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Board approves six new academic programs and a consolidated biomedical Ph.D. plan
Summary
The Board approved six new degree programs across multiple campuses—coastal meteorology, construction engineering, cybersecurity (LSUA), interdisciplinary sciences, visual communication, and a consolidated Ph.D. in biomedical sciences at LSU Health New Orleans—on staff recommendation.
Senior staff presented and the Board approved a package of academic-program actions covering six new undergraduate and one consolidated doctoral proposal.
Approved undergraduate programs included a Bachelor of Science in Coastal Meteorology at LSU A&M intended to build coastal-focused atmospheric expertise; a Bachelor of Science in Construction Engineering that blends engineering and business training; a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity at Louisiana State University Alexandria (LSUA), converting an existing cybersecurity concentration into a stand-alone degree; an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in integrated sciences at Grambling State University to combine multiple science disciplines; a Bachelor of Science in Visual Communication at Louisiana Tech to train scientific and technical communications specialists; and a graduate certificate-level offering and other program adjustments listed in the packet. Senior staff recommended approval of these items, noting most proposals repurposed existing faculty and coursework.
The Board also approved a proposal by LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans to move from several siloed biomedical Ph.D. programs (biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology, pharmacology, neuroscience, cell biology and anatomy, microbiology/immunology/parasitology and human genetics) to a single, interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences. Staff said the new program will initially run alongside existing programs while students complete current tracks and that the long-term plan is to phase the separate Ph.D. programs into the interdisciplinary degree over time.
Regents members asked questions about program duplication and regional workforce needs; staff described a review process that asks campuses to justify regional demand and to document how new degrees complement (not duplicate) existing offerings. The motion to approve the academic programs was moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote.
