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March 2022

 

A Note from Interim Provost Lee

Interim Provost Matt Lee

Caption: Interim Executive Vice President & Provost Matt Lee provides remarks for a university video shoot. 


Dear Colleagues,

Discovery, innovation, disruption, subversion, knowledge-production…In the scholarly realm, these all require an ability to seek truth unencumbered by sociopolitical or other restraints. The very bedrock of a research institution — academic freedom and its principle safeguard, tenure — are the primary distinguishing features of truth-seeking institutions. Although often cast as an individual benefit, academic freedom and tenure are, in fact, immutable institutional principles required to fulfill the core mission of a public research institution — to further understand and improve the human condition. By definition, if we do not have them, we are not a truth-seeking or knowledge-creating community. Thus, in the context of much national and local dialogue related to academic freedom and tenure, I write as the interim provost to state unequivocally that as a community of scholars we are absolutely united on this front. Compromising academic freedom or tenure as currently instantiated at LSU would initiate a domino effect of predictable negative outcomes, beginning with an inability to competitively recruit and retain qualified faculty and doctoral students. Our framework protecting academic freedom and tenure must remain intact, and as the current chief academic officer, I will work tirelessly to ensure that is the case.

LSU’s commitment to tenure-protected diversity of thought complements our drive for diversity and inclusion in other realms as well. As we celebrated Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month now in March, our community has had a natural period to reflect on what we have achieved, and how much work we have ahead of us. The students, faculty and staff from historically underrepresented groups advance excellence at LSU in many critical ways. Whether through the impactful faculty, staff and student senate leadership roles currently assumed by Dr. Mandi Lopez, Amber Salvadras and Javin Bowman; the groundbreaking scientific discoveries of our newest Boyd Professor, Dr. Graça Vicente; or the long-deserved promotion of the Department of African & African American Studies — we are reaching new heights every day. Thank you to all of these change makers, and to the many more that make LSU such an impactful place. In celebrating these individual and communal accomplishments, we champion the notion that everyone benefits from an inclusive climate that promotes equity, belonging, tolerance and respect. You all are helping us to break down barriers and reformulate who we are as an institutional steward of the public good for the 21st century. The work you are doing is impactful and makes us a stronger and healthier institution.

In closing, a robust culture ensuring symbiosis between diversity of ideas and an inclusive campus environment will unquestionably be a hallmark of the leading public research institutions in the coming years. We are strong in this regard and getting stronger by the day. All of us contribute to this culture in ways large and small, so thank you for all you do, and as always…Geaux Tigers!

 

Matt Lee
Interim Executive Vice President & Provost

Our People

Stroll through the Oaks

Stroll through the Oaks Family Walk

The Pregnancy & Parenting Program invites our LSU community to join us for the first annual Stroll through the Oaks family walk on Saturday, April 2, at 10 a.m. Load up the strollers and plan for a nice, leisurely, one-mile walk through LSU's beautiful campus. Halfway through the walk, on LSU's historic Parade Ground, will be vendors from around the community who share the same joy for all things parenting. Register for the walk here!

2022 Faculty DEI Mentoring Awards Call for Nominations

The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce a call for nominations for two Faculty Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mentoring awards. These two $2,500 cash awards will recognize faculty who are making outstanding contributions to the mentoring activities of faculty, staff and/or students from underrepresented groups. To view the criteria and inclusions nomination packet click here. Deadline to submit an application is Monday, April 4. 

Provost Matt Lee Talks to 107.3 about Commitment to Become Leader in Cybersecurity, Military Studies

Interim Provost Matt Lee talks with radio host Brian Haldane from 107.3 about President Tate's vision, strategy and commitment to becoming the leader in cybersecurity and military studies and the two-pronged approach to achieving this.

Make the Most of your Microsoft Applications with QuickHelp

BrainStorm Logo - Change is everything.QuickHelp is a user-friendly resource platform designed to help make the most of your Microsoft applications. There are “skill paths” designed to give you insight into your tool of choice: Teams, Office 365, PowerPoint, etc. These skill paths are comprised of courses, usually approximately two minutes in length, that get right to the heart of what you want to know.

