg GSU 544,743 630,914 15.8% LTU 3,279,753 3,349,292 2.1% MSU 546,183 591,644 8.3% NISU 765,390 778,582 1.7% NSU 468,862 488,367 4.2% SLU 1,190,280 1,220,273 2.5% ULL 4,996,795 5,777,464 15.6% ULM 1,418,729 1,445,380 1.9% UL System Total 13,210,735 14,281,916 8.1% Source of Data: UL System Institutions The library holdings category includes books, serial backfiles, government documents, current serial subscriptions, audiovisual material units, microforms and all other library holdings between July 1 and June 30 of each year. 4 U.S. Dept of Education, National Center for Education Statistics State-of-the-System 2002 Page 12

Table 7 shows the number of volumes of books, serial backfiles and government documents held per academic year (AY) per FTE student by institution during the past two years. During this time, the number of volumes of books, serial backfiles and government documents held in the UL System institutions and volumes per FTE enrollment increased more than 3.5 percent each. Table 7 Number of Volumes of Books, Serial Backfiles and Government Documents held per Full-time Equivalent (FTE) Student: 2000 and 2001 Institution AY FTE Enrollment 2000 2001 No. of Volumes Volumes Per FTE AY FTE Enrollment No. of Volumes Volumes Per FTE GSU 4,572 306,990 67.1 4,585 306,678 66.9 LTU 9,775 1,174,828 120.2 9,897 1,205,307 121.8 MSU 6,859 288,780 42.1 7,129 296,288 41.6 NISU 6,461 422,746 65.4 6,406 433,831 67.7 NSU 8,536 328,237 38.5 8,874 331,128 37.3 SLU 12,988 367,250 28.3 12,997 377,972 29.1 ULL 14,034 2,373,046 169.1 14,113 2,524,794 178.9 ULM 9,040 631,634 69.9 8,361 637,769 76.3 UL System Total 72,265 5,893,511 81.6 72,362 6,113,767 84.5 Source of Data: BOR Statewide Student Profile System & UL System Institutions III. Faculty A. Faculty and Staff University Employees: During Fall 2001, UL System institutions employed more than 9,000 full-time and part-time faculty and staff. The institutions also employed, on a part-time basis, over 1,400 graduate assistants. The following table depicts the total number of employees in the UL System. These data do not include graduate assistants. State-of-the-System 2002 Page 13

Table 8 Total Employees by Institution Fall 2001 Institution Full-time Part-time Total GSU 885 15 900 LTU 1,095 109 1,204 MSU 682 37 719 NiSU 695 11 706 NSU 750 228 978 SLU 1,241 301 1,542 ULL 1,535 171 1,706 ULM 1,174 159 1,333 UL System Total 8,057 1,031 9,088 Note: Excludes Graduate Assistants Source of Data: IPEDS Fall 2001 Staff Survey Chart 4 is the percent distribution of employees in the UL System by full-time and part-time status. Chart 4 Percent of Employees in the UL System Fall 2001 Part-time 11% Full-time 89% Source of Data: IPEDS Fall 2001 Staff Survey State-of-the-System 2002 Page 14

Tenured Faculty: According to national trend data, the proportion of faculty with tenure has remained relatively stable in recent years. Approximately 64 percent of full-time faculty had tenure in 1998-99 (most recent data available through NCES), but a large difference existed between the proportion of men and women with tenure. Seventy-one percent of men compared with 52 percent of women had tenure in 1998-99 5. As with national data, the percent of tenured faculty in UL System institutions remained virtually unchanged between Fall 2000 and Fall 2001. The UL System employed more than 2,800 full-time instruction, research and public service faculty in Fall 2001, of which 48 percent were faculty with tenure. Although the number of faculty with tenure in the UL System is 16 percentage points below the national norms, the percent of tenured faculty by gender is aligned with national norms, whereas a 20 percent point difference exists between tenured males and tenured females. The following table provides a breakdown of tenured faculty by gender in the UL System for Fall 2001. Institution Table 9 Full-Time (Instruction/Research/Public Service) Faculty Fall 2001 Men Women Total Faculty Total Faculty Tenured % Tenured Total Faculty Tenured % Tenured Total Faculty Tenured % Tenured GSU 140 97 69.3% 103 47 45.6% 243 144 59.3% LTU 225 114 50.7% 132 46 34.8% 357 160 44.8% MSU 158 113 71.5% 116 70 60.3% 274 183 66.8% NiSU 144 80 55.6% 131 47 35.9% 275 127 46.2% NSU 124 41 33.1% 137 33 24.1% 261 74 28.4% SLU 228 105 46.1% 255 77 30.2% 483 182 37.7% ULL 325 201 61.8% 205 78 38.0% 530 279 52.6% ULM 224 143 63.8% 194 72 37.1% 418 215 51.4% UL System Total 1,568 894 57.0% 1,273 470 36.9% 2,841 1,364 48.0% Source of Data: IPEDS Fall 2001 Staff Survey 5 National Center for Education Statistics, Digest of Education Statistics, 2001 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 15

