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Issue: Are the LSU products sold in the LSU Bookstore and elsewhere subject to labor code standards regarding working conditions?
Answer: Officially licensed LSU merchandise bears the "Officially Licensed Collegiate Products" label on the product or hangtag, which ensures that the product purchased has been approved and represents the good will of the University. Products that do not bear the label, but use the marks of LSU, may represent infringement of the trademark laws.
LSU's Trademark Licensing program was created in 1981 to protect the University's indicia, promote the University, and generate funds that are used for general University endeavors including scholarships and construction projects. LSU works with The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) and law enforcement to ensure that merchandise being sold is from officially licensed vendors.
CLC's Special Agreement Regarding Labor Codes of Conduct (Code Agreement) promotes consistent and uniform labor code standards by providing a framework for bundling together the labor code requirements of various institutions represented by CLC. The labor code standards establish reasonable hours, working conditions, and pay for workers in foreign factories manufacturing products bearing the marks of collegiate institutions. By signing the Code Agreement, the licensee agrees to adhere to any and all labor code standards set forth by the licensing institution.
In order to monitor and verify compliance with code of conduct standards, many institutions– LSU included – are affiliated with organizations such as the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the Worker's Rights Consortium (WRC) . Each organization establishes its own baseline labor code, which is similar to the CLC Code Agreement, and establishes its own monitoring program and resolution. Licensees are required to join the FLA as a prerequisite for the licensing programs for some universities – including LSU.
Issue: Why can't the University provide larger desks in the classrooms?
Answer: As part of a multi-year classroom renovation project funded by the Athletic Department, the University is replacing all of the wooden tablet-arm chairs with larger desks. The question regarding oversized desks has been raised by several students, and the University is investigating the availability of and possibility of providing such desks.
Issue: What procedures do students follow to appeal what they consider unfair action on the part of their instructors?
Answer: It is the University's basic philosophy that appeals should be settled at the lowest possible administrative level having the authority to act definitively and as quickly as possible. There is no single appeals process and there are specific guidelines for several different types of appeals. See Policy Statement (PS) 48 – Student Appeal Procedures for details. The document includes a Student Appeal Form.
In brief:
A. Contact the office primarily involved with the situation in question for specific procedural guidelines covering the desired appeal.
B. If the office as no specific procedure, PS-48 outlines the following process:
1. Meet with the University employee concerned to discuss the problem and attempt to arrive at a solution. You have 30 days to initiate the appeal.
2. If not satisfied with the answer, make a written appeal to the next level (supervisor, chair, dean). You may use the PS-48 Student Appeal Form to outline the case. You have 14 days to initiate this appeal after the meeting in Step 1. The administrator will attempt to arrange a meeting with 14 days of receiving the appeal and render a written decision with 14 days of the meeting.
3. If not satisfied with the answer, make a written appeal to the next level (chair, dean, vice chancellor). You should use PS-48 Student Appeal Form to outline the case. You have 14 days to initiate this appeal after the meeting in Step 2. You may request a hearing panel for this review. The administrator will gather written records and statements and attempt to resolve the question within 30 days . This decision may be based on the written documentation, on a meeting of all parties, or on a hearing panel.
This concludes the appellate process.
C. If you have concerns warranting a procedural review , you may petition the Executive Vice Chancellor/Provost with in 7 days for a review of the process followed by any part in the appeal.
Issue: What sort of surveillance system does the University have in place, especially in parking lots?
Answer: LSU's surveillance camera system, which is used as a tool in the University's crime prevention efforts, is operated by the LSU Police Department and maintained by the offices of Computing Services and Facility Services. The system is used strictly for surveillance purposes and only supplements the efforts of the men and women of the LSU Police Department.
LSU is committed to the safety and welfare of its students, faculty, and staff and continuously evaluates its efforts as they relate to crime prevention and crime awareness. For example, on March 30, 2006, the LSU Police Department participated in a press conference held by Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden and Homeland Security personnel to announce the implementation of a parish wide camera system. Although the system is in its initial phase, plans are under way to incorporate major infrastructure and universities. Local police chiefs and emergency operations personnel attended the meeting and voiced their support for the program. LSU Police Chief Ricky Adams represented LSU at the meeting and will participate in plans to include LSU in the advanced surveillance camera system. For additional information please refer to the attached Web link: http://brgov.com/pressdet.asp?gID=1139
LSU Police encourages all students, faculty, and staff to exercise common sense crime prevention practices such as locking doors and windows, reporting suspicious activity immediately, utilizing campus transportation and campus transit, remaining alert to your surroundings, and paying close attention to the various news outlets for crime trends and criminal activity as reported by citizens and the police. LSU offers a variety of safety and crime awareness talks and is proud to host the RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) program as a part of its safety initiatives. For information on awareness programs, safety tips, and important crime information please visit the LSU Police Department Web site at http://appl003.lsu.edu/pubsafety/lsupolice.nsf/index .
