[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6686058,"mediaKeyId","2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f","parentId",2371309,"title","Votes at a glance: degrees, programs, centers, appointments and naming approvals","audioSeconds",2917,"startMs",4422000,"endMs",7339000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f&start=4422&end=7339","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f/thumbnail_4422000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6686058/Louisiana/Votes-at-a-glance-degrees-programs-centers-appointments-and-naming-approvals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686058-ca57ec6081ce7cbe928d9f91bc1f297c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131008&Signature=FFZtu1C5RW-pogbf7O9OVnsmsqEdgZvwjFOMPcwyQjlNEZ~i6vGbVoJ6TV3VULbeqrcdxEHz56~1e6lMt0xp7NeIq-uq0j3HFER5kxoK2KkuDbwrblNZnOY~F-1NykDwlBSPV5Q95x9q5wC9NJZiHXwO63tPHSbpJe7~xLiq5IK~A6jKD-XYD8iFywhUDusRQZ~GKKXDBvXQC5No2FjnrMZ4QjNRxCwezhTyQVlXamljfJmiEjOCdBge8hNVYaffPMKejfrnG2aTRY2bBV2demTqrM5gxC2fbum82qP3owk~Kc5DvXKLlBnJJ62wYxFV0hjOJd~WmQkzc63LhagIOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana - Boards & Comissions, Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College","date","2025-02-21T18:21:32.63Z","article","The LSU Board of Supervisors approved a range of items across academic affairs, research and facilities in a single consolidated set of committee actions and a consent agenda. Most items were moved and approved by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript.

Key approvals (summary)

- Posthumous degrees: The Board approved awarding a Ph.D. in sociology posthumously to Ashley Reed (LSU A&M) and dual bachelor degrees posthumously to Garrett Logan Maxwell; it also approved an associate degree posthumously for Amanda Nicole Fontenot (LSU Eunice), each under university Policy Statement 86 provisions.

- New academic programs and sites: The Board approved LSU Health Sciences New Orleans’ request to establish an off-campus instructional site on the LSU A&M campus to offer a BS in nursing (BSN) and other health programs; approval was also given to new degrees and certificates including a BS in applied data science (LSU A&M), BS in cybersecurity technology (LSU Alexandria), BS in disaster preparedness and response (LSU Alexandria), and five non-degree counseling certificates (LSU Health Sciences New Orleans).

- Research designation and centers: The Board designated the Aquatic Germplasm and Genetic Resources Center (AGGRC) as a center for research excellence and approved related requests from the LSU AgCenter.

- Consent agenda highlights: The consent agenda included multiple endowments, endowed professorships and scholarships across campuses, naming requests for eighteen athletics-related spaces (gates, therapy rooms, labs, offices, etc.), continued authorizations for the Leadership Development Institute and the Centre for Internal Auditing and Cybersecurity Risk Management, and other routine approvals. The item list and specific donation amounts were read into the record by Provost Haggerty.

- Property and facilities and athletics items (consent and committee approvals): The Board approved schematic design for the new LSU library (approx. 193,000 square feet), schematic design for Delta Tau Delta fraternity house, authorization for Tiger Athletic Foundation to spend private funds to expand space in the gymnastics practice facility, a one-year sublease of a fraternity house from Pi Kappa Phi to Phi Kappa Theta, and a cooperative endeavor agreement to purchase several properties from the LSU Health Foundation for $5.1 million (amount equal to the foundation’s out-of-pocket costs).

- Athletics contracts and rights: The Board approved an assistant football coach contract for Alex Atkins (multi-year compensation schedule read into record), an amendment to the multimedia-rights agreement with Playfly Sports Properties to align name-image-and-likeness arrangements, and an assignment agreement authorizing the Tiger Athletic Foundation to negotiate future apparel sponsorships on behalf of LSU Athletics.

How the vote took place

Most items were approved by motion and second or approved by unanimous consent in committee and on the consent agenda. Where public comment occurred (for PM 79), it was heard before the board acted; otherwise, the items were presented by provost and staff and approvals recorded with “Any objections? None. Motion approved.” No roll-call vote tallies were presented in the meeting transcript for the consent items.

