Northwestern State University facts for kids
 |
|
|
Former names
|
Louisiana State Normal School (1884–1944) Northwestern State College of Louisiana (1944–1970) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Dedicated to one goal. Yours. |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | 1884 |
|
Parent institution
|
UL System |
|
Academic affiliations
|
Space-grant |
| Endowment | $20.8 million (2021) |
| President | James T. Genovese |
| Students | 9,389 (2022) |
| Location |
,
Louisiana
,
United States
31°45′00″N 93°05′50″W / 31.750°N 93.0972°W |
| Campus | Rural, 916 acres (371 ha) |
| Colors | Purple and White Orange accent |
| Nickname | Demons / Lady Demons |
|
Sporting affiliations
|
NCAA Division I FCS – Southland |
| Mascot | Vic the Demon |
 |
|
Northwestern State University of Louisiana, often called NSULA, is a public university in Louisiana, USA. Its main campus is in Natchitoches. NSULA also has campuses in Shreveport (for nursing), and in Leesville/Fort Johnson and Alexandria. It is part of the University of Louisiana System, which is a group of public universities in Louisiana.
NSU was started in 1884 as the Louisiana State Normal School. It was the first school in Louisiana to offer special degrees in nursing and business education. In 1970, NSU became a university. This happened during the time of President Arnold R. Kilpatrick, who was an alumnus (a former student) of Northwestern State.
NSU was one of the first six colleges to join NASA's Joint Venture Program. Students worked with NASA scientists. They helped analyze data and do research for the 1996 Space Shuttle Columbia mission. NSU is also home to the Louisiana Scholars' College. This is Louisiana's special honors college for liberal arts and sciences. The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts is also on campus. This is a state-supported high school for older students.
NSU offers more than 50 different degree programs. In Fall 2018, over 11,000 students were enrolled. This was the largest number of students in the university's history. NSU also has more than 70,000 alumni, which are people who have graduated from the university.
Contents
University History and Growth
Northwestern State University has been a place for learning for over 100 years. Before the American Civil War, part of the campus belonged to the Bullard family. In 1856, the Bullard mansion was used as a convent by a religious group. A school building was built there the next year. In 1884, the town of Natchitoches bought the property. Three large white columns from the old mansion still stand on "The Hill." They are now a symbol of the university.
Founding the Normal School
In 1884, the Louisiana State Legislature created the Louisiana State Normal School. This school was made to train teachers. A representative named Leopold Caspari offered the convent site as the campus. The offer was accepted. From 1885 to 1918, the school offered two years of study for teachers. Later, it started offering four-year degree programs. In 1921, its name changed to Louisiana State Normal College.
Becoming a College and University
In 1944, the school's name changed again to Northwestern State College of Louisiana. This recognized its wider role in education. In 1954, Northwestern State became the first college in Louisiana to offer a master's degree. This is a higher-level degree after a bachelor's. In 1966, they offered the Specialist in Education degree. In 1967, they started offering Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in education.
On June 18, 1970, Governor John McKeithen signed a law that changed the school's name to Northwestern State University of Louisiana. This was a big step for the campus. In 1980, the old campus area with the columns was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is called the "Normal Hill Historic District."
Campus Locations and "The Rock"
Northwestern State also has other campuses. These are in Leesville, Shreveport, and Alexandria. The Nursing Education Center in Shreveport is where nursing students take their classes.
2.jpg)
A large piece of limestone, called "The Rock," was placed on campus in 2006. It is at a main intersection. Student groups can paint designs on it to promote their clubs. The number of student groups at NSU grows every semester.
In 2021, Marcus Jones became the first African-American President of the university. He was approved by the Louisiana Board of Supervisors. In 2024, James T. Genovese, a Louisiana Supreme Court Justice, became the new president.
Vic the Demon: NSU's Mascot
On November 8, 1922, all of NSU's sports teams became known as the Demons. This name was chosen through a contest for students. The winner received $10. Students voted on the final name, and "Demons" was one of the top choices.
On September 22, 1984, the Demon mascot got its official name, "Vic." This was also chosen through a contest. "Vic" is short for "Victory." Ray Carney, a former student, won the contest.
Famous Visitors to NSU
Singer-songwriter Jim Croce performed a concert on the NSU campus in 1973. Sadly, he died in a plane crash just hours after his performance.
Student Life and Activities
NSU offers many ways for students to get involved. This includes student media, music groups, and sports.
Student Media Outlets
- Newspaper and Yearbook: The Current Sauce is NSU's online news source. It started in 1914. In 2021, the newspaper and the campus radio station, KNWD, joined their news efforts. They created a shared digital platform called "Purple Media Network." The annual student yearbook is called The Potpourri.
- Radio and Television: The student-run radio station is The Demon (KNWD 91.7 FM). There is also a local TV station called NSU22. Students produce newscasts for NSU22 every two weeks.
- Literary Magazine: NSU's literary magazine is The Argus. Students run it, and it is published each spring. The magazine features writing and artwork from student competitions.
Music Programs
The Spirit of Northwestern marching band has over 300 members each year. Any student can join, no matter their major. Their uniforms are purple and white with an orange stripe. Other music groups at NSU include the Pep Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra.
University Athletics
The sports teams at Northwestern State are called the Demons. Women's teams are usually called the Lady Demons. The mascot is Vic the Demon. The university is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). They compete in the Southland Conference at the NCAA Division I level. Northwestern State has 12 varsity athletic teams. These include five men's teams and seven women's teams.
University Archives
NSU has an archive called the Cammie G. Henry Research Center. This center keeps collections about many different people and topics. You can find materials about people like Ethma Odum, who was a pioneering woman television personality. There are also collections about James B. Aswell, Kate Chopin, Robert DeBlieux, Caroline Dormon, and the Cane River area.
Notable People from NSU
Famous Alumni
- James B. Aswell: A former president of NSU and a U.S. representative.
- Mike Johnson: A professor of law and the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.
- Julie Kane: A well-known poet.
- Ralph L. Ropp: A professor and head of the forensics department, who also became president of Louisiana Tech.
