Narrative (Continued)

University College

Support of Mission

University College is dedicated to students achieving excellence at LSU. Academic and personal success is the hallmark of a well-rounded student, and University College provides a foundation of support services for students beginning their academic careers at LSU.

Since its establishment in 1933 as “Lower Division,” University College has served as the portal of entry for most incoming first-year students enrolling at LSU. It also serves many returning students and transfer students who are not yet eligible for admission to a degree-granting senior college on campus. The two enrollment divisions of University College are the Center for Freshman Year (UCFY) and The Center for Advising and Counseling (UCAC). In addition, a variety of retention-specific programs that focus on particular student populations are a significant part of the role and mission of University College. These internal programs are

• Student Support Services (SSS);
• McNair Program; and
• Summer Scholars Program (SSP).

University College supports the university’s mission through the following actions:

• Providing academic, career, and personal growth programming that will promote personal discovery and instill self-reliance;
• Providing programming that will assist students in identifying and utilizing resources for making decisions as they pertain to their education plans and life goals;
• Promoting the recruitment and retention of a diverse student population and incorporating programming that will broaden the cultural awareness of students; and
• Fostering the utilization of campus academic support services and student involvement in community and campus based learning opportunities.

University College supports student learning through the following performance indicators:

• Increase students’ progression toward meeting personal and career goals;
• Increase students’ knowledge and utilization of university services and programs;
• Improve the retention rate of all populations within the University College and its programs’ participants;
• Increase the recruitment and retention of students from under-represented populations;
• Positively impact students’ perceptions of University College services and programming; and
• Enhance its services and programs to include opportunities for learning experiences outside the classroom.

Services offered through the department are evaluated in several ways, including

• Annual performance evaluations for each employee;
• Statistical reporting via the annual report; and
• Annual LSU McNair Program federal-level progress report.

Students Served

The offices within the unit primarily serve the undergraduate population. Student Support Services and the McNair Scholars programs serve only those admitted to the program in accordance with federal grant guidelines [135] [136] [137].

Student Health Center

Support of Mission

The Student Health Center (SHC) professionals provide medical care, mental health counseling, educational programming and outreach, as well as individual advising and consultations related to health and wellness issues, all services critical to the institution’s mission.  Services assist students in achieving and maintaining personal health and wellness, thereby supporting retention and, ultimately, academic success.

The SHC supports and promotes student learning through service provision, programming, outreach, and resources. Evidence includes 

• Accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC);
• Invitation for participation in National College Depression Screening Project, National College Surveillance Network, and National Eating Disorders Project;
• SHC staff participation and presentations at regional and national conferences (SCHA and ACHA);
• Numerous requests by other institutions to model the LSU SHC success, particularly as it relates to accreditation; eating disorder treatment services; sexual violence prevention, advocacy, and treatment; and mandated online health education; and
• Key collaborations with colleges, departments, advisors, and student organizations.

Services offered through the department are evaluated in several ways, including the following:

• Maintaining a strategic and quality improvement plan, for which goals are assessed and updated annually;
• Ongoing, comprehensive satisfaction assessment tool completed via Student Voice;
• External and internal audits of care protocols and student education, utilizing the Medical, electronic clinic managements system, the Sunbelt Survey, and the Student Health Services Listserv.
• Benchmark studies with health centers at peer institutions conducted on a regular basis;
• Performance evaluations for classified and non-classified personnel completed annually;
• Student assessment at end of workshops and presentations; and
• Student feedback solicited during the online educational experience via MyStudentBody.

Students Served

Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who have paid the associated fees are eligible to use the Health Center [138] [139] [140] [141] [142] [143] [144].

Graduate School

Support of Mission

LSU support services are designed to assist students at all levels of enrollment, as the following information indicates.

The Graduate School supports students enrolled in graduate and professional programs across campus in a variety of program offerings.  Graduate School staff are trained to deal with the special needs of graduate students and participate in a number of regional and national organizations to insure the currency of their knowledge, including CGS, SCGS, NAGAAP, SAACRAO, AACRAO, LACRAO, CGS, SCGS, SEC Graduate Deans, SREB Doctoral Scholars, and other national organizations and agencies.

