President Tate's Scholarship First Agenda

March 07, 2022

Dear LSU Family,

Since I became president of LSU only eight months ago, I’ve toured across the state, visiting each of the LSU campuses and engaging with campus leaders, students, faculty, alumni, supporters, and community leaders. In my short time here, I’ve gotten to know more about what makes Louisiana unique: its history and culture, outstanding cuisine, and a passion for purple and gold that spans generations and reaches every parish.

At the same time, I’ve come to understand the challenges facing Louisiana’s future and the great sense of urgency in addressing them. That is why, today, I am excited to announce my Scholarship First Agenda for LSU, which seeks to preserve our rich heritage of culture and tradition and protect the people of Louisiana in the ways that they deserve.

The Scholarship First Agenda is about a commitment to the pursuit of excellence in everything we do. It is about exceptional academic scholarship in the form of research and creative works. It is about carving out financial pathways that allow students of talent to pursue an LSU education without barriers. And it is about using our intellectual and human capital to create innovative and timely advances in critical areas that better the lives of our friends and neighbors.

We will be bold, swift, and audacious in this effort. To begin, we will prioritize strategic investments in five key areas: Agriculture, Biotechnology, Coast, Defense, and Energy. These investments will transform our research capabilities and drive student outcomes, while ascending to our potential and improving the lives of all Louisianans. That is not the culmination of our prioritization – the strategic planning process, which is in its very nascent stages, will more fully cultivate our collective areas of opportunity, engaging stakeholders at every level.

Thank you for all you do to make our university an exceptional place.

William F. Tate IV
LSU President