Faculty by Highest Degree: Of the 2,841 full-time instruction/research and public service faculty employed in UL System institutions during Fall 2001, 62 percent hold the doctorate or terminal degree (See Chart 5). Chart 5 Percent of Full-time Instructional Faculty by Highest Degree, Fall 2001 Masters 33% Other 1% Bachelors 3% Juris Doctorate 1% Doctorate 62% Source of Data: UL System Institutions B. Average Faculty Salaries Average faculty pay nationwide rose 3.8 percent in 2001-02, the largest increase in 11 years. The 3.8 percent was well above the 1.6 percent inflation rate. 6 The average faculty increase in UL System institutions was 5.5 percent. In the UL System, the rank of Professor continues to be farthest away from the SREB average, lagging by 6.7 percent, and is followed closely by Instructor at 6.3 percent. The following Table provides a comparison of the average faculty salaries by rank in the UL System to the SREB adjusted weighted average. 6 The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4/19/02: Faculty Salaries Rise, for Now State-of-the-System 2002 Page 16

Table 10 Average Faculty Salaries By Rank Rank Average Faculty Salary 2001-02 ULS (+/-) SREB Avg UL System SREB $ Diff. % Diff. Professor $64,093 $68,675 ($4,582) -6.7% Associate Professor $52,414 $54,405 ($1,992) -3.7% Assistant Professor $43,337 $44,871 ($1,534) -3.4% Instructor $32,349 $34,521 ($2,172) -6.3% Total All Ranks $47,874 $50,343 ($2,469) -4.9% SREB Average faculty salary benchmarks are based on the 2000-01 regional averages increased by 1.6%. SREB adjusted for institutional mix Source of Data: SREB & IPEDS Faculty Salaries Survey Table 11, Faculty Salary Benchmarking Summary, provides a comparison of the average faculty salaries at Louisiana public four-year institutions to the SREB. These figures represent the average in the All Ranks category for both the institution and the SREB. Although the SREB averages are calculated by using SREB rank averages weighted by each institutional mix, the data reveal the continued effort that is being made in Louisiana to bridge the faculty salary gap. Currently, only one public four-year institution in the state has reached and surpassed the SREB average faculty salary benchmark. Louisiana Tech University, a UL System institution, exceeds the SREB average faculty salary by 1.4 percent. It is important to recognize that the SREB average is a moving target and continued support by the state is needed to achieve this goal. State-of-the-System 2002 Page 17

Institution Table 11 Faculty Salary Benchmarking - Summary 2001-02 SREB Category Average Faculty Salary - All Ranks Institution Average SREB Average % Difference GSU 4-Yr 4 $46,558 $49,318-5.6% LTU 4-Yr 3 $52,174 $51,476 1.4% MSU 4-Yr 4 $46,751 $51,567-9.3% NiSU 4-Yr 5 $43,524 $45,112-3.5% NSU 4-Yr 4 $42,471 $43,784-3.0% SLU 4-Yr 4 $45,016 $45,934-2.0% ULL 4-Yr 2 $53,819 $58,595-8.2% ULM 4-Yr 3 $46,554 $49,374-5.7% UL System Total $47,874 $50,343-4.9% LSU-BR 4-Yr 1 $59,028 $60,420-2.3% LSU-S 4-Yr 5 $47,749 $50,116-4.7% UNO 4-Yr 2 $57,618 $63,525-9.3% LSU System Total $54,798 $58,020-5.6% SUBR 4-Yr 3 $50,059 $51,320-2.5% SUNO 4-Yr 5 $44,886 $45,547-1.5% SU System Total $47,473 $48,434-2.0% Public 4-Yr Institutions $50,048 $52,266-4.2% Note: SREB average faculty salary benchmarks are based on the 2000-01 regional averages increased by 1.6%. SREB Adjusted for Institutional mix Source of Data: SREB & IPEDS Faculty Salaries Survey IV. Instruction A. Academic Programs and Program Accreditation The UL System has a total of 591 active degree programs at various award levels, more than 56 percent of all active degree programs offered at public four-year institutions in the state. The UL System offers 43 active degree programs at the certificate/associate level, 381 at the baccalaureate level, and 167 at the graduate/professional level. Of the 591 programs offered, 343 are eligible for accreditation, and of those, 327 are accredited, yielding an accreditation rate of 95.3% for the UL System. State-of-the-System 2002 Page 18

