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.
Louisiana State University of Alexandria Honors Experience has elected freshman Max Mallach as its first-ever student Captain.
Mallach, a 2020 graduate of Holy Savior Menard High School, will become the frontline student representative of the Honors Experience. As the Captain, Max will serve as a central hub of communication between the director and other Honors Experience members and represent the group in all areas of campus.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to serve in a leadership role for this professional group of students. We have already started meeting to work on new events and ways that we can grow the program,” said Max.
Max learned of the group through the LSUA webpage and immediately knew it would be something he would be interested in. He applied and was accepted into the program for Fall 2020.
“The great thing about the Honors Experience is that it is not about harder courses or more work, but it is to add an extra dimension of learning. We get to work with our professors to create ways of broadening our understanding of what is being taught,” he said. “The academic opportunities coupled with other events like seminars, conferences, and research presentations will ensure a diverse resume upon graduation.”
At Holy Savior Menard, Max was a member of the National Honors Society during his junior and senior years. Additionally, he was a member of the cross country team where he served as Co-Captain his senior year.
Max made the decision to attend LSUA because it had everything he wanted in a college experience, including an outstanding accounting degree program and extracurricular activities. He is currently involved in numerous clubs like the Catholic Student Organization, the Accounting Club, the International Business Honor Society, the International Student Organization, and Rotaract.
“I love the familiar, family atmosphere here at LSUA. There are so many ways to get involved on campus, and the best part is my scholarships cover everything,” Max said. “After looking at several other four-year institutions, I knew LSUA was the right place for me.”
“The Honors Experience at LSUA is designed to further enhance the level of active learning on campus. Students who are accepted into this unique program are awarded a $10,000 scholarship over four years, and they engage in leadership, scholarship, citizenship and other high-impact, hands-on initiatives. Max is involved in a variety of campus activities and is therefore the perfect student leader for this group,” said Dr. John Rowan, LSUA Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Accompanying Max in leadership positions with the Honors Experience are several other outstanding LSUA students:
For more information on the Honors Experience, visit the LSUA webpage at www.lsua.edu or click here.
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.