Graduate Program Officers

The Graduate School provides a graduate program officer for each student.  This program officer works with the student and the student’s records from admission to graduation.

Orientation

Orientation for graduate students occurs in several ways.

• New graduate student orientation, conducted by the Graduate School, occurs annually each fall for entering graduate students to introduce resources available to ensure their success. Representatives from various campus units such as Student Advocacy and Accountability, Olinde Career Center, Graduate School divisions, and others present to the general graduate student population on relevant topics.
• Graduate Teaching Assistants are provided with an orientation to prepare them for instructional duties. Deans and Vice-Provosts cover critical issues such as FERPA, and senior faculty from STEM and non-STEM fields conduct break-out sessions to cover issues more common to these fields.  A representative from the Division of Student Life & Enrollment provides an overview of the services and resources available not only to them as students, but as to serve as a referrals for the undergraduate students they teach. Most departments across campus offer an annual department level orientation to new graduate students. Graduate students also receive support in preparation of thesis and dissertation preparation and formatting.
• International Student Orientation is held each semester by the International Services Office and is required of all entering international students.  This event ensures that international students have all appropriate documentation for entering LSU, assists them with acclimation to the campus and Baton Rouge, and provides them with many resources available throughout the LSU and Baton Rouge community.
• Departmental orientations are presented by most departments.  Students are provided with information specific to their program, the opportunity to meet with their peers and with faculty in their program.

Admission

Admission to graduate study at LSU is managed through the Graduate School application portal.  Completed applications are reviewed by program graduate faculty who recommend the admission status of each student.  Graduate School staff manages each applicant’s admission, and decisions are delivered virtually.

Financial Aid

Graduate students may apply for many forms of financial aid.  Traditional forms of financial aid are managed by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid.  Other forms of graduate aid include assistantships (teaching, research, or service) and fellowships, tuition awards, scholarships, and other means managed by the Graduate School and by individual departments and organizations.

Residency

Residency for tuition purposes is governed by PM 31.  Students are classified as residents for tuition purposes based on several factors and may appeal their status according to the policies stated in PM 31.  The Graduate School assistant dean serves as the residency officer and is available to assist students with residency issues. By Board of Supervisors regulation, students who are appointed on full time (20 hours per week) assistantships are treated as residents for tuition purposes.

Degree Audit/Examination Committees

A graduate program of study is developed for each student on an individual basis by a faculty committee appointed in that student’s program.  The plan serves as the degree audit for the student’s academic career and is available on a milestone screen through the student’s myLSU portal.  The faculty committee also conducts examinations and reviews, and approves the student’s thesis or dissertation.  Faculty advisors and committee members are approved at both the departmental and Graduate School levels.

Recruitment, Retention and Diversity

Graduate students are recruited by individual programs and by the Graduate School at a variety of events throughout the country.  During the student’s academic career at LSU the Graduate School provides support for student travel, student organizations, and other facets of graduate student life.  Through a variety of events, organizations, and forms of financial support, the Graduate School supports a diverse population of graduate students.

Thesis/Dissertation Review:

The Graduate School requires the electronic submission of all theses and dissertations submitted for graduate degrees.  Resources to support each students in this process include the student’s graduate committee, the Graduate School reviewer who examines each document submitted for adherence to university guidelines for such documents, and the maintenance of a university archive of all ETD (electronic thesis and dissertation) documents catalogued through the LSU Libraries.  Workshops are held annually to assist students, and a comprehensive set of guidelines is available for student review online at the Graduate School Website.

Students Served

This office serves graduate and professional students [145].

International Student Programs

Support of Mission

International Programs is structured to provide student support services, programs, and activities in four areas: International Services, Academic Programs Abroad, Development and Outreach, and the International Cultural Center. International Programs hosts student development workshops (e.g., Fulbright Scholarships and Fellowships) that present students with information on a number of professional development opportunities in over 150 countries. The program also seeks alternative destinations for study abroad opportunities and assists colleges and schools in developing internship programs.

