Jerry Jones, assistant facilities planning director for the state of Louisiana addresses a town hall meeting to discuss the SUNO recovery progress.

Town hall attendees get update on SUNO recovery efforts

Southern University System President Ralph Slaughter comments on the SUNO rebuilding efforts as SUNO Chancellor Victor Ulkpolo, right, and Jerry Jones look on.

The state office of facilities planning and disaster recovery officials are making progress toward the restoration of SUNO more than two years after flood waters from Hurricane Katrina put most of the campus under as much as 7 feet of water.

In January, work on the Health and Physical Education building was completed and a month later, a town hall meeting was held to give students, faculty and staff a change to listen to Jerry Jones, assistant state facilities planning director and ask questions about the future of the institution. Jones was joined by Chancellor Victor Ukpolo, System President Ralph Slaughter and Jerry Campbell, the CEO of the architectural firm leading the restoration.

Jones reassured the town hall gathering that despite the challenge involved in restoring the 11-building Lakefront campus, "SUNO has always been at the top of the state's list of priorities." Campbell echoed the need for patience and gave a detailed list of steps involved in the recovery process. SUNO's Associate Vice Chancellor of Administration Robert Cannon noted that he felt the encouraged by progression. "FPC usually turns things around in months; this is taking weeks," Cannon said.

After the conclusion of the town hall meeting, students and staff toured the damaged buildings and repair sites in the science and education buildings.

A few weeks later in early April, a bill was introduced into the Louisiana House of Representatives that would provide a $30 million infusion for the SUNO rebuilding project.

Jones explained the real culprit on the delayed recovery is continued disagreement between Louisiana officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over how much aid is due the campus. Jones estimates that $45 million is needed to restore SUNO and some of that needed funding exceeds what is available through FEMA's public assistance program.

For more on the legislation, see the Times-Picayune article on Nola.com.