Strategic Priority Framework

We are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment that empowers our undergraduate and graduate students to thrive academically, professionally, and in life.

Our large graduate program in science and mathematics, with students in all five academic departments and the Museum of Natural Science, is a cornerstone for  our success as a research university. As mentors and educators who aim for excellence, we dedicate ourselves to identifying and adopting strategies to best educate and support graduate students, working closely with them to ensure their success at the next level. Our graduate students are not only core to our research and teaching mission, but they represent the next generation of researchers in both industry and academia – and they  are crucial parts of how we will advance our college's  research priorities.

In recent years, the landscape of higher education has witnessed a shift in the needs of students in general – and the same holds true in the College of Science. Our students expect more than just access to courses and resources. They seek comprehensive, personalized, and timely support for their entire educational journey. This is as true for traditional academic and career advising as it is for rapidly emerging needs like access to affordable and nutritious food, housing security, and mental health support. We must prioritize holistic support services and collaborate with our university and community partners to address these critical needs as an integral part of our commitment to student success. 

We are committed to providing our students with a robust academic experience and a comprehensive support system that fosters well-being and removes barriers to student success. By evaluating and streamlining our processes, we can make it easier for students to navigate and utilize existing resources. 

We will also work to ensure our students have the guidance and support they need to excel academically and achieve their career goals by expanding our college’s student-centered practices through improved communication channels, enhanced advising services, and more intentional connectivity among our students and alumni. One way we excel in supporting students is with our Science Residential College (SRC), where first-year students majoring in the College of Science can live in Evangeline or Highland Hall in the Horseshoe and take classes with the same group of peers. The SRC is currently constrained in both space and overall capacity. We must expand this program in terms of its structure, footprint, and related support staff as a clearly defined way to provide students with the resources they need to succeed in our college.

Furthermore, we recognize the importance of flexibility in meeting the diverse needs of our students while maintaining our college’s standards of excellence. In some instances, this can mean exploring alternative course delivery formats and expanding online learning options. In others, it may include the development of customizable degree pathways. Through such measures, we are focused on helping students align their educational aspirations with their unique interests and career goals and benefit from a fulfilling learning experience in our college.

As we move into the future, we are focused on recognizing these and other changing student needs in real time – expanding support systems, adapting curricula, and embracing a culture of continuous improvement that not only reacts to changing dynamics and student needs, but counts on it. Only then will we be able to create an environment where every student can thrive and fully prepare for impactful careers and lifelong learning.

Intentional and Strategic Focus on Student Success

• Align total faculty in the college to meet the growing student population
• Expand structures and services for students, including incoming freshmen, transfer, and nontraditional students
• Work with the LSU Graduate School
  to identify ways to improve graduate student advising and build a community for college graduate programs
• Expand college-level student wellness and mental health resources in coordination with LSU Mental Health Services and expand faculty and staff knowledge of these resources
• Expand the capacity and participation of the Science Residential College (SRC) in coordination with Residential Life
• Establish structure, staffing, and funding for a university-wide Prehealth Advising Center in coordination with university and industry partners
• Focus on professional development and best practices to train the next generation of science faculty on effective teaching methods

Curriculum

• Assess and implement options for flexible scheduling in the college that enables students to more quickly earn their degrees
• Expand SCI 1001 by recruiting more faculty and connecting students with peer mentors early in their college experience
• Review, assess, and modify curriculum based on relevance to the student population and discipline or industry needs

• Establish new coursework or programs focused on emerging areas of need like technical and scientific communication
• Expand interdisciplinary, co-taught courses across department
• Grow partnership with the LSU Ogden Honors College to expand course offerings, lecture series, and coordination of living communities for Honors students
• Develop college-level strategies and guidance for productively incorporating artificial intelligence into learning experiences

Communication and Resource Navigation

• Be a strong advocate to drive university-wide 12-month graduate student pay, stipends, and benefits
• Collaborate with the LSU Office of Enrollment Management to identify ways to enhance new student onboarding and establish clear pathways upon major declaration
• Enhance student awareness of and access to student organizations
• Empower students to serve and get involved in community engagement and the outreach portions of the college’s mission
• Establish and expand hardship resources for students in coordination with the LSU Foundation
• Expand the peer mentoring program with additional mentors and mentees with supporting structures and resources
• Enhance and streamline access
  to resources and guidance for international student populations

• Enhance student career preparation in coordination with the LSU Olinde Career Center (e.g., providing more streamlined access to career counseling resources, establishing greater connectivity to college alumni as well as business and industry, and holding events and workshops for students that expand beyond academic and health-related careers)

