History
Tech’s formal name is Louisiana Tech University, but, when it was founded in 1894, it was named Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana. Act 68 of the General Assembly called for a “first-class” school to be located in Ruston designed to educate citizens in the arts and sciences and in “the practical industries of the age.” The school was located on 20 acres of land and in a single building, both donated by the city of Ruston. By September 1895, with its president and faculty of six in residence, Tech opened its door to 202 students.
The first degree offered, the Bachelor of Industry, was granted in fields as diverse as music and telegraphy. The first student to receive the degree was Harry Howard, Class of 1897. Mr. Howard was not required to go through a formal graduation program. After his qualifications were examined, Col. A.T. Prescott, the first president, awarded the degree. The first graduation exercises were not held until the following year, 1898, when ten degrees were awarded in a ceremony at the Ruston Opera House.
During the first few decades, the institution’s name, purpose, and functions were modified to meet the needs of the people it served. In 1921, the school’s name was changed to Louisiana Polytechnic Institute. The Bachelor of Industry degree was discarded and the degrees standard to American education were granted. As the college increased its enrollment and offerings, continual changes were made to meet those additional responsibilities. In 1970, the name was changed to Louisiana Tech University.
Today, the University continues to prosper with an enrollment of 9,215 undergraduates from over 44 states and 65 foreign countries and 1,799 graduate students. The student-to-faculty ratio is 23:1.
The physical plant has grown to more than 165 buildings. There are approximately 280 acres on the main campus, 474 acres of land located on the farm campus, 167 acres of farm land just west of the campus, 200 acres of forest land in Winn Parish, 30 acres of land in Shreveport, 80 acres of forest land in Natchitoches Parish, 323 acres of land in Union Parish, a 44 acre golf course in Lincoln Parish, 14 acres of land west of the campus for an arboretum and a Flight Operations Center located at the Ruston Municipal Airport.
Louisiana Tech is assembling a Research Park campus, named Enterprise Campus, to adjoin the eastern most side of the main campus. The lead building named Tech Pointe was occupied in 2011 and has over 42,000 square feet of space with leading edge infrastructure dedicated to research and development of high-growth, technology-based businesses. The new building plays an important role of promoting and extending the university’s research and development activities.
The new Business Building was completed in the Summer of 2012 and has 42,000 square feet of space designed for contemporary education of Business Students from Bachelor through Doctorate programs. The Business Building is located in the Enterprise Campus and links the Enterprise Campus activities to the traditional campus.
Since the Fall of 2004, University housing has been transformed to provide state-of-the-art apartment style residential units in two unique developments, encompassing approximately 15 acres. University Park opened in 2004 and houses 608 students in 18 buildings grouped in 5 unique residential commons with panoramic views of campus athletic venues. Park Place houses 348 students in 12 buildings on 3 unique urban sites immediately adjacent to the academic center of campus. Respective developments provide popular amenities, a residential environment that encourages campus community development, and immediate access to core academic areas and recreational venues.
The focal point of the campus is the Quadrangle, the center of which is a granite fountain named “The Lady of the Mist.” Prescott Memorial Library (named for the University’s first president), Wyly Tower of Learning, and George T. Madison Hall form the north end of the Quadrangle. Keeny Hall (named after the University’s sixth president) is at the east side; and the Howard Center for the Performing Arts (named for Tech’s first graduate) frames the south side.
The Centennial Plaza was constructed in 1995. The Plaza’s alumni walkway bears approximately 94,000 engraved bricks representing all Tech graduates and continues to expand.
The Student Center and Tolliver Hall border the west side of the Quadrangle. Tolliver Hall renovation provides a spacious, contemporary gathering spot for students replete with a convenience store, cyber café, student association offices, and the Spirit of Tech wall, a 120-foot art mural showcasing Tech’s past and present.
Hale Hall, built in 1898, has been reconstructed to its original architectural grandeur. This building houses the School of Architecture, Interior Design and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
The Biomedical Engineering Building, completed in 2007, houses Tech’s Center for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Science (CBERS) and forms the basis for continued biomedical research with the Institute for Micromanufacturing, as well as numerous other centers of excellence.
