Throughout this year, I have highlighted some concerns surrounding the Louisiana Board of Regents and the political left’s tight control over Louisiana’s higher education system. As I previously noted, the US Department of Education launched an investigation into the Louisiana Board of Regents this year over a performance objective in the Board’s executive budget specifically prioritizing non-White and non-Asian students.

Fortunately, our state appears to be seeing some positive changes in Louisiana’s higher education system in the last year, especially at LSU. Last year, LSU’s Board of Supervisors selected Dr. Wade Rousse as the President of the LSU System—replacing LSU’s former president and DEI scholar Dr. William Tate.

So far, we are already seeing some positive results from Dr. Rousse’s first year at the helm of LSU. For the first time in almost a decade, LSU’s flagship campus is finally pushing for stronger admissions requirements over a higher headcount/enrollment growth. This new focus led to a lower acceptance rate for LSU’s current freshman class and aligns with Rousse’s goal to make LSU into a top-50 research institution in the country.

Over the summer, LSU cut 25 administrative positions in order to divert more funding to research and faculty positions at LSU. This move makes sense when considering that administrative positions have become quite bloated at most universities in recent years. Nevertheless, this move caused a ruckus among left-wing students at LSU.

Last month, a group of LSU students met with Executive Vice President James Dalton to voice their opposition to the elimination of several DEI, administrative positions related to university’s cultural centers. A website associated with a self-avowed Marxist organization published multiple articles criticizing LSU’s leadership over the job cuts and closure of DEI-related cultural centers.

Dalton and other LSU leaders did not cave to the demands of these students. By sticking to their decision, LSU officials also noted that the university will remain in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prevents race-based discrimination in federally-funded education programs and activities.

At the end of the day, Louisiana taxpayers fund LSU and Louisiana’s other higher education institutions. We should not be required to fund university programs that sort students by race and gender—especially when considering the Department of Education’s ongoing investigation into the Louisiana Board of Regents on this exact issue.

LSU and Louisiana as a whole now have leaders who value meritocracy and excellence over divisive DEI policies that potentially contradict federal law. To his credit, Governor Landry asked the US Department of Education to expand its investigation into the Louisiana Board of Regents to all of Louisiana’s public institutions of higher education to ensure compliance with federal law. Dr. Rousse has also publicly acknowledged that LSU would cooperate with an expanded Department of Education investigation into any DEI practices breaking federal law.

Let’s hope that LSU and all of Louisiana’s public universities continue to move in the right direction in favor of meritocracy and academic excellence .