Ending

Board members asked clarifying questions on several items (for example, the conversion of an endowed chair to professorships due to national-search funding constraints, and the beneficiaries of athletics-naming donations) and requested follow-up where needed. Final legal agreements for some property and housing projects will return to the board for detailed approval.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LSU Board of Supervisors Meeting 2/21/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Board approved multiple consent and committee items including posthumous degrees, new academic programs, research center designation, athletic-related naming requests, and contract and cooperative agreements across LSU campuses.","taxTitle","Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Boards & Commissions, Organizations, Executive, Louisiana","taxId",25746,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6686062,"Board authorizes intent to lease for 900-bed student housing project, citing timeline and financing rationale",1462,6699000,8161000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f&start=6699&end=8161","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f/thumbnail_6699000.jpg","/articles/6686062/Louisiana/Board-authorizes-intent-to-lease-for-900-bed-student-housing-project-citing-timeline-and-financing-rationale","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686062-c85fdad79e31c5a0d4a2bd343cced86d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131008&Signature=HLDSIxrvHWfGwG7mfsQUrp3PZpxbHsWGW1aEQgpQquVoh9L1lVr1JZzKrZKt~5JEvtdRm38l6TQeaiI6Mob-3RWnjvmAfMSXhsZALlNIDyxHnhjUiMex3HvA39PMfdtwVEmtrA3yfwo53vFlen-fN1r7PRSJWPZdKiSTGAFX7wrPtL2LelPVMhH8zuj~4l6JC-RDihFYSpI3vZH4pk0bXmmDlGwj12DdL9pRqSEoSABdxEXqnMojwPVuvyjI1ldYGfoHqlE7lj1UZm3LxnCwsxubYwh8ZuyAz1n9-bwCeOm27F8sulx9HorkbXzXpxiSYUYOeYN6yI3KeRRQLnSmfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The LSU Board of Supervisors authorized university leaders to proceed with an intent-to-lease agreement to develop about 900 new student beds on campus through a public–private partnership, with planning documents and final agreements to return to the board for approval.

What was approved: The board agreed to authorize staff to enter an intent-to-lease with the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation to study and develop a 900-bed residence-hall project intended primarily for first-year students. University presenters said the project would be delivered using the same public–private partnership (PPP) model used for prior phases of student housing and would not require new state operating dollars.

Details, timeline and rationale

Patrick Martin, assistant vice president for real estate and public partnerships, and Peter Trinitost, executive director of residential life, presented the plan and financial rationale. Martin and Trinitost said the master plan built from prior successful PPP phases that added roughly 3,100 beds over the last decade and used tax-exempt bond financing. The team recommended keeping the existing developer, RISE, and construction manager at risk, LeMoyne, arguing that rebidding could delay opening by a year and raise per-student costs substantially.

Presenters provided fee and cost detail: they said the developer’s previously bid development fee is about 4% of construction costs and that the operator (RISE) receives approximately 2.25% of gross revenues for ongoing operations and maintenance. The board heard that the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation’s direct compensation for out-of-pocket costs related to prior phases is small (presenters cited roughly $2,400 for phases 2 and 3) and that the university’s net housing revenue would remain with the housing program rather than being diverted to foundations beyond reimbursement of foundation costs.

Presenters described a compressed schedule: the project-management and design team would work for about six to seven months to complete financing and schematic designs, with a target construction start in October and an opening in fall 2027 if the board approves final agreements on schedule. The team said delaying construction a year could increase student costs by an estimated $40 per semester because of inflation on construction costs.

Governance and oversight

The board was told the project-management committee would include members appointed by the Real Estate and Facilities Foundation, the LSU Foundation and the university president; presenters said the committee’s composition could be adjusted and that a board member could be added at the board’s request. The board appended a direction ensuring appropriate representation: a motion authorizing the intent-to-lease included language directing the president and chair to ensure the project-management committee includes appropriate board representation.

Vote and next steps

A motion to accept the intent-to-lease, with direction that the president and chair ensure proper representation on the project committee, passed by voice vote with no objections. Board members asked for continued stakeholder engagement on site selection and demolition/replacement planning for older residence halls. Presenters said final financing, design and legal agreements would return to the board for approval before construction begins.

