Consultant Suggests Options In SUNO/UNO Study

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A consultant charged with studying a possible merger of Southern University at New Orleans with the University of New Orleans is suggesting two options: a new merged University of Greater New Orleans or a redesign of the campuses to give them separate missions.

The draft report will be presented to Louisiana's top higher education board, the Board of Regents, on Monday afternoon. The board is expected to make a decision on what it will recommend a day later.

Gov. Bobby Jindal asked the board to study a possible merger in January as a way to improve education. The Regents then hired the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

A merger is opposed by the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, among others, who call it an attack on historically black colleges.