Last Tuesday, the state of Louisiana hosted “HBCU Day at the Capitol.” During the Advisory Council meeting, college presidents heard from state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette, and state Rep. Jason Hughes, D-New Orleans, on legislation affecting higher education, and I brought to the board’s attention the necessity to address the dramatic increases in property and casualty insurance that threatens private nonprofit higher education.
HBCUs are resilient, and we pride ourselves on being self-sufficient. Like other nonprofits, we rely on partners to support our work by giving of their time, talent and treasure. Unfortunately, as more insurance companies pull out of the state, our very existence is threatened.
Louisiana residents are no strangers to storms. However, the current crisis has hit homeowners and businesses with dramatic increases, and this threat shows no signs of abating.
Dillard University saw a 153% increase in our insurance, bringing it up to over $2 million this year. Our sister Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges & Universities schools expect dramatic increases as well.
Before the Legislature is Senate Bill 147 by state Sen. Robert Mills, R-Minden, which would authorize the creation of the Louisiana Churches and Nonprofit Religious Organizations Self-Insured Fund. If amended, it would enable Xavier, which is supported by the Catholic Church, and Dillard which is supported by the UMC and UCC, to join other faith-affiliated schools like Holy Cross and Baptist Theological Seminary to create a self-insured collective, providing a less expensive insurance alternative.
We welcome your support in shaping SB 147 to be inclusive of higher education institutions. Having bipartisan support for creative solutions like SB 147 will help us fulfill our mission of cultivating leaders who make Louisiana and the world better. I ask that you join us and the business community, which stands with us through GNO Inc., the Business Council and LAICU in seeking solutions.
ROCHELLE L. FORD
president, Dillard University
New Orleans
