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.
MARKSVILLE - In a signing ceremony Tuesday, Avoyelles Parish School Superintendent Karen Tutor and LSUA Chancellor Dr. Paul Coreil signed a memorandum of understanding to formalize the pathway for high school students in Avoyelles parish to earn college credit through dual enrollment classes offered by LSUA. Students will be able to take college classes at no cost as the school board has agreed to cover the full cost of tuition and textbooks.
Dual enrollment classes are full, three-credit college courses taken by high school students that are taught by a qualified teacher, online, or on-campus at LSUA. This provides high school students the opportunity to begin taking college courses in a low-to-no cost, lower pressure environment. Students can earn enough credits to graduate high school with an associate degree from LSUA.
The official partnership between the Avoyelles Parish School Board and LSUA opens the dual enrollment pathway to students at Avoyelles High School, Bunkie Magnet High School, Louisiana School for the Agricultural Sciences (LSAS), and Marksville High School.
Following the signing, LSUA Dual Enrollment Coordinator, Trenton Brownlee, hosted an informational meeting for parents and prospective dual enrollment students. Brownlee touted the benefits of beginning the college journey while in high school and explained the process for enrolling.
Brownlee noted, 鈥淚n partnership with Avoyelles Parish School Board, LSUA is pleased to offer dual enrollment credit to high school students, giving them the opportunity to graduate with an associate degree. At LSUA, our faculty and staff are pleased to give an experience to these students that is fundamental to their success as a future college student. Our goal is to leave them with a solid foundation and to prepare them for the next chapter of their lives.鈥�
鈥淭hanks to the valuable support provided by the Avoyelles Parish School Board, this dual enrollment MoU will significantly expand educational opportunities for Avoyelles Parish students at LSUA,鈥� said LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil. 鈥淭hrough this valuable partnership, high school students from across Avoyelles parish will be able to earn LSUA college credits at no cost and get a head start towards a college degree before graduating from high school.鈥�
Speaking to the partnership, Avoyelles Parish Superintendent Tutor concluded, 鈥�We are very excited about the dual enrollment partnership with LSUA. It is our desire to provide students with additional opportunities, and this is the best opportunity for them to get ahead. Dual enrollment will provide our students the chance to earn college credit in high school, and that has to be good for our students, our schools, and our community. Our mission is to provide a variety of rigorous, academically rich learning experiences focused on developing the whole learner in an ever-changing world. This partnership enables us to put our mission to work on a daily basis.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.