University of Louisiana at Lafayette is also known as UL Lafayette. The abbreviations University of Louisiana (UL) and ULL are not considered acceptable versions of the University name. It is located in Lafayette, Louisiana, and is the oldest and largest campus in the University of Louisiana System. UL Lafayette was founded in 1900 as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute (SLII). In 1960, the institution gained university status and became the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL); in 1999, the university became known by its present name.

Campus

UL Lafayette's main campus consists of 137 acres (554,000 m²); the athletic complex and Cajundome sit on 243 acres (983,000 m²); University Research Park has 148 acres (599,000 m²); and the Center for Ecology and Environmental Technology has 51 acres (206,000 m²).

Academics

UL Lafayette has 11 colleges and schools, and it offers 61 undergraduate degree programs, 29 master's degree programs, and 8 Doctor of Philosophy programs. UL Lafayette graduates about 1,100 students each fall and spring.

Athletics

UL Lafayette's colors are vermilion and white and their sports teams are known as the Ragin’ Cajuns. The sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (I-A for football) in the Sun Belt Conference.

Notable Persons

• Writer-in-residence Ernest Gaines has been nominated for the 2004 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is author of The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and A Lesson Before Dying .
• Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco is the first UL Lafayette graduate to hold Louisiana’s highest elected office .
• President Ray Authement is the second longest serving University President in the Nation accodring to the Chronicle of Higher Education . In 2004 Authement has been president for 31 years.
• National Football League veterans Jake Delhomme and Brandon Stokely played college football for UL Lafayette. They hold numerous school records, and have established themselves as premiere players in professional sports.
• Long time Dallas Cowboys kicker Rafael Septien played for the school as well.
• Exercise guru and Louisiana native Richard Simmons attended UL Lafayette.
• Former Miss USA Ali Landry was a student.

History

• 1898 - Louisiana legislature approved the creation of an "Industrial Institute and Academy" in the 13th Senatorial District.
• 1900 - Dr. Edwin L. Stephens was named the first president of Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute , which was to be located on the outskirts of Lafayette on 25 acres (101,000 m²) of donated land. SLII opened its doors on Sept. 18, 1901, with 100 students and eight faculty members.
• 1903 - 18 students were the first to graduate from SLII.
• 1921 - SLII became Southwestern Louisiana Institute when it was designated as one of the state's institutions of higher learning . The year before, it had begun offering a four-year course that culminated with a bachelor of arts degree.
• 1960 - SLI became the University of Southwestern Louisiana when it achieved university status .
• 1999 - USL was renamed the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The new name is believed to better reflect its status as the state's second largest university and an institution with statewide and national influence.

External links

• University of Louisiana at Lafayette website
• Official UL Lafayette athletics site