LSU announced that the University of New Orleans’ Lakefront campus will officially be under LSU system leadership starting July 1 of next year.
The decline in enrollment from 17,000 before Hurricane Katrina to about 5,000 last fall has significantly impacted the university’s performance.
The university will be renamed LSU New Orleans.
The Louisiana state Legislature gave the university $20 million last year which helped stabilize its operations, but it wasn’t a permanent fix.
“This marks a pivotal inflection point: a unique opportunity to revitalize enrollment, recalibrate academic offerings for present-and-future workforce demands, and fully leverage the campus’s exceptional lakefront footprint,” LSU announced in a press release Wednesday.
A newly formed transition team composed of alumni, industry leaders and representatives from UNO and the LSU system met Wednesday to discuss the future of UNO’s academics, athletics, student culture and more.
“The plan will draw inspiration from proven success stories within the LSU family that have achieved enrollment growth and academic expansion within the LSU System by sharing statewide resources and aligning curricula with regional industries,” the press release said.
The agenda will also focus on academic strategies that will allow the campus to partner with LSU Health New Orleans, expanded arts administration, strengthening national defense and research initiatives and creating a world-class hospitality, tourism and culinary program.
Additionally, LSU plans to partner with more private developers to bring modern housing, updated facilities and make use of the sprawling 200-acre campus.
“By restoring and repurposing existing buildings and pursuing new mixed-use development, the campus life experience will become a magnet not only for students, but also for broader community and business engagement,” the press release said.
UNO Athletics play a big part in student life and is something LSU heavily values. The transition team includes UNO’s former head basketball coach Tim Floyd and former UNO athletic director Ron Maestri. They were brought in to make sure that Privateer traditions remain strong.
“In collaboration with state and local government, industry leaders from tourism, real estate, finance, healthcare, maritime, national defense, research and technology will work alongside the transition team,” said the press release.
The changes aim to make LSU New Orleans a world-class institution for generations of LSU students.
“Their collective focus: to bring the Lakefront campus into a new era of success, bolster student opportunity, and revive the economy of the entire New Orleans region.”
