Chart Our Progress : People

Faculty & Staff

The State of Louisiana has vested their trust and confidence in the Faculty and Staff of Louisiana State University to provide nationally competitive education, research, and service. To support the caretakers of that public trust, the University must provide competitive salaries, adequate facilities, modern equipment, and cultivate a culture of innovation and discovery.

Actions

• add 150 new faculty members by 2010.

Progress

• 114 faculty members added – 76 percent towards goal.
• $35.3 million has been added in faculty and staff compensation and benefits.

Graduate programs

A major part of the University's educational and research mission is to educate future researchers. Graduate students provide invaluable assistance to faculty research. From an economic perspective, these students are the fuel of the knowledge-based economy. In order to provide nationally ranked programs and prepare graduate students for the most competitive and prestigious academic and research programs and employment opportunities, LSU will take the following actions.

Actions

• Increase the total number of high-quality graduate students, particularly in doctoral fields that complement research strengths and in key areas of leadership and development for the state.
• Continue to increase diversity of graduate students and faculty.
• Increase quality and competitiveness of graduate programs through targeted investments and systematic program review.

Progress

• Doctoral enrollment had a 15 percent increase from Fall 2001 to Fall 2006.
• Increased graduate assistantships by 37 percent, and have added $13.4 million in stipend enhancements, tuition exemptions, and other compensation.
• The average GRE score improved from 1055 to 1089.
• The Flores MBA Program was ranked 7th in the nation by The Wall Street Journal.
• Post-Doctoral researchers up 61 percent.

Undergraduate Programs

Because of its role as Louisiana's flagship university, it is LSU's responsibility to provide nationally competitive undergraduate programs and experiences to ensure that no Louisiana student must leave the state to find better opportunities. To that end, LSU has steadily raised its expectations for undergraduate preparation and performance. The result of these increased expectations has created a ripple effect throughout high schools within the state, resulting in more-rigorous high school curricula. LSU's goal is to continue to invest in and promote nationally ranked programs that prepare students for the best possible postgraduate opportunities, and, in turn, provide a competitively educated workforce capable of attracting high-growth industries. In order to fulfill this role, LSU will take the following actions.

Actions

• Increase undergraduate admission standards and move to a more competitive and holistic admissions model; LSU will endeavor to recruit and retain top students.
• Increase recruitment, orientation, and retention efforts for transfer students.
• Provide a broad array of nationally competitive undergraduate degree programs through systematic review and targeted investments
• Provide innovative learning experiences that complement and enhance academic programs, including international, multicultural, and interdisciplinary programs.

Progress

• The average ACT score is up from 23.8 to 25.3.
• First-year retention is up from 84.2 percent to 84.7 percent.
• Six-year graduation rate is up from 57.8 percent to 59 percent.
• The admissions requirements changed to require a 3.0 gpa on 18 core units and a composite ACT score of 22.