Initiatives in Education
Challenging our students in a rich intellectual and cultural environment
Graduation rates are the highest in LSU history at 58.3 percent and the average ACT score for incoming freshmen last fall was 25.3— the highest ever.
LSU has produced a number of distinguished undergraduates, including four Marshall Scholars, 20 Goldwater Scholars, 14 Rhodes Scholars, three Truman Scholars, and more than 25 Fulbright Scholars.
LSU is the only public university in Louisiana designated as very high research activity (RU/VH) by the prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
LSU is one of only 21 universities in the nation having land-, sea-, and space-grant status.
LSU currently ranks among the top 30 public universities in total research awards. The University’s total federal funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and Homeland Security has increased 86 percent or more than $90 million over the last five years.
Fostering diversity
LSU boasts representation from every state in the nation and over 110 countries around the world. Indeed, our geographic diversity is broadening, with this year’s out-of-state-enrollment figures representing 15 percent of the student body and international enrollment, 5 percent.
Ethnic minority (American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black non-Hispanic, Hispanic, Nonresident Alien, and Unknown) enrollment stands at 23 percent of the total student population, with 52 percent representing women. The University is committed to promoting gender equity, to enhancing racial diversity, and to increasing these numbers as the National Flagship Agenda unfolds.
The African-American Cultural Center provides a welcoming, supportive environment for all LSU faculty, staff, and students, offering educational, cultural, and social programs and activities that encourage respect and appreciation for diversity and membership in the African-American community. The center works with the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus and the Black Faculty Association.
LSU’s International Cultural Center is a social and educational resource for international students, a place where all nationalities come together and learn from each other. ICC offers a variety of services for international students and sponsors such activities as international food festivals, concerts, forums, film nights, and workshops.
The Women’s Center provides support, referral, and information to students, faculty, and staff on issues and concerns related to women. The Center also promotes the advancement of women's issues and gender equity through its services, advocacy efforts, educational programs, and partnerships with Women’s and Gender Studies, QBiEquity, Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Safe Space Program, and the University Council on Women.
LSU offers many opportunities to enhance and promote equity, diversity, and community engagement within the academic ranks through several initiatives that provide best practices for making diversity a part of the faculty search process and that facilitate discussions on pedagogical and student engagement techniques that foster cultural-inclusive teaching and classrooms. Furthermore, the University offers a diverse and social conscious curriculum through its interdisciplinary programs, like Women’s and Gender Studies, African and African American Studies, and Jewish Studies and its service-learning curriculum.
LSU recognizes that everyone brings something UNIQUE to our campus for we are a campus of diverse people with diverse talents.
Building and enhancing our beautiful campus
LSU is building, renovating, and restoring its physical plant according to a blueprint for future expansion and growth by implementing the Campus Master Plan.
With the completion of several construction projects, the ambience of our surroundings truly has been enhanced. The restored Journalism Building (Manship School of Mass Communication) and Gym-Armory (Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes)are perfect blends of the old that preserves our heritage and the new that provides state-of-the-art facilities for students. Restoration and renovation of the historic Music and Dramatic Arts Building is underway, as is renovation of the University Recreation complex. Ground will be broken for the renovation and expansion of the LSU Union in Fall 2006.
The inspiring Free Speech Plaza, the improved parking and sidewalk paths around Coates Hall and the landscaping around the Greek Theater and the Gym-Armory are welcome improvements to a campus already acclaimed as one of the most beautiful in the country. New pedestrian and bicycle paths connect the University community with its Baton Rouge neighbors and provide safer routes for walking, jogging and cycling from the campus periphery to the academic core.
Providing hi-tech access
The University is moving quickly toward a ubiquitous computing environment, integrating technology into any number of settings and providing extensive secured wireless coverage indoors and out. With over 1500 wireless access points blanketing the campus, LSU is one of the nation’s most “unwired” colleges.
IT resources like the soon to be opened Visualization Center and Faculty IT Support Center, GROK, Files to Geaux, and a robust email environment support the academic and research missions of the university.
The Student Technology Fee has funded computer labs across campus, including the Digital Media Center in Patrick Taylor Hall and the state-of-the-art Information Commons in Middleton Library. The fee has also helped fund a vast array of discipline-specific equipment, such as a fiber optic design studio for the School of Architecture; a multitrack audio recording, editing, and duplication system for the College of Music & Dramatic Arts; and a math mini-lab for the University College.
Other examples of the Student Tech Fee at work:
Students may check out laptops, tablets, and digital video equipment free of charge through the Gear to Geaux program at Middleton Library.
Students have access to free software including Microsoft Office and operating system upgrades through TigerWare.
Additionally, state investment in higher education has provided unprecedented resources for a variety of projects, including the launch of the Governor’s Information Technology and Biotechnology initiatives, which are attracting internationally renowned researchers and strengthening the University’s position as the state’s major economic engine. LSU’s high performance computing environment provides researchers access to over 20 teraflops of computing cycles and another 80 teraflops through its affiliation with LONI.
LSU is the home of LONI: The Louisiana Optical Network Initiative. LONI connects universities throughout the state to the country’s fastest supercomputing network and is a catalyst for economic development in Louisiana.