Accreditation of Eligible Programs: When comparing the accreditation rate for all public four-year institutions in the state, the UL System average is 4.2 percentage points higher. The UL System rate also exceeds the accreditation rates in both the LSU and the SU Systems by 4.8 and 28.6 percentage points, respectively (see Table 12). Northwestern State University, a UL System institution, is the only public four-year institution in the State to have achieved a 100% accreditation status on all eligible programs. In a continuing effort to ensure academic quality, UL System institutions increased their accreditation rates in 2002 by nearly two percentage points over the previous year s rate of 95.8 percent. The accreditation rate is calculated using as the base the number of programs eligible for accreditation. Table 12 Eligible Program Accreditation Status as of August 2002 Institution Active Total Active Programs Eligible for Accreditation Accredited Percent Accredited UL System Total 591 343 327 95.3% GSU 67 43 39 90.7% LTU 101 60 58 96.7% MSU** 62 35 30 85.7% NiSU 57 31 29 93.5% NSU 54 33 33 100.0% SLU 64 36 35 97.2% ULL 101 55 54 98.2% ULM 85 50 49 98.0% LSU System Total 348 148 134 90.5% LSU-BR 196 74 67 90.5% LSU-S 45 25 22 88.0% UNO 107 49 45 91.8% SU System Total 110 57 38 66.7% SUBR 73 42 36 85.7% SUNO 37 15 2 13.3% Public 4-Yr Institutions 1,049 548 499 91.1% **Accreditation Rate increases to 88.2% after elimination of the ADN program. Source of Data: Louisiana Board of Regents State-of-the-System 2002 Page 19

The UL System maintains a strong commitment to providing high quality academic programs through accreditation by national associations. As a result of this commitment, the System has experienced a substantial increase in its accreditation rate of all eligible programs, ranging from 77 percent in 1994 to 95 percent in 2002. During this time, certain accredited programs at individual institutions were consolidated or eliminated as a result of the Louisiana Board of Regents efforts to reduce the number of low completers and duplicate programs among state institutions. Chart 6 highlights the historical trend of program accreditation rates in the UL System. Chart 6 University of Louisiana System Trend in Program Accreditation Rates 1994-2002 100.0 95.0 90.0 93.2 95.3 85.0 87.3 80.0 75.0 77.2 80.8 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 Source of Data: Board of Regents Accreditation of Mandatory Programs: In its Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education: 2001, the Louisiana Board of Regents Goal II: Objective II is to achieve 100 percent accreditation of mandatory programs by 2005. Currently, the accreditation rate of mandatory programs at public four-year institutions in Louisiana is 95 percent. State-of-the-System 2002 Page 20

