Louisiana State University - Flagship Agenda

Flagship Agenda

In 2003 Chancellor Mark Emmert spearheaded the creation of the Flagship Agenda, a plan to reverse the low morale, lack of competitiveness, and lack of available resources that had plagued LSU during the early 1990s. Its focus is to have LSU better serve Louisiana and the world by increasing student quality and research productivity, thereby vaulting LSU into placement as one of the finest public universities in the country. Because the improvements put a higher financial strain on students, the agenda has created some controversy. However, many people involved with the university agree that the agenda's implementation has been successful. Sean O' Keefe, who in 2005 left his post as head of NASA to become LSU's new chancellor, pledged to continue the agenda until its conclusion in 2010, which will coincide with LSU's 150th anniversary. On 2008 January 16 O'Keefe resigned effective 2008 June 1. Recent cuts to Louisiana's higher education budget threaten to reverse the gains of the Flagship Agenda.

Flagship agenda action plan

1. Increase research productivity by hiring a significant number of new, high-quality faculty and improving technology infrastructure.
2. Increase number and quality of graduate students and programs through targeted investments and program review.
3. Increase quality of undergraduate students and programs by raising admissions standards, improving recruitment, and reviewing courses of study.
4. Increase quality of campus life by increasing diversity, inclusiveness, and facilities investments.
5. Assess LSU's progress and communicate achievements.
6. Increase funding to support the previous actions through more state and private support.