Issue: Are there any plans to increase graduate stipends across campus if an "operational fee" of $150 is imposed?
Answer: We will consider an operational fee option if we can make qualitative improvements on campus and advance the National Flagship Agenda. If the state persists in increasing fees to cover appropriations shortages, we are opposed to that action. As for what we'd do if a fee were enacted to advance the Agenda, we will consider an increase to stipends if fees are increased commensurately, but we'll need to raise the private funds in our upcoming capital campaign to cover the costs of fellowships, etc.
Issue: I live north of campus on Nicholson Drive near Aster Street . Campus Transit is unable to provide night bus service to the area, and the city bus does not get me close enough to my apartment. Can the CATS bus route be changed to accommodate those of us living here?
Answer: Effective March 20, 2006, the CATS Night Route B was altered to better serve students residing in the vicinity of Nicholson Drive/Aster Street . The route now turns right off Nicholson directly onto Aster. This moves the route three blocks further north on Nicholson and closer to the student areas in the vicinity of Nicholson/Aster. The route runs until midnight. (See map below.)
Issue: During a Spring 2005 “Chat with the Chancellor,” I was asked if there were plans to replace the old, wood desks in CEBA and when the University would be getting ride of metal folding desks still in use. The following is an update on the project. (The original question and answer appear below.)
Answer: In a continuing effort to improve classroom seating, the majority of metal folding desks were removed from classrooms before the Fall 2005 semester began. As of today (Spring 2006), 1,125 new, molded composite seats have replaced the wood table-arm desks in 24 classrooms in 7 buildings across campus. The best of the older chairs were used to replace broken ones in other classrooms, and 300 of the wooden desks were transferred to South Campus for use in classrooms created for displaced LSU School of Dentistry students. In February 2006, bids will be let for the renovation – including new seating – of Himes Hall basement.
Issue: Why is Memorial Tower no longer lit with purple and gold colors at night? Why has the tower completely stopped the hour and quarter-hour chimes?
Answer: The purple and gold lighting was used in the mid 1990s during the Rekindle the Spirit campaign and on special occasions for some time thereafter. The effect was achieved by placing temporary filters over the existing lights provide the “tinting.”
Though the clock is functioning, there are problems with the chimes, which are experiencing mechanical failure. The technical but short answer is that the contacts on the controls have outlived their useful life and are in need of replacement. Periodically, Facility Services “tweaks” the mechanism to allow the chimes to function. The cost of repair of the chimes is approximately $20,000. The estimated cost for refurbishing the chimes and clock mechanisms is $250,000. With state budget cuts looming, the project is not as high on the priority list as roof leaks, building lighting, or air conditioning, for example. However, Memorial Tower is being refurbished, and in due time the chimes project will be addressed as part of the restoration – with a private donation, perhaps, rather than state funds.
A memorial to Louisianans killed in World War I, the tower was originally a military museum. In the early 1960s, it became home to the LSU Anglo-American Art Museum , now the LSU Museum of Art, which moved to its new location in the Shaw Center in March 2005. Over the next few years, Memorial Tower will again be a venue in which to showcase the University's military heritage – the LSU Military Museum – as well as a meeting/gathering place for various groups.
When restoration is completed, it would indeed be a wonderful idea to re-establish the tradition of purple and gold lighting.
Chancellor's statement on the purple and gold Confederate flag
A spirited debate has taken place on many college campuses for some years now about the Confederate flag and whether or not it should be displayed on public buildings, on license plates, or at sporting events. This debate has even reached the campus of LSU, as some Tiger fans display a purple-and-gold version of the Confederate Naval Battle Jack flag on game days. While many argue that the flag, whether depicted in its original colors or in purple and gold, is merely a sign of Southern pride, many others consider the flag to be a symbol of intolerance or racial discrimination.
I want to make the university's position on this issue very clear. LSU does not consider this flag an appropriate symbol of pride or association with this university, as many in our LSU family find the flag to be offensive. LSU discourages the use and display of this flag, and the University has not and will not license the use of its colors and/or trademarks for use on such a flag. LSU has also made this position known to flag, specialty advertising, and retail businesses that sell LSU items or engage in the authorized promotion of the University.