Outcomes

• Provide competitive graduate funding packages that exceed the LSU minimum
• Decrease average length of time to degree for graduate students
• Reduce average undergraduate class size
• Increase in first-to-second-year undergraduate student retention
• Increase four- and six-year graduation rates
• Increase in the number of students accepted to professional schools and graduate programs
• Increase in the number of students in college graduate programs
• Increase in student satisfaction and engagement survey results

The LSU College of Science is a vital contributor to the economic and intellectual capacity of Louisiana. Through this strategic plan, we are focused on enhancing the economic impact and visibility of the transformative work conducted within our college.

The LSU College of Science makes significant direct and indirect contributions to Louisiana’s economic growth and development. Through our research endeavors, 
we produce award-winning basic and applied research that leads to scientific breakthroughs, technological advancements, and innovative solutions to real-world problems. Our collaborations with industry partners, government agencies, and community organizations result in job creation, industry advancements, and the attraction of external funding to the state. Furthermore, as the preeminent pipeline of science educators and healthcare professionals for Louisiana, we play a crucial role in building a skilled workforce that drives the state’s scientific and healthcare sectors.

Despite the remarkable impact of our college, these contributions are often not widely known or fully understood. For example, much of the discovery our faculty undertakes is basic research, which can be challenging to fully describe or connect to external audiences but represents significant potential to positively impact our society and world. We strive to emphasize the importance of effectively communicating our achievements, the significance of our research, and the transformative outcomes we generate. Expanding our communication and outreach efforts will be a cornerstone of this work. We will leverage various platforms and channels, both traditional and digital, to disseminate information about our research breakthroughs, 

collaborative partnerships, and success stories of our graduates. We will also build on successful initiatives like SciArt, which was a cornerstone of our last strategic plan and provides a sound foundation for connecting STEM and arts disciplines to drive additional public interest and engagement in these areas. We must work intentionally to describe the vital work taking place in our college and expand how we engage the broader community, policymakers, industry leaders, and the general public to foster a deeper appreciation for the value of science and its impact on Louisiana’s economy, health, and well-being.

Broadening our knowledge base and enhancing our engagement with our state contributes to our efforts to build upon the already significant economic impact we have on Louisiana. By raising awareness of our college’s immense capacity and a better understanding of the state’s needs, we can design innovative programs, expand the reach of existing ones, build new partnerships, and conduct even more meaningful research that aligns with Louisiana’s economic priorities. These efforts will diversify and amplify our impact, benefiting our state in distinct and valuable ways.

As we move into the future, we are committed to enhancing and raising the visibility of the economic impact science has on Louisiana. By telling our story, expanding communication and outreach efforts, and highlighting the transformative outcomes of our research, we will ensure that our contributions to the state’s intellectual capacity, workforce development, and economic prosperity are widely understood and provide a foundation upon which we can take our state’s economy, communities, and residents to even greater heights.

Economic Engagement

• Develop programs to connect students more intentionally with alumni (e.g., informational sessions, on-campus meetings, job shadowing, mentorship, and internships)
• Establish formal partnerships with economic development organizations and industry groups to connect real-time industry needs with college academic, research, and service programs
• Expand industry partnerships/engagements by better linking basic research to application
• Work with the university to expand the commercialization of research and patents

Programming

• Build a robust pipeline of future students for the entire college through in-person outreach such as recruiting events, youth outreach events, student groups at the Museum of Natural Science, and presentations about future careers at secondary schools
• Develop more robust events and outreach and engagement programs to communicate the college story and impact and build stronger external partnerships (e.g., colloquiums, workshops, and panel discussions with business and industry)
• Expand and build upon the foundation of the SciArt Initiative, including new SciArt projects and enhancing the program’s visibility among faculty and students

Communication

• Equip faculty and students with the opportunities, resources, and tools to tell their research stories
• Develop strategic social and digital media approaches to highlight prominent alumni to key audiences
• Pursue national and international awards, recognition, and positions for college faculty and staff
• Expand collaboration with the LSU Office of Enrollment Management
  to better market college majors and science careers to potential students
• Develop communications highlighting awards and achievements in science to the public
• Develop video production infrastructure to document and promote videos of student, faculty, staff, and alumni experiences
• Develop marketing and communication materials for students about career opportunities in Louisiana post-graduation

Outcomes

• Grow total reach, impressions, and engagement rates associated with College of Science communications
• Increase in annual faculty, staff, and student honors or awards received
  (statewide, regionally, nationally, and internationally)
• Increase in patents issued to college faculty
• Increase in licensing revenue generated by college faculty
• Increase in total annual outreach events and programs in which the college participates or organizes
• Increase in alumni and/or donor satisfaction survey results

The pace of scientific research is constantly increasing and evolving. To enable faculty and students within the College of Science to continue producing and scaling world-changing discoveries and educating leaders in science, the university and college must continue investing in the underlying infrastructure that makes this impact possible. 

