Louisiana Tech University facts for kids
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Former name
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Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana (1894–1898) Louisiana Industrial Institute (1898–1921) Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (1921–1970) |
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| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 1894 |
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Parent institution
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University of Louisiana System |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Endowment | $117.9 million (2021) |
| Budget | $140.0 million (2021) |
| President | James B. "Jim" Henderson |
| Students | 11,084 |
| Undergraduates | 10,183 |
| Postgraduates | 990 |
| Location |
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United States
32°31′39″N 92°38′51″W / 32.52750°N 92.64750°W |
| Campus | Rural college town, 1,774 acres (7.18 km2) |
| Colors | Blue and Red |
| Nickname | Bulldogs and Lady Techsters |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I FBS – Conference USA |
| Mascot | Champ & Tech |
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Louisiana Tech University (also called Louisiana Tech or Tech) is a public university in Ruston, Louisiana. It's known for its strong focus on research and is part of the University of Louisiana System.
The university first opened in 1894 as the Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana. Its goal was to teach students about arts and sciences to help Louisiana's economy grow. Over the years, its name changed a few times. In 1921, it became Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, showing it was a bigger technology school. In 1970, it officially became Louisiana Tech University, as it had grown into a major research university.
Louisiana Tech has about 12,000 students across five main colleges. Besides its main campus in Ruston, it also has classes in Shreveport, Bossier City, and Monroe. The university is famous for its sports teams, the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters. The Lady Techsters women's basketball team has won three national championships!
Contents
History of Louisiana Tech
How Louisiana Tech Started
Before Louisiana Tech, there was a school called Ruston College in the 1880s. It was started by a pastor named W. C. Friley and had about 250 students each year.
In 1894, local leaders in Lincoln Parish wanted to create a new industrial school. They asked State Representative George M. Lomax to help. On July 6, 1894, a law was passed to create "The Industrial Institute and College of Louisiana." This school was meant to teach white children about arts and sciences to help the state's industries.
Colonel Arthur T. Prescott became the first president in 1894. He helped build the first main building, which had classrooms, an auditorium, and labs. The school opened on September 23, 1895, with six teachers and 202 students.
In 1897, Harry Howard was the first student to graduate. The school's name changed to Louisiana Industrial Institute in 1898. Later, in 1921, it became Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, or "Louisiana Tech" for short.
Growing the University
The original main building burned down in 1936. A new administration building, now called Keeny Hall, was built in its place.
In 1939 and 1940, Louisiana Tech built many new buildings. These included dorms for students, a large dining hall, an engineering building, and an auditorium. During World War II, Louisiana Tech helped train students for the Navy.
The first master's degrees were given out in 1959.
Becoming a University
In 1962, Foster Jay Taylor became the president. He helped change Louisiana Tech from an institute into a full university. The number of students grew a lot, from about 3,000 to 12,000 during his time. The first African-American students were admitted in 1965.
Many modern buildings and sports facilities were built during President Taylor's time. These include the Wyly Tower, the Student Bookstore, and major athletic fields.
President Taylor also started the Lady Techster athletics program in 1974. He hired Sonja Hogg as the first women's basketball coach. Under Coach Hogg and Leon Barmore, the Lady Techsters won three national championships in the 1980s!
The first doctorate degree was awarded in 1971. Louisiana Tech has continued to be a leader in education. In 2007, it was the first university in the world to offer a bachelor's degree in nanosystems engineering. In 2012, it launched the nation's first cyber engineering degree.
Campus Life
Louisiana Tech's main campus is in Ruston, Louisiana. Major roads and even a railroad track run near or through the campus. The campus has many buildings, including dorms, classrooms, and sports facilities.
Main Campus Highlights
The main campus covers about 280 acres and has 86 buildings. Many of the older buildings are built in a classic style. Several buildings, like Bogard Hall and Howard Auditorium, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The oldest building still standing on campus is the Ropp Center, built in 1911. It used to be the home of the university presidents. Today, it's used for special events and as a place for faculty and staff to gather.
The Quadrangle, or "The Quad," is a central and beautiful part of the older campus. It has large oak trees and benches, making it a quiet place to study or relax. In the middle of the Quad is The Lady of the Mist sculpture and fountain, a famous landmark.
Centennial Plaza was built in 1994 to celebrate the university's 100th birthday. Students helped fund it. It's a popular spot for events like Christmas in the Plaza and movie nights. The Clock Tower in the plaza can play the school's songs.
