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.
As our state, nation, and world look to the unsung heroes in the healthcare field who are flocking to local hospitals, Louisiana State University of Alexandria nursing students are transitioning from clinical experiences in the hospital to virtual simulation.
For two senior level nursing students who will graduate in May, the change has been bittersweet.
鈥淲e know the priority shifted to our safety and ensuring we graduate, but it is disappointing,鈥� said Alexandra Sheffield, an Alexandria native and former Alexandria Senior High attendee. 鈥淵ou see the struggles of the healthcare workforce surrounding the coronavirus, and you want to help. It has, at least, solidified my passion for nursing and confirmed that I made the right decision to enroll in LSUA鈥檚 Department of Nursing.鈥�
Sheffield鈥檚 path to nursing school was not a straight one. She previously earned a criminal justice degree from LSUA and entered Loyola Law School. During her first year there, she attended a symposium regarding healthcare law where a registered nurse was speaking. It was at that moment; she knew that was her calling.
鈥淚 was not looking forward to making the call to my parents to tell them I was leaving school to start nursing school, but it was well worth it,鈥� Sheffield said.
Today, Sheffield waits patiently to finish her clinicals and curriculum so she can join her fellow nursing professionals on the front line. 鈥淓ven though we have been pulled out of the hospitals and will finish the clinical experience in the virtual simulators, I still feel ready to begin my career. We have already had so much time in the hospitals and our professors have prepared us so well, that I don鈥檛 think the shift to online will hinder our learning at all,鈥� she said.
Pineville native and mother of two, Lana Magee, echoed Alexandra鈥檚 sentiments.
鈥淚 feel 100 percent ready to care for patients,鈥� Lana said. 鈥淚 miss face-to-face because of the hands-on atmosphere, but our professors have done a fantastic job easing us through the transition.鈥�
With all classes moving to the video conference format, both students expected it to be harder to learn; however, they have been pleasantly surprised.
鈥淧rofessors will stay on the conference as long as we need to make sure we understand, or even video conference us one-on-one for further explanation,鈥� Lana continued. 鈥淚 have never felt overwhelmed, and knowing the amount of work the professors are putting in, helps me to want to rise to the challenge just as they have.鈥�
Both students are anxious to graduate and enter the healthcare workforce of Central Louisiana hospitals.
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.