International Services

International Services provides primarily immigration advisory services to undergraduate and graduate international students regarding their educational, financial, immigration, health insurance, personal, and social concerns in relation to their status in the U.S. They prepare all documents necessary for international students sponsored by the university to achieve and/or maintain proper non-immigrant status in the U.S. Additional services include compliance of the U.S. Immigration SEVIS reporting requirements that pertain to non-immigrant F-1 and J-1 status students. It conducts orientation programs for all new international students, as well as seasonal information sessions and workshops. All F-1 and J-1 non-immigrant students seeking permission to work on or off campus must receive approval and/or recommendation required for federal work authorization from this office. Small short-term emergency loans for international students are available through this office based on availability. It is the main mission and role of International Services to educate the international population and sponsors on all the immigration regulations and rules that govern their presence in the United States.  They need to be up-to-date with the ever occurring rule changes, unique opportunities, and consequences of the lack of regulation compliance.  The professional staff provides this guidance through orientation programs, information sessions, and one-on-one advisor consultation and direct advising communications.

Academic Programs Abroad

Academic Programs Abroad (APA) promotes and facilitates academically sound, and culturally enriching, domestic and international exchanges and other study away experiences that provide LSU students with a competitive edge and the necessary skills to participate in our complex and changing global society.  APA maintains exchanges with approximately 400 domestic and international programs and partners and offers programs for students ranging from a few days over fall or spring break to a full academic year.  The goals of all APA programs, whether exchanges, summer programs, or excursions during fall or spring break, are to provide students with the opportunity for personal and academic growth, broader horizons, independence, cross-cultural awareness and understanding, resourcefulness, and a lifelong love of learning and exploration.

Academic Programs Abroad is the only office on the LSU campus that provides services for students wishing to participate in domestic or international exchange or short-term programs. Two coordinators, one assistant director, and a director work with incoming and outgoing exchange students. Student services range from recruiting to organizing workshops for returnees. Supervision of a buddy program is provided, through which LSU students help incoming exchange students integrate into campus life. Most program participants are undergraduate students, but LSU maintains a small number of graduate exchanges and accepts graduate exchange students from partner universities. Support is also provided to incoming students with services, ranging from applying for housing to communicating with college advisors about course selection. There is close cooperation with the undergraduate and graduate admissions offices.

Examples of outreach activities are pre-first-year orientation, classroom visits, and two study abroad fairs per year. Last year’s fall fair alone attracted over 1,400 students. There is an interactive Web site and a social media presence. In FY 2012-13, 90 LSU students participated in semester and yearlong international exchanges, 56 students visited LSU on international exchange, while the National Student Exchange program attracted 22 incoming and 18 outgoing students. The largest number of students participates in summer and short-term programs. APA administers those programs and also takes care of every aspect of student participation, ranging from orientation sessions and risk management, all the way to administrative issues such as course registration. APA currently supports about 700 incoming and outgoing students per year.

Student support is individualized so that each student finds the best possible solution to her or his needs. The office maintains an open door policy and has an active outreach program to meet with student groups, faculty, and parents.

Development & Outreach

A third area within International Programs, Development and Outreach, indirectly supports students via international agreements that build opportunities for students to acquire skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to collaborate and compete in a global financial and human economy. Development and Outreach creates international linkages that include student exchange agreements with the purpose of providing a legal and sustainable framework on which to build international academic programs and experiential learning opportunities. However, implementation of these agreements, as well as the monitoring and assessment of the resulting programs and student learning outcomes, falls under the auspices of Academic Programs Abroad. These legally binding documents assure a continuation of students’ rights, protections, and responsibilities, as well as a level of logistical, personal, and academic support, for student experiential learning abroad.

Aware that such learning experiences constitute only one part of acquiring global competency, Development and Outreach also develops agreements with international educational institutions, companies, and governments, through which LSU faculty can engage in research, teaching, and other collaborations on an international level. Faculty’s global experiences are translated into curricula that reflect the interconnectedness and realities of the global community and lead students to approach problem solving and application of their majors in a global context.

International Cultural Center

The backbone of the International Cultural Center (ICC) is student support. It specializes in particularized programs, services, and activities for non-immigrant international students at LSU. These services include new arrival services (airport and bus pickup), transportation to the Social Security administration offices for SSN applications, temporary housing at the ICC, “Breakfast Week,” providing a meeting place for international cultural events and meetings of international student associations, orientation and shopping tours, and many more activities (dancing, sport tournaments, tailgating, special American holiday celebrations, movie nights, etc.).