Ending

The board authorized moving forward with the intent-to-lease and tasked administration and the foundation to advance financing and schematic design work under the oversight structure described; final agreements will come back to the board for formal approval.","The Board authorized an intent-to-lease agreement with the LSU Real Estate and Facilities Foundation to pursue roughly 900 new first-year beds using a public-private partnership model, with a target construction start in October and opening in fall 2027.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6686063,"Board approves revised Permanent Memorandum 79 after public criticism and counsel explanation",198,5207000,5405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f&start=5207&end=5405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f/thumbnail_5207000.jpg","/articles/6686063/Louisiana/Board-approves-revised-Permanent-Memorandum-79-after-public-criticism-and-counsel-explanation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686063-9cf8696b9a4b6359120cef8ed76a7fa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131008&Signature=J0qF9~wDC03SmoYBSc~3R9YztIcg7dAkqBtAEYyRU4~paZ8OVuScIQWpMvqVgduHLLLhL3v9lGTsVtsuWidW8dr3PXOKsDMCryda-UXPcS04vNQpQt06yUdqlxNf9fxoK3K08W69PPuQtLWeCb1vC1HA5Sk2FrjKRrtBN4Wxs2HicAoa5ggPifIs8ZPT5DM96JVKRFIuxqouOvdJ5GMom9EzkL6Y4YW1J8rFTS-8apTzbZoFJI-6C2i83wJa5~ClbQozZsKSVgM83nMC8kakj90qkxXxaPSCCBh2W5alI71ugMe8NOGUtPwZ4neTZ9txGpf~G7b-ekWUpYatSsGUog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The LSU Board of Supervisors approved a revised version of Permanent Memorandum 79 on freedom of speech and expression after public comment raised objections that the draft would weaken campus free speech protections.

What the board approved: The item presented by Provost Haggerty requested approval of the updated policy, which the board’s general counsel said was intended to render LSU compliant with legislation and executive action passed in 2024. The general counsel described the changes as required by law: “We really took the legislation...and just added particularly exactly what the legislation required here,” counsel said during committee discussion, adding that changes were meant to comply with the statute and were not intended to create new policy beyond legal requirements.

Public comment and concerns

Three student speakers during the registered public-comment period urged the board not to adopt the revised memorandum. Ryan (a senior and student leader) told the board he found language in the draft “concerning” and warned the policy could be broadened to target student groups. Zane Suiter Benfield, another student, said the memorandum “specifically targets faculty” and criticized revisions that, he said, weakened prior commitments to protections for free expression. Gabriela Warrick called the board a “cabal of unelected oligarchs” and argued the policy followed national moves to suppress protest; she linked the timing to other campus disciplinary actions and said the memorandum would chill student and faculty speech.

Legal explanation and board action

General counsel told the board the revisions were in response to changes in 2024 law and an executive order: counsel said the university amended PM 79 to reflect new legal requirements and to add classroom-related constraints the statute requires (for example, restrictions on motivating students to adopt a particular political viewpoint in class). A member of the board asked whether the changes were merely wordsmithing; counsel responded that most edits were compliance-driven and “not substantive” beyond what the statute required.

After discussion, a motion to approve the revised PM 79 was made, seconded and approved by voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded. Board members also heard public comment opposing the draft during the meeting before the vote.

Why it matters: The memorandum governs campus free-expression practices across LSU institutions and was updated to comply with 2024 state action and a related executive order. Students and faculty raised concerns that the revisions reduce existing protections and could be used to discipline or restrict campus expression beyond the statute’s intent.

Ending

The board approved the updated Permanent Memorandum 79; the general counsel and provost told the board the revisions were made to conform to state statute and an executive order enacted in 2024. Public commenters said the changes could chill speech; those objections were recorded in the meeting minutes and during public comment.","After several student speakers urged the Board to reject a revised free-speech policy, the Board voted to approve an updated Permanent Memorandum 79, with general counsel saying the changes implement statutory requirements from 2024.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6686064,"UMC, LCMC officials describe emergency response after New Year's Day mass casualty",708,1932000,2640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f&start=1932&end=2640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2371309-24b8dfb63e5fccb4e26147eeac034e4f/thumbnail_1932000.jpg","/articles/6686064/Louisiana/UMC-LCMC-officials-describe-emergency-response-after-New-Years-Day-mass-casualty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6686064-a1592f852b8baeeafadcc46dab7c9fa1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771131008&Signature=cq8jxWr1toB0UOqzUANZsqQdTmZHOgCyFqeHFxzI5FDD3~7OQizqWS5GG~slxZ-E4Ga3mtkEFjHn2dG52tVrNMnLKDrj4eSv02~dZnDqbC4pfI3PQNfTHxHo7FbwQ5TjDyWWtwq3x608JJ22PDadqWdTCdEFvPtN0URBUbttjPKz7gI4VOa747WX~CL~IW0i4xtjt1hYcYozjtVsaW2K40iREIRaKICfBo59~hA5WEKVdsV5qA3AePk3ijMGU9SDQPhZuVdXVgdbRMjbeY3azehOHLi0XGqGAzH-~6gxRNvNQrCEphQbP4kPIerBGjph9~k2Vp3E3vL6HfnoGvKkHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","University Medical Center and LCMC Health officials told the LSU Board of Supervisors that their staff responded to a large-scale mass casualty incident in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, treating about 26 patients in the first two hours and standing up rapid surge and family-reunification operations.