Of the programs listed as mandatory (including degree options) by the Board of Regents, the UL System has an accreditation rate of 97.6 percent, nearly three percentage points above the state. Five of the eight schools in the UL System have achieved an accreditation status of 100 percent of their mandatory programs. The following table provides information on the Board of Regents mandatory program accreditation rates. Table 13 Board of Regents Mandatory Program Accreditation Status As of August 2002 Institution Approved Programs No. of Mandatory Programs No. % Not Sought/ Denied Not Approved Applied For Other** Total Programs GSU 33 31 93.9% 2 0 0 33 LTU 45 45 100.0% 0 0 2 47 MSU 25 22 88.0% 3 0 0 25 NiSU 22 22 100.0% 0 0 4 26 NSU 20 20 100.0% 0 0 1 21 SLU 30 30 100.0% 0 0 0 30 ULL 37 36 97.3% 1 0 1 38 ULM 37 37 100.0% 0 0 1 38 UL System 249 243 97.6% 6 0 9 258 LSU-BR 48 47 97.9% 1 0 10 58 LSU-S 19 19 100.0% 0 0 0 19 UNO 35 34 97.1% 0 1 0 35 LSU System 102 100 98.0% 1 1 10 112 SU-BR 26 25 96.2% 1 0 3 29 SU-NO 13 2 15.4% 0 11 0 13 SU System 39 27 69.2% 1 11 3 42 Public 4-Year 390 370 94.9% 8 12 22 412 Note: **includes "not reported, "not available" & "not eligible" Source of Data: Board of Regents B. Distance Learning Activities In academic year 1997-98 an estimated 54,470 different distance education courses were offered nationally and, of those, 43,800 or 80 percent were offered at public State-of-the-System 2002 Page 21

institutions 7. In Fall 1998 Louisiana offered only 13 courses through distance learning with 10 of those courses (77%) being offered at a UL System institution, Northwestern State University. Louisiana, as well as the UL System, has experienced a substantial increase in the number of distance learning courses offered. In Fall 2001 Louisiana offered 511 distance learning courses and the UL System had increased its number of courses to 332, enrolling over 7,200 students. In comparison to all public four-year institutions in Louisiana, the UL System offered 80 percent of the distance learning courses and enrolled 80 percent of the students in Fall 2001 (see Table 14). Table 14 Distance Learning Courses and Enrollees Fall 2001 Institutions DL Programs/ Concentrations No. of Courses Students Enrolled Grambling State University 1 5 93 Louisiana Tech University 1 22 468 McNeese State University 0 43 856 Nicholls State University 1 20 233 Northwestern State University 6 103 2,774 Southeastern Louisiana University 2 112 2,245 University of Louisiana at Lafayette 0 8 127 University of Louisiana at Monroe 0 19 426 UL System Total 11 332 7,222 ULSystem as a % of Public 4-Year 100.0% 80.4% 80.4% Louisiana State University-BR 0 38 536 Louisiana State University-S 0 0 0 University of New Orleans 0 31 1,085 LSU System Total 0 69 1,621 Southern University-BR 0 12 139 Southern University-NO 0 0 0 SU System Total 0 12 139 Public 4-Year Institutions 11 413 8,982 Others Public Institutions 0 98 1,304 Louisiana Total 11 511 10,286 Source of Data: Board of Regents 7 National Center for Education Statistics: Statistical Analysis Report, December 1999 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 22

C. Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) The Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) is a broad-based state merit scholarship program awarding, on average, 36,000 scholarships annually. Louisiana is one of twelve states to implement a scholarship program that rewards students for their academic work. TOPS accounts for more than 95 percent of the financial aid given in Louisiana. 8 The amount of funding allocated for TOPS recipients for fiscal year 2001 amounted to nearly $90 million and averaged just over $2,500 per award. UL System institutions received approximately $34 million with awards averaging $2,300 per recipient (see Table 15). Table 15 TUITION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS (TOPS) (As of November 2001) Institutions 2000-01 Awardees Amount of Award Average Award Grambling State University 214 $485,952 $2,271 Louisiana Tech University 2,940 $7,855,957 $2,672 McNeese State University 1,401 $3,099,943 $2,213 Nicholls State University 1,514 $3,306,845 $2,184 Northwestern State University 1,747 $3,941,465 $2,256 Southeastern Louisiana University 2,144 $4,767,095 $2,223 University of Louisiana at Lafayette 3,315 $7,125,556 $2,149 University of Louisiana at Monroe 1,611 $3,670,585 $2,278 Total UL System 14,886 $34,253,398 $2,301 Public 4-Year Total 35,452 $89,561,272 $2,526 Source of Data: Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid During the past three years, more than 80% of the TOPS recipients throughout the state maintained their eligibility to receive the awards. Retention requirements include a minimum 24 credit hours earned each academic year, a cumulative GPA of 2.30 at the end of the first academic year, and 2.50 each successive academic year. The following table provides a three-year trend in the percent of students maintaining their TOPS eligibility. 8 The Chronicle of Higher Education State-of-the-System 2002 Page 23

