Office of Research and Strategic Initiatives (ORSI)
Location: 730 Harding Blvd. • Baton Rouge, LA 70807
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: (225) 771-3890
Fax: (225) 771-5231
The Vice Chancellor for Research serves as head of the Office of Research and Strategic Initiatives (ORSI) and has the authority to recommend research policy and procedure on a campus-wide basis. The ORSI provides administrative management and supervision in planning, coordinating, and implementing all aspects of research and development programs, institutes, and centers at the University. This office is the channel through which the University interacts with the external research sector to share its aspirations, achievements, and expertise. It offers services to faculty, staff, and administration in identifying funding opportunities and in facilitating their efforts in securing and managing sponsored and elective research, contracts, and creative activities. It also promotes technology transfer; faculty development activities; strengthening curricula, courses, and laboratories through the incorporation of advances in research-based teaching and learning; and partnerships and collaboration with other academic institutions, industrial laboratories, and federally supported research centers to ensure research experiences that complement undergraduate and graduate studies. This office also gives administrative oversight management to those sponsored programs and contract activities (Strategic Initiatives) on the campus that deal primarily with research experiences for undergraduates, utility and lending of faculty expertise, and other mentoring activities. The Office of Research and Strategic Initiatives (ORSI) was established in August 1996.
Mission Statement and University Commitment to Research
“The University is committed to a broad program of research, both basic and applied, and creative work to stimulate the faculty and students in the quest for knowledge and to aid society in resolving its scientific, technological, socioeconomic, and cultural problems.”
Southern University and A&M College is committed to diligently promote, enhance, and sustain an infrastructure (internal research and development support structures) to facilitate the successful integration of research, instruction, public service, economic development, and related activities (creative activities, strategic initiatives, technology transfer, partnerships). Further, it makes research and creative activity components of instruments used in evaluating faculty for promotion, tenure, and merit raises.
Institutional Research Vision (Goal) Statement
The vision for research at Southern University and A&M College is to build and sustain an infrastructure that encourages greater participation by faculty in sponsored and elective research, creative pursuits, and related activities. The ultimate measurable outcomes of achieving this vision are that such research efforts would result in an increased number of publications in refereed journals; greater and more significant opportunities for its graduate and undergraduate students to participate in creative pursuits, research, and other scholarly activities with their professors; and the establishment of nationally reputable and competitive academic departments, colleges, schools, and centers.