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The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, more commonly known as UL Lafayette, Louisiana-Lafayette,or simply UL, is a coeducational public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana. It is the oldest and largest campus within the eight-campus University of Louisiana System, and the second largest university in Louisiana. Founded in 1900 as an industrial institute, the university became known by its present name in 1999. The university is a member of the Southeastern Universities Research Association and is categorized as a Carnegie RU/H: Research University (high research activity), the only UL system campus to receive the latter doctoral distinction and among the top 5% of all U.S. colleges. UL Lafayette is recognized for excellence in computer science and its graduate program in evolutionary and environmental biology. It offers Louisiana's only PhD in Francophone studies and only doctoral degree in cognitive science. It is the only Louisiana university with a separate College of the Arts. Campuses UL Lafayette's main campus consists of 137 acres (554,000 m²) lined by live oak trees planted in 1900. Its quadrangle is encircled by a "Walk of Honor" path which contains more than 80,000 bricks bearing the names of every graduate, beginning with the first graduating class of 1903. Also centered in the main campus is Cypress Lake, a swamp-like microcosm of the nearby Atchafalaya Basin, home to alligators, turtles, birds and fish. The athletic complex and Cajundome sit on 243 acres (983,000 m²). Adjacent is the University Research Park of 148 acres (599,000 m²) which is home to the National Wetlands Research Center, a NASA Regional Application Center, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The nearby Center for Ecology and Environmental Technology has 51 acres (206,000 m²). The university has a 600-acre farm/renewable resources laboratory with a 30-acre pond for crawfish and catfish culture in Cade, Louisiana. It also has a 48-acre New Iberia Research Center in New Iberia, Louisiana, which is among the world's largest private non-human, primate breeding colonies. The Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum permanent collection consists of more than 1,500 works of art, including paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, and photographs. This collection represents 18th, 19th and 20th century Louisiana, as well as the United States, Europe and Japan. Organization UL Lafayette has 10 colleges and schools, one of the largest honors program in Louisiana and offers 80 undergraduate degree programs, 29 master's degree programs, and 9 Doctor of Philosophy programs, which are applied language and speech sciences, biology, cognitive science, computer engineering, computer science, educational leadership, English, Francophone studies and mathematics. Academics UL Lafayette is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. All undergraduate programs at UL Lafayette that are eligible for accreditation by professional agencies are accredited. UL Lafayette was featured in the 2006 edition of America's Best Value Colleges, a Princeton Review/Random House college guidebook, which spotlighted fewer than 100 U.S. schools. The university was included in the 2005 edition of The Best 357 Colleges, its MBA program was included in the 2005 edition of The Best 143 Business Schools and its business school was featured in the 2007 edition of The Best 282 Business Schools — all three publications of The Princeton Review. The biology department's graduate program in evolutionary and environmental biology is ranked in the top 100 programs in the US for evolutionary biology. The university graduates about 1,100 students each fall and spring. Colleges and departments Arts Architecture & Design, Fashion Design & Mechandising, Music, Performing Arts and Visual Arts Business Administration Accounting, Economics & Finance, Human Resources, Information Systems & Multimedia Lab, Management, Management of Information Systems, Marketing & Legal Studies, Micro Business Development, Small Business Development Education Counselor Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Foundations & Leadership, Kinesiology Engineering Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Engineering & Technology, Industrial Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering General Studies Graduate School '''Honors''' Liberal Arts Cognitive Science, Communication, Communicative Disorders, Counselor Education, Criminal Justice, Cultural & Eco-Tourism, English, History & Geography, Latin American Studies, Louisiana Studies, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology Nursing & Allied Health Professions Sciences Biology, Chemistry, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Computer Studies, Advanced, Geology, Health Information Management, Mathematics, Military Science, Physics, Renewable Resources University College Students Academic achievements A group of UL Lafayette students participating in the Cajun Advanced Picosatellite Experiment (CAPE) are building a small artificial satellite, known as a CubeSat, that will be launched into orbit from the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2006. In 2004, UL Lafayette students and faculty produced CajunBot, one of 25 autonomous vehicles that competed in the U.S. Department of Defense DARPA Grand Challenge. CajunBot, which was featured on CNN, uses artificial intelligence and GPS positioning to navigate a designated route while detecting and avoiding obstacles. The biology department has several distinguished professors who are contributing significantly to research on restoration of Louisiana's coastal wetlands. The university also inagurated the $29M technology initiative L.I.T.E., which offers the largest known three-dimensional-immersive auditorium for visualization of fully interactive 3D models and data sets for seismic analysis, computer-aided modeling, product stress test analysis and a host of other applications that require visualization of large data sets for scientists. Campus life Greek life Sororities Sports UL Lafayette's sports teams, known as the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (a name which the university has trademarked), participate in NCAA Division I (I-A for football) in the Sun Belt Conference. Sports media often refer to the university as Louisiana-Lafayette. History Presidents Notable firsts Notable alumni and faculty UL Lafayette notable alumni have held posts as business bellwethers, government leaders, Olympic medalists, professional athletes, artists and entertainers. Also several distinguished faculty members have taught at the university. | |||||||
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