The International Cultural Center (ICC) serves to promote international friendship and facilitate greater interaction and understanding between the international students at LSU and the Baton Rouge community through educational, cultural, and social activities at a special place.   The ICC provides arrival services for new international students coming to LSU. Another part of the services to international students is that the ICC offers temporary housing at the ICC and through Residential Life (if available) for LSU registered international students during and after the arrival service period.  The ICC facility offers conference and meetings rooms, activity areas that can accommodate up to 275 people, a full kitchen, a lounge and game area, a computer mini-lab with a printer, e-mail, and fax capabilities, and other conveniences, such as cable satellite connection and a big screen television.

Students Served

The offices serve the entire student body of international students—undergraduate, graduate, and professional [146] [147].

Online Student Services

LSU offers instruction via multiple modalities. Online instruction includes both students in and around the Baton Rouge area who take some or all courses online and students outside of the geographical area who are completely enrolled and access all services online. Students have access to a wide range of services, regardless of the modality in which the course is delivered, including orientation materials and online tutorials regarding learning styles. Fee-based services, such as University Recreation or the Student Health Center, are only be available to those who have paid the associated fees.

Students enrolled in graduate degree programs offered through LSU Online are supported via the program Website that provides information on resources designed to support their success within the program. There are currently four graduate degree programs offered through LSU Online, and plans are in the works to expand these degree offerings. They are Higher Education Administration (MA); Human Resource & Leadership Development (MA); Construction Management (MA); and Master of Business Administration. Students also receive a resource sheet on ProctorU, a third-party vendor that assists the university in verifying student identity as well as providing exam proctoring services at the discretion of the faculty. Additional information is found in Federal Requirement 4.8.

LSU has also contracted with Academic Partnerships to provide special services to LSU Online applicants and students.  These services include, but are not limited to, the following:  assistance with the application process; assistance with course scheduling and fee payment; and course monitoring.

Resources are also provided to both pre-enrolled and enrolled students who participate in independent and distance learning (correspondence) courses and online courses that are developed and coordinated by Continuing Education. Students enrolled in these courses range from full-time enrolled students on the LSU main campus to non-degree-seeking students from across the country. Non-degree-seeking students may take courses for professional advancement or personal enrichment, and may be earning credit toward a degree at another institution. Enrollment in distance learning programs through Continuing Education does not require admission to the university.

Prior to enrollment, students have access to a variety of information on course descriptions, fees, the enrollment process, required software or equipment, and suggestions for success.  These resources are available online through the Website and from learner services representatives who are available during extended business hours by phone or e-mail or in person.

Resources for enrolled students are also provided through the Website, via  the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS), and by learner services representatives. Enrolled students are assigned to a particular learner services representative. Services available to these distance education students include a virtual bookstore to facilitate ordering textbooks and course materials; assistance identifying test proctors and scheduling high-stakes testing in the student’s local area; help desk resources for problems with access to course systems or the LMS; and support with a variety of registration-related problems that may include course extensions, course transfers, or payment/refund problems. Course activities are monitored to identify at-risk students. For example, if a student does not log in to the course or does not submit an assignment within a prescribed time period, the student will receive a communication encouraging continuation with the course and identifying resources that are available to overcome course-related problems. If they have content-related questions, students may also communicate with their course instructors both via email and within the LMS. 

Recently, students from the four programs included in the LSU Online degree programs completed an online survey regarding their current experiences with LSU and about future needs as it relates to services for student support. Overall students in the LSU Online program agree that they have had a positive experience with the university and its services [148]. A majority of students responded that they are satisfied not only with the quality of the academic courses available in their major, but also with the availability of their faculty. Most also responded that the LSU Online program either meets or exceeds their expectations and would recommend the program to others.  Of the student services offered through Student Life & Enrollment, students identified the following services as not important or not needed for online students: Campus Life, Greek Life, Parent and Family Programs, Residential Life, and University Recreation.  Students identified the following services as slightly, moderately, or very important to online students: Career Services, Center for Academic Success, Disability Services, Enrollment Management, Orientation, and the Student Financial Management Center [149].

Students Served

Services provided are available to online students at any level, undergraduate, graduate, and professional [150] [151].

NOTE: A full list of attachments is available in the first half of the narrative.