For years, students and faculty have heard of budget cuts the university has faced, but this has a possibility of changing in the future from cuts to hiked state funds, according to University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley.  
The Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy fund is a collaboration between higher education, economic development and workforce commission that would provide an incentive fund of $40 million for higher education, and Woodley claims this is just the starting point.
The incentive fund is available for state research institutions who produce nationally and recognized commercial research as well as state colleges and universities that will partner with private industry and prepare graduates for high-demand 4- and 5-star. The 4 to 5-star jobs WISE would focus on include computer science, construction crafts, education, engineering, finance and accounting, healthcare and industrial production.
Though WISE focuses on 4- and 5-star jobs, it does not take away from the importance of the liberal arts, according to Woodley.
Woodley said there are great values in the humanities, and the humanities are continued to be needed to have well-rounded students.
Governor Bobby Jindal is in favor of raising the incentive funds for the state of Louisiana.
“Our higher education institutions have done an incredible job over the past six years instituting a number of reforms to help more of our students graduate. These results are a testament to the incredible work of our faculty and students at schools across Louisiana,” said a press release after a press conference Jindal gave last week.  
If WISE were to pass, 20 percent of the distributed funds would go towards federal research expenditures while 80 percent would go towards degree production for 4- and 5-star job. Also, a 20% percent industry match would be needed to spur private investment in colleges and universities which could include scholarships, value of internships, in-kind contributions, facilities, equipment, software, technology and cash.
Louisiana currently has a high demand of work needs for 4- to 5-star jobs but not enough people to fill the job-gap. Partnering with companies would allow more students the ability to enter the work-force once they have graduated from Southeastern with a stronger chance of being accepted to a 4- to 5-star job.
Along with more jobs, WISE would help lead the way in allowing Louisiana to be one of the more competitive states in the nation.
“In the University of Louisiana System, there is a deep sense of responsibility and urgency to increase the pace at our nine universities to meet growing workforce demands and to achieve national competiveness,” said Woodley in a press release.
“We are greatly appreciative of Governor Jindal’s support of the WISE plan and are committed to leveraging these new dollars, engaging in unprecedented collaboration across higher education systems and enhancing our partnerships with business and industry to drive economic development.”
“Those who support this legislation see it as a first step in the right direction in terms of securing some recurring funding for higher education,” said Erin Cowser, Executive Director of Public and Governmental Affairs. “It’s not going to make everything better, but it’s a start.”