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University History

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 Թֱs of the Southern Association of Թֱs 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:

  • Associate of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science (1996)
  • Associate of Arts in The Care and Development of Young Children (Spring 2001)
  • Certificate in Pharmacy Technology (Spring 2001)
  • Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology (Fall 2001)

From 1976 through Spring 2003, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical Թֱ offered the upper-level course work for select bachelor's degree programs on the LSUA campus through a program known as LSU Senior Թֱ. 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.

LSU Gymnastics’ Coach D-D Breaux to be Featured Speaker at LSUA’s Shrimp Jam Fundraiser for Student-Athletes on September 22

Aug 26, 2022, 12:36 PM
The Generals Athletic Association (GAA) will host its annual Shrimp Jam fundraiser on September 22, 2022, at the Randolph Riverfront Center, to benefit the student-athletes of LSUA. This year’s event will feature D-D Breaux, former Head Coach of LSU Gymnastics, nine-time SEC Coach of Year, and an inductee to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

ALEXANDRIA - The Generals Athletic Association (GAA) will host its annual Shrimp Jam fundraiser on September 22, 2022, at the Randolph Riverfront Center, to benefit the student-athletes of LSUA. This year’s event will feature D-D Breaux, former Head Coach of LSU Gymnastics, nine-time SEC Coach of Year, and an inductee to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

 

Coach Breaux is passionate about the drive, camaraderie, and effort that competitive athletics lends to developing the whole person. She is a tireless champion for women’s sports and a motivation to women and men alike. Under her leadership, the LSU Gymnastics team competed in 17 NCAA Championships, producing 250 All-Americans and 154 Scholastic All-Americans during her tenure.

 

When asked about the role of athletics in the lives of students at any age, Breaux observed, “When a child is afforded an opportunity to play football, to do gymnastics, to participate on a soccer team, to swim, or play tennis…any of those activities builds character. They build a sense of self-worth. This, along with your education, becomes the foundation for everything you are able to do physically, emotionally, and mentally as you aspire to become, ultimately, what you are going to become.”

 

To hear Coach Breaux’s inspirational message, secure your tickets today. Shrimp Jam will be held at the Randolph Riverfront Center in downtown Alexandria at 5:30 pm. Individual tickets are $75 with table sponsorships available starting at $1,500. All sales are non-refundable. All proceeds benefit the student-athletes of LSUA. Tickets are on sale now at 

 

The GAA is a division of the LSUA Foundation, a nonprofit organization that cultivates private financial support and bolsters the university’s contributions to higher education in central Louisiana. For more information about the LSUA Foundation, please visit .

 

Written by Adam Lord

Photo credit - Nathan Parish | LSUA Division of Strategic Communications

 

Recent Times

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 Թֱ 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 Թֱ 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 Թֱ, 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 Թֱ (Okla.), Huston-Tilloston University (Texas), Jarvis Christian Թֱ (Texas), Langston University (Okla.), LSU-Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), Paul Quinn Թֱ (Texas), Texas Թֱ, University of St. Thomas (Texas), University of Texas-Brownsville, University of the Southwest (New Mexico) and Wiley Թֱ (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.

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