Human Ecology - About Us - Flagship Agenda

Louisiana State University
College of Agriculture
School of Human Ecology

Flagship Agenda
2003-2010

OVERVIEW VISION:The School of Human Ecology will become a leading academic unit in the human sciences, with nationally recognized research, undergraduate, graduate and Extension programs.

Objective 1: Increase Research Productivity

Actions:

• Increase faculty and staff in areas of research that have potential for growth by a) six faculty and appropriate research and clerical support staff, b) doubling graduate assistants and c) tripling post-doctoral fellowships (researchers).
• Renovate current laboratories and increase laboratory space and startup funding for six new faculty members to update infrastructure and equipment for strategic growth in targeted areas to support increases in competitively funded research activities.

Outcomes:

• Funding from competitive grants and contracts will be doubled.
• The Center of Excellence for Bionutrition, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, the Child Development Center, the Textiles & Apparel Computer Research & Design Laboratory, along with several other targeted initiatives, will be nationally recognized.
• Human Ecology will strengthen the educational skills and abilities of Louisiana citizens.

Objective 2: Increase quality of undergraduate student body

Actions:

• Recruit students into Upper Division Honors programs and encourage students to participate in Sophomore Honors Programs.
• Strengthen the communication skills of students by increasing the number of Communication Across the Curriculum (CAC) programs and courses and assignments within courses.
• Enhance critical-thinking skills through service-learning courses and projects and undergraduate research projects.

Outcomes:

• Ten percent of Human Ecology undergraduates will qualify for Honors Programs. Upon completion of Honors Programs, students will earn Upper Division Honors Distinction and Sophomore Honors Distinction.
• Human Ecology will continue to revise curriculum to include CAC, service learning and research projects.
• Faculty will increase the number of writing and/or oral assignments in HUEC courses by 10%.
• Faculty will increase student participation in service-learning courses and projects.
• Undergraduate research projects will be presented at juried competitions, national meetings and/or published.

Objective 3: Increase number and quality of graduate students and programs

Actions:

• Increase graduate enrollment, with emphasis on recruiting Ph.D. students, by utilizing recruiting strategies to reach undergraduate students and graduates of Louisiana institutions and out-of-state universities. Focus on program strengths in order to develop national recognition in key areas and submit research and training proposals that include graduate student support.
• Increase quality and competitiveness of HUEC graduate program through targeted investments. For example, hire additional faculty expertise that is needed for core graduate courses and obtain resources to increase student participation in professional meetings. Increase collaboration with other departments through shared courses, concentration offerings and graduate committee memberships; expand adjunct faculty appointments to increase the breadth of training of our students. Some examples of collaborations are the “Life Course and Aging Center” that includes multiple LSU departments and the “Molecular and Clinical Nutrition I” and “II” courses that will be taught by faculty from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
• Continue to increase diversity of graduate students and faculty by active recruitment activities.

Outcomes:

• Graduate assistantships will increase (tied to Objective 1), such that graduate student enrollment will double.
• Targeted programs will achieve national prominence.
• Graduate students will represent a population of highly competitive students, and graduate faculty will be increased, strengthened and diversified.

Objective 4: Improve quality of campus life

Actions:

• Increase effectiveness of programs and services that support faculty, staff and student success.
• Increase quality of environment for working, learning and living.

Outcomes:

• Human Ecology will receive national recognition as an innovative and competitive working and learning environment for award-winning students, faculty and staff.
• New and renovated facilities, classroom/laboratory spaces and meeting spaces will be funded or completed.

Objective 5: Increase outreach opportunities for Extension, teaching and research programs and improve identification and communication of program outcomes and impacts. (Revised Version including Extension 12/6/05)

Actions:

• Improve and expand the quality of life in Louisiana through focused Extension programs that address priority issues and needs of target audiences.
• Enhance awareness of opportunities for program outreach with identified audiences and stakeholders.
• Strengthen communication and collaboration among Extension, teaching and research faculty.
• Identify and continuously update primary sources of information (websites, newsletters, annual reports, impact statements, recruitment materials) on program, faculty, student and staff successes.
• Systematically and objectively assess Human Ecology’s image and address areas of concern.
• Identify and generate opportunities to educate stakeholders, policy makers, funders, national organizations and media sources on Human Ecology’s successes and progress.
  

Outcomes:

• The lives of Louisiana children, youth and families will be improved through increased outreach.
• HUEC will have educated, supportive constituencies at the local, state and national levels.
• Collaborative teaching, research and Extension programs will increase in number and quality.
• HUEC faculty and students will receive increased state and national recognition for accomplishments.
• The image of the HUEC program, faculty, students and staff will be enhanced.
• Funding will increase from targeted (federal, state, local and private) sources.

Objective 6: Increase funding sources to support Objectives 1-5

Actions:

• Increase federal, state and private dollars used for Human Ecology and Knapp Hall renovations and the new building annex to Human Ecology.
• Create revenue streams for research from industry, state and federal funds.
• Raise private funds to support undergraduate scholarships, graduate student stipends, faculty professorships, start-up costs, scholarships, travel awards and key academic initiatives.

Outcomes:

• Increased funding sources will be evident from accomplishments of objectives 1-5.