Southern University System President Ronald Mason has started a series of town hall meetings around the state.
The tour focuses on changes that are being made to the historically black university system after years of budget cuts that have slashed state funding to its campuses.
Mason is meeting with alumni, stakeholders and supporters at seven different locations. He opened the town hall tour Thursday at Southern's main campus in Baton Rouge.
He'll also hold meetings in Monroe, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Franklinton and New Orleans.
The tour will end on Aug. 19 in New Orleans.
Photo courtesy http://www.sus.edu/PageDisplay.asp?p1=4358