Higher Education

The Louisiana Senate has refused to refer a bill targeting diversity, equity and inclusion to a committee where it could be debated, an unusual move that essentially means the proposal will die on the vine.

The House Education Committee on Wednesday advanced a bill to update funding for TOPS college scholarships and create a new award for the highest-scoring students.

The Louisiana Legislature will consider creating a flat rate for TOPS program scholarships, regardless of what school students attend. It would increase the out of pocket costs for LSU and University of New Orleans students.

The state’s higher education oversight board unanimously voted Wednesday to recommend moving the University of New Orleans, which has struggled with enrollment and finances, back into the LSU System.

Louisiana universities could lose tens of millions of dollars in federal funding under a proposed slash in National Institutes of Health research funding President Donald Trump’s administration has put forward.

The department tracks student achievement, manages college financial aid and sends K-12 schools money to support students with disabilities and lower-income communities, among other things.

LSU general counsel Winston DeCuir will step down from his position, according to a copy of his resignation letter the Illuminator obtained Thursday.

A group of LSU students held a protest Tuesday outside the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, demanding professor Ken Levy be reinstated following his removal from the classroom pending an investigation into alleged political comments he made.

An LSU law school professor has been removed from teaching classes for reportedly making political comments in the classroom, his attorney says.

Last year, Louisiana lawmakers asked every Louisiana public school to submit a report on their spending related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Based on an Illuminator review of their submissions, there has been minimal spending on these programs.