Published August 18, 2016
MONROE, La. — Dr. Nick J. Bruno, President of the University of Louisiana Monroe,
delivered his sixth State of the University address Thursday morning to faculty, staff
and members of the community who gathered in Brown Auditorium.
Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo, State Senator Mike Walsworth, members of the ULM Foundation
Board, and Keith Brown, Director of District Outreach for Congressman Ralph Abraham,
were also in attendance.
Dr. Nick J. Bruno, delivering the 2016 university address
The address came on the final day of ULM’s ‘University Week,’ a week of training and
development for new and returning faculty.
Bruno highlighted the accomplishments, innovations and achievements from the previous
year but also addressed new challenges and goals for the university as it moves into
a new academic year.
“I tell folks all the time that I feel so privileged to be able to talk about the
accomplishments of so many people that work so hard on a daily basis despite the challenges
we face,” Bruno remarked.
A ‘point of pride’ discussed by Bruno was the university’s being recognized as an
‘R3’ (moderate research) doctoral-granting institution of higher education by the
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education (CCIHE). This was a major
milestone for the university, as it became one of only six universities in the state
(and 335 in the nation) recognized by the CCIHE as a ‘doctoral university.’
Bruno identified several areas of research and collaboration, including a partnership
with the Ouachita Police Jury for clean water research in Calhoun, the operation of
the new Doppler weather radar (scheduled to go into operation this week), and multiple
million-dollar grants awarded to faculty and programs.
Bruno also showed that despite state budget issues in recent years, the university
has seen a significant increase in retention and graduation. Retention increased by
9.2% from 2006-07 to 2015-16 and the graduation rate increased by 12% from 2008 to
2016.
An additional highlight was the annual service value impact ULM has on the northeast
Louisiana region and across the state, which totaled $45.5 million. Such services
include health services, business services, internships, athletics, and arts and culture.
Internships alone, totaling 3,056 for the last fiscal year, were valued at $19.4 million.
Bruno indicated that ULM has 34% more interns than any other school in the UL System.
New and exciting changes for the university include the opening of an Academic Innovation
Center for faculty, a new Football Fieldhouse, a new Barnes and Noble bookstore, a
major renovation of Starbucks, and a new fountain in Scott Plaza.
One of the challenges Bruno discussed was the uncertainty students face about scholarships
from TOPS, which has been a major challenge for universities state-wide. He stated
that students have not seen this kind of issue with TOPS since the program’s establishment
nearly two decades ago. He indicated that he didn’t know how this would impact students
in the spring but that it could endanger enrollment if solutions were not found.
In his comments, Bruno was clear that ULM would continue to strengthen its partnerships,
raise the level of research and collaboration on campus, and maintain high standards
for its students.
“The six-year common theme I’ve had is we’re the best-kept secret. Apparently, that
secret is beginning to get out.”