Mission Statements
Louisiana Board of Regents’ Mission Statement for Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University recognizes its three-fold obligations to advance the state of knowledge, to disseminate knowledge, and, to provide strong outreach and service programs and activities. To fulfill its obligations, the University will maintain a strong research, creative environment, and intellectual environment that encourages the development and application of knowledge. Recognizing that service is an important function of every university, Louisiana Tech provides outreach programs and activities to meet the needs of the region and the state.
Louisiana Tech views graduate study and research as integral to the University’s purpose. Committed to graduate education through the doctorate, it will conduct research appropriate to the level of academic programs offered and will have a defined ratio of undergraduate to graduate enrollment. Doctoral programs will continue to focus on fields of study in which the University has the ability to achieve national competitiveness or to respond to specific state or regional needs. As such, Louisiana Tech will provide leadership for the region’s engineering, science and business innovation.
Louisiana Tech is categorized as an SREB Four-Year 2 institution, as a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University - high research activity category, and as a COC/SACS Level VI institution. Louisiana Tech will not offer associate degree programs. The University maintains defined standards for admission. Louisiana Tech is located in Region VII.
Mission - Louisiana Tech University
Louisiana Tech University is a comprehensive public university committed to quality in teaching, research, creative activity, public service, and economic development. A selective admissions university, it offers a broad and diverse range of fully accredited undergraduate degrees to qualified students in Louisiana, as well as from the region, the nation, and foreign countries. Integral to the purpose of the University is its expanding commitment to graduate-level and interdisciplinary education in its areas of strength. Louisiana Tech offers master’s degrees in a variety of areas and doctoral programs in areas of specified expertise.
Louisiana Tech maintains, as its highest priority, the education of its students. Endorsing a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion, it recruits a faculty committed to teaching and advising, and a student-oriented faculty and staff dedicated to preparing students to achieve their goals in a rapidly changing economic and civic environment. The University provides, in a technology-rich and challenging, yet safe and supportive environment, academic and co-curricular experiences, extra-curricular activities, and athletic programs that foster and enrich the development of its students. In addition, it provides opportunities for interaction between students and the larger business and civic community through strategic partnerships with public and private industries. The University encourages its students to regard learning as a lifelong process.
Recognizing that research and service are fundamental to its mission, Louisiana Tech recruits and retains a faculty who see research and teaching as intertwined, complementary, and interdisciplinary and who, through both theoretical and applied research and creative activities, contribute to the development of new knowledge, new art, and new technology.
Louisiana Tech University understands its community and civic obligations. Through on-campus learning, through its off-campus presence, through outreach programs, service learning, and continuing education, the University will continue to enhance the quality of life and the economic development of the region, state, and nation.
As a university with a rich engineering heritage, Louisiana Tech has a special responsibility to integrate advanced technology into teaching and learning. At Tech, advanced technology supports quality teaching, research, administration, and service. The University is committed to providing its students with the advanced technological skills that will help to ensure their success both in the internal environment of the University and in the wider surrounding community.
Mission - Intercollegiate Athletics
Tech 2020 Athletics: Pressing Forward - Producing Greatness
Louisiana Tech University Athletics’ Mission is to
- Embody excellence in everything we do.
- Develop student-athletes to maximize their potential in mind, body, and spirit.
- Bring pride, admiration, and loyalty to the University family, community, and state.
- Win with integrity.
Vision
Louisiana Tech University will be a conference leader in performance by investing strategically in student-athletes’ development, providing superior facilities, and enhancing program support to achieve a local and national image of success and dominance.
Strategic Goals
Our Students: Competitive & Academic Performance, Citizenship
- Louisiana Tech will be a competitive member of its conference that consistently wins in competition and in the classroom.
- Louisiana Tech student-athletes will exceed all minimum academic standards and maintain the highest graduation rate among Division I public institutions in Louisiana.
- Louisiana Tech students will be valued contributors to the Tech community.
Our Values: Equity, Integrity, Collaboration
- Louisiana Tech will continue its commitment to equity through support of its intercollegiate athletics teams.