We recognize the immense potential that lies within 
our college’s talented researchers and scholars. Our college is home to preeminent researchers who have achieved international recognition for their contributions to their scientific disciplines. However, we must prioritize expanding access to state-of-the-art infrastructure 
and cutting-edge instrumentation to unlock our fullest capabilities and push the boundaries of our collective scientific discovery. By doing so, we can provide our researchers with the necessary tools and resources to elevate their work to new heights, attracting top talent and accelerating breakthroughs in their respective fields.

There is a clear appetite for investment in enhancing our physical resources. The College of Science will soon break ground on the new Interdisciplinary Science Building, which is slated to open in late 2025 thanks to over $150 million committed by the State of Louisiana and individual and corporate philanthropists. The partnership between LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Health to catalyze funding for this new facility is an example of prioritizing key infrastructure needs and utilizing innovative partnerships to turn a vision into reality that expands access to world-class infrastructure. This collaboration sets the stage for future investments in standalone labs and large-scale facilities that can provide our scholars with the tools and resources they need to accelerate their work and make groundbreaking discoveries. 

Work over the past several years has culminated in a College of Science facilities master plan that outlines steps for upgrades to existing facilities and the next capital project that will augment our training of new science professionals and increase our research capacity.

Investing in state-of-the-art buildings and instrumentation benefits our researchers and has a profound impact on our students. Access to industry-standard equipment and training creates an immersive learning environment where students can gain practical experience and develop skills that are in high demand in their respective fields. Moreover, by providing our students with opportunities to work with advanced instrumentation, we prepare them to be competitive and well-prepared professionals in the scientific workforce. There are cost-savings benefits to the university as well. Rather than individually and inefficiently renovating labs to attract and onboard new faculty hires, we are focused on making more strategic and intentional investments across our college’s entire footprint that may require a more upfront investment but deliver longer-term, more efficient, and coordinated infrastructure.

Enhancing our infrastructure and physical resources also strengthens our ability to attract and retain top graduate students, faculty, staff, and external funders and partners. World-class facilities and cutting-edge instrumentation send a powerful message to potential collaborators and recruits, signaling our commitment to providing an environment that prioritizes and amplifies their research. By investing in our physical resources, we can compete globally and draw exceptional talent to advance our mission of scientific excellence.

The LSU College of Science is committed to expanding access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and instrumentation as a key priority in our strategic plan. By aligning our physical resources with the stature of our preeminent researchers, we can accelerate breakthroughs, drive discipline-shifting research, and attract top talent. This investment in our infrastructure also benefits our students, positioning them for success in their future careers. Through intentional and strategic investments in our physical resources, we will foster an environment that nurtures innovation, collaboration, and scientific excellence.

Resources, Systems, and Structures

• Work with the LSU Office of Research and Economic Development to enhance faculty access to shared research equipment and instrumentation
• Complete and fully equip the Interdisciplinary Science Building for maximum scientific and educational benefit, then work with university, state, and external partners to refine plans and develop funding streams for the next science facility on LSU’s campus
• Develop a process for assigning oversight and maintenance responsibilities of common instruments
• Expand fundraising and grow endowment with a specific focus on ongoing facility maintenance, lab renovations, teaching spaces, and other capital needs

Communication

• Engage the college community in the development of next-generation facilities for the college
• Increase faculty knowledge of existing infrastructure and how best to utilize or navigate policies and processes involving equipment procurement and use
• Provide transparent and consistent internal communication about the status of renovations, buildings, and general access
• Increase funding and sponsorships for student instrumentation needs
• Integrate faculty perspectives into fundraising and development for research infrastructure
• Hold legislative “open house” to showcase the current state of facilities to public funders

Outcomes

• Reduction in deferred maintenance
• New investments from grants, philanthropy, and industry funding for college infrastructure and instrumentation
• Improvements in college facilities
  (research and teaching spaces)
• Expanded space and instrumentation for state-of-the-art research and teaching in the college