In 1959, the Louisiana Legislature authorized the establishment of LSUA as a two-year commuter college under the governance of the LSU Board of Supervisors. LSUA registered its first students in September of 1960. The first degree program, an Associate in Nursing degree, was initiated in the Division of Nursing in 1964.
The additional academic divisions of Liberal Arts, Business Administration, and Sciences were created in 1967. In 1974, LSUA was accredited by the Commission on 吃瓜直播s of the Southern Association of 吃瓜直播s and Schools (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. This accreditation was reaffirmed in 1984, 1994, and 2004.
Only one associate degree was available at LSUA from 1964 to March 1986, when the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science transfer degrees were approved. Over the next 15 years, several associate degree and certificate programs were added that the university continues to offer including:
From 1976 through Spring 2003, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical 吃瓜直播 offered the upper-level course work for select bachelor's degree programs on the LSUA campus through a program known as LSU Senior 吃瓜直播. Initially, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of General Studies were offered. The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education was added in 1982-83.
Humanitarian. Scholar. Father. Husband. Believer. Leader.
Pick any of the words above and they describe central Louisiana鈥檚 own, Dr. Haywood Joiner, Jr. The native of Boyce and a member of a high school graduating class of six, Joiner, who has long been a community leader, is now being recognized outside the local region for his life of service.
Recently, Joiner was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame located at the Angola Museum just outside the gates of Angola Prison. The Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame was established in 2004 by the Louisiana State Penitentiary Museum Foundation Board of Directors to honor men and women of Louisiana who have served their community and their state in the honorable professions of law enforcement, the judiciary, education, criminal justice, government service, civil service, communication/media, victim services, volunteers, sponsors, and community activists.
Joiner says he was surprised by his nomination and eventual induction into the education category of the Hall, but also considers it a highlight and crowning achievement for a life dedicated to others.
鈥淗is induction is such an honor,鈥� says Dr. Paul Coreil, Chancellor of 吃瓜直播. 鈥淗is is a lifetime of giving back to the community, his church, and his campus. He is untiring and professional, but it is his character and dedication along with his spirit of good for his fellow humans that set him apart from others.鈥�
Joiner is a graduate of Grambling State University and a veteran of the United States Air Force as well as a long-time employee of St. Frances Cabrini Hospital. Following more than 25 years of work in a hospital setting, Joiner served as Chair of the Department of Allied Health and Program Director of the Medical Laboratory Science program at Southern University, Shreveport before returning home to become Chair of the Department of Allied Health at LSUA.
Additionally, Joiner is a leader in the community having served on several boards including the Arna Bontemps African American Museum, Cenla Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club of Alexandria, Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Investment Board, Rapides Regional Port Commission, Rapides Parish Housing Authority, Rapides Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, and many more.
Joiner says he believes we are all called to serve and that this award is the result of a life of service not only to the community but also to education throughout the state.
鈥淚鈥檓 very thankful to the faculty and staff of the Department of Allied Health for 16 years ago giving me the opportunity to serve as department chair. They gave me the opportunity to work with local students to try and inspire them to achieve their dreams in life,鈥� says Joiner. 鈥淚鈥檓 a firm believer in that whatever your mind can conceive, you can achieve if you believe and if you are willing to work to make it happen. That has worked out well in my life and I try to encourage others to do the same. If you are willing to put forth the effort, then whatever your dreams are, you can achieve those dreams.鈥�
Joiner鈥檚 dreams and service have now made him a permanent member of the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame.
On June 5, 2001, following approval by the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors and the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Louisiana Legislature passed legislation (Senate Bill 853) allowing Louisiana State University at Alexandria to offer baccalaureate degrees. In December 2002, SACSCOC approved a substantive change request from LSUA, thereby accrediting the university to award both associate and baccalaureate degrees.
In Fall 2003, LSUA was reorganized into colleges and departments rather than divisions. The 吃瓜直播 of Arts and Sciences is comprised of the departments of Arts, English and Humanities; Behavioral and Social Sciences; Biological Sciences; and Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The 吃瓜直播 of Professional Studies is comprised of the departments of Allied Health, Business Administration, Education, and Nursing.
LSUA began offering four baccalaureate degrees in Fall 2003: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of General Studies, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, and Bachelor of Liberal Studies. Because there were students at LSUA who had completed upper-level course work through LSU Senior 吃瓜直播, LSUA produced its first bachelor's degree graduates in December 2003.
A Bachelor of Science in Psychology, approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors in March 2005, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, approved by the LSU Board in June 2006, are now offered. In 2008 the university began offering Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Communication Studies, and History, along with Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Nursing.
In addition to the Department of Education offering courses that lead to an Associate of Arts in The Care and Development of Young Children and the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, courses are offered for alternative certification in the following areas: Elementary Education, Grades 1-5; Health and Physical Education, Grades K-12; and Secondary Education, Grades 6-12 for the areas of biology, English, history, and mathematics. Students who major in biology, English, history, or mathematics may declare Secondary Education as a minor in these areas of study, earning certification to teach that subject in Grades 6-12. Add-on certifications are available for Early Childhood Education (PK-3) and Special Education in area of existing certification(s).
The Oaks, the university’s first student housing complex, opened in the fall of 2007. The complex, which includes four apartment buildings and a community center.
LSUA hired its first athletic director in January 2007 and began competing in NAIA men’s baseball and women’s fast-pitch softball in Spring 2008. In January 2010, LSUA’s new on-campus baseball-softball complex was unveiled in an opening day dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The complex is located on the north side of campus adjacent to the Fitness Center and features seats transferred from the famed Alex Box Stadium on the Baton Rouge campus.
LSUA added five sports in 2014 including men’s and women’s basketball and soccer teams along with women’s tennis. LSUA joined the Red River Athletic Conference in 2014. The RRAC includes Bacone 吃瓜直播 (Okla.), Huston-Tilloston University (Texas), Jarvis Christian 吃瓜直播 (Texas), Langston University (Okla.), LSU-Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), Paul Quinn 吃瓜直播 (Texas), Texas 吃瓜直播, University of St. Thomas (Texas), University of Texas-Brownsville, University of the Southwest (New Mexico) and Wiley 吃瓜直播 (Texas) in addition to LSUA.
The university’s newest building, Mulder Hall, was opened in August 2011. The building is a 70,000 square-foot facility that provides 18 classrooms, 4 academic department office suites, 52 faculty offices, 2 conference rooms, a computer lab and a writing lab, a painting and drawing studio, a ceramics studio, a photography suite, and a black box theater that seats 175 people.