Because of LSU's firm belief in the First Amendment and its right of free speech, the University cannot and will not ban or prohibit these flags or any other symbols that our students or fans choose to display. To do so would contest the constitutional right of free speech or expression – a principle we hold sacrosanct. But that does not mean that the University sanctions this flag or any other symbols that encourage intolerance or provoke divisiveness. The First Amendment guarantees free speech, but not responsible speech. We ask all those who claim pride and allegiance to LSU, or the South, to refrain from displaying symbols that many find offensive. Pride in LSU is best shown by flying the LSU flag.
LSU is an institution that opens its doors to everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, nationality, or ideals. Part of the college experience for our students is experiencing and learning from the diversity that surrounds them on LSU's large campus. It is my hope that all members of the LSU family, as well as visitors to our campus, will be responsible and use thoughtful judgment before acting in a way that others may find offensive. The University is committed to creating an environment that is supporting and inclusive to all the members of the LSU family – past, present, and future.
Issue: I am concerned about the use of purple and gold Confederate battle flags at sporting events on campus.
Answer: For years, there has been a national controversy and debate about the display of Confederate flags on public buildings, license plates, at parades, and at sporting events. This debate is not unique to our University but has been enjoined on our campus. This important national debate is about the symbolism of this flag, and, to many Americans, this flag suggests persistent bigotry, intolerance, racial discrimination, and exclusion.
The unique element of our discussion at LSU is the inclusion of school colors – the Naval Battle Jack flag in purple and gold – and on this point we need to be very clear. LSU does not consider this flag an appropriate symbol of pride or association with this University. The display of this flag is considered by many in the LSU family to be offensive.
LSU has not and will not license the use of its proprietary colors and/or other trademarks for this purpose. The University has reiterated its position on this matter to flag, specialty advertising, and souvenir retail businesses.
In this great nation and at this great University, we are free to express ourselves. We need to defend this right of free speech. As such, we cannot and will not ban or prohibit the display of symbols. To do so would impede and inhibit free speech. But that doesn’t mean we should sanction irresponsibility. We cannot accept intolerance or actions that are designed to provoke racial divisiveness and hatred.
We are the LSU family, and, as happens in all families, we sometimes offend each other. This is an issue that requires us to be responsible and mindful of our actions to avoid offense. We need to send a strong message to those within our family and those visiting our campus that LSU does not condone or support the display of this symbol. By our actions we demonstrate our commitment to an environment that is inclusive to all members of our family.
Issue: Is there ever a time you can park along Nicholson Drive without a parking permit?
Answer: Parking permits are required at all hours (day and night) on weekdays, and all students, employees, and visitors must register for a parking permit.
Hours of zone parking are Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m., except for University-wide holidays. Hours after 4:30 p.m. and before 7 a.m., on Saturdays and Sundays, and on University-wide holidays, are not considered hours of zone parking. However, as mentioned above, parking permits are required at all hours (day and night) on weekdays. After the hours of zone parking, a parking permit must be properly displayed to avoid receiving an “unregistered” ticket. During these hours, the special zone parking and driving regulations are not in effect, except in the case of special event parking.
On days when there are no classes, no registration, and no examinations, student vehicles with permits may park in any student zone that is not restricted.
Student Football Tickets
I regret that some students have been caught up in the “growing pains” of implementing the major new football ticket distribution policy. However, the Student Government plan is, I believe, an equitable one that will serve us well for years to come.
In Spring 2005, Student Government formed a student-run task force to evaluate the football ticket distribution policy. In cooperation with the Athletic Department, the task force devised a system of ordering tickets, determining eligibility, and upgrading of tickets. The plan was approved by the Chancellor and the Athletic Department.
LSU students are allotted approximately 14,600 tickets for each game in Tiger Stadium. Due to the large number of requests for tickets each year, it is impossible to accommodate all students, so a priority system was put in place to take requests from students based on seniority. The new allocation point system was designed to benefit students in the fairest way possible by attaching ticketing priority to academic standing and seniority.
This is how it works. All continuing or incoming students are eligible to apply for tickets. On the first day of ticket pickup, August 18, students had to be registered as full-time students, must have paid all student fees, and must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 to be eligible to receive the tickets. In an earlier version of this plan, students in their sixth year and above would have been ineligible for tickets, but that plan was never adopted. Students in their sixth year and above are eligible to purchase tickets.
An adjustment to the system was made this year to make more tickets available to incoming freshmen. Although not all freshman requests could be accommodated, the number of freshmen who did receive tickets this year is three times as many as last year because of this new distribution method. Approximately 1,500 incoming freshmen qualified for tickets for the 2005 season, compared to only 300 for the 2004 season.