Table 16 TUITION OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS (TOPS) Percent of Students Maintaining Eligibility Institution 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 Public 4-Yr Institutions Grambling State University 90.5% 91.1% 89.6% Louisiana Tech University 85.4% 88.2% 88.4% McNeese State University 80.9% 82.2% 84.7% Nicholls State University 78.3% 81.8% 82.6% Northwestern State University 84.6% 86.8% 88.1% Southeastern Louisiana University 80.2% 83.3% 85.6% University of Louisiana at Lafayette 79.4% 82.5% 85.2% University of Louisiana at Monroe 86.1% 84.6% 88.1% UL System Total 82.3% 84.5% 86.3% LSU - Baton Rouge 84.2% 86.2% 89.5% LSU - Shreveport 71.9% 77.2% 81.8% University of New Orleans 68.0% 72.6% 78.5% LSU System Total 81.5% 84.0% 87.7% SU - Baton Rouge 85.6% 92.0% 87.2% SU - New Orleans 96.2% 100.0% 85.3% SU System Total 86.1% 92.3% 87.1% Public 4-Yr Total 82.0% 84.4% 87.0% Other Public Institutions Baton Rouge CC 71.4% 60.0% 66.9% Bossier Parish CC 46.2% 79.1% 81.2% Delgado CC 70.2% 81.8% 83.1% Elaine Nunez CC 81.3% 96.9% 68.8% LSU - Alexandria 71.3% 68.1% 75.3% LSU - Eunice 77.1% 80.6% 79.1% South LA CC 20.0% 86.7% 100.0% SU - Shreveport 83.3% 87.5% 71.4% LSU MC - Shreveport 93.8% 100.0% 95.5% LSU MC - New Orleans 100.0% 99.1% 99.7% Total Other Public Institutions 75.4% 77.5% 82.6% Private Institutions Centenary College of LA 90.9% 92.7% 92.5% Dillard University 83.5% 89.5% 95.3% LA College 89.4% 86.0% 91.5% Loyola University - New Orleans 89.9% 91.0% 94.4% Our Lady of the Holy Cross 91.0% 92.7% 87.7% Our Lady of the Lake College 88.9% 87.1% 95.3% Tulane University 90.3% 90.4% 91.6% Xavier University 83.4% 82.1% 89.2% Private Institutions Total 88.3% 88.8% 92.4% State Total 82.4% 84.8% 87.3% Source of Data: Louisiana Office of Student Financial Aid State-of-the-System 2002 Page 24

D. Freshman Retention According to a recent ACT news release, nationally, more first-year college students are returning for a second year. This trend suggests that new college students may be better prepared academically or financially, better able to cope with campus life, or enrolling in more courses at their level of readiness. 9 Nationwide, the percent of first-year students at public four-year colleges who return for a second year has a five-year percent change of 1.3. In comparison, the rates in the UL System and the state have a five-year percent change of 6.9 and 5.1, respectively. The 2001 first-time full-time freshman retention rate in the UL System exceeded both the state and the national rates for the first time since 1996. The UL System has shown significant progress in retaining the number of freshman students in the Louisiana higher education system (see Chart 7). Chart 7 First-Time Full-Time Freshman Retention Rates 1997-2001 75.0 74.0 73.0 72.0 71.0 70.0 69.0 68.0 67.0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 UL System 69.7 70.0 69.8 71.4 72.4 74.5 State Rate 70.7 70.7 71.1 72.1 72.4 74.3 National 71.0 71.4 71.2 71.9 72.1 71.9 Source of Data: Board of Regents First-time Full-time Student Exit/Transfer Report & ACT News Release 9 ACT Newsroom, News Release April 2001 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 25

