GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY
MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
GRAMBLING, LOUISIANA
(318) 274-2560
(318) 274-3330 FAX
mediarelations@gram.edu
For Immediate Release: October 27, 2008
Study to explore Grambling State University’s
impact on regional economy, quality of life
GSU joins seven other University of Louisiana System campuses participating
in independent review
GRAMBLING-----Grambling State University has commissioned a study that, for the first time, will make it possible to document GSU's impact on the economy and quality of life in the Town of Grambling, Lincoln Parish and the region.
GSU is joining seven other campuses in the University of Louisiana System that have commissioned similar studies. Applied Research Technology Corporation of Baton Rouge will conduct the studies to determine each campus’ economic and quality of life contribution regionally and the system’s impact on the state as a whole. Results are expected by late spring.
GSU President Horace A. Judson said the study will not only show the importance of GSU’s economic impact, but also will show the overall value GSU adds to the community.
“Is the Town of Grambling better off financially because of the presence of Grambling State University? Is our community a better place to live as a result of the presence of the university?” Judson said. “We believe so, but this study will help us definitively answer these questions. And I think the public will be impressed with the results.”
UL System President Randy Moffett said the studies are essential in showing the state’s return on its investment. The eight UL System campuses, situated throughout the state, include Grambling State University, Louisiana Tech University, McNeese State University, Northwestern State University, Nicholls State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette and University of Louisiana at Monroe.
“Over the past two years, the Legislature and public have generously supported Louisiana’s universities with additional funding. We owe it to them to continue our efforts to improve the quality of education on our campuses and to quantify our value in the most concrete terms possible,” Moffett said. “The total economic impact of our universities is difficult to measure, but with a system of eight universities that employs approximately 11,500 faculty and staff, educates more than 80,000 students, and produces the lion’s share of Louisiana’s graduates for key high-demand careers, we know the impact is significant.”
It will also incorporate the comments of stakeholders, such as business and industry leaders.
The studies will compile expenditures from a variety of sources including the university budget, faculty and staff, students, university visitors, university retirees, vendors and affiliated organizations. Those expenditures will be used to compute an economic impact dollar figure that represents each university’s fiscal impact and contributions to the region and state. Based on a methodology established through a seminal study by the American Council on Education, the UL System studies will detail expenditures and use a multiplier to determine the total impact on each region and the state.
Similar studies have been commissioned by the California State System, the University of Maine System and the University of Texas System, as well as individual universities. In Louisiana, four UL System institutions, Northwestern State University, Southeastern Louisiana University, UL Lafayette and UL Monroe have conducted their own economic impact studies over the years.
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