Staff Report
A cyber-ransomware attack cost LSUE close to $2 million, according to a report to the LSU Board of Supervisors.
Chancellor Nancee Sorenson said the loss is an accounting of the costs LSUE incurred from the Oct. 23, 2019, attack.
The university did not pay a ransom, she said.
LSUE is asking for $350,000 in its budget to pay for recovery expenses that may not be covered by insurance, she said.
The attack stopped all electronic and digital business operations for three weeks, with only basic operating capability restored by mid-November, the report stated.
“Despite these challenges, through the combined efforts of emergency operations teams, the extraordinary efforts of students, faculty and staff, the semester concluded on time,” the report stated.
Processes ordinarily done on computers were reduced to being done by hand, Sorenson said.
The $2 million loss includes the need for equipment, operations and lost revenue.
Restoration is continuing.
The semi-annual report was presented at the LSU Board’s March 6 meeting.
Other areas of the report include the following.
LSU Eunice’s unrestricted revenue budget for FY 2019-20 is $15,691,751 and represents a $384,533 increase from the 2018-19 fiscal year due to a projected increase in FTE enrollment. The additional funds were requested from the former Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs prior to my arrival.
LSUE served a student population of over 3,232 (Fall 2018) and relies on self-generated revenue (67%) and state of Louisiana appropriations (33%) to operate. As compared to the previous fiscal year, LSUE realized a 3.08% increase in headcount and a 7.35% increase in semester credit hours. Total student headcount for AY 18-19 was 6,822 and is a 3.08% increase in total headcount of AY 17-18 (6618).
In the Fall 2019, enrollment did not meet projected increases. Total headcount concluded at 2,989. Areas that were not as strong as the previous year were in the categories of New Student Applications, Dual Enrollment and the number of developmental education students served at LSUA.
Fall 2019 graduation was one of the largest and most diverse in LSUE history.
LSUE continues its role with the U.S. Department of Education as an experimental site for federal Title IV funding for Louisiana high school students and completed a site visit in Fall 2019.
LSUE nursing students achieved a 91% pass rate in state board certification.
The nursing program was the recipient of two grants, one to expand the capacity of admitted students by 8 which is a 12% increase.
The nursing program was the recipient of a Rapid Response Workforce Grant in the amount of $162K.
The SACSCOC Fifth Year Report was submitted in August 2019 with full approval by the accrediting agency.
Completed the construction of the new soccer complex to include two playing fields and lighting with the ribbon cutting in August 2019.
Partnership with Opelousas General Hospital that opened a new health clinic on campus to serve students, faculty and staff with the grand opening held in September 2019.
Launched the associate of general studies degree with LSU Online.
Report on restricted operations:
Auxiliary operations include athletics, bookstore, student media and union operations.
Bookstore revenues are stable and provided a portion of funding to help offset the start-up costs of new academic programs and equipment. While LSUE had increased its fees for student athletics and activities for the 18-19 academic year, it did not cover the total funding needed for the addition of three sports. LSUE’s mission is to provide a quality education, student life experiences, and community service opportunities to educate the whole student. The student athlete program remains a vital part of the overall LSUE experience.
FY 2019-20 priorities:
The immediate priority is to create a transparent budget for the campus that creates a common understanding of Eunice’s assets and liabilities for the current academic year as well as to project for upcoming years.
The number one facilities priority that will have the greatest impact on increasing enrollment is the addition of student housing at the Eunice Campus. Almost 150 students were not able to be admitted due to the lack of housing. The second priority is to complete an accurate assessment of the Science Building in order to move forward with a request for the upcoming legislative session.
While LSUE improved its financial position through increases in enrollment and fees in the 18- 19, enrollment for the Fall 2019 projects numbers that will be even or slightly down from Fall 2018.
The promise of additional self-generated revenue predicted for 18-19 was realized to some extent but not as projected in earlier reports and forecasts. Academic year 19-20 will be one of analysis and data gathering in order to implement a true enrollment management plan that provides for growth based on improved student success and meeting the needs of the local community. Both major hospital partners, Lafayette and Opelousas have expressed the need for a medical laboratory technology program. LSUE will strive to increase course completions, program completions and graduate rates over the next academic year.
Other initiatives include increasing university-wide marketing and advertising, improving residential and student life, improving the diversity of LSUE employees to better reflect the student population, renovating critical facilities to improve the efficiency and the physical appearance of the campus and enhancing resources for campus safety and security. In addition, LSUE will continue to invest in its employees to provide a positive, friendly, and diverse working environment reflective of LSUE’s mission and values.
Before the coronavirus COVID-19 emptied the LSUE campus, another disaster visited the university’s computers system. In October 2019, LSUE was hit by a cyber-ransomware attack that crippled the campus computers. The attack is estimated to have cost $2 million. The scene above is on the campus on Friday where campus classes and events have been shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Photos by Harlan Kirgan)
Before the coronavirus COVID-19 emptied the LSUE campus, another disaster visited the university’s computers system. In October 2019, LSUE was hit by a cyber-ransomware attack that cripplied the campus computers. The attack is estimated to have cost $2 million. The scene above is on the campus on Friday where campus classes and events have been shutdown due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Photos by Harlan Kirgan)