Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 10/9/98
      Contact:                           Tim Ardillo   1

PERRY OUTLINES HIGHER EDUCATION ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
     HAMMOND -- Steve Perry, Governor Mike Foster s Chief of Staff, said higher
education will play a crucial role in the state s number one goal for the coming year  
reorganization of economic development.
      For the first time, higher education will be the engine that drives not only the economy
but the vision of the future,  Perry said.
     Perry was the special guest Friday at a Southeastern Louisiana University planning retreat
designed to tune up and update the university s mission, goals and vision. 
     In luncheon remarks, Perry outlined current trends in Louisiana higher education,
including governance, continued faculty raises, a new budgetary formula and rewards for
program excellence.
      The passion for us (the Foster administration) is education,  Perry said.  Three quarters
of a billion new dollars have been pumped into education because we are setting priorities. 
     Perry said economic prosperity and development have always been an administration goa.
He said that in the 21st century economic development will have to depend on higher education
to
serve as knowledge banks for each region in the state.
     Perry said that in the next three months the Board of Regents will begin identifying
higher education programs that can meet current and future business needs.
     Southeastern, he added, is considered  one of the most engaging and most dynamic of
Louisiana s four-year institutions. You are fulfilling your mission better than anyone. 
                                 - SLU -
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