Southern University, Shreveport reflects on 40-year history

Southern University, Shreveport was created May 11, 1964, by the Louisiana Legislature as a two-year commuters’ college to serve the Shreveport-Bossier City area. Gov. John J. McKeithen signed the act to create SUSLA and Louisiana State University-Shreveport in 1964 to maintain the state’s separate education systems for black and white students.

The local Southern University campus opened Sept. 19, 1967 and was known as Southern University Shreveport-Bossier Office (SUSBO). Walter Austin served as the college’s first dean.

The university emphasized the first two years of transferable college and university work as well as developmental education.

The college began to offer associate of arts degrees in 1974. The school has courses in academic outreach programs, allied health, behavioral sciences and education, business, humanities; science and technology and a nursing school.

Ray Belton became chancellor of SUSLA in November 2000. He served several capacities as a student, faculty member, program director, and vice chancellor before his appointment as chancellor.

Source: The Blacker the Berry ...A Black History of Shreveport by Willie Burton.