Issue: I am concerned about putting a coffee shop in Middleton Library. Won't this create noise and unnecessary traffic? What will happen to the copy machines?
Answer: Actually, locating coffee shops in academic libraries is a popular trend. Students commonly frequent coffee shops – on and off-campus – to read and study and for group meetings and study sessions. A number of universities – among them, Florida State University , the University of Georgia , and the University of Virginia – have coffee shops located in their libraries.
For the past two academic years, LSU Libraries has provided coffee for students during exam week, thus increasing students' comfort level during this stressful period. Because of the success of this experiment, it was a natural next step for LSU Dining and Dean of the Libraries Jennifer Cargill to discuss having a coffee shop in Middleton Library.
These discussions were consistent with the findings of H. David Porter and Associates, a consulting firm hired to update the LSU Dining Master Plan. A significant component of the study involved data collection. More than 4,000 students, faculty, and staff completed on-line surveys and focus groups were conducted with various campus groups including Student Government. The survey determined that several areas of the campus were underserved – including the Middleton Library/Quad area. This location is consistent with LSU's commitment to provide convenient on-campus learning environments for students.
The coffee shop will not replace the existing copy machines – the area will be redesigned to allow adequate space for a coffee shop and copy machines. Nor will the coffee shop will not negatively impact any current services offered by Middleton Library.
Issue: What support is available to faculty who teach large classes?
Answer: The Centers for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) provide comprehensive support to faculty who teach large classes. For those who teach in the 1,008-seat Bo Campbell Auditorium, orientation training and ongoing technical support are provided by member of the CELT staff, who are on-site for every class.
For all LSU faculty, a popular workshop series, Teaching Large Classes, will be repeated in the CELT Fall 2005 workshop line-up. Individual consultations about teaching are also available from instructional consultants in CELT, including instructional design for traditional, Web-enhanced, and online courses. A Faculty Resource Room in 118 Himes Hall houses print materials related to teaching large classes. Assistance with computer-based testing is also available to facilitate the assessment of student learning in large class settings.
Faculty who are scheduled to teach in Bo Campbell are contacted personally by CELT to schedule technical training. All LSU faculty will receive fliers advertising the CELT Fall 2005 workshop series in August and can visit the CELT Web site at www.celt.lsu.edu for additional resources or to register for a workshop. To schedule an individual, confidential consultation, faculty should call CELT at 578-1135.
Chancellor O’Keefe’s Statement on “Salt ‘N’ Pepper Party Cancelled”
Yesterday’s Daily Reveille article entitled “Salt ‘N’ Pepper Party Cancelled” referred to a proposed party planned for last weekend. It is unfortunate that circumstances surrounding an event intended to bring people of different cultural perspectives together has been marred by misplaced comments. On behalf of LSU, I regret any inference that Southern University students would be the cause of discord and apologize for any offense felt by our colleagues and friends. The opinions expressed in the article are not those of the LSU Police Department or of the University.
LSU and Southern University work together on many levels and interact on a regular basis. We will continue to collaborate on initiatives that strengthen our relationship and are confident that this incident will not hinder the success of future activities or programs.
The words cannot be recovered and the feelings of friends cannot be easily mended. But, it is my hope that faculty, staff, and students at Southern University know that the LSU family is committed to an environment that is inclusive to all members of our community.
Issue: What will happen to the computer lab that is located within the Chemistry Library during the renovation of Williams Hall? This is a popular study location for students in basic sciences.
Answer: The construction project planned for Williams Hall is absolutely necessary to make up for a shortage of both teaching and research space in the College of Basic Sciences. We are very much interested in improving the laboratories available for undergraduate students pursuing science degrees. Eventually, we will have two new floors of teaching laboratories, providing new homes for introductory chemistry laboratories, organic chemistry laboratories, and analytical chemistry laboratories. As you know, these laboratories are very important to those seeking degrees in biological sciences, chemistry, and other technical programs in the University. Space has become a critical problem and has begun to inhibit the research and teaching we can do in these areas.
The planned construction is clearly a major change for the campus, and such changes cause significant ripple effects. Among the things that were considered when the change was decided upon were survey data of our common computer facilities that indicate student usage that is far below the capacity of the equipment and spaces. This is not to indicate that common computer resources are not an important component that the University has and will continue to provide. It means that we must look carefully at the resources available and maximize their use for the benefit of all students. The common computer laboratory on the second floor of Coates Hall, for example, remains open, and that space is just down the street from the Choppin, Williams, and Life Science buildings. In addition, the merger of the library holdings has been considered for many years, both the pluses and the minuses. With all of these things considered, we have decided to do the Williams renovation as that is the best option for maximizing support for our programs.
