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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 Dunlop Named RRAC Sports Information Director of the Year

Jun 3, 2025, 09:43 AM
It is always important to make a good first impression, and the 2024-25 RRAC Sports Information Director of the Year nailed it...
ALEXANDRIA - It is always important to make a good first impression, and the 2024-25 RRAC Sports Information Director of the Year nailed it. LSU Alexandria's Caleb Dunlop is honored with the award during his first year as the Generals' sports communicator.

Presented following each academic year, the RRAC SID of the Year award recognizes the individual who has performed the best at promoting their school's athletics program, collaborating with fellow SIDs, contributing to the conference, maintaining timely and accurate information, driving media coverage, conducting gameday operations, and expanding social media outreach and broadcast capabilities. It honors those who go above and beyond, while maintaining strong relationships across the conference. The award is decided through a vote among all RRAC sports information directors.

Making an immediate impact at LSUA, Dunlop has overseen a full-scale revamp of the school's Athletics Communication office. He retooled LSUA's athletics social media strategy, generating more than 100,000 views per month on Instagram during the men's and women's soccer season. Dunlop also oversaw the creation of the Generals Bulletin and the LSUA Athletes of the Week.

Further, Dunlop created the first-ever game day programs for soccer home matches and re-introduced postgame interviews with coaches and players, including postgame press conferences at the Red River Athletic Conference Basketball and Softball Tournaments. He added play-by-play commentary to home softball and baseball games, as well as the RRAC Men's and Women's Soccer Quarterfinals. Dunlop served as the Generals' public address announcer for soccer, baseball, and softball. He also provides photos for LSUA home events.

"Caleb has had a tremendous impact on the LSUA athletic department since his arrival last August," says LSUA Athletic Director Tyler Unsicker. "I have been so impressed with how well he has worked with our student-athletes in showcasing their many successes throughout the year and enhancing the overall student-athlete experience. This is a well-deserved award and we are proud to have Caleb at LSUA."

Dunlop wrote LSUA Athletics' first-ever feature stories on Men's Soccer player Mnqobi Mbili and Women's Soccer player Jaqui Guillermo. He followed those with stories on the Port Allen connection in Men's Basketball, the 2024-25 Women's Basketball Senior Class, and LSUA Softball's Julia Kwakernaak.

He promoted LSUA Women's Soccer's Hille Baumfalk and Fenja Leibner as the program's first Louisiana Sports Writers Association honorees.

"It's an honor to be recognized by my colleagues who understand the hours and commitment our role requires," says Dunlop. "This award isn't about me. It's about the incredible student-athletes I have the privilege of supporting every day. They're the heart of everything we do, and I'm fortunate enough to be in a position to help tell their stories, capture their success, and shine a light on their hard work and dedication. I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve our student-athletes and proud to be part of a community that values and supports the work we do to enhance the student-athlete experience."

Prior to LSUA, Dunlop was the Assistant Director of Athletic Communication at Central Washington University from 2015-2022. During his time with the Wildcats, he was the primary contact for each of CWU's teams for at least one season. He primarily worked with women's soccer, men's basketball, softball, and men's rugby. Dunlop served as the play-by-play broadcaster and public address announcer for most Wildcat home games. He had a story on former CWU quarterback Reilly Hennessey published on NCAA.com, the only CWU story to hit the NCAA front page from 2015-2022. He also created GIFs featuring CWU student-athletes which generated over 12 million views.

When not working on the sidelines, Dunlop served as the co-chair for the Women's Basketball DII-SIDA West Region Media Poll and was a voting member of the Women's Basketball DII-SIDA National Media Poll. Dunlop served as the GNAC SID Chair from 2016-18.

Previously, Dunlop served as the Sports Marketing and Information Director at Dickinson State University (N.D.) and Sports Information Intern while attending Coker College (S.C.).

Dunlop is a native of Lewiston, Maine, and graduated with a B.A. in Communications from Coker in 2013. He resides in Alexandria, Louisiana.

Written by Darin David | RRAC
Edited by Adam Lord | LSUA Strategic Communications
Photo - Kaetlyn Dunbar
Graphics - LSUA Strategic Communications

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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