- Louisiana Tech will continue its commitment to honesty and integrity in athletics.
- Louisiana Tech will achieve its vision through cooperation across campus and in collaboration with the extended Louisiana Tech community.
Our Image: Marketing & Media - Tell the Tech Story, Build the Bulldog Brand
- Louisiana Tech will elevate its image to be recognized nationally as one of the two major competitors in Louisiana.
Our Strategy: Sound Financial Resources & Facilities, Excellent Coaching & Administrative Staff
- Louisiana Tech Athletics will raise funds to support its overall budget.
- Louisiana Tech will have facilities that are equivalent to the top half of the Conference and meet the qualifications necessary to host NCAA championship events.
- Louisiana Tech will operate with a team of staff and coaches equipped with the skills, experience, and attitudes reflective of a top athletics program.
Strategic Plan
TECH 2020: Tomorrow’s Tech Today
Louisiana Tech University’s strategic and long-term planning process is an integral part of the University’s Management Plan. Input to the planning process is broad-based and continuous as Tech continues its path to greatness.
Vision: Louisiana Tech University will be a top public research university with an unparalleled integrated educational experience.
Theme 1: Recruiting and retaining a diverse undergraduate and graduate student body and university community.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1.1: Reevaluate recruitment strategies and processes.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1.2: Reallocate and reorganize existing human , financial, and web-based resources.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1.3: Implement a comprehensive undergraduate and graduate retention model.
Theme 2: Integrating learning, discovery, and development for an unparalleled education.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2.1: Design, develop, and implement an interdisciplinary, integrated seminar series at sophomore, junior level focused on knowledge and skills that are hallmarks of Louisiana Tech graduates, regardless of degree program.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2.2: Enhance the quality of online education and coordinate the development of new online programs for academic degrees, professional development courses, and academic and workforce certificate programs.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2.3: Increase interdisciplinary research experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2.4: Design and implement a cultural and artistic exhibition center.
Theme 3: Elevating our research and graduate programs to national prominence.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3.1: Assess current research policies and procedures related to increase research success.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3.2: Improve data-driven decision-making in research, technology transfer, and graduate studies.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3.3: Increase research success.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3.4: Increase number of interdisciplinary doctoral degrees on campus.
Theme 4: Maximizing the economic impact of our innovation enterprise.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4.1: Create easily accessible, extra-curricular opportunities for entrepreneurial and multi-disciplinary experiences.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4.2: Initiate proactive marketing, recruitment, and development strategies for the Enterprise Campus and integrate student experiences.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 4.3: Expand our workforce development partnerships with regional business partners (collaboration with Theme 2 group).
Equal Opportunity Policies
Louisiana Tech University adheres to the equal opportunity provisions of federal civil rights laws and regulations that are applicable to this agency. Therefore, no one will be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran’s status in the pursuit of educational goals and objectives and in the administration of personnel policies and procedures. Anyone who believes they have been subjected to discrimination and/or harassment in violation of this policy, or have questions or complaints regarding equal opportunity at Louisiana Tech University should contact Mrs. Carrie Flournoy, Executive Assistant, Title IX & Compliance Coordinator, located within the Office of the University President, Room 1620, Wyly Tower, Ruston, Louisiana 71272; telephone 318-257-3785.
Admissions
Louisiana Tech University assures equal opportunity for all qualified persons regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran’s status in admission to the University.
Testing & Disability Services
The Office of Testing & Disability Services (Wyly Tower Room 318) coordinates campus-wide efforts to provide information and services to Louisiana Tech students with disabilities. Inquiries concerning services for students with disabilities should be directed to the Office of Testing & Disability Services, or the appropriate Admissions Office. Services are available to students who provide appropriate documentation to the Office of Testing & Disability Services. Any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) and seeking classroom accommodations should contact the instructor(s) and the Office of Testing & Disability Services at the beginning of each quarter. (318) 257-4221 https://www.latech.edu/current-students/student-advancement-affairs/disability-services/ and https://www.latech.edu/current-students/student-advancement-affairs/testing-services/. See Testing and Disability Services for further information regarding Grievance Procedures.
