, founded in
1939 , is a
University located in
Lake Charles ,
Louisiana . Originally called '''Lake Charles Junior College''', the name became John McNeese Junior College in
1940 ; the school was part of the Louisiana State University system. In
1950 , the school parted from the LSU system and became McNeese State College; in
1970 , the institution gained university status.
McNeese State's colors are
Blue and
Gold and their nickname is the
Cowboy s. Mc
Neese State sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA for
Football ) in the
Southland Conference .
McNeese State University was founded in 1939 as a division of
Louisiana State University , offering only the first two years of higher education. Originally called Lake Charles Junior College, the name became John McNeese Junior College in 1940 by resolution of the University Board of Supervisors in honor of a pioneer Southwest Louisiana educator.
Advanced to four-year status and separated from L.S.U. in 1950, the University was renamed McNeese State College; and its administration was transferred to the Louisiana State Board of Education. Act 138 of the 1970 Louisiana Legislature gave the institution its present name, McNeese State University. McNeese gained significant recognition in 1954 through admission to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the highest accrediting agency in the United States for such schools in the South.
The Legislature authorized McNeese to offer curricula leading to the master's degree in 1960, and to the degree of Education Specialist in 1966. In addition to the Graduate School, McNeese University's academic organization includes the colleges of Business, Education, Engineering and Technology, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Science, the Division of Continuing Education, and the Division of Basic Studies.
Mcneese opened its doors in 1939 on an 86-acre tract donated by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury with a physical plant of two buildings: the former Administration Building (Kaufman Hall) and the McNeese Arena (Ralph O. Ward Memorial Gym). The Main Auditorium, now Francis G. Bulber Auditorium, was completed in 1940 as the third building on the campus. The three structures are still in use today. In 1989, the auditorium was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.
- Dr. Joseph T. Farrar (1939-1940
- Dr. William B. Hatcher (1940-1941)
- Dr. Rodney Cline (1941-1944)
(Prior to 1944, University leadership were called deans. After 1944, the term President came to designate the universities' top person)
- Dr. Lether E. Frazar (1944-1955)Retired in 1955
- Dr. Wayne N. Cusic (1955-1969) Retired in 1969
- Dr. Thomas S. Leary (1969-1980) Resigned from presidency
- Dr. Jack Doland (1980-1986) Resigned in order to run for state office
- Dr. Robert Hebert (1986-present)
The McNeese State University main campus occupies 99-acres in South Lake Charles along the Contraband Bayou. The main campus also includes 68 main buildings. In addition to the main campus, the physical plant also includes the 402-acre Mcneese Farm, a 65-acre Athletic plant, and the Burton Coliseum.
Mcneese State University offers 83 degree
programs offered by the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering and
Technology, Liberal Arts, Nursing and Science, the Division of General and
Basic Studies, and the Doré School of Graduate Studies
