Regents Approves State’s First Accelerated Bachelor’s Degrees

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana college students will soon have faster pathways into high-demand careers. On Tuesday, the Board of Regents approved the state’s first accelerated bachelor’s degree (AccB) programs, and the new policy framework that made them possible, launching new workforce-focused degrees at LSU Alexandria while also approving Louisiana’s first Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence program at LSU A&M.

The new accelerated degree type is a 90-hour academic program that combines a comprehensive general education core with a specialized curriculum developed by faculty and industry partners focused on high-demand career fields. Each AccB program embeds a work-based learning experience designed to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings and ensure a strong, innovative learning experience for students.

“It’s imperative that our higher education institutions remain aligned with workforce needs as demand continues to grow in key industries,” said Board Chair Misti S. Cordell. “With these accelerated bachelor’s degrees, along with the new B.S. in Artificial Intelligence at LSU, Louisiana has an opportunity to lead the nation in meeting workforce demand through innovative degree offerings.”

The state’s first two AccB degree programs will be in Bioinformatics and Information Technology. The Bioinformatics program was developed in response to the growing demand for professionals who can analyze, manage, and interpret large-scale biological datasets. The Information Technology degree program will provide a streamlined, workforce-oriented pathway to an IT degree.

“Workforce development has to be the key to building talent and future careers in Louisiana,” said LSUA Chancellor Dr. Paul Coreil during the Board meeting. “These 90-hour accelerated bachelor degree programs will be an amazing way to help students get to work quicker – with less expense. This will allow students to focus on the high-demand careers in our state, so they can start a career more quickly in the workforce.”

In addition to the two AccB degrees at LSUA, the Board approved the state’s first Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence at LSU. This degree addresses a rapidly growing job market demand expected to outpace the supply of qualified applicants for the foreseeable future. The program will feature experiential and work-based learning opportunities, including internships, faculty-mentored research, and a capstone project connecting students directly with industry partners.

In other action, the Board approved FY 2026–2027 preliminary funding allocations using the new funding formula. These allocations, based on funds recommended for higher education in the Governor’s FY27 Executive Budget, will be submitted to the Senate Education Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, the House Committee on Education, and the House Committee on Appropriations no later than March 31, as required by state law. If funding allocations change during the appropriations process, an updated version of the formula will be submitted to the Legislature.

“Our system leaders indicated that we need stronger workforce alignment, mission-specific metrics for two- and four-year institutions, and a continued focus on talent development,” said Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed. “This updated formula accomplishes all three while rewarding institutions for student success outcomes.”

Board members also received three legislative reports during the meeting. Staff presented updates from the Task Force on Career Alignment, the Health Works Commission, and the Power-Based Violence Review Panel. Key findings include:

• Task Force on Career Alignment Interim Report: In 2026 the Task Force will explore the six established recommendations and begin to build Louisiana’s career alignment plan. The Task Force will issue its final report in January 2027.
• Health Works Commission Report: Louisiana’s public colleges and universities produce 77.1% of all healthcare program graduates annually. Since 2019, healthcare graduates from public institutions have increased by 19%, reflecting significant progress toward meeting workforce demand.
• Power-Based Violence Report: This report summarizes 2025 institutional employee training and power-based violence incident reports, as well as providing legislative and programmatic recommendations.

All three reports, along with other legislatively required reports, are available on the Board of Regents’ Legislative Reports webpage.

The Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 29.