We appreciate your question, and share concern for all of the issues you raised. It would be hard to emphasize just how space limited we are, particularly for teaching and research laboratories that support science at the level that it needs to be done and taught at LSU.
Issue: The 2005 legislative session is now underway and budget cuts are in the offing. What kind of cut is LSU facing?
Answer: Briefly, we must find a way to cover a projected $9.97 million shortfall. Covering this deficiency will maintain services at the current level with little remaining to advance the National Flagship Agenda. The attached document provides a concise overview of the budget situation.
Issue: Is it true there is no money to replace the Edward Gay and Nicholson apartments?
Answer: In 2002, a housing unit plan was developed by Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas in conjunction with the University master planners. After extensive market, facility, and customer analysis, the master planners recommended tearing down Edward Gay and Nicholson apartments in 2007-2008. In April 2004, they modified that recommendation to suggest demolition in 2010. The Department of Residential Life will continue to analyze that date. If the apartments’ physical condition holds, we may be able to delay demolition.
The rationale for recommending demolition was based on the reality that these buildings are very old and over time will need extensive repairs to the infrastructure, as well as aesthetically. These repairs are significant enough to suggest demolition and rebuilding rather than renovating. However, new construction would require a significant increase in rent. Currently, the rent for these apartments is very low compared with other apartments in the Baton Rouge area.
Based upon focus groups with current apartment tenants, the master planners discovered that convenience was a factor in students choosing to live on campus, but a more important draw was the low rents. Because the Baton Rouge area has seen an enormous increase in the number of new apartment complexes in the past three years, as well as student-oriented neighborhoods, the master planners surmised that new construction would not be likely to maintain high occupancy if it required rates on par with local rates for new construction.
Residential Life subsequently conducted two studies that confirmed this thinking. The first, conducted last spring, showed that the majority of graduate students at LSU believe there is a need for on campus family or graduate housing. However, in a follow-up study conducted this fall, 90 percent would not be willing to pay more than $750.00 per month for a newly constructed two-bedroom apartment. Given the current dollars required for new construction, we estimate that rates would need to exceed $750.00 per month to provide new construction.
Based upon these two studies, Residential Life recently forwarded options and recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Student Life & Academic Services. One option is to go forward with the dictates of the master plan and demolish the apartments – later, if possible. The other option, which is very unlikely, would require the University providing some sort of subsidy, such as paying the construction costs for the apartments out of general funds.
Issue: What role does departmental accreditation play in the National Flagship Agenda and why is the Department of Computer Science not accredited?
Answer: It should be noted that accreditation has little or nothing to do with national reputation, productivity of the graduate program, or research. Each accrediting agency has particular standards that it uses to evaluate programs, some of which may be related the Flagship Agenda and some of which may not. Accreditation is common in the professional schools such as engineering, education, and business (therefore, the Department of Accounting is accredited by virtue of its association with the Ourso College of Business). Accreditation is uncommon in the basic sciences and humanities.
The accrediting organization for computer science departments, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Accreditation Board, has developed the accreditation process for very small departments at primarily regional schools. Recently, accreditation has become linked to the engineering accreditation procedures for computer science departments that are located in colleges of engineering, and these departments are accredited based on and jointly with the Association Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation standards. LSU's Department of Computer Science is neither a small department at a regional school nor is it associated with an engineering curriculum.
ACM accreditation is not critical to the department’s contribution to the Flagship Agenda. On the contrary, the department has added strong new faculty, revised and modernized its undergraduate curriculum, and is placing its graduate students in industrial and faculty positions at prestigious research universities and laboratories around the world. Its collaborations with the Center for Computation & Technology and several departments are driving the advancement of IT across the campus and around the country (Penn State, Oak Ridge National Lab, Purdue University, for example). In addition, “Best Paper” awards by faculty, federal funding, collaborations with national labs and universities around the country and the world, and the placement of students in top IT-related companies and universities complements Flagship Agenda goals and contributes to its success.
Issue: Our computer science faculty do not seem know how to operate the IT system.
Answer: The Department of Computer Science is not the primary unit involved in the sub-discipline of IT that specifically addresses the development of Web materials for various applications – from business to engineering to biological sciences and beyond. While the department has concern for the development of such materials, of course, it does not focus on their development but on the programmatic bases on which the materials are based. The Department Information Systems & Decision Sciences in the Ourso College of Business is charged with the exact specialization of development and provides sound training for those interested in Web development, management, and the ability to enhance applications.