As the national trend suggests, the UL System institutions are receiving students who are better prepared academically. This is due in part to the decision to employ some form of admissions standards in seven of the eight institutions (Grambling is exempted by the Settlement Agreement) in the UL System. According to the Louisiana Master Plan for Public Postsecondary Education: 2001, an Admissions Criteria Framework has been established so that by Fall 2010, all public four-year institutions in the state will be required to develop and implement admissions criteria at a level not less than Selective III. The following table provides a historical depiction of retention rates in the UL System as compared to state and national rates. Table 17 First-Time Full-Time Freshman Retention Rate (Students retained in Louisiana Higher Education System from Fall to Fall) Institution 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 GSU 67.2 63.7 64.2 68.7 70.2 71.1 LTU 83.9 82.2 84.1 82.8 81.1 81.7 MSU 61.3 62.2 59.9 64.4 66.4 69.1 NiSU 65.9 68.8 66.3 66.9 67.1 66.6 NSU 68.8 68.1 69.0 73.6 74.0 75.8 SLU 71.5 72.4 70.3 70.3 68.6 73.5 ULL 69.8 71.4 71.0 73.2 76.3 80.3 ULM 70.1 69.3 70.6 67.9 71.4 70.2 UL System Rate 69.7 70.0 69.8 71.4 72.4 74.5 State Public Rate 70.7 70.7 71.1 72.1 72.4 74.3 National Public Rate 71.0 71.4 71.2 71.9 72.1 71.9 Sources of Data: Board of Regents First-time Full-time Student Exit/Transfer Report and ACT News Release E. Mean ACT Composite As a result of implementing admissions standards, the UL System has seen a continuous increase in the average ACT composite scores of its entering freshmen. During the past six years, the average ACT composite in the UL System has increased 0.5 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 26

percentage points, from 19.0 in 1996 to 19.5 in 2001. These scores are based on students who took the ACT test and actually enrolled in the University. The state has experienced a 0.2 percentage point increase between 1996 and 2001; however, the composite has remained at 19.6 during the past four years. The state s composite score encompasses all test takers. In contrast, the average ACT composite for the nation, which encompasses all test takers, remains constant at 21.0 between 1996 and 2000 then dropping to 20.8 in 2001. ACT explains the drop stating that this year s national score report includes around 30,000 additional students (over last year) who were not intending to attend college at the time they took the ACT and were not taking rigorous core courses that would prepare them for college-level coursework. Both Colorado and Illinois required all 11 th graders to take the ACT as part of their statewide achievement testing programs 10 (see Chart 8). Chart 8 Mean ACT Composite Scores 1996-2001 22.0 21.5 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 20.8 20.5 20.0 19.5 19.0 19.0 19.4 19.1 19.5 19.2 19.6 19.3 19.6 19.6 19.5 19.6 19.5 18.5 18.0 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 UL System State Nation Source of Data: ACT Profile Reports & ACT News Release 10 2001 ACT National and State Scores, August 2001 State-of-the-System 2002 Page 27

The following table (Table 18) provides trend data on the average ACT composite for each institution in the UL System as well as scores for the state and nation. Table 18 Mean ACT Composite Scores 1996 to 2001 Institution 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 Nation 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 20.8 State 19.4 19.5 19.6 19.6 19.6 19.6 UL System 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.5 19.5 Grambling State University 15.8 16.0 16.1 16.0 16.6 15.8 Louisiana Tech University 22.0 22.1 21.9 22.1 21.8 21.9 McNeese State University 19.2 19.4 19.4 19.5 19.5 20.2 Nicholls State University 18.7 18.7 18.8 18.9 18.8 19.0 Northwestern State University 19.3 19.4 19.4 19.4 19.6 19.4 Southeastern Louisiana University 18.7 18.7 18.8 18.8 19.3 19.4 University of Louisiana at Lafayette 19.4 19.4 19.6 20.6 20.9 20.8 University of Louisiana at Monroe 19.2 19.2 19.2 19.3 19.3 19.8 Source of Data: ACT Profile Reports & ACT News Release F. Graduation Rates As a result of receiving better academically prepared students and the administrative decision to reduce the number of hours required to earn a degree, the UL System six-year graduation rates in 2000-01 increased by nearly two percentage points over the previous year and have a five-year increase of 6.9 percent. In contrast, the national graduation rates, which are measured over a five-year period, remain unchanged over the previous year and have experienced a five-year decrease of -6.1 percent (see Chart 9). Graduation rate data encompass completers for one academic year including the summer, fall, and spring terms. State-of-the-System 2002 Page 28