New Orleans, September 26, 2025
News Summary
Interim LSU President Matt Lee has proposed rebranding the University of New Orleans (UNO) as LSU New Orleans to facilitate its return to the LSU System. UNO has faced declining enrollment and financial challenges, prompting the need for fresh branding. With enrollment dropping significantly since Hurricane Katrina, this transition aims to leverage the LSU brand’s strength to attract more students. UNO’s relationship with alumni and its identity are concerns amid this potential change, but collaborative efforts will guide future decisions to ensure community interests are prioritized.
New Orleans – Interim LSU President Matt Lee has proposed that the University of New Orleans (UNO) be rebranded as LSU New Orleans during a presentation to the Board of Regents on December 15, 2022. He emphasized that such rebranding is essential for a successful transfer of UNO back to the LSU System.
UNO was originally called LSU New Orleans when it was founded in 1958 and retained that name until 1974. In 2011, it transitioned to the University of Louisiana System to operate independently of the larger LSU campus in Baton Rouge. The decision to transfer UNO back to the LSU System comes in light of the university’s declining enrollment and ongoing financial crisis.
UNO is the only public research university located in New Orleans and plays a vital role in the region’s education and economic framework. Lawmakers have noted that UNO’s shrinking student body is a significant factor in its financial difficulties. Enrollment at UNO has been declining for two decades, dropping from around 17,000 students before Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to approximately 6,000 today.
Last fiscal year, UNO faced a budget shortfall of $30 million, leading to layoffs, staff furloughs, and spending freezes. In contrast, every school within the LSU System reported increasing enrollment figures, further highlighting UNO’s long-standing struggle. State officials have pointed to the drop in student numbers as a reason behind the decline in tuition and state funding, which has substantially impacted the university’s financial stability. Since its transition to the University of Louisiana System in 2011, revenue from tuition and fees at UNO has decreased by about 20%, now totaling $65 million. Furthermore, funding from the state has fallen nearly 45% over the past two decades.
Concerns have been raised regarding how the proposed rebranding might affect UNO’s identity and its relationship with alumni, some of whom may feel alienated by the shift. Nevertheless, some legislators believe that adopting LSU branding could better align UNO with the success of LSU and potentially attract more students.
UNO President Kathy Johnson noted that any future decisions regarding rebranding or consolidation will prioritize the best interests of the university community through collaborative efforts. Meanwhile, Interim LSU President Lee has highlighted that the “LSU brand is strong” and could offer significant advantages for UNO as it undergoes this transition.
A committee has been created to oversee the transition, and its first meeting is scheduled for early next month. A feasibility study had previously indicated that UNO was intended to bolster its position after moving to the UL System, but the opposite has occurred. Recommendations for a forensic financial audit and program assessments have also been proposed to address UNO’s existing financial challenges and enhance oversight following the transition.
Key Points
- Interim LSU President proposes rebranding UNO to LSU New Orleans.
- UNO has seen enrollment decline from 17,000 to approximately 6,000 since 2005.
- A budget shortfall of $30 million was reported in the last fiscal year.
- UNO funding from the state has decreased nearly 45% over the past two decades.
- A committee to oversee the transition will have its first meeting next month.
FAQ
- What is the proposal made by Interim LSU President Matt Lee regarding UNO?
- Interim LSU President Matt Lee suggested that the University of New Orleans (UNO) adopt LSU branding and rebrand as LSU New Orleans.
- When was the presentation made to the Board of Regents?
- The proposal was made during a presentation to the Board of Regents on December 15, 2022.
- What was UNO’s enrollment trend over the past two decades?
- UNO’s enrollment has been declining for two decades, with student numbers dropping from around 17,000 before Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to approximately 6,000 today.
- How much budget shortfall did UNO face in the last fiscal year?
- UNO faced a budget shortfall of $30 million in the last fiscal year, resulting in layoffs, staff furloughs, and spending freezes.
- What were the funding changes for UNO over the past twenty years?
- UNO’s funding from the state has decreased nearly 45% in the past two decades, contributing to the financial crisis.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- LA Illuminator
- New Orleans CityBusiness
- NOLA.com
- Higher Ed Dive
- WWL-TV
- Wikipedia: University of New Orleans
- Google Search: UNO LSU merger
- Google Scholar: UNO LSU transition
- Encyclopedia Britannica: University of New Orleans
- Google News: UNO LSU rebranding
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