Caption: Executive Vice President & Provost Roy Haggerty, Vice President Robert Twilley, and the 2025 Rainmakers.

Dear Colleagues,

End-of-the-semester faculty recognition ceremonies provide an opportunity for us to celebrate some of the work that enabled us to reach this important milestone. We recently celebrated six distinguished Rainmakers, faculty recognized by the Council on Research for outstanding research, creative activity, and scholarship. Their contributions enhance LSU’s academic reputation and have tangible impacts on Louisiana's economy and communities. Their research interests cover a wide array of topics, including interventions for behavioral health challenges, Renaissance studies and ecocriticism, pedagogical approaches to music education in schools and communities, coastal restoration and protection in Louisiana, impacts of coastal hazards on civil infrastructure, and sustainability of the pavement on Louisiana’s roadways. Their incredible achievements illustrate the depth and breadth of faculty expertise at LSU at all ranks and levels of seniority.

In addition, President Tate and I joined Dean Troy Blanchard last week at the second annual HSS Book Luncheon, which celebrated recent LSU authors and their monographs. It was a treat to see so many LSU books, ranging from Prof. Maurice Ruffin’s critically acclaimed “The American Daughters” to Prof. Lori Martin’s “White Sports/Black Sports” to Prof. Julia Irwin’s “Catastrophic Diplomacy." These and many other books were highlighted and signed by their respective authors. All signed books will be displayed in the HSS Humanities Center and the College of Humanities & Social Sciences’ Dean’s office.

On Tuesday, April 15, Edward Laws, Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences, and Darius Spieth, San Diego Alumni Association Chapter Alumni Professor in the School of Art, will be honored as Distinguished Research Masters. The Distinguished Research Master awards are given to faculty who have a sustained record (typically seven years or longer) of groundbreaking research and scholarship while at LSU. 

We will close out these celebrations at the Faculty Awards Ceremony in April. This year, we will honor 31 exceptional individuals who have demonstrated research, teaching, and/or service excellence. It is a privilege to host this event each year, and I am grateful to the LSU Alumni Association and the LSU Foundation for their loyal and generous support.

The continued commitment and contributions of our faculty and staff are essential to LSU’s academic and research achievements. Thank you for your dedication to excellence.

Sincerely,

Roy Haggerty
Executive Vice President and Provost

The Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025 Faculty Awards. There are few places beyond a flagship institution where such a broad range of significant accomplishments are evident. Their work embodies our vision to use our talents and discoveries with purpose and passion in service to the state of Louisiana. Please join us in congratulating our esteemed faculty on their incredible accomplishments.

LSU Transitions to Modern Campus Curriculum

LSU is enhancing curriculum management with the launch of Modern Campus Curriculum (formerly Curriculog). This new platform will streamline course and program approvals, making the process more efficient and transparent for faculty and staff. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition by keeping faculty informed, engaged, and supported every step of the way. Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to learn more about how this change will benefit our academic community.

Encourage Students to Strategize Their Summer

Please make sure your students are aware they can get summer course credit both in the classroom and through internships or research. Encourage them to consider summer session. Enrollment is open on Workday. LSU students who take a summer course are twice as likely to graduate in four years than those who do not. Share this link with your students.

Instructor Eligibility (formerly Faculty Credentialing)  

As of March 1, 2025, the myLSU Faculty Credentialing application has been replaced with a new functionality in Workday called Instructor Eligibility. This new user-friendly feature aims to streamline the process and improve efficiency, allowing us to better manage instructor credentials within a single system. To learn more information regarding the update, please visit the instructor eligibility website. 

Update on Moodle Summer Courses  

Please note that 2025 summer and first summer courses will be created in Moodle on May 15, following the Moodle 4.5 upgrade and Workday Student transition. This means student enrollments and course creation, regardless of individual course preferences settings, will occur on that date. To prepare, instructors are encouraged to utilize blueprint courses available through the Course Preferences area on the Moodle homepage or by contacting the Faculty Technology Center (FTC) for unlisted courses. Regular updates and reminders will be posted on the Faculty Support Updates page as we approach May 15. 

The LSU Museum of Art Re-Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums

The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the only organization representing the entire scope of the museum community, announced that the LSU Museum of Art has been awarded reaccreditation by the Accreditation Commission during their February 2024 meeting in Washington, D.C. Of the nation’s estimated 33,000 museums, only 1,113 are currently accredited. 

LSU Special Collections Faculty Fellows Program

LSU Libraries’ Special Collections is pleased to announce the opening of applications for the Faculty Fellowship Program for the 2025-2026 academic year. The fellowship offers faculty the opportunity to develop research-driven courses using materials at Hill Memorial Library. Currently in its third year, the fellowship will encourage digitally engaged and archive-centered teaching across campus by providing a $2,500 professional development stipend, hands-on workshops, and guidance from the library staff. Interested faculty are encouraged to attend an open house at Hill Memorial Library, on April 22, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the main lecture hall for a presentation about the program and an opportunity to speak with library staff and former fellows. The deadline to apply is May 3, 2025. For more information about the program, please visit our website. You can find the application here. If you have any questions, feel free to email Brandon Layton.

Distinguished Research Masters Ceremony 

The Office of Research & Economic Development invites all faculty and staff to attend the 53^rd annual Distinguished Research Master Awards ceremony honoring the following exceptional faculty members:

• Edward Laws, Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences
• Darius Spieth, San Diego Alumni Association Chapter Alumni Professor in the Department of Art History

Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Time: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Holliday Forum, Journalism Building

LSU External Awards and Recognition

Faculty who receive a national award in 2025 are asked to submit the award information to the Office of Academic Affairs External Awards and Recognition program via this form. Even if the award is not currently included as a highly prestigious or prestigious pathway award, please submit the information so that LSU can track all national award recipients. You may also petition to have the award added to the list of available prestigious awards on the External Awards and Recognition website. For more information, visit the External Awards and Recognition website or contact Laura Choate at [email protected]. 

LSU Libraries Research Services Newsletter

LSU Libraries Research News highlights services, tools, and opportunities designed to empower LSU researchers across disciplines. Whether you're navigating research data management planning or exploring the digital humanities, you'll discover practical insights and news about services that strengthen LSU research. The newsletter will be sent nine times per year. Click here to subscribe. 

LSU Discover Day Volunteers

The Office of Undergraduate Research seeks faculty and staff to volunteer as judges for the 12^th  annual LSU Discover Day undergraduate research conference, which will be held on Friday, April 25, throughout the day in the Student Union. This year will be the largest Discover Day yet, with over 450 students presenting from a wide variety of disciplines. Click here to sign up!