Louisiana Tech has two main dining halls. The Student Center has a cafeteria, a cafe, and restaurants like Chick-fil-A. It also has study areas and a bronze bulldog statue that students pet for good luck! Tolliver Hall, another dining hall, was renovated into a modern cyber student center with computer stations and restaurants. It also houses student government offices and the campus post office.
In recent years, Louisiana Tech has built new buildings like Davison Hall (for the aviation program) and renovated older ones. They also built a new College of Business building and are planning a new College of Engineering and Science building.
The campus also has the Idea Place, a science museum, and the A.E. Phillips Lab School, a K-8 school.
Other Campus Areas
- South Campus: This area covers almost 900 acres and is home to the School of Agricultural Science and Forestry. It has farms, gardens, and research labs.
- Enterprise Campus: This newer area is expanding the campus by 50 acres. It's a research facility for technology companies and businesses. It also includes the Entrepreneurship and Innovation (E&I) Center, which helps connect engineering and business students.
- Barksdale Campus: Since 1965, Louisiana Tech has offered degree programs at Barksdale Air Force Base. These programs help Air Force personnel get an education, and civilians can join if there's space.
Academics and Learning
Student Body
As of Fall 2018, Louisiana Tech had over 12,400 students. Students come from every part of Louisiana, 43 U.S. states, and 64 different countries. Most students are from Louisiana.
The incoming freshman class in Fall 2016 had an average ACT score of 24.7. Many students scored high on the ACT. Louisiana Tech is known for its high graduation and retention rates, meaning students tend to stay and finish their degrees.
The College of Engineering and Science is the largest college at Louisiana Tech. Other colleges include Education, Liberal Arts, Applied and Natural Sciences, and Business.
University Rankings
| THES World | 801–1000 |
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| USNWR National University | 304 |
| Washington Monthly National University | 411 |
| Forbes | 437 |
Louisiana Tech is often recognized as a top university. U.S. News & World Report ranked it among the best public universities. Forbes also listed it as one of the best public colleges and research universities in the nation.
Money magazine named Louisiana Tech the best college in Louisiana in 2016. It also ranked high for its value, considering quality, cost, and how well graduates do. Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked Louisiana Tech as a top public college for value.
Louisiana Tech is also known for its graduates having good salary potential after college. Several of its graduate programs, like Business, Audiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Education, are highly ranked.
Academic Colleges
Louisiana Tech offers different degrees, from associate to doctoral, through its five main colleges:
College of Applied and Natural Sciences
This college includes schools for Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, Biological Sciences, Human Ecology, and Nursing. It also has a department for Health Informatics.
College of Business
The College of Business teaches students about economics, marketing, management, and accounting. It offers many undergraduate degrees, plus master's and doctoral degrees in Business Administration. The college is known for its online MBA program and its focus on cybersecurity research.
College of Education
The College of Education has been preparing teachers since Louisiana Tech first opened. Today, it offers many degrees in teaching, kinesiology (the study of body movement), and psychology. It also includes the A.E. Phillips Laboratory School and The IDEA Place science museum.
College of Engineering and Science
The College of Engineering and Science (COES) is a major part of Louisiana Tech. It offers many engineering and science degrees, including unique programs like nanosystems engineering and cyber engineering. The college uses several buildings, including Bogard Hall, Nethken Hall, and the Biomedical Engineering Building. A new Integrated Engineering and Science Building was completed in 2019.
College of Liberal Arts
This college has nine departments, including Architecture, Art, History, Journalism, and Performing Arts. It offers many bachelor's and master's degrees, plus a doctorate in audiology. The College of Liberal Arts also hosts the Louisiana Tech University Honors Program and the Air Force ROTC program.
Special Centers:
- American Foreign Policy Center: This center encourages research and public awareness about world affairs.
- Joe D. Waggonner Center for Bipartisan Politics and Public Policy: This center helps students learn about politics and public policy.
Art Galleries: The School of Design has two galleries where artists can show their work. These galleries help students and the community learn about modern art.
Teamwork Centers
Center for Entrepreneurship and Information Technology (CEnIT): Started in 2001, CEnIT is a special partnership between the College of Engineering & Science and the College of Business. It helps students and faculty with new business ideas and technology. CEnIT hosts the "Top Dawg Competition" each year, where students can win money for their business plans and ideas.
Online Learning
Global_Campus: Louisiana Tech launched its Global_Campus in 2008. It offers many online courses and degree programs. This helps students who need more flexibility, like military personnel or international students.
