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 Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges 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 College offered the upper-level course work for select bachelor's degree programs on the LSUA campus through a program known as LSU Senior College. 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, LA - The Alexandria Museum of Art (AMoA) is pleased to announce a new exhibit, “The River is the Road: Paintings by George Rodrigue,” on display March 8 – June 21, 2025. This exhibition welcomes home AMoA’s own Rodrigue
painting, “Steamboat,” which has been traveling with this exhibition!
This unprecedented exhibition, organized by the George Rodrigue Life & Legacy Foundation with Wendy Rodrigue, coincides with the 10th anniversary of Rodrigue’s
death.
Curated by Dana Holland-Beickert, the exhibition traces 45 years of the river in Rodrigue’s paintings, exploring the unique ways Rodrigue used the river as a reference to his Cajun heritage, and ultimately as a metaphor for
the journey of life.
The Opening Exhibit Reception for “The River is the Road: Paintings by George Rodrigue” is March 7, at the Alexandria Museum of Art at 6 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Wendy Rodrigue as they
experience the exhibit, as well as a Gallery Talk. Admission to the reception is free for Museum Members.
Wendy Rodrigue, the widow of the esteemed artist, will attend several events at AMoA. She will visit the museum on Saturday, March 8, for a special tour starting at 11:00 a.m. and will lead exhibition tours for local schools on March 11 and 12. Additionally,
she will return for a public lecture on June 5, providing invaluable insights into George Rodrigue's profound legacy.
If you are interested in scheduling a tour of the exhibit for your school or community group, please contact Madilyn Anderson
at madilyn@themuseum.org or by calling 318-443-3458.
About the Artist
George Rodrigue (1944-2013) was a visionary American artist who hailed
from New Iberia, Louisiana. His artistic journey ignited during his studies at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, and he produced an extraordinary legacy in the world of American art. Throughout his career, Rodrigue's canvas captured
the essence of his cherished Cajun heritage – its landscapes, people, traditions, and folklore. His iconic series, "The Blue Dog," emerged from the myth of the “loup-garou” and continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
About the Curator
Dana Holland-Beickert, curator of the Life & Legacy Foundation, has more than thirty years of experience in the arts as a curator, consultant, and advisor, and is also an accredited art appraiser
with the International Society of Appraisers. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in art history and has worked as a museum curator for more than twenty years before joining the Life & Legacy Foundation. Since 2006, Holland-Beickert
has curated or co-curated more than twenty exhibitions on Rodrigue’s art.
About the Life & Legacy Foundation
The Life & Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2017
by Wendy Rodrigue in honor of her late husband, artist George Rodrigue. Wendy brings original Rodrigue paintings from her collection into schools nationwide and presents ‘unplugged’ art and storytelling experiences as a way of inspiring
her audience. Programs include education outreach, written and recorded Rodrigue history, and national museum tours. As of 2024, Wendy has shared this unique programming personally with some 90,000 students in 10 states. In November 2024,
she celebrated her 200th school at Rodrigue’s alma mater, Catholic High, in New Iberia, Louisiana. Learn more at legacyarttour.org
Contact
Olivia Helmer
Curator
318-443-3458
olivia@themuseum.org
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 College 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 College 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 College, 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 College (Okla.), Huston-Tilloston University (Texas), Jarvis Christian College (Texas), Langston University (Okla.), LSU-Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), Paul Quinn College (Texas), Texas College, University of St. Thomas (Texas), University of Texas-Brownsville, University of the Southwest (New Mexico) and Wiley College (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.