The LSU Board of Supervisors met Friday, Oct. 13. The agenda featured requests to establish two BA degrees and a graduate certificate, approval of the 2018-19 Operating Budget Request and the Comprehensive and Strategic Master Plan and approval of LSU softball coach Beth Torina’s new contract.

Property And Facilities

The Property and Facilities committee heard a request to approve the Comprehensive and Strategic Master Plan. The plan is the culmination of four years of work, and is an update to the 2003 Master Plan. Dan Layzell, Executive Vice President and University CFO said the first proposals of the Master Plan to be implemented will be presented at the December Board of Supervisors meeting.

“This plan is the culmination of more than three years of study, consultation and meeting with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders,” Layzell said. “This updates the prior Campus Master Plan which was approved by the board in 2003.”

The Master Plan notably proposes that Middleton Library and Lockett Hall be demolished and a new library, built in the south of campus. The Master Plan seeks to preserve the historic core of campus and remove automobile traffic from the center of campus. It also establishes a Tiger Walk from the south parking lots to the center of campus, to provide both a navigational waypoint and access point for campus, said Kim Way. The Master Plan is also designed to address the $588 million problem with deferred maintenance by renovating buildings worth investing in and demolishing buildings that are not worth the investment, said Roger Husser, Assistant Vice President of Planning, Construction and Design.

Several board members offered high praise for the plan and applauded before the vote.

“I don’t know if there’s anyone else in the state, looking at this plan, that has such a detailed plan,” said LSU Alumni and CEO of Louisiana Business Inc. Rolfe McCollister Jr. “I just can’t thank you enough.”

“It’s amazing work,” said Chairman Stephen Perry. “I’ve been involved in things like this for a long, long time. This is the most intellectually rigorous, elegant, creative, gorgeous piece of work, on this scale, I have ever seen.”

LSU President F. King Alexander also noted that, with all the new facilities, the University will be taking into account energy efficiency.

“This is a consideration with everything that we’re doing from now on,” said Alexander.

The motion to approve passed unanimously. The committee also heard a proposal to execute a lease for improvements to the Football Operations Center, which was approved unanimously.

Academic and Student Affairs, Achievement and Distinction
The Academic and Student Affairs, Achievement and Distinction Committee heard three requests to establish new degrees and certificates, one to establish a Bachelor of Arts in World Religions from LSU Alexandria, another to establish a graduate certificate in Archival Studies from the Baton Rouge campus and a request to establish a Bachelor of Arts in Screen Arts, also from the Baton Rouge campus. The BA in Screen Arts is an update of the Film and Media Arts concentration in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. All three motions were adopted unanimously.
Finance

The Finance Committee heard a proposal to approve the 2018-19 Operating Budget and viewed a presentation on Supplier Diversity. Blake Chatelain said that this is not the final step in the budget approval process. The approved budget goes to the Board of Regents next. The total budget request amounts to just over $80 million, representing a 23 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. Priorities include operating budget increases, funding for additional faculty and staff, new and expanded research, and additional funding for faculty salary increases, like merit raise program for faculty and staff also included in the budget. The budget was approved without opposition.

Athletics

Finally, the Athletics Committee heard a proposal to approve the employment contract of Torina. The contract extends Torina until 2022 and nets the coach a $100,000 pay raise. The motion was passed without opposition.