CenturyLink@LaTech: In 2011, Louisiana Tech partnered with CenturyLink, a large telecommunications company. This program helps CenturyLink employees get training and degrees in engineering and information technology.
Student Life and Activities
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 73% |
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| Black | 12% |
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| Other | 8% |
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| Hispanic | 4% |
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| Foreign national | 2% |
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| Asian | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 31% |
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| Affluent | 69% |
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Student Activities
Louisiana Tech has over 160 student organizations! Students can join groups for government, entertainment, media, sports, and more.
The Union Board plans fun events for students all year, like Fall Fling, Talent Show, and movie nights. The Student Government Association (SGA) is the official student government. They organize Welcome Week, Homecoming, and help students register to vote.
Louisiana Tech also has an ROTC program for students interested in joining the Air Force. Students from nearby Grambling State University can also join the Army ROTC program there.
Campus Media
- The Tech Talk: This was Louisiana Tech's student newspaper from 1926 to 2019. It won many awards for its reporting.
- Speak Magazine: This is Louisiana Tech's student magazine, published every three months.
- The Lagniappe: This is the university's yearbook, first published in 1905. It's known for its high quality and has won awards.
- KLPI: This is Louisiana Tech's student radio station, broadcasting at 4,000 watts.
- Louisiana TechTV: This is the student-run TV station, showing movies, news, and original shows about campus life.
Where Students Live
Louisiana Tech has several dorms for students. The newest dorms, Cottingham, Richardson, and Mitchell, are three stories tall and offer different room types. They have separate floors for different genders.
Greek Life
Louisiana Tech has about 20 Greek organizations, including fraternities and sororities. These groups often raise money for charities. For example, Phi Mu raised $10,000 for charity in 2009.
Athletics
Louisiana Tech has 16 sports teams that compete in NCAA Division I. The men's teams and most women's teams are called the Bulldogs. The women's basketball team is called the Lady Techsters. The school colors are red and blue, but the Lady Techsters often wear Columbia blue.
Football
The Louisiana Tech football team started in 1901. They have won three National Championships (in 1972, 1973, and 1974) and 25 conference titles. Many famous players have come from Tech, including Terry Bradshaw, a four-time Super Bowl champion. The Bulldogs play their home games at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Men's Basketball
The men's basketball team, the Bulldogs, started in 1909. They have won 25 conference titles and made many appearances in the NCAA and NIT tournaments. Famous players include Karl Malone, who had his number retired by the university. The team plays at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Women's Basketball
The Lady Techsters women's basketball team started in 1974. They are very successful, winning three national championships (in 1981, 1982, and 1988). They have also appeared in 13 Final Fours. Many players and coaches from the Lady Techsters program have gone on to great success in professional basketball and coaching. The team plays at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Traditions
Lady of the Mist
The Lady of the Mist is a well-known statue and fountain on campus. It sits in the middle of The Quad. The statue represents the "Alma Mater" (the nurturing university) welcoming new students and saying goodbye to graduates. It symbolizes the hope that Tech graduates will achieve their dreams.
The statue was built in 1938. In 1985, it was restored. Today, new students throw a gold medallion into the fountain to mark their new beginning at Tech.
Alumni Brick Walkway
The alumni walkway was built in 1995 for the university's 100th anniversary. It's a path made of bricks that goes through Centennial Plaza. Many bricks have the names of Louisiana Tech graduates engraved on them.
Famous People from Louisiana Tech
Many successful people have graduated from Louisiana Tech.
- Business Leaders: People like Nick Akins (CEO of American Electric Power), Glen Post (former CEO of CenturyLink), and brothers Charles Wyly and Sam Wyly (billionaire businessmen) are Tech alumni.
- Arts and Entertainment: Country music stars Kix Brooks and Trace Adkins attended Tech. Will Wright, who created popular video games like The Sims, also went to Louisiana Tech.
- Public Service: Former U.S. Senators and Representatives, as well as military leaders like Lieutenant General David Wade, are Tech graduates.
- Sports Stars: Many athletes from Tech have become famous. In football, Terry Bradshaw, Fred Dean, and Willie Roaf are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In basketball, Karl Malone and Teresa Weatherspoon are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Trace Adkins, a country music star -
Terry Bradshaw, a Super Bowl champion quarterback -
Kix Brooks, a famous country music artist -
Karl Malone, a two-time NBA Most Valuable Player -
Paul Millsap, a four-time NBA All-Star -
Phil Robertson, founder of Duck Commander and TV star -
Will Wright, creator of The Sims video game
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad Tecnológica de Luisiana para niños
