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University History

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:

  • Associate of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science (1996)
  • Associate of Arts in The Care and Development of Young Children (Spring 2001)
  • Certificate in Pharmacy Technology (Spring 2001)
  • Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology (Fall 2001)

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.

LSUA’s Division of Strategic Communications Earns Prestigious Lantern Award of Excellence from the Southern Public Relations Federation

Sep 19, 2023, 12:47 PM
The Division of Strategic Communications at LSUA is proud to be recognized with a Lantern Award of Excellence from the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF). This recognition, presented at the fall conference in Huntsville, Alabama, underscores LSUA's dedication to outstanding public relations.

LSUA Strategic Communications - Lantern Award 2023

The Division of Strategic Communications at LSUA is proud to be recognized with a Lantern Award of Excellence from the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF). This recognition, presented at the fall conference in Huntsville, Alabama, underscores LSUA's dedication to outstanding public relations.

SPRF, a network of over 1,400 public relations professionals from Alabama, north Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, serves as the premier organization for PR practitioners in the Gulf South. LSUA's StratComms team is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana’s Central chapter.

LSUA's StratComms team secured a Lantern Award for their long-term marketing campaign, "Within Reach. Without Limits," designed to enhance LSUA's reputation and online presence through a strategic blend of online and traditional advertising. The campaign, encompassing video, digital, and print ads across nine academic concentrations, spotlighted LSUA's affordability and unique degree programs and emphasized its vibrant campus culture.

 

Chase Dyess, Marketing Coordinator at LSUA, said, “We developed a comprehensive suite of creative content tailored to specific program interests. To capture the audience's attention, we produced high-quality videos, graphic design, and messaging that highlighted unique programs, affordable tuition, and campus culture.”

 

“LSUA is blessed with an extremely talented and dedicated Strategic Communications team that always goes above and beyond in everything they do to advance LSUA’s mission,” said LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil. “There is no university communications team statewide more deserving of this prestigious Lantern Award from SPRF. All of us at LSUA extend our heartfelt congratulations to Adam Lord, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications, and the entire team. Their outstanding work clearly helped us achieve our goal of enrolling over 5,000 students two full years ahead of our 2025 strategic plan!”

The Lantern Awards, granted annually by SPRF, celebrates exceptional work in various PR categories. Professional entries are meticulously evaluated in thirty distinct categories, encompassing long-term strategic programs, short-term strategic programs, and tactical materials. The judging process is conducted by PR practitioners outside SPRF's four-state region and is based on the individual merit of each submission.

 

Written by Adam Lord | LSUA Strategic Communications

Photo credit - Nathan Parish | LSUA Strategic Communications

Pictured - (L/R) Nathan Parish, Brianne Lashley, Chase Dyess, Mira Parks, Adam Lord
 

Recent Times

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.

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