Finally, the Department of Computer Science is known for its fundamental contributions in the database area (entity relationship model), sensor networks structure, and cyber security. All of these many applications in many areas such as information security and development of database models and these have applications in business, military, and civil areas.
Issue: What is the status of the instructor-replacement effort?
Answer: LSU departments continually evaluate their faculty composition, so in a real sense the change in numbers of instructors never stops. But I assume you are asking in particular about English and mathematics, two departments which have seen some changes in numbers of instructors over the last couple of years.
Both are among the 12 “enhanced” departments on campus, which means that they have a larger than usual set of highly regarded senior faculty with national reputations. Both departments are giving freshman and sophomore students more exposure to these excellent faculty, and the direction of the change is likely to continue until the departments have reached what they consider an optimum status. Finally, both departments are introducing new methods of pedagogy that have been shown to be effective at other institutions, for instance, math learning laboratories and active student participation in English poetry classes.
Across campus, the number of instructors has been reduced from a high of 330 in Fall 200 to 285 in Fall 2004. For the same time period, professors increased from 417 to 429, associate professors from 245 to 255, and assistant professors from 245 to 268.
Issue: Why do Facility Services vehicles drive and park on the lawns?
Answer: As the entity responsible for the overall maintenance and development of campus building and grounds, Facility Services must have access to all locations for a variety of reasons -- trucks and vehicles must reach repair sites, lift trucks much reach light fixtures, manlift trucks must reach trees. Contractors are granted permits to drive and park on the grass at work sites when there are no other routes to the location.
Facility Services is aware of the damaging impact of vehicular traffic on grassy areas, as well as sidewalks, flower beds, and trees. Such driving and parking is done only when necessary and there are policies in place to minimize the effect. For example, its vehicles are not allowed to park in handicap parking spots, reserved spaces, or fire zones and are restricted from driving and parking on wet grounds.
Ideally, only specially equipped turf vehicles should ride on lawns. However, the majority of the service vehicles are not such equipped, and exceptions must be made to allow access to certain areas
Issue: Why don’t we have a Middle East Studies program?
Answer: You will be happy to know that we are making substantial progress in developing a full-fledged Middle East Studies program.
The College of Arts and Sciences is developing a Middle East emphasis within its International Studies program. The program’s new director, Mark Gasiorowski, professor of political science, is a Middle East specialist with two books on Iran. The Religious Studies program has just hired an Islamicist, and the Department of History is considering a specialist in Pakistan history. We plan to submit a Title VI (U.S. Department of Education) grant that would support two or three additional faculty lines in Middle East Studies.
Issue: I am an international student. Why must I carry health insurance? It’s so expensive.
Answer: Only international students with F and J visa status are required to have health insurance coverage of a determined level. J-status students are required to have health insurance by the U.S. Department of State; F-status students are not required to carry insurance by a government agency, but many schools in the United States, including LSU, make it a policy to require coverage.
Since our International Services Office creates the immigration documents that allow you to enter the U.S., we are, in effect, your host. We feel responsible for your well-being and that of more than 1,400 other international students we are hosting. If severe medical emergencies occurred, we would not be able to cover the costs medical care. If we had to, we would not be able to host you.
All LSU students are given the opportunity to purchase accident and sickness insurance cover through the LSU Student Insurance Program (see the LSU 2005-2006 General Catalog p. 50) to relieve them of possible financial strain in meeting expenses for medical services that the Student Health Center does not provide. The University accepts bids for this contract to ensure the lowest rates and best coverage possible. We are looking into the possibility of offering two health insurance options to students.
International students on F and J visas who have private insurance and provide proof of such coverage may waive the LSU insurance. Otherwise, they are automatically enrolled in the LSU plan.
Issue: Are there any plans to replace the old wood desks in CEBA or for updating the building as a whole? When will LSU get rid of those old metal folding desks?
Answer: CEBA classrooms are scheduled for renovation during the 2007 summer term as part of the General Purpose Classrooms project, a seven-year rehabilitation of academic areas. The project is funded by the Athletic Department. Planned renovations include the replacement of old wooden tablet armchairs with new, larger chairs. There are no Capital Outlay funds earmarked for the renovation of CEBA on the currently five-year plan.
The old metal folding desks will be removed from the classrooms before the fall semester begins. This summer five classrooms in Himes Hall will be converted to a testing lab and three classrooms in Stubbs Hall will get new tablet arm chairs, enabling us to replace the metal desks.
