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LSU Is Fierce for Research
Research is an essential part of LSU's mission as Louisiana's flagship university,
and our institution is charged with finding innovative solutions to the state’s most
pressing issues. Across all eight campuses, our faculty and researchers are continuing
to secure incredibly competitive grants that drive research forward, contributing
to LSU’s collective research portfolio of $1.1 billion.
LSU’s National Center for Biomedical Research and Training/Academy of Counter-Terrorist
Education has recently been awarded $22 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to provide emergency preparedness trainings
to first responders and civilians.
The LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans has been awarded a $13.6 million grant
by the National Cancer Institute to continue statewide clinical trials in underserved
communities. Their primary partners on this initiative include the LSU Health New
Orleans Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport Feist Weiller Cancer
Center, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Ochsner Cancer Center.
LSU is also joining forces with the University of Florida, the University of Georgia
and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to form the Coasts, Climates,
the Humanities and the Environment Consortium. The CCHEC, with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, will focus on using the institutions’
land- and sea-grant missions to study the impact of climate change on coastal regions
in the United States.
LSU Climbs in Rankings
Among ranking services that measure outcomes such as graduate success, low debt loads,
and high rates of social mobility, LSU has seen a considerable upward climb.
In the past three years, the university has moved up 148 spots in The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education's rankings. This year alone, LSU made a significant jump in Washington Monthly’s rankings, climbing nearly 20 spots to finish No. 71 among all public universities in the nation.
When compared to other flagship universities in a national scope, LSU moved up six
spots to No. 24. In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranked LSU in the top tier of “Best National Universities” for the 12th consecutive year. The
university remains Louisiana's highest ranked public institution in all three publications.
According to the Payscale 2019-20 College Salary Report, the earnings of LSU’s graduates are also outpacing peer institutions. Among the SEC’s public universities, LSU alumni
rank third in both starting- and mid-career salaries.
LSU Receives National Recognition for Diversity
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication
in higher education, has named LSU a recipient of their Higher Education Excellence in Diversity, or HEED, Award for the seventh consecutive year.
The HEED award is annually given to colleges and universities that demonstrate an
outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion on their campus, through avenues
such as academic programs and student life.
LSU's Official Enrollment Shatters Records
After the official university census on the fourteenth day of classes, LSU has broken yet another record for student enrollment.
The university currently has 31,761 students taking classes on the flagship campus,
including 6,126 freshmen, the largest incoming class ever. But the increase in overall
population has not brought about a decrease in in-state enrollment, with 4,720 freshmen
from Louisiana joining the class, breaking yet another record. The incoming class
is also setting new precedents for academic accomplishment, with a 3.5 GPA and an
ACT score of 26.
Across all of LSU's campuses, enrollment has topped 50,000 for the first time ever.
Faculty Continue Their Fierce Pursuit of Excellence
LSU’s faculty are fierce in their pursuit of academic excellence. Their dedication
to the university’s high standards brings many accolades to campus, showcasing their
incredible work.
Dr. Tina M. Harris, the Manship School of Mass Communication’s Race, Media and Cultural
Literacy Endowed Chair, was recognized by the National Communication Association with
their Robert J. Kibler Memorial Award, given annually to the nation’s top communications professional.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program
has selected Environmental Sciences Assistant Professor Rebeca de Jesus Crespo and
Architecture Assistant Professor Traci Birch for their Early-Career Research Fellowship Program. The initiative supports scientists studying both environmental and community health
in coastal areas.
Emeritus Professor of Economics Loren Scott and Assistant Professor Greg Upton presented
their forecast of Louisiana’s economic outlook at the Baton Rouge Business Report’s annual Top 100 luncheon. Their study is the
38th edition of the forecast, prepared annually by the E.J. Ourso College of Business
and the Department of Economics.
LSU Hosts Gubernatorial Debate
With Louisiana's primary elections less than two weeks away, LSU played a pivotal
role in the public discourse among the candidates vying for the Governor's Mansion.
In a partnership with Nexstar Media Group, the Manship School of Mass Communication's
Reilly Center for Media and Public Affairs hosted and produced the state's first gubernatorial debate of the year.
All three major candidates, Governor John Bel Edwards, Congressman Ralph Abraham,
and businessman Eddie Rispone, participated in the forum, which featured questions
from current LSU students.
Board of Supervisors Installs New Leadership
After completing his year-long term as chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, James
Williams officially handed over the gavel of the university’s governing body to Mary
L. Werner at the board’s September meeting.
The transition was a historic one. Williams was the first African-American alumnus
to chair the board, and Werner's mother, Laura Leach, served on the board for 18 years,
and including as chair from 1996 to 1997, making Werner the first daughter of a former
chair to hold the position.
Also at the meeting, Robert Dampf was elected to serve as chair-elect for the next
year. He will succeed Werner in September 2020.
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