Capping TOPS on agenda

A south Louisiana lawmaker wants to limit awards from the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students awards, which pays full tuition for Louisiana students who meet certain academic standards and attend Louisiana public colleges.
Sen. Butch Gautreaux’s bill, filed for the legislative session that begins April 27, would cap the base TOPS scholarship at $3,200 — enough to cover tuition costs at every state public college except LSU and the University of New Orleans.
The current base TOPS award at LSU is worth $3,494 and is expected to increase 5 percent this year to cover tuition and fee increases of up to 5 percent statewide.
UNO’s TOPS value is $3,228, according to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance.
LSU Chancellor Michael Martin said the limit in Gautreaux’s bill would punish LSU students.
LSU is naturally a little more expensive as the state flagship, he said, and attracts more high-achieving students.
“I’m not sure this is fair to students who are higher achieving,” Martin said. “We don’t want to create an environment where it’s more advantageous for our highest-achieving students to go out of state.”
Gautreaux said it is more likely students would opt for regional Louisiana colleges, such as those in the University of Louisiana System.
After LSU and UNO, the next-highest TOPS award cost is Louisiana Tech University at $3,086, while every other college, including Southern University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, is well below $3,000.
Gautreaux’s SB85 can be seen at www.legis.state.la.us