MADISONVILLE, La. Ӱר Sen. John KennedyӰרs (R-La.) plan for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to transfer the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) building to the Ӱר is completed, following approval in the House and Senate. Kennedy is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which first adopted the plan.
The building space will be a part of a laboratory school initiative within the College of Education and Human Development, known as the Learning Lab.
ӰרThe completion of the building transfer plan is a big win for the Ӱר. The laboratory school will benefit countless people in years to come, and I am proud that our work on the Appropriations Committee helped make this happen,Ӱר said Kennedy.
ӰרThe acquisition of the NOAA building enables the Ӱר and its College of Education & Human Development to provide, through the creation of a laboratory school, a space for high-quality teaching that will foster within our youngest minds a lifelong love of learning. The Learning Lab will be a place that will inspire creativity, embolden curiosity, and promote an environment where aspiring educators can immerse themselves in a living model of best educational practices. The hard work and dedication of Senator Kennedy has set all this in motion, and weӰרre very grateful for his leadership and support,Ӱר said Dr. Joseph Savoie, Ӱר president.
Background
- In 1993, the Ӱר and NOAA agreed that, if NOAA ceased operations, the building would return to the university.
- Following NOAAӰרs announcement that or would discontinue operations in the building,Congress received a three-part plan, which includes returning the building to the Ӱר, consolidating the NMFS into one suite in the building and leasing the space to NMFS from the Ӱר.
- The university relocated federal partners housed in the NOAA building in order not to disturb their scientific work.