In 1959, the Louisiana Legislature authorized the establishment of LSUA as a two-year college under the governance of the LSU Board of Supervisors. LSUA registered its first students in 1960 and initiated its first degree program, an Associate in Nursing, in 1964. The additional academic divisions of Liberal Arts, Business Administration, and Sciences were developed in 1967. In 1974, LSUA was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award associate degrees. Over the next 15 years, several associate degree and certificate programs were added.