Louisiana State University in Shreveport

Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Established	1967
Type	Public coeducational
Students	4,562 (Fall 2011)
Location	Shreveport, LA, USA 32.426788°N 93.706234°W / 32.426788; -93.706234
Campus	Urban
Mascot	Pilots
Website	www.lsus.edu

Entrance sign to Louisiana State University in Shreveport on Louisiana Highway 1

Noel Memorial Library at LSUS (back view)

Decorative walkway connects LSUS Administration and Science buildings

Restored cottage of the former Caspiana House plantation at the LSUS Pioneer Heritage Center

Four-story William H. Bronson Hall houses classrooms and offices. It is named for a former publisher of the Shreveport Times.

Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSU Shreveport or LSUS) is a branch of the Louisiana State University System in Shreveport, Louisiana. Opened in 1967, LSUS is the only public four-year university in the Shreveport-Bossier metro area.

The school, with more than 4,600 students, is a multipurpose system of higher education, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and exerting a major influence on the economic, social, and cultural life of its citizens. The university has on campus apartments located at the northwestern edge of the campus.

The school has nationally-ranked NAIA teams and offers more than 70 extra-curricular programs. LSUS operates Red River Radio, a public radio network based in Shreveport.

Historical Information

After nine years as a two-year institution, LSUS was advanced to four-year status in 1976 through the efforts of state Senator Don W. Williamson of Shreveport and state Representative Joe Henry Cooper of Mansfield, the seat of De Soto Parish.

Since becoming a four-year institution, LSUS has acquired regional and national accreditation and has added more programs.

In early 2009, LSUS announced it was attempting to cut expenses by merging the College of Liberal Arts with the College of Science to form the College of Arts and Sciences and also merge the College of Business Administration and the College of Education and Human Development into the College of Business, Education and Human Development. Further, LSUS announced it would eliminate two dean and two associate dean positions.

Degrees and Instruction

Within the College of Business, Education and Human Development there is the School of Business, School of Education and the School of Human Sciences. Within the College of Arts and Sciences there is the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Mathematics and Sciences. Within each college LSUS grants undergraduate and graduate degrees at the masters and specialist degree levels. Additionally, all of LSUS' business degrees are accredited by AACSB-International. LSUS offers many night courses, catering to its non-traditional student population. LSUS also offers many on-line course and two 100% online Master's degrees (Master of Science in Human Services Administration and Master of Health Administration).

According to the LSUS website, the university has a student-teacher ratio of 21:1 and 78% of the professors have doctoral degrees. Many of LSUS' professors have been published and nationally recognized. Many of LSUS' professors sit on nationally-recognized boards related to their disciplines.

Notable faculty

• Hubert D. Humphreys, a charter member of the LSUS faculty, was a specialist in oral history.
• Harold R. King, Jr. (1945–2010), American novelist from Shreveport who taught writing at LSUS.
• Lloyd E. Lenard (1922–2008), a Shreveport businessman, Caddo Parish commissioner, and author, taught finance and insurance at LSUS on an adjunct basis.
• William D. Pederson Multiple published works, tenth book regarding Lincoln published this year (2011). Pederson is a professor of political science and holds the American Studies Endowed Chair at LSUS.
• LSUS political science professor Jeffrey D. Sadow is a widely known political blogger, journalist, and satirist.

Notable alumni

• Sherri Smith Cheek, state senator from Caddo and DeSoto parishes

Mascot

"Pete the Pilot" was introduced to students in the fall of 2007 after a process that began in 2005 with the passage of a bill calling for a new mascot by the Student Government Association (SGA). The idea initially met resistance by the administration based upon cost, but was further pursued. He is a combination of steamboat pilot and pelican, which is the state bird of Louisiana. Students offered naming suggestions during student government elections in 2007, with a final decision made by a committee of students and faculty. The committee was composed of the Professor of the Year, the current SGA president, and a former SGA president representing the students, alumni and faculty of LSUS. The mascot was named in accordance with the majority opinion of students expressed during the vote.

Athletics

LSU–Shreveport (LSUS) teams are known as the Pilots. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), competing in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC). The Pilots formerly competed in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, soccer and tennis.

The LSU–Shreveport Pilot baseball team has sent many players to Major League Baseball, including 3 taken in the 2010 draft.

External links

• LSUS official website
• LSUS official athletics website
• LSUS Alumni Association
• James Smith Noel Collection at the Noel Memorial Library
  • Tour of James Smith Noel Collection on C-SPAN, February 7, 2012