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.
ALEXANDRIA - The next phase in LSUA鈥檚 exciting new look is finally complete! With community members and dignitaries from across the state on hand, LSUA cut the ribbon welcoming guests onto the new LSUA Plaza, the culmination of a major infrastructure capital project.
Over the last 18 months, construction has been ongoing across LSUA鈥檚 campus to overhaul an aging drainage system and redirect the flow of traffic entering campus. The primary focus of the $6.5 million project was to install an in-ground drainage system connecting to waterways leading off-campus. Many students and faculty can attest to the standing water that used to plague areas of campus during moderate rain showers. The new drainage system efficiently whisks water away from the heart of campus, rendering roads and sidewalks accessible even in inclement weather.
After the subterranean system was installed, road crews provided roads across the whole campus with a smooth, new asphalt overlay. New street lighting was also installed lining the roadways.
LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil said in his address, 鈥淲e are on the go here. We have, and will continue, to grow this university. We need a modern campus to produce the educational product needed in our community. LSUA is indebted to the LSU Board of Supervisors, the Central Louisiana Legislative Delegation, the Louisiana National Guard, and the Office of the Governor for standing up to support us in every endeavor we tackle.鈥�
The pinnacle of the project is the new grand entrance to campus on Hwy 71 South and the adjacent pedestrian plaza. Visitors are now welcomed into campus along a divided entry that spills onto a spacious roundabout. Just beyond lies the beautiful brick and pavement LSUA Plaza that welcomes pedestrians down a wide, tree-lined boulevard. Once the new Student Success Center is built on the south side of campus, this plaza will serve as one of the main arteries for students walking through campus.
Richard Hartley, Senior Policy Advisor to Governor John Bel Edwards, remarked, 鈥淟ouisiana has been fortunate the last few years to be able to invest in higher education. The Office of the Governor is excited to be part of this project. We believe having adequate infrastructure directly contributes to the educational outcomes of an institution.鈥�
Valencia Sarpy Jones, Chair of the LSU Board of Supervisors, expressed her excitement noting, 鈥淔or over 60 years, LSUA has been making a positive impact across the region鈥roviding educational and economic opportunities for the citizens of Central Louisiana. Gone are the days of our students wading through knee-deep water to get to class. This transformational investment in our university will allow LSUA to recruit and retain moreof our region鈥檚 best and brightest students and to prepare them for the workforce demands of CENLA and beyond. As Chairman, I look forward to continued collaboration and partnership with, Chancellor Coreil, and our campus leadership team as we drive toward our ambitious enrollment goal. It is my hope that we will continue to do the good work to elevate LSUA.鈥�
Senior Sophie Borhi, reigning Ms. LSUA and President of the LSUA Student Government, explained, 鈥淭his was a long and messy project. Our campus was beautiful before this work began, but this will ensure a solid foundation for students for years to come. The students of LSUA are thankful to all who were involved in taking this project from a conversation to completion.鈥�
Other improvements accompanying the project include a second roundabout at the intersection of Grady Britt Dr. and Garry Tisdale Dr., designed to ease the flow of traffic at the front of campus. Additionally, a new 110-spot parking lot was constructed south of the new grand entrance that will service the future Student Success Center.
鈥淭he completion of this project at this moment is the perfect time to complement the growth of the institution and usher in the modernization of LSUA鈥檚 campus,鈥� said Deron Thaxton, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. 鈥淭he master plan was set in motion nearly 10 years ago. Seeing this project to completion is evidence of our drive to continue moving forward.鈥�
Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit - Nathan Parish
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.