Louisiana State University
PAE-10: Affordability and Access Programs

LSU is an institution that houses three federal TRIO programs. The Ronald E. McNair Post baccalaureate Achievement Program, Student Support Services, and Upward Bound

LSU is bound by the Louisiana Granting Resources and Autonomies for Diplomas (LA GRAD Act). The LA GRAD Act was approved by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal in June, 2010. As a result, the Board of Regents has entered into six-year performance agreements with each of the participating institutions. In the agreements, the institution commits to meeting specific performance objectives in exchange for increased tuition authority and eligibility to participate in certain autonomies. One of the main performance objectives is to make higher education accessible to low income students. That objective reads: Each postsecondary education management board shall establish criteria for waiving any tuition or mandatory fee increase as authorized in this Subsection in cases of financial hardship. Information relative to such waivers and the criteria and procedures for obtaining a waiver shall be made available to all prospective students in a timely manner such that each student is informed of the availability of a waiver prior to the student making a final decision concerning attendance at any public institution of postsecondary education.

The Spring Faculty Enrichment Series is a faculty and staff learning community series which takes place over the course of three months each Spring Semester. Unlike traditional seminars, these workshops will be co-facilitated by faculty and structured like colloquies. This will allow participants to have bona fide conversations about major topics around departmental culture, pedagogy and strategies that improve teaching in multicultural classroom environments. One such workshop in this series is entitled: “Class Within Classes: A Look at Social Class Differences in the Classroom.” This seminar will include strategies for working with students who represent different socioeconomic backgrounds or have varying perspectives of social class in America. Participants will hear from faculty experts whose research highlights working across the socioeconomic spectrum in higher education. Best practices will be offered around increasing learning outcomes despite differences in social class as well as highlighting how higher education policies underscore our need to pay attention to these differences.

Student Support Services is a federally funded TRIO program that serves a small, select number of undergraduate students who are under-resourced. The program provides intensive academic, personal, and career counseling to assist participating students in achieving success at LSU. Ronald E. McNair Research Scholars Program, also a federally funded TRIO program, is a part of University College. Its primary purpose is to increase the graduate school enrollment of students; such is minority race students, first generation students, under-resourced, and women in under-represented fields at the post-graduate level. The Summer Scholars Program, is an eight-week summer program that prepares selected under-represented and under-resourced minority students for a successful transition from high school to the University. This summer experience offers students the opportunity to become adjusted to the academic, personal, and social challenges they may encounter at LSU.

Pelican Promise Scholarship is a need-based grant program for Louisiana residents funded by the institution beginning in 2007 to assist students with financial need in paying for college. This program provides a tuition and registration fee exemption to students meeting specific need based criteria. For eligibility and retention details, visit our financial aid website.

The LSU Parent & Family Programs exists so that a smooth transition occurs not only for the students, but for the parents as well. A student’s progression through his or her college career is a major milestone for both students and parents, and the transition will likely affect the family as a whole. Throughout the college years, LSU Parent & Family Programs communicate, educate, and support LSU families along the way. While parents may not be able to join us on campus every day, they are vital members of our campus community and critical to student success. We help families stay connected through assistance, events, ongoing communication, and membership in the LSU Family Association.

The Office of Admissions & Student Aid and the Office of Multicultural Affairs work in concert to plan LSU College Nights with local and regional civic organizations (100 Black Men, The Links, Inc., American Legion, Jack & Jill, Inc., Boys & Girls Club) as well as faith based entities (i.e., Churches, Volunteers of America, St. Vincent de Paul, etc.) who serve those under-resourced students. These outreach efforts are embedded in the University’s recruitment plan specifically to promote the Pelican Promise Scholarship.

There are three factors that will be initially considered for admission to LSU. 1. Incoming freshman must have at least a 3.0 academic gpa calculated from academic core courses. 2. Students must also have completed at least 19 units of new Fall 2012 college-preparatory courses. 3. Applicants must have a minimum of SAT score (critical reading and math) of 1030 or at least a composite ACT score of 22. As the Flagship University of Louisiana, LSU does not offer any remedial courses; therefore, students must have an ACT English sub-score of at least 18 or an SAT critical reading score of at least 450. In order to be placed into college-level math, students must have an ACT math sub-score of at least 19 or an SAT math score of 460. LSU does not require completion of the writing section on the ACT or SAT for general admission. However, students interested in being considered for admission to the LSU Honors College must submit writing scores. Students not meeting the above requirements for automatic admission are still encouraged to apply. We can take other factors into account to predict your potential for success at LSU. Some of these factors may include: choice of degree program, rank in class, credit in advanced placement or honors courses, rigor of the high school curriculum, grade trends, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. If you would like to appeal a decision, please contact our staff. We want to work with you to do everything possible to see you become part of the LSU family.

LSU’s Student Financial Aid office provides affordability and access for all students to obtain their educational goals. They dedicated to helping students finance their education through federal, state, and institutional dollars. The office strives to provide you with a quick and efficient, user-friendly information that includes LSU financial aid programs including the Louisiana TOPS program, grants, scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, work study, loans, Entering freshmen, transfer, and continuing undergraduate, graduate/professional, law, and veterinary medicine students are encouraged to connect with the office to find ways for students to finance their education.

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http://uiswcmsweb.prod.lsu.edu/universitycollege/UniversityCollege/About/item9453.html http://regents.louisiana.gov/assets/GRADACTLegislation.pdf http://uiswcmsweb.prod.lsu.edu/edco/edco/SpecialInitiativesandPrograms/item30585.html http://uiswcmsweb.prod.lsu.edu/universitycollege/UniversityCollege/About/item9453.html http://www.lsu.edu/departments/admissions/index.html http://www.lsu.edu/departments/financialaid/index.html