R1 at One Year

Dear faculty and staff members,

Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of our designation as an R1 University by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Achieving this top-tier status – shared by just 3% of the nation’s colleges and universities – affirmed the promise we’ve made as an institution to seek excellence in research, teaching and service.

Each of you embodies this commitment and, today, I am as grateful for you and as proud of our shared success as I was a year ago. 

We’ve rightfully marked this historic accomplishment throughout 2022 – at a campus celebration and research showcase; in Baton Rouge, where we were honored by the governor and legislators; and during a Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Football game before a national television audience.

Celebrations aside, in the past year, we’ve also worked to strengthen our research infrastructure in ways that directly and positively impact faculty and staff researchers and the students who learn from and work alongside them. I’m excited to share this good news with you.

Recently, the University Council approved revisions to three research policies and adopted a new one. These policies address indirect cost returns, access to advance funding, faculty salary incentives, and principal investigator eligibility. I encourage you to read the policies at the provided links.

Through a partnership with the UL Lafayette Foundation, we created a $400,000 dissertation fellowship fund to help doctoral students complete their studies. And we are planning to advertise 53 full-time faculty positions across all colleges in the coming year.

Collectively, these steps provide a clear and unambiguous statement that we are committed to retaining R1 and that we are committed to the continued success of the faculty, staff and students who helped us achieve it.

It’s been an extraordinary year. As it draws to a close, we can reflect with pride on what we’ve accomplished together and look ahead with confidence at the success that’s still to come.

As the University nears its 125th birthday, plans continue for a new health sciences campus, the expansion of our New Iberia campus, and new facilities in the colleges of Education & Human Development, and Engineering, among others.

The stage is set for a remarkable 2023. Together, we can ensure that it is.

In closing, I wish each of you a holiday season filled with comfort, joy and peace. Thank you for all that you do, and Geaux Cajuns!

Sincerely,

Dr. Joseph Savoie
President