Have you been to QuickHelp yet?

You should have received a welcome email from BrainStorm QuickHelp; if you have not received that email, check your junk folder, and mark them as a safe sender.

Faculty Support

Office Hours

Annual Review Process

The Office of Academic Affairs will host virtual office hours for department chairs and faculty who would like support while working through the annual review process. Program Manager Mallory Danzy invites you to join her during her virtual office hours to answer any questions you may have with the annual review process.

Curricular Analytics

Do you need help with evaluating the structural complexities of a curriculum? Visit with Assistant Vice Provost Anna Bartel at this Zoom link during assigned curricular analytics office hours every Monday in March and April from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Program, Policies & Planning

Judges Needed for LSU Discover Day

Faculty, staff, and doctoral candidates needed as judges for ninth annual LSU Discover Day Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium!

Please consider volunteering to serve as a judge at LSU Discover Day on Friday, April 22. The event sessions will be held in rooms throughout the student union. Judges can serve for as little as one hour and will be given instructions and assignments in the week before the event. Click here to fill out the sign-up form. Questions and concerns should be emailed to lsudiscover@lsu.edu.

CCELL Faculty Service-Learning Scholar and Graduate Scholar Program

CCELL is taking applications for its Faculty Service-Learning Scholars Program and Graduate Student Service-Learning Scholars Program. Click on the links below for more information on the two programs and to access the application, which are due April 1, 2022: Faculty S-L Scholars Program and Graduate Student S-L Scholars Program.

New Service-Learning Internship Process at LSU

In collaboration with the Faculty Advisory Board, the CCELL team has designed an S-L designation process for internship courses. Students and faculty can now collaborate to create and recognize community-engaged internships at LSU. 

Important Dates and Upcoming Events

TEACH LSU Learning & Teaching Collaborative

Using teams in a class can help students learn the course material deeply, as well as build communication skills. This webinar will be led by LSU’s Communication across the Curriculum (CxC) team and will address best practices for incorporating teamwork into your teaching. If you use teams in your class or are considering adopting a new approach, join us for a conversation.

    • Topic: Understanding the Impact of your Teaching
    • Date: Tuesday, March 22
    • Time: 1-2 p.m.
    • Zoom Webinar

  • March 23 | LSU Giving Day

You are invited on a mission to spark imagination, launch innovation, and make life better here on Earth—and beyond. On March 23, give here at geauxgive.lsu.edu to be counted toward our goal of 4,500 Tigers participating in Giving Day. Follow the LSU Foundation on social media for challenges, goal updates, and out-of-this-world content.

The symposium is a hybrid event with options for virtual or in-person attendance. The agenda can be found here, and the full list of featured speakers can be found here. Registration is required. 

Deadline for submitting a tenure extension request or tenure extension revocation if you are going up for mandatory review in fall 2022.

  • April 4 | Promoting Social Justice and Healthy Relationships in Our Community

Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center
TIme: 6-7:30 p.m.
No registration is needed. 

  • April 11 | Deadline to Submit Faculty Approved for Advanced Working Titles

Deadline to submit lists to the Office of Academic Affairs for faculty approved for advanced working titles. 

  • April 13 | New Faculty Quick-Start

These informal sessions, hosted by the Learning & Teaching Collaborative, will give attendees the opportunity to learn more about university resources, work with other faculty to troubleshoot common teaching challenges, and network with colleagues across campus.

    • Topic: Engagement and Learning
      Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2022
      Time: 8-9:30 a.m.
      Location: Zoom

  • May 4 | Faculty Awards Ceremony

A ceremony honoring faculty who were awarded a University Faculty Award in 2021 & 2022. This year's recipients will be notified mid-April with a formal award letter and invitation to the ceremony. 

  • May 17 | Promotion & Tenure Award Ceremony

A ceremony honoring faculty who were promoted and/or tenured in 2021 and those who are soon to be promoted and/or tenured in 2022. This year's faculty will be notified near the end of the semester.