The Southern University System is hosting a series of town hall meetings across Louisiana to discuss concerns about the effect of budget cuts on the system's three schools.  The first one will be held in Breaux Bridge this Friday at the Bethlehem Baptist Church Hall at 617 Latiolias Road.  It was previously scheduled to be held here Lafayette.

The other town halls will be held Friday in Alexandria, Saturday in Shreveport and Monroe, on July 24 in New Orleans, on July 25 in Baton Rouge and on July 26 in Franklinton.

SU System President Ronald Mason Jr. is expected to attend the meetings. He plans to share his, "Keys to the Future of the Southern System,". A news release on the town halls says "enrollment challenges" and increased retirement and health care costs also will be topics for discussion.

According to their website, "The Southern University System, the only Historically Black College and University System, has, and will be faced with tremendous financial and political challenges, deep budget reductions, enrollment challenges, increased retirement and healthcare costs, and lack of reserves System-wide. As a result of the current state of the University, the SU System must renew itself as a model, 21st Century Historically Black College and University system of higher learning."

The meeting is set to start at noon.

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