Issue: Are there any plans to build an official gate on the south side (Nicholson Drive entrance) of the campus?
Answer: The Office of Facility Development has studied this location and identified and schematically planned a signage opportunity. However, the funds have not been available to formally design and construct the structure with appropriate lighting and softscape. Preliminary costs for this enhancement are $150,000 to $175,000. This beautification project would be financed through the “Enhancing the Core” fund, which receives one dollar from every football season ticket sold. If monies are available next funding cycle, July 2006, this could be in design as early as May 2006. Design, bidding and construction could then be performed by October 2006.
Issue: I have been on campus for several years, first on the staff and now pursuing a Ph.D. degree full time. What is the status of the plan to fund full-tuition exemptions for graduate students?
Answer: First, let me offer my best wishes for success in obtaining your advanced degree. It will serve you well in future endeavors.
The exemption to which you refer is intended for full-time graduate assistants, not all full-time graduate students. In the fall of 2003 – in support of Flagship Agenda Objective 2: “Increase number and quality of graduate students and programs,” – LSU instituted a resident tuition exemption for full-time graduate assistants to be phased in over a three-year period. Full-time graduate assistants received a one-third exemption of resident tuition beginning in the fall of 2003, a two-thirds exemption beginning in the fall of 2004, and will receive a full exemption beginning in the fall of 2005. These graduate assistants continue to pay mandatory fees. Part-time graduate assistants pay tuition and mandatory fees.
Issue: What is the status of the University’s compliance with mandates of the American Disabilities Act?
Answer: Making our campus ADA compliant is a legal and social responsibility. We have done extensive evaluation and planning and we have the data we need to accomplish the work that needs to be done. Unfortunately, itt is a matter of funding.
LSU’s capital outlay request for FY 2005-06, includes $13.3 million for accessibility corrections in 70 buildings, 53 academic and 17 auxiliary locations. Not included in that is an additional $16.6 million to retrofit 52 multi-story buildings – 40 of them academic – that do not have elevators. In short, to fully address identified accessibility issues across campus, we need $29.9 million. When you consider that in FY 2004-05, state funding for ADA projects was only $2.6 million – to address issues in all state buildings, including higher education, you can see our dilemma.
Several years ago, the University explored, with other higher education and state agencies, the feasibility of financing all state public higher education ADA modifications through a bond issue, a total of almost $100 million. However, because of state budget and debt restraint, and the need to address considerable ADA issues in other state units, the plan was not viable. Indeed, it is clear that we must seek out – and we are – sources private and federal funding to accomplish our goals.
In spite of limited funding, we are committed to making the campus equally accessible to all. As individual cases of accessibility arise, Facility Services, the Office of Records and Registration, and the Office of Disability Services work together to provide access – installing, for example, strobes for a hearing-impaired student or ramps and lever-type hardware for a movement-impaired faculty member. In the last four years, we have spent $3.3 million to correct accessibility issues. Nearly another $300,000 has been spent to correct sidewalk and ramp issues.
The Office of Disability Services and Student Government are provided with up-to-date listings of ADA-related efforts for review, prioritization, and ideas. When state funds are made available, an effort is made to prioritize projects based on input from these groups.
Issue: I am concerned about the use of purple and gold Confederate battle flags at sporting events on campus.
Answer: For years, there has been a national controversy and debate about the display of Confederate flags on public buildings, license plates, at parades, and at sporting events. This debate is not unique to our University but has been enjoined on our campus. This important national debate is about the symbolism of this flag, and, to many Americans, this flag suggests persistent bigotry, intolerance, racial discrimination, and exclusion.
The unique element of our discussion at LSU is the inclusion of school colors – the Naval Battle Jack flag in purple and gold – and on this point we need to be very clear. LSU does not consider this flag an appropriate symbol of pride or association with this University. The display of this flag is considered by many in the LSU family to be offensive.
LSU has not and will not license the use of its proprietary colors and/or other trademarks for this purpose. The University has reiterated its position on this matter to flag, specialty advertising, and souvenir retail businesses.(View sample LSU Trademark and Licensing letter to businesses—PDF 278kb.)
In this great nation and at this great University, we are free to express ourselves. We need to defend this right of free speech. As such, we cannot and will not ban or prohibit the display of symbols. To do so would impede and inhibit free speech. But that doesn’t mean we should sanction irresponsibility. We cannot accept intolerance or actions that are designed to provoke racial divisiveness and hatred.
