Celebrating the Gold Standard of Excellence

In 2026, the LSU Office of Academic Affairs will host the inaugural Gold Standard of Excellence event to celebrate faculty who received a highly prestigious or prestigious pathway award in 2024 or 2025. By earning one of these awards, these faculty members have met the gold standard in their field, as defined by recognition from their national and international peers for work of exceptional impact and quality.

In addition, these awards also serve a broader institutional purpose. Highly prestigious and prestigious pathway awards are key indicators used in evaluating institutions for membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU). In achieving this standard, they directly advance LSU’s goal of becoming a top-50 research university while increasing the university’s national visibility and reputation.