Southern University at Shreveport (SUSLA) is a
junior college
A junior college (sometimes referred to colloquially as a juco, JuCo or JC) is a post-secondary educational institution offering vocational training designed to prepare students for either skilled trades and technical occupations and workers in su ...
in
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the third most populous city in Louisiana after New Orleans and Baton Rouge, respectively. The Shreveport–Bossier City metropolitan area, with a population of 393,406 in 2020, is t ...
. It is part of the
historically black
Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the intention of primarily serving the African-American community. ...
Southern University System
The Southern University System is a system of public historically black universities in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its headquarters are at the Joseph Samuel Clark Administration Building on the Southern University campus in Baton Rouge. The So ...
. SUSLA, pushed to fruition by the administration of
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
John J. McKeithen, opened for instruction on September 19, 1967. At the same time a second junior college,
Louisiana State University at Shreveport
Louisiana State University Shreveport (LSU Shreveport or LSUS) is a public university in Shreveport, Louisiana. It is part of the Louisiana State University System. Initially, a two-year college, LSUS has expanded into a university with 21 ...
, also opened. LSUS later became began offering
bachelor's degrees
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ye ...
but SUSLA remains a junior college. The university is a member-school of
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is an American non-profit organization that supports and represents nearly 300,000 students attending its 47 member-schools that include public historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), medic ...
.
The primary emphasis of SUSLA was to serve the
Shreveport-Bossier City metro area. SUSLA is accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...
to award
associate degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate degree awarded after a course of post-secondary study lasting two to three years. It is a level of qualification above a high school diploma, GED, or matriculation, and below a bachelor's degree.
The fi ...
s in various fields of study.
On October 28, 1974, the
Louisiana Board of Regents The Louisiana Board of Regents is a government agency in the U.S. state of Louisiana that is responsible for coordination of all public higher education in the state. The Board was created under the terms of the 1974 Louisiana Constitution, and bega ...
, then called the Coordinating Council for Higher Education, granted to the institution approval for six associate degree programs in business, humanities, medical office assistant, natural sciences, office administration, and social sciences. In 1978, it added an associate degree in medical laboratory technology.
Among the buildings at SUSLA is Stone Hall, named for the late Southern University System president
Jesse N. Stone, Jr. Inside Stone Hall is the
J. Bennett Johnston, Jr.
John Bennett Johnston Jr. (born June 10, 1932) is a retired American attorney, politician, and later lobbyist. A member of the Democratic Party, Johnston represented Louisiana in the U.S. Senate from 1972 to 1997.
Beginning his political caree ...
Video Conferencing Center, named for the former
U.S. senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
from Shreveport.
Athletics
The Port City Jaguars and Lady Jaguars are composed of 2 athletic teams representing Southern University at Shreveport in intercollegiate athletics, including men's and women's basketball. The
Jaguar
The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus '' Panthera'' native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the largest cat species in the Americas and the th ...
s and Lady Jaguars compete in
National Junior College Athletic Association
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), founded in 1938, is the governing association of community college, state college and junior college athletics throughout the United States. Currently the NJCAA holds 24 separate regions ...
Division I,
Region 23. The SUSLA sports teams are members of the
MISS-LOU Junior College Conference
The Louisiana Community Colleges Athletic Conference (LCCAC) is a member conference of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). It, along with the Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges, MACJC, are members of Regi ...
.
The Jaguars and Lady Jaguars basketball teams play at the
Health and Physical Education Complex.
Notable alumni
*Ollie Tyler,
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...
of Shreveport; did graduate study at the Southern Shreveport campus
References
External links
Official websiteOfficial athletics website
Historically black universities and colleges in the United States
Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Buildings and structures in Shreveport, Louisiana
Southern University
NJCAA athletics
Educational institutions established in 1967
Historically black universities and colleges in Louisiana
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