We are the LSU family, and, as happens in all families, we sometimes offend each other. This is an issue that requires us to be responsible and mindful of our actions to avoid offense. We need to send a strong message to those within our family and those visiting our campus that LSU does not condone or support the display of this symbol. By our actions we demonstrate our commitment to an environment that is inclusive to all members of our family.
Issue: Where will the African American Cultural Center be housed when a parking garage is built on Raphael Semmes Drive?
Answer: The University is currently conducting an extensive traffic study that considers several parking garage options. If and when a parking garage is constructed that requires the demolition of existing buildings, the faculty and/or student organizations in those structures will be assigned acceptable space elsewhere on campus.
Issue: As a computer science major, I am concerned about the quality of the program.
Answer: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to reassure you about your decision to study computer science at LSU. In step with the National Flagship Agenda, the Department of Computer Science, jointly with the Center for Computation & Technology, aspires to a ranking among the country’s top 30 computer science programs by 2010. The department boasts an excellent reputation and outstanding faculty, as well as national visibility through such key technologies as grid computing, wireless sensor networking, robotics research, software engineering, biological computation and cyber security.
Senior faculty teach undergraduate courses, mentor junior faculty, and supervise undergraduate students interested in doing research. Several LSU computer science undergraduates have presented research papers in national conferences and journals. Faculty are regularly published in research papers scholarly journals and present at conferences, and they encourage students to engage in similar research efforts. In particular, the faculty take an active role in professional computer science societies including the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the IEEE Computer Society.
Computer science students are given practical training in software development, and a strong background in information technology and high-quality dissertation research, making they highly competitive in the job market. Recent graduates have taken research positions at Silicon Graphics, Microsoft, AT&T Bell Laboratories, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and faculty positions across the United States and the world such as the University of Pittsburgh, University of Georgia, University of Alabama, and Drexel University.
Issue: I’m an international student with an excellent GPA. Why can’t I get a scholarship?
Answer: I wish we were able to provide every one of our high-achieving students with scholarship awards. I hope in the future we can increase scholarship opportunities for all deserving students.
LSU has a total of 15 International Honor Awards, which waive full-time fall and spring nonresident fees. These are revolving awards, meaning only 15 students hold the awards at any one time, for a duration of three years. Awards become available when the student holder graduates, if he or she does not meet academic requirements, or if the award exceeds the three-year limit.
For example, last fall, there were five awards, and 38 students applied. There were no awards available this spring, so students could not apply. There are six to eight awards available for the Fall 2005, and the International Services Office will take applications for these between April 1 and May 1.
To apply, students must:
- Be non-immigrant international students enrolled at LSU
- Have earned at least 30 LSU classroom hours
- Have an LSU and overall GPA of at least 3.500
Students must fill out an application; submit an essay of LSU involvement, achievement, and financial need; and submit two letters of recommendation from professors.
The Faculty Senate Committee on International Education selects the recipients based on these applications and scholarship availability.
For more information on International Services, visit http://www.oip.lsu.edu/iso/
Issue: I have to go to class in Hatcher Hall because the Music & Dramatic Arts Building is undergoing renovations. There is a tuba player who practices in the next room and disturbs our work. What can be done?
Answer: First, I am pleased to see that you care enough about your education to say something. That says something about our students. Second, I ask that you please be patient. The renovations are a temporary condition, but the end result will be an M&DA Building that is more conducive to a 21st century education. Last, I will contact the Registrar and the Office of Facility Services to see what can be done to permit the tuba player to practice and let your class meet undisturbed.
Issue: What is LSU’s commitment to the community?
Answer: While I have only been at LSU three weeks, many people on the campus and off have commented about the importance of a better town-gown relationship. The National Flagship Agenda recognizes that LSU has to have a warm and comfortable place for our students, faculty, and staff to meet and congregate socially. LSU has joined the Northgates Merchants Association to improve Tiger Town. LSU, the City-Parish of Baton Rouge, BREC, and the Army Corps of Engineers have worked together on bike paths between LSU and downtown and will soon start an improvement project at the University Lakes.
One of the largest efforts was the HOPE VI grant through the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development that focused several million dollars on improving the living conditions in the neighborhood north of campus. LSU maintains a part-time office at the Leo Butler Community Center offering services and counseling.
I would also like to mention the thousands of hours students, student organizations, faculty and staff spend in community service, some related to our service-learning program.
If you want to see more about LSU’s involvement in the community visit: www.lsu.edu/cup.
Issue: Will the trouble we had last fall with the Chingy concert affect future engagements for groups represented by the William Morris agency?
Answer: Since the incident in the fall, the Union Program Council has successfully dealt with and contracted entertainers and speakers represented by William Morris Agency.
