By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The final years of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s first term in office have been dominated by his proposals for higher education reforms in the state in reaction to various studies showing Louisiana lags behind other states in the south when comparing graduation rates and other performance areas.

Many of the governor’s proposals, which include sharp budget cuts, consolidation of governing boards and classroom offerings, and more focus on graduation rates, have received much criticism and opposition from faculty, staff and attending students.

As the state legislature prepares to enter into a fiscal legislative session at the end of April, L’Observateur last week asked visitors to its website what they thought would be the most beneficial reform for higher education in Louisiana

Equal numbers of voters said they would either like to see a single system of governance for the state’s public colleges, or a consolidation of programs of study and elimination of underperforming schools. Each suggestion garnered 30 percent of the vote.

The remaining 40 percent of voters were split between either updating tuition standards and credit hour requirements, or, making colleges and universities more accountable for matters such as graduation rates. Those responses received 21 percent and 19 percent respectively.

A full breakdown of the results is as follows:

• 30 percent of respondents chose “Create a single system of governance for the state’s public colleges and universities.”

• 30 percent of respondents chose “Consolidate programs of study and eliminate under-performing programs.”

• 21 percent of respondents chose “Update tuition standards and credit-hour requirements.”

• 19 percent of respondents chose “Make colleges and universities more accountable for matters such as graduation rates.”