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.
LSUA is proud to announce the promotion of two esteemed faculty members to the positions of Dean in their respective colleges.
Brenda Ellington, Ph.D., a dedicated English professor with a long-standing history at LSUA, has been named Interim Dean of the 吃瓜直播 of Liberal Arts. Beth Whittington, Chair of Criminal Justice, has been appointed Acting Dean of the 吃瓜直播 of Social Sciences.
Ellington brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role as Interim Dean of the 吃瓜直播 of Liberal Arts. With her extensive background in English and education, Ellington has been a cherished member of the LSUA faculty since 1987. She holds degrees from Louisiana Tech University and the University of Southwestern Louisiana (ULL), including a Ph.D. in English. Throughout her career, Ellington has made significant contributions to the field, serving as a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant and holding the prestigious Mark Eugene Howard Endowed Professorship. Her teaching areas encompass Technical Writing, Professional Writing, Linguistics, and Grammar. Under Ellington's guidance, the 吃瓜直播 of Liberal Arts will continue to foster a rich educational experience for students pursuing majors in Art, Communication, English, Humanities, and Religious Studies, preparing them for successful careers in a variety of fields.
Of her appointment to Dean, Ellington commented, 鈥淚 have loved teaching at LSUA for more than 35 years now but am also excited about moving into a new role for the next couple of years. The amazing Dr. Beard will be a hard act to follow, for sure, but I am committed to upholding her high standards and to keeping the 吃瓜直播 of Liberal Arts robust and productive.鈥�
As Acting Dean of the 吃瓜直播 of Social Sciences, Beth Whittington brings her impressive background in criminal justice and law enforcement to her new role. With nearly three decades of teaching experience at LSUA, Whittington has been recognized for her excellence in teaching, receiving the Bolton Award for Teaching Excellence in 2017. She currently holds a Howard & Eloise Mulder Endowed Professorship. Prior to her career in higher education, she served as a Sergeant and Criminal Investigator at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office. Whittington's expertise in the field is further evidenced by her qualifications as an expert in the areas of Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Investigation in multiple jurisdictions. Her dedication to teaching extends beyond LSUA, as she continues to share her knowledge at regional police academies. As the Acting Dean of the 吃瓜直播 of Social Sciences, Whittington will guide students in their pursuit of degrees in Criminal Justice, Disaster Science, History, Political Science, Psychology, and various other social science disciplines, empowering them to shape society and make a positive impact on the world.
Whittington said, 鈥淚 am most grateful for the opportunity to facilitate the day-to-day operations as well as long-term goals for the team that comprises the 吃瓜直播 of Social Sciences. It鈥檚 the best of both worlds in that I get to work closely with both students and faculty.鈥�
Ellington鈥檚 appointment to head the 吃瓜直播 of Liberal Arts comes after the former Dean, Elizabeth Beard, was promoted to Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Whittington鈥檚 stead as Acting Dean of the 吃瓜直播 of Social Sciences ensures seamless leadership during Mary Treuting鈥檚 extended leave.
LSUA congratulates Brenda Ellington and Beth Whittington on their well-deserved appointments as Deans of their respective colleges. Their passion for education, commitment to their fields, and dedication to students make them exceptional leaders for LSUA. The university looks forward to the continued growth and success of the 吃瓜直播 of Liberal Arts and the 吃瓜直播 of Social Sciences under their guidance.
For more information about LSUA's 吃瓜直播 of Liberal Arts and 吃瓜直播 of Social Sciences, please visit .
Written by Adam Lord | LSUA Strategic Communications
Photo credit - Nathan Parish | LSUA Strategic Communications
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.