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.
The Louisiana State University of Alexandria Department of Education students are receiving a true cultural and educational experience this semester as they partner with the Alexandria Museum of Art (AMoA).
Students enrolled in the course EDCI 3000, or Children鈥檚 Literature, have gained a unique perspective on children鈥檚 books as their course curriculum and pacing has centered around the current AMoA exhibit, Childhood Classics: 100 Years of Children鈥檚 Book Illustrations.
Professor of the course, Dr. Krista Redmond, also sits on the AMoA Board of Managers and decided this semester would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to have the Children鈥檚 Literature course collide with art education.
鈥淚 decided to seize the moment! I knew I wanted to incorporate components from the museum in many facets of the curriculum,鈥� said Redmond. 鈥淭here are so many great things about this relationship. It鈥檚 a great way for our students to truly get a unique perspective on children鈥檚 literature, but it is so great to find ways to build our partnership with the museum and community also.鈥�
Students have not only learned literacy components like analysis and evaluation, but through the AMoA collaboration, have also learned Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) taught by AMoA Artist-in-Residence, Cindy Blair. This research-based training teaches educators techniques for facilitating thoughtfully-based discussions of art, thereby making education more engaging, inclusive, and equitable.
As one of the final projects in the class, students will have to lead a Renegade Tour, or unconventional way of enjoying an exhibit, on the Childhood Classics at the AMOA.
Students were divided into groups, and each group will take a section of the exhibit to educate their peers and community from an educator鈥檚 point of view.
鈥淭his semester has been amazing. The VTS strategies we learned have given me a whole new perspective on teaching. I have learned how to question and make connections through art that can be utilized in education,鈥� said Alexandria Floyd, LSUA Professional Block student and student teacher at Phoenix Magnet Elementary School. 鈥淚 am also looking forward to presenting at the Renegade Tour. We will be using VTS strategies in our presentations and getting in costume with our art characters.鈥�
Not only did the VTS strategies have an impact on Redmond, but also the imagery in the exhibition that matched the course curriculum.
鈥淭he museum had it displayed beautifully,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 know I will be better educator because of this experience.鈥�
The Renegade Tour will be held on Thursday, November 19 at 6 p.m. at the Alexandria Museum of Art in downtown Alexandria. For more information, visit www.themuseum.org.
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.