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 吃瓜直播s of the Southern Association of 吃瓜直播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 吃瓜直播 offered the upper-level course work for select bachelor's degree programs on the LSUA campus through a program known as LSU Senior 吃瓜直播. 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.
The Louisiana State University of Alexandria conducted its annual Scholar Day event for students and faculty on Friday. The event, previously held on campus, was shifted to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coordinating the event was Dr. Sandra Gilliland, Associate Professor of Psychology, who, despite the Governor鈥檚 Stay At Home order, was determined to get innovative and find a way to allow LSUA students the opportunity gain invaluable research presentation experience.
鈥淚t was a beautiful day to celebrate the hard work of our students. Many were in the midst of their research when campus shut down. This forced students and faculty mentors to get creative to ensure the completion of their work. Despite the obstacles, we are extremely proud of the number of students who were ready and willing to participate,鈥� said Gilliland.
A total of 81 LSUA students presented academic research projects through Zoom, a video conferencing platform.
Students from a broad range of academic departments were placed in virtual rooms with students of a similar field of study. Each room contained numerous presenters, a moderator, judges, and spectators. Once students presented their research, judges and audience members were allowed to ask the presenter questions ensuring the integrity of a true interactive-based research presentation.
One exception to the live format was granted to senior mathematics major, Alexis Perkins. Perkins, an Oakdale native, has been working at Lincoln Medical Center in New York City for the past few years. During the time of the Scholar Day presentations, she was on duty as a Registration Clerk for the emergency room at the hospital.
While disappointed to miss the opportunity to conduct a live presentation, Perkins said 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 want to be anywhere else in the world right now though. I know I am doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people.鈥�
Numerous awards were handed out at the conclusion of the presentations. Awarded first was the Faculty Mentor Award. Faculty mentors are nominated by individual students and a panel of judges reviews the applications and selects a winner. Dr. Carol Corbat, from the Department of Biological Sciences, received the award this year.
Per one of her nominations, 鈥淒r. Corbat鈥檚 willingness to walk beside us through research is one of the many reasons she deserves this award.鈥�
Student awards are given in each discipline. This year鈥檚 winners are--
Nursing Award:
1st place 鈥� Elayna Canterbury
2nd place 鈥� Eva Deville
3rd place 鈥� Lauren Lee
Allied Health Award:
1st place group 鈥� Staci O鈥機onnor, Theresa Dauzat, Jessica White
Psychology Award:
1st place 鈥� Kaelyn Rachal
2nd place 鈥� Blake Lopez
Computer Science Award:
1st place 鈥� Alexis Perkins
Chemistry Award:
1st place 鈥� Khalil Frederik Smith
English Award:
1st place 鈥� Mary Gustin
History Award:
1st place 鈥� Charlie Charrier
Education Award:
1st place 鈥� Megan Bryson
Business Award:
1st place group 鈥� Merideth Rogers, Harleigh Walker, Romia Jamaleddin, Meher Iqbal, Alexis Daigrepont, Robert Jones, Alberto Miller
Biology Award:
1st place 鈥� Kaitlynn Lanclos
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 吃瓜直播 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 吃瓜直播 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 吃瓜直播, 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 吃瓜直播 (Okla.), Huston-Tilloston University (Texas), Jarvis Christian 吃瓜直播 (Texas), Langston University (Okla.), LSU-Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), Paul Quinn 吃瓜直播 (Texas), Texas 吃瓜直播, University of St. Thomas (Texas), University of Texas-Brownsville, University of the Southwest (New Mexico) and Wiley 吃瓜直播 (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.