The Louisiana Legislature authorized the establishment of Louisiana State University at Alexandria under the governance of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Board of Supervisors with Act 45 [1] in 1959. The 1974 Louisiana State Constitution (Article VIII, Section 7) [2] provides the LSU Board of Supervisors the authorization to grant degrees. The first students were admitted to LSUA in 1960. LSUA operates under the authority of the Louisiana Legislature, the Board of Regents, and the LSU Board of Supervisors [3].

On June 5, 2001, following approval by both the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors [4] and the Louisiana Board of Regents, [5] the Louisiana Legislature passed legislation (Senate Bill 853) [6] allowing Louisiana State University at Alexandria to offer baccalaureate degrees.