By JIM BUTLER
Dr. Elizabeth Beard’s first official event as LSU Alexandria chancellor occurs in New Orleans today, taking part in welcoming LSU-NO into the LSU System.
That comes on heels of Tuesday afternoon’s groundbreaking of the school’s $43 million downtown health campus, the largest capital project in the school’s history, and a reception Tuesday evening welcoming her as successor to the retiring Dr. Paul Coreil.
Beard’s successor as provost is yet to be determined, with campus visits by candidates scheduled Monday and Wednesday next week.
Today also marks start of the state’s Fiscal 2026-27, effective date of a 4% average merit raise for unclassified employees of the university.
Records indicate those merit-based increases compare to 3% at LSU-BR, 3%; LSU-Shreveport, 3.8%; and LSU-Eunice, none.
Classified employees get a step increase from the state at mid-month.
The Alexandria campus benefits substantially from the state’s adoption of an outcomes-based higher education funding formula.
Most recent official count of fall enrollment is 5,587, approaching 1,000 more than same time last year.
About half the 2025-26 enrollment consisted of online students.