Employment
Louisiana Tech University is committed to the principle of providing the opportunity for learning and development of all qualified citizens without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, marital status, veteran’s status for admission to, participation in, or employment in the programs and activities which the University sponsors or operates. The President of the University has established the policy that all employment practices will be continually monitored to ensure that all University administrators, deans, directors, department heads, and other budget unit heads take positive action in complying with the goals of equal employment opportunity.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The following statement is issued in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974:
Louisiana Tech University is responsible for effectively supervising any access to and/or release of official information about its students. Certain items of information about individual students are fundamental to the educational process and must be recorded. This recorded information concerning students must be used only for clearly defined purposes, must be safeguarded and controlled to avoid violations of personal privacy, and must be appropriately disposed of when the justification for its retention no longer exists. In this regard, Louisiana Tech is committed to protecting to the maximum extent possible the right of privacy of all the individuals about whom it holds information, records, and files. Access to and release of such records is restricted to the student concerned, to others with the student’s written consent, to officials within the University, to a court of competent jurisdiction, and otherwise pursuant to law.
University Emergency Announcements
Through the Emergency Notification System
Louisiana Tech University uses the Emergency Notification System to provide cell phone and text message alerts to students, faculty, and staff in the event of a situation in which the campus community needs to take preventative steps for their own safety. Short, situation-specific messages will be transmitted.
Students are strongly encouraged to register through BOSS to receive the emergency alerts. In addition to submitting their cell phone numbers, students may provide cell phone numbers of parents and other emergency contacts. This emergency contact information will be used for emergency notifications ONLY and will not be used for proprietary or non-emergency purposes.
For more information on how to enroll, please visit https://www.latech.edu/current-students/student-advancement-affairs/university-police/emergency-notification-system/
Through the Media
Louisiana Tech is in session in accordance with the published academic calendar, schedule of classes, and University Catalog unless otherwise announced through the news media as authorized by the President or his designee. In the event of severe weather or any other problem, the Louisiana Tech Emergency Response Team will release one of the following authorized announcements:
“Louisiana Tech University is closed.” This means that no classes are being held and only certain designated Building and Grounds maintenance staff are on duty.
“Classes are dismissed. All offices are open.” This means all employees other than nine month faculty are on duty.
Listen carefully and be sure to distinguish between announcements made for Louisiana Tech University and those made for the individual campuses of Louisiana Technical College. Don’t confuse the two.
Announcements about closures will be made on Tech’s Web site https://www.latech.edu/current-students/student-advancement-affairs/university-police/emergency-notification-system/ and provided to the media as follows:
| Ruston: |
KXKZ-FM 107.5 |
| Monroe: |
KNOE-TV (Channel 8)
KTVE-TV (Channel 10) |
| Shreveport: |
KTBS-TV (Channel 3)
KSLA-TV (Channel 12) |
Alerts will also be made via Internet and social media:
If you have not heard or seen an announcement about the University’s status, use your best judgment. Don’t put yourself in danger.
Student Representation in University Activities
Louisiana Tech University is committed to providing a quality educational experience for students both within and outside the classroom. A high degree of interaction among students, faculty, and the University community is desired. The student presence found in numerous University committees demonstrates the importance of a student voice in key University decision making.
Some committees having student representation include: Administrative and Planning Council, Administrative Review Board, Athletics Council, Behavioral Standards Committee, College/Department Curriculum Committees, Fee Committee, Graduate Council, Honors Program Council, Instructional Policies Committee, Library Advisory Committee, Parking and Traffic Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Student Self-Assessed Fees Oversight Committee, Student Organizations Committee, Student Technology Fee Board, Traditions Committee, University Communications Committee, University Honor Council, University Multicultural Committee, and University Tour Committee.
Louisiana Tech University is required by accrediting agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of its academic programs and student services. Student participation is required through opinion surveys and standardized tests such as the student opinion survey, alumni survey, standardized test for general education, and standardized test for major field evaluation.
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