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

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.