Dear Colleagues,

This was not the semester that any of us planned for nor that we could have even imagined. We learned about flattening the curve, social distancing, viral load, shedding and contact tracing. We learned new and innovative ways to deliver instruction and did so on a moment’s notice. Above all, we valued the health and safety of our colleagues, our students, our family and our friends. Recently the SEC Network aired a program documenting our national championship season aptly titled “One for the Ages,” but we could easily say the same for this semester—it was indeed one for the ages. The work of our faculty and staff to ensure that our students persist in their academic journeys continues to be inspiring. Those who are bringing the breadth of their scholarly and creative works to bear are incredible and immeasurably invaluable. We have been a beacon of wealth for our state during this crisis, from testing to PPE production to our faculty’s soaring rendition of the alma mater and on and on! Our work matters, and it matters now more than ever.

I am so proud of your accomplishments this spring, and I am so privileged to have each of you as colleagues. We must plan for a fall semester like no other, and we will again be required to adjust to circumstances while we prioritize the health and safety of all members of the LSU community. I cannot predict precisely what is ahead for us, but I will bet on our krewe to meet the challenge every time.

Additionally, I want to thank our frontline heroes and essential workers fighting tirelessly to keep our families and communities healthy and safe during this global pandemic. To join in on the #19thanks campaign, I’ve put together 19 exceptional stories highlighting the works of our faculty, staff and community throughout this extraordinarily challenging environment.

See you all in the fall semester when we come back stronger than ever.

Best, 
Stacia Haynie 
Executive Vice President & Provost  

Faculty Awarded Promotion & Tenure

76 faculty were promoted in rank this year, signaling LSU’s commendation of their achievements and investment in their future endeavors. Of these, 48 were granted tenure, a special affirmation of their contributions to LSU’s tripartite mission of teaching, research, and service. Consideration for promotion and tenure is a process of over a year’s worth of in-depth review by LSU faculty and external reviewers from academia. After review by those in a faculty member’s given discipline, dossiers are reviewed by a Provost’s Advisory Committee of graduate faculty and by the Executive Vice President & Provost, then ultimately by the President for final approval. Find the full listing of the faculty who were awarded promotion and tenure. 

2020 University Distinguished Faculty Awards Announced

LSU is proud of its world-class faculty, and we are pleased to announce this year’s recipients of university-wide distinguished faculty awards. While current circumstances do not allow us to gather and celebrate these stellar faculty in person, we join the entire LSU family in sending our sincere congratulations. Special thanks to the Tiger Athletic Foundation, the LSU Alumni Association, and the LSU Foundation for their generous support. Find a full listing of the 2020 recipients here. 

National Center for Faculty Diversity & Development

This summer the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity is launching virtual campus workshops, beta-testing a brand new program for graduate students and postdocs, and modifying existing resources for increased support. Along with the new resources, members will be provided with regularly scheduled training including core curriculum and guest expert webinars, 14-day writing challenges, multi-week courses, and our Faculty Success Program. All LSU faculty, postdocs and graduate students are able to access their membership here.

LSU's Pregnancy & Parenting Program COVID-19 Webinars 

The program hosted six webinars with over 200 participants focused around parenting, mental, physical and financial health, and activities for the children. The speaker series will resume in the fall semester. Webinar recordings can be found on the Pregnancy & Parenting Program website. 

2020 Summer Faculty Professional Development

LSU Online will be providing professional development for those faculty teaching online in Summer A, Summer B, and Summer Intersession. Spanning a phased timeline, this includes a series of workshops, individualized one-on-one consultations with a member of the Design & Development team, and live faculty support. For more information, visit the LSU Online Training & Events site.

Deans and Program Director Announced for the School of Collaborative Academic Programs

Three deans have been appointed to serve as the inaugural deans of the newly announced School of Collaborative Academic including: Troy Blanchard, dean of the College of Humanities & Social Sciences; Martin Johnson, dean of the Manship School of Mass Communication; and Cynthia Peterson, dean of the College of Science. Theda Daniels-Race, professor in the Division of Electrical & Computer Engineering, will serve as the program director for the school. Read the full press release on the inaugural deans and program director for the School of Collaborative Academic Programs. 

New Federal Regulations for Programs Culminating in Certification/Licensure

On November 1, 2019, the federal government mandated that all traditional and online programs that lead to licensure/certification must disclose the following for enrolled and prospective students by July 1, 2020:

• Provide a list of all states for which the program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for professional licensure;
• Provide a list of all states for which the program’s curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for professional licensure; and
• Provide a list of all states for which the program has not made a determination of whether the curriculum meets the educational requirements for professional licensure. 

For the full listing and documentation on the new federal regulations for programs that lead to licensure/certification, contact Anna Bartel at acastr1@lsu.edu.