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.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Dr. Paul Coreil, LSUA Chancellor, and Dr. John Rowan, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, joined a delegation headed by the Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce to Washington, D.C. The delegation held a series of productive meetings with Louisiana Congressional leaders and Governor John Bel Edwards. The trip to the nation鈥檚 capital provided the opportunity for the LSUA administration to directly update the Louisiana delegation on LSUA initiatives and priorities as well as meet new congressional staff members to foster deeper communication.
Dr. Coreil and Dr. Rowan expressly offered thanks to Congresswoman Julia Letlow, Congressman Garret Graves, Congressman Steve Scalise, and Senator Bill Cassidy for their support to secure HUD Flood Mitigation Funds for the much-needed LSUA Campus Drainage and Infrastructure project currently under construction.
Congresswoman Letlow, who is quickly becoming known for her commitment to education, provided an update on possible federal funding sources for the newly approved SPERO program at LSUA. SPERO will offer post-secondary opportunities for young adults between 18-28 who have an identified developmental disability, completed high school with a diploma or career diploma, but are otherwise ineligible for college admission. Letlow was also thanked for her continued support for Department of Education Pell Grants, which are critical for many students in Central Louisiana hoping to go to college.
鈥淏ecause many of our students are dependent on federal Department of Education Pell Grant funding to attend college, it is crucial that our Congressional Delegation hear from us directly, so we can articulate the tremendous return on investment we get for CENLA students and their families from federal funding supporting post-secondary education,鈥� said LSUA Chancellor Dr. Paul Coreil. He added, 鈥淲e must continue to aggressively work to close the gap in the historic low education achievement that still exists across CENLA, and at LSUA, we are committed to doing our part to help more students earn a college degree and grow the workforce right here in Central Louisiana!鈥�
Congresswoman Letlow, Congressman Graves, Senator Cassidy, and Bubba Gesser, Chief Counsel and Project Director for Senator John Kennedy, all expressed support for LSUA鈥檚 new Professional Aviation program and partnership with England Airpark, CLTCC, and others through the development of ACE (Aviation Center and Education). Additionally, Senator Cassidy showed strong support for LSUA鈥檚 plans for a Technology Innovation Center as a key strategy for enhancing STEM initiatives such as cybersecurity, drone operation, and robotics.
Dr. Coreil and Dr. Rowan would like to thank Deborah Randolph, President of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, for the invitation to join the delegation to Washington, D.C. Leaders from across area business and education know the importance of working together to accomplish the goals of the local community. LSUA is grateful to Governor John Bel Edwards, Cedric Richmond, Bill Cassidy, Julie Letlow, Garret Graves, Steve Scalise, Clay Higgins, and Bubba Gesser for the opportunity to share in the great work of public service in Central Louisiana.
Written by: LSUA Division of Strategic Communications
Photos: Louisiana Congressional staffers
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.