The presentation, given to the Board during its meeting, outlined clinical, security and family-support steps taken after the hospital received an early-morning call about a large incident. Greg Fearn, chief executive officer of LCMC Health, said his system quickly escalated staffing and resources: “Pretty quickly, they realized that there were gonna be a number of patients coming into the hospital, and that’s when our emergency department went through a process of notifying what we call a small scale mass casualty incident,” he said. “Within the next roughly 30 to 45 minutes, we then activated a large scale MCI.”

Why it matters: University Medical Center (UMC) is the region’s safety-net trauma center and was the primary receiving hospital for the incident. Board members said the hospital’s capacity and coordination with LSU physicians and area hospitals were central to preserving life and reuniting families.

Board presentation and details

Lisonbee Gust, who oversees nursing practice at University Medical Center, described a scene of “very controlled chaos” and credited recent drills with preparing staff: “The performance of the team was nothing less than spectacular,” she said, noting the hospital had drilled for mass-casualty scenarios in preparation for the Super Bowl. Gust also told the board that the hospital had received a bomb threat the day before, which complicated staff concerns about safety; in response the hospital increased security and brought in detection dogs.

Hospital leaders said the injuries treated ranged from serious head, chest and abdominal trauma to multiple orthopedic injuries. Officials reported taking care of roughly 20 patients in the first hour and about 26 in the first two hours; some patients required extended stays — one patient remained hospitalized for about 23 days. Dr. Patrick Griffinstein and Dr. Allison Smith (both identified by UMC presenters as part of the trauma/acute care teams) were named among the LSU-affiliated clinicians who came to assist.

Family reunification and community response

Officials described rapidly establishing a call center to field hundreds of calls from relatives and to serve as a family-reunification hub after city resources were unavailable that night. Gust said the hospital’s IT and emergency-management teams stood up a call center within about 45 minutes and fielded “over 500 calls in just the first hour.” She said the hospital created an incident command center and family-reunification area, and staffed it with counselors, psychiatrists and grief specialists.

Gust described the emotional toll on staff and families when the coroner’s office met with families in designated rooms to confirm deaths, calling that “probably the hardest emotional part of that day.” She said about 10–12 families could not locate loved ones and required extended support and that the hospital provided lodging, meals and travel arrangements for family members when needed.

Outcomes and follow-up

Fearn and Gust told the board that mutual-aid partners — including LSU anesthesia, LSU emergency medicine, Tulane orthopedics and other specialists — mobilized to support the clinical response. President William Tate and multiple supervisors publicly thanked LCMC, UMC and LSU faculty for their work. Tate said the hospital’s role “is vitally important to the state and vitally important to New Orleans,” and several supervisors echoed appreciation for the hospital’s performance.

No formal board action was taken on the hospital presentation. Board members asked follow-up questions about the hospital’s role as a safety-net provider and the partnership between LSU and LCMC.

Ending

Board members said the presentation underscored UMC’s role in regional trauma response and the value of university–hospital clinical partnerships. Officials urged continued coordination and expressed gratitude to front-line staff and volunteers involved in the response.","LCMC Health and University Medical Center officials described treating about 26 patients after a New Year's Day incident on Bourbon Street, detailing surge protocols, family reunification efforts and longer-term care provided to critically injured patients.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: degrees, programs, centers, appointments and naming approvals

Board authorizes intent to lease for 900-bed student housing project, citing timeline and financing rationale

Board approves revised Permanent Memorandum 79 after public criticism and counsel explanation

UMC, LCMC officials describe emergency response after New Year's Day mass casualty