The recipient entity's physical address:
           6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  8946

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $150,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Toya Barnes-Teamer, 2601 Gentilly Boulevard New Orleans LA 70122
Lisa Baudot, 601 Poydras Street 28th Floor New Orleans LA 70130
Rev. John Brown, 4133 Banks Street New Orleans LA 70119
Rev. John Cecero, 441 E. Fordham Rd. Bronx NY 10458
Rev. Thomas Curran, 3333 Regis Boulevard M-12 Denver CO 80221
W. Penn Dawson, 1575 Calhoun Street New Orleans LA 70118
Rev. Andrew Downing, 3700 "O" St., NW Washington DC 20057
Benjamin Fields, 205 West 119 Street 2C New York NY 10026
Caroline Gonzalez, 95 Harbor Town Square no. 301 Memphis TN 38103
Sonja Greenbaum, 3927 Parian Ridge Road, NW Atlanta GA 30327
Ryan Haas, 8401 N. Central Expy. Suite 910 Dallas TX 75225
Nancy Hairston, PO 140560 Dallas TX 75214
Deborah Jones, 870 High Street Suite 2 Chestertown MD 21620
Dr. Rachel Kent, 60 Stonehedge Place Boxborough MA 1719
Dennis Lauscha, 5800 Airline Drive Metairie LA 70003
Rev. Brian Linnane, 1419 Salt Springs Road Syracuse NY 13214
Dr. Diana Pallais, 3617 Meridian Avenue N. Seattle WA 98103
Gregory Rattler, 3035 Octavia Street New Orleans LA 70125
Lisa Osborne Ross, 18911 New Hampshire Avenue Brinklow MD 20862
Christopher Schouest, 2901 Moss Street Lafayette LA 70501
Dr. Leonardo Seoane, 1514 Jefferson Highway, BH#523 New Orleans LA 70121
Tod Smith, 127 Pinehurst Drive New Orleans LA 70131
Cherrell Simms Taplin, 701 Poydras Street, Suite 5000 New Orleans LA 70139
Rev. John Thiede, 1345 West Wells Street Milwaukee WI 53233
Conrad "Duke" Williams, 614 Gravier Street New Orleans LA 70130
Xavier Cole, President, Office of the President, 6363 St. Charles Avenue 221 Marquette Hall New Orleans, LA 70118
Kyle Gregore, Director of Facilities, 6363 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118-6143
Amy King, Director of Office for Accessible Education, Monroe Library 2nd Floor 6363 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Loyola University New Orleans requests state support for a focused feasibility, research, and program assessment initiative to determine the academic, financial, workforce, and operational viability of developing meteorology education pathways. The assessment will evaluate two faculty-developed concepts: a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with a Broadcast Meteorology concentration and a 1.5-year, 39-credit cohort Meteorology Certificate Program for working professionals and career changers.

The proposed study, not a request to launch either program, will assess Louisiana employer and student demand, potential partners in weather broadcasting, emergency management, aviation and public communication, curriculum and science prerequisites, faculty and laboratory requirements, regulatory and academic approvals, affordability, and a sustainable operating model. It will also assess the contribution that effective weather and hazard communication can make to Louisiana communities vulnerable to hurricanes, flooding, and severe weather.
The University will use the resulting evidence to determine whether, when, and how to proceed, and will produce a documented implementation recommendation with a phased budget and measurable performance indicators. No approval, enrollment, certification eligibility, or employment outcome is presumed.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $65,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $35,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $50,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The public purpose is to strengthen Louisiana’s capacity to educate professionals who interpret and communicate weather and climate information clearly and accurately. Reliable communication of severe-weather forecasts, flooding risks, and aviation conditions supports public understanding, preparedness, and informed decision-making.

Before committing public resources to a new credential or degree pathway, Loyola seeks to establish a defensible evidence base concerning workforce demand, access for nontraditional learners, curriculum quality, interdisciplinary partnerships, and long-term financial sustainability. The study will examine the potential for applied instruction in meteorology, broadcasting, digital communication, aviation weather, and emergency preparedness.

State funds will support assessment deliverables and decision-making rather than subsidize an unapproved program launch. Findings will inform whether proposed offerings can responsibly advance Louisiana workforce and public-safety needs.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          1. Market Research and Workforce Demand – $65,000
Engage independent consultants to assess student interest, employer demand, competing programs, and workforce opportunities in broadcast media, aviation, emergency management, and related industries. Conduct employer interviews, benchmark comparable programs, evaluate enrollment projections, and develop financial feasibility models to determine long-term market viability.
2. Academic Feasibility and Professional Standards – $35,000
Evaluate the proposed 120-credit B.A. concentration and 39-credit certificate, including curriculum requirements, science and mathematics coursework, forecasting instruction, faculty capacity, academic partnerships, and institutional approval processes. Independently assess applicable American Meteorological Society standards and other professional criteria, identify curricular gaps, and distinguish academic degree completion from eligibility for professional credentials.
3. Technology, Facilities, and Delivery Assessment – $20,000
Evaluate the proposed online/hybrid cohort model and one-week residency. Assess existing Mass Communication studios, workstations, instructional resources, and laboratory capacity. Identify technology and infrastructure requirements, including radar and satellite systems, weather graphics software, forecasting tools, accessibility, and instructional support.
4. Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Development – $15,000
Engage prospective students, employers, industry representatives, and potential academic partners to evaluate workforce alignment and partnership opportunities. Explore collaborations involving aviation, broadcast media, emergency management, and related sectors to support instruction, experiential learning, recruitment, and employment pathways.
5. Financial Sustainability and Implementation Planning – $15,000
Validate preliminary startup costs of $400,000 and annual operating expenses of $265,000. Develop enrollment, tuition, staffing, facilities, and multi-year financial scenarios. Produce a comprehensive feasibility report incorporating market findings, academic requirements, professional standards, partnership opportunities, risk assessment, phased implementation schedule, and a final go/no-go recommendation for University leadership.
TOTAL FUNDING REQUEST: $150,000
All allocations are preliminary and subject to validation.
Public Purpose: This investment will enable Loyola to evaluate the feasibility of expanding educational opportunities in meteorology, strengthening Louisiana's workforce pipeline in weather forecasting, broadcast communications, aviation, and emergency preparedness, while ensuring that any future program is academically sound, financially sustainable, and responsive to regional workforce needs.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           Estimated 9–12 months from award and authorization: months 1–2 scope/procurement; months 3–6 market, academic and facilities assessment; months 7–9 financial modeling and partnership review; months 10–12 final feasibility report and institutional decision.

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 Robert Thomas, 3216 N. Turnbull Drive Suite B Metairie, LA 70002.

Polly Thomas, 3216 N. Turnbull Drive Suite B Metairie, LA 70002, State Representative.

Husband and wife.

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  Mr. Thomas is Professor and Director for the Center for Environmental Communication.

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
              

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
               

          What is the nature of the relationship? 

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               


Contact Information
name:  Deidre Deculus Robert 
                                       address:  6363 St. Charles Avenue, Government and Legal Affairs, Suite 301, New Orleans, LA 70118
                                       phone:  504-865-3130 ext. 7082
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  ddrober1@loyno.edu
                                       relationship to entity:  Vice President, General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs