About
The Sponsored Programs division of the Board of Regents administers State and federal programs that provide funds and other resources to Louisiana’s post-secondary education community and interacts extensively with institutions and governmental agencies on issues related to post-secondary research and educational enhancement. The principal activities of Sponsored Programs are centered around three major initiatives: the Board of Regents Support Fund (BoRSF), the Louisiana Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (LA EPSCoR), and the Louisiana Systemic Initiatives Program/Louisiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (LaSIP/LA GEAR UP). Funded through the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund (LEQTF), the BoRSF affords grant opportunities for four constitutionally designated activities designed to improve educational quality and foster Louisiana’s research faculty and infrastructure. LA EPSCoR, supported by the National Science Foundation, is contributing significantly to the growth of Louisiana’s research enterprise by providing funding and opportunities for science and engineering faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and post-doctoral assistants. LaSIP, funded with a combination of BoRSF, BESE, and Federal dollars, provides professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers, and LA GEAR UP, a Federal grant initiative within LaSIP, works with a cohort of 61 schools with a goal of increasing the number of low-income students who enter and succeed in college. In addition, Sponsored Programs interacts with other federal agencies, engages in policy discussions related to research and education, and oversees programs established with special legislative appropriations.
