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 ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥s of the Southern Association of ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥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 ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥ offered the upper-level course work for select bachelor's degree programs on the LSUA campus through a program known as LSU Senior ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥. 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 LSUA School of Nursing proudly announces a remarkable achievement as it kicks off the statistical year of 2024 with a flawless 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for the Fall 2023 cohort.
The LSUA School of Nursing has a distinguished track record of producing highly skilled and competent nurses. This noteworthy accomplishment marks the second time in six years that LSUA has seen all students in a cohort pass the NCLEX on their first attempt, underscoring the school's commitment to excellence in nursing education and preparation. The school's dedication to academic rigor and student success is reflected in the overall pass rates of its cohorts, which consistently surpass national averages. In 2023, the national first-time pass rate was 79.2% while LSUA’s stood at 89.7%.
Sarita James, Ph.D., is the Director of LSUA’s School of Nursing. James honored her recent graduates and noted the difficulty of the new testing format, saying: “We celebrate the success of these 40 new nurses from LSUA, who demonstrate the strength, care, and dedication characteristic of our graduates. They faced the first iteration of the reformatted NextGen NCLEX state board exam. Despite broad expectations of lower pass rates with the new format, Louisiana achieved the second-highest pass rate for first-time test takers. The hard work of these graduates in becoming proficient nurses for our demanding healthcare sector is commendable. Their achievements affirm that the LSUA School of Nursing offers the ideal blend of clinical judgment training and student success, backed by an outstanding faculty."
Amidst fluctuations in national pass rates over recent years, LSUA has maintained a strong performance, with an average first-time pass rate of 88.2% over the past six years, significantly exceeding the national average of 80.7% over the same period. This emphasizes LSUA's unmatched ability to prepare nursing students for licensure and ensure their readiness to enter the profession.
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, multiple steps must be completed before a nurse can safely enter the profession. These steps typically include:
The NCLEX serves as a critical milestone for aspiring nurses, ensuring they possess the knowledge and skills necessary to provide safe and effective patient care. LSUA's consistent achievement of high pass rates underscores the school's commitment to academic excellence, faculty expertise, and student support, providing a solid foundation for graduates to thrive in their nursing careers.
Jeff Langston, LSUA Dean of the ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥ of Health and Human Services, said: "We are excited to see another strong class of nurses entering the workforce to help address the critical needs of our community. Having a 100% first-time pass rate is indicative of the hard work and dedication of our nursing program faculty and leadership. They are passionate about preparing every student to be successful, and it shows!"
As LSUA celebrates the outstanding success of its Fall 2023 nursing cohort, the school reaffirms its dedication to delivering quality nursing education and preparing future generations of compassionate and competent healthcare professionals. For more information about LSUA's School of Nursing and its academic programs, visit .
Written by Adam Lord
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 ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥ 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 ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥ 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 ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥, 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 ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥ (Okla.), Huston-Tilloston University (Texas), Jarvis Christian ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥ (Texas), Langston University (Okla.), LSU-Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), Paul Quinn ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥ (Texas), Texas ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥, University of St. Thomas (Texas), University of Texas-Brownsville, University of the Southwest (New Mexico) and Wiley ³Ô¹ÏÖ±²¥ (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.