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 勛圖眻畦s of the Southern Association of 勛圖眻畦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 勛圖眻畦 offered the upper-level course work for select bachelor's degree programs on the LSUA campus through a program known as LSU Senior 勛圖眻畦. 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.
As Central Louisiana continues to adapt to the ever-changing global health climate, the Louisiana State University of Alexandria is taking any and all steps to ensure business continuity.
With face-to-face classes beginning an online format on March 30, university administration, faculty, and staff are ensuring that students do not experience a delay in academic learning. Professors have diligently worked during this transition time to create digital content and coursework for all classes.
Academic support services, including tutoring and the Writing Center, will also be conducted to assist students, not only in coursework, but with the adjustment to the new learning format. Most have been moved to 100 percent online while some will still be available on campus, in keeping with the Center for Disease Controls social distancing and hygiene recommendations.
The transition is almost seamless. Most of our faculty were already expert online instructors, thanks in part to our participation in the LSU Online initiative, said LSUA Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. John Rowan. And not only are we continuing with all courses this semester, we are moving forward with scheduled, high-impact events including the LSUA Scholar Day on May 1. Now, students will be presenting their research findings in an online format to a wider audience. This will ensure students benefit from the full array of educational experiences.
Additionally, steps have been taken to move all recruitment and admissions operations to a digital format as not to affect incoming students. Videoconference sessions will be led by LSUA recruiters and admissions staff for all prospective and admitted students while all correspondence, including admission applications and decisions, will be distributed via email.
Knowing that numerous high school seniors are experiencing cancellations of many major milestones, we want to ensure that those students know that LSUA is ready to welcome them to the next phase of their academic career, said LSUA Chancellor, Dr. Paul Coreil. We are continuing to work hard for all of our students. This critical time will not define their college career but help us strengthen and shape the positive experiences they have had and will have on our campus.
For more registration information, visit lsua.edu/admissions or contact 888.473.6417.
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 勛圖眻畦 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 勛圖眻畦 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 勛圖眻畦, 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 勛圖眻畦 (Okla.), Huston-Tilloston University (Texas), Jarvis Christian 勛圖眻畦 (Texas), Langston University (Okla.), LSU-Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), Paul Quinn 勛圖眻畦 (Texas), Texas 勛圖眻畦, University of St. Thomas (Texas), University of Texas-Brownsville, University of the Southwest (New Mexico) and Wiley 勛圖眻畦 (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.