On Tuesday, October 24, the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education hosted Governor John Bel Edwards and LSU leaders at a ribbon cutting ceremony, celebrating the Huey P. Long Field House restoration project.

Dear LSU Community,

I am delighted to share with you the remarkable strides Louisiana State University is making in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) under the banner of the Scholarship First Agenda. The integration of AI and Machine Learning (ML) across our academic, research, and operational landscapes continues to flourish, showcasing the true essence of innovation at LSU. Below are some highlights of our ongoing and upcoming initiatives in AI.

Academic Integration: Our curriculum this spring semester is enriched with more than 40 courses embedding AI and ML principles across various disciplines. Some notable mentions include:

• BIOL 7800 Transcriptomics and BIOL 4800/7800 Foundations of Computing for Biologists, merging biology and AI.
• CHE 4230 Advanced Process Control, exploring ML in detecting plant operational anomalies.
• CSC 4343 Applied Deep Learning and CSC 4444 Artificial Intelligence delving into the core of AI technologies.
• ELRC 7503 Instructional Design, emphasizing AI's role in modern pedagogy.
• PHIL 4943 Problems in Ethical Theory, exploring questions around emerging technologies including AI.
• POLI 4062 Comparative Political Economy.

Several 1000-level sections of French, Spanish, German and Italian, and several sections of 2000-level English will also incorporate elements of AI. This is just a glimpse, with many other departments including Mathematics, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Psychology, and Sociology also infusing AI into their coursework.

As well, as many of you know, I am teaching a service-learning class with James Ghawaly and Henry Hays, focusing on AI-driven projects aimed at operational advancements for LSU and the business community.  We will be teaching this again spring semester. If you have students who are intermediate or advanced python coders and are interested in the spring semester course, please send them my way at [email protected].

Research Endeavors: Our faculty members are at the forefront of AI-driven research, and the following are a few examples.

• Assistant Prof. Nathaniel Gilbert is pioneering molecular structure prediction using AI.
• Prof. Supratik Mukhopadhyay is leading transformative projects on AI-driven drug discovery.
• Prof. Les Butler is harnessing AI in 3D image analysis, enhancing our operational processes in additive manufacturing.

Operational Innovations: Our operational facets are also harnessing AI's potential:

• Mitchell Stolier of LSU Online and Continuing Education is leading efforts to utilize AI in instructional design.
• LSU’s Vice President and Chief Data Officer, Dr. Keena Arbuthnot, is leading several AI faculty fellows to develop tools to advance LSU’s operations and student success.

Working Groups on AI: I have initiated three working groups comprised of faculty, staff and alumni on AI this semester to channel our strategic approaches in three broad areas.

• Research, Economic Development, and Intellectual Property, chaired by Prof. Prosanta Chakrabarty.
• Education, Curriculum, Workforce Readiness, Accessibility, and Inclusivity, chaired by Vice Provost Jackie Bach.
• Business and Operational Uses of AI in units reporting to academic affairs, student affairs, the research office and enrollment management, chaired by Dean Oliver Garden.

These groups will play instrumental roles in aligning our AI efforts with LSU policies, ethical standards, and broader societal impacts.

The momentum we have garnered in AI is wonderful to see and signifies our commitment to academic excellence, innovative research, and operational efficiency. I am immensely proud of the collaborative efforts of our faculty, staff, and external stakeholders in advancing AI at LSU. Together, we are not only embracing the future but actively shaping it.

Geaux Tigers!

Roy Haggerty
Executive Vice President & Provost

P.S., the first draft of this newsletter was generated from a list of AI activities using ChatGPT 4.0.

Clint Willson, Interim Dean of the College of the Coast & Environment, discusses how his research aligns with LSU's Scholarship First Agenda. The LSU College of the Coast & Environment, along with researchers from across campus and the system, are critical to making the discoveries, developing the solutions, and educating our students to ensure a robust, resilient and productive future for the state of Louisiana.  

Read more about Dean Clint Willson

The LSU Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the call for nominations for the 2024 University Faculty Awards. All nominations must be channeled through the nominee's department head to the dean's office. Deans will review all nominations for their faculty members and submit them via the link below no later than Friday, January 26, 2024. Please note that each college may have its own internal deadline for receiving nominations prior to this date. Learn more about the University Faculty Awards.

LSU Museum of Art Receives $240,000 from Art Bridges Foundation

The LSU Museum of Art is pleased to announce it has received a $240,000 grant from Art Bridges Foundation for Nationwide ‘Access for All’ Initiative to Reduce Barriers to Museum Visits. Find out more on lsumoa.org.

AI Working Groups Launched

Working groups have been established to address instructional uses of AI, research uses of AI, and putting AI to work to manage day-to-day business. The groups will submit a report on their work by March 31, 2024. Learn more about the AI Working Groups.

Geaux Communicate at LSU

Effective communication is vital to our teaching and to our students’ learning. This is why, as part of LSU’s Quality Enhancement Plan, we will be expanding our award-winning communication-intensive programming across the campus through the Geaux Communicate initiative. LSU’s goal with this initiative is for all undergraduate students—regardless of their major—to have access to communication-intensive classes and learning support services that will set them up for success, and we will be expanding support for our teaching faculty who will be at the forefront of making this happen. Learn more about how you can support Geaux Communicate.

Undergraduate Research Mentor Database

Add your name to the Undergraduate Research Mentor Database and help potential undergraduate researchers find their next faculty mentor. E-mail [email protected] with any questions.