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.
From an early age on her family鈥檚 cattle ranch in Hessmer, Avia Laborde dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.
Her experiences taking care of and showing cattle from the Oak Alley Angus Ranch and participating in 4-H through the LSU AgCenter, confirmed the notion that being a large animal vet was her ultimate goal.
Upon her graduation from Avoyelles Public Charter School in 2018, Avia decided to make LSUA her new home.
鈥淚 knew LSUA was the right place for me based on the family-friendly community and how awesome everyone is,鈥� Avia said. 鈥淏eing able to stay close to home and still help out on my family鈥檚 ranch was definitely a bonus too. It鈥檚 also so nice to be able to get that one-on-one attention from my professors. They really want me to succeed.鈥�
She enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Biology program with a pre-veterinary concentration. Through this program Avia has had the opportunity to learn from and work on research projects with LSUA professor and Board President of the Friends of the Alexandria Zoo, Dr. Susan Bowers.
鈥淎via is such a rewarding student to have in the class. She is always wanting to experience more, learn more, and accomplish more. I am excited to see her excel in veterinary medicine and to see what the future holds for her,鈥� Bowers said.
Bowers has most recently helped Avia with her research testing different types of rye grass for cattle.
鈥淚 love the research,鈥� Avia said. 鈥淚t has been so interesting seeing the how each type of grass affects the nutrients and weight gains of the cattle.鈥�
As Laborde began her preparations to apply to vet school, she knew the first person she needed to reach out to was LSUA Chancellor Dr. Paul Coreil.
鈥淚 heard him speak one time and was in awe at how focused he is on seeing his students succeed. I decided to talk to him about my passion and try to get advice. Not only did we have a great conversation, but he offered to write a letter of recommendation for me. There aren鈥檛 many places where that type of one-on-one interaction occurs,鈥� she said.
It became a mutual bond.
鈥淏eing that she (Avia) was so active in 4-H and her interest in being a large animal vet, it made her a very unique candidate,鈥� Coreil said. 鈥淲ith such a shortage in large animal vets and with her excellent credentials, it really motivated me to help her achieve her dreams and contribute to animal agriculture in Central Louisiana.鈥�
Those credentials include a 4.0 grade point average, something Avia knew she would need in order to be accepted to vet school.
Avia applied to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine; however, she was not accepted the first time.
鈥淚 was so upset, but my family told me to stay focused and keep trying,鈥� Avia said.
With that, Avia applied again and has since been accepted. She will move to Baton Rouge and begin the curriculum in August 2021. Upon completion of the four-year program, she hopes to return home to give back to the community that has given her so much.
鈥淥ur community needs me, there aren鈥檛 many rural vets, so it is a great way to come back to help local ranchers and farmers and give back to the community that invested so much in me.鈥�
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.