Lombardi pitches higher ed bailout

• By JORDAN BLUM
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 20, 2009 - Page: 8A

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LSU System President John Lombardi is satirically proposing a federal bailout for higher education nationwide.

In presenting “The Higher Education Foundations Act,” Lombardi contends the federal government should fund each public college to the tune of $5,000 per full-time student — half the baseline cost to educate an undergraduate per year — to maintain the quality of the nation’s colleges.

Doing so would help offset the nation’s economic woes and the budget cuts to colleges that are ongoing in many states. But such a plan also would cost billions of dollars annually.

Lombardi is making the case for the bailout plan in a “Seeking Federal Support” article on the Inside Higher Ed Web site, where he has an occasional “Reality Check” blog.

“I want the money. I am confident that we could spend it a lot better than the bailed out banks and the rescued financial services industry,” Lombardi stated. “I also know that higher education is a much better investment than many other government projects.”

Billions of federal dollars a year already go into colleges through research grants and student financial aid but not in direct funding.

“These federal benefits are substantial, and in one sense, I suppose I should not worry about adding yet another item onto the list,”

Lombardi stated. “Why not have a federal subsidy for general undergraduate educational expenditures?”

Lombardi suggests this year’s federal stimulus funding has already made many colleges dependent on federal aid.

“The recent infusion of federal dollars through the stimulus funding saved many public universities from horrific budget reductions for this and perhaps next year (and the prospect of losing that subvention may well prompt enthusiasm for general federal support of higher education),” he stated.

When asked her thoughts on the exaggerated proposal from LSU’s often outspoken president, State Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen said, “That’s Dr. Lombardi.”

Although unlikely, Clausen said she would love for the government to give the state’s colleges $50 million or so to help boost graduation rates.

“I would hold my hands out in the front of the line,” Clausen said.