University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Founded in 1900, the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, now called the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, has become the second- largest four year public university in the state. For over 100 years, UL Lafayette has been built by a strong community that shows pride and spirit towards the university’s ongoing academic tradition. Enrollment at the University is the highest it has been since selective standards were implemented in 1999. The student population at the university is in excess of 17,000, including 1,500 graduate students. UL Lafayette offers 80 bachelor degrees through 10 colleges and schools, including one of the most sophisticated computer science programs in the nation. UL Lafayette’s graduate school offers 29 master degrees and eight doctorates as well.

UL Lafayette has extended its campus almost 600 acres to include the University Research Park, Cajundome and Convention Center, University Hotel and the state-of- the-art Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, with more than 1,500 works of art. The University campus itself is unique because of its draping oak trees and cypress swamp next to the Student Union. Also, the Walk of Honor, which is paved with bricks bearing the names of UL Lafayette graduates arranged by class year is a favorite feature found in the quad. The University’s latest extension is the $29 million Louisiana Immersive Technology Center in University Research Park. The center features an egg-shaped section that contains a six-sided "total immersion space,” where researchers can explore massive amounts of data that have been converted into 3D images.

UL has earned regional, national and international recognition for excellence in a variety of areas, from environmental biology to cognitive science and francophone studies. The College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions is the third- largest nursing program in the country. The college is also home to lifelike computerized human patients’ simulators and uses virtual reality technology to give students a realistic experience. The university is the only university in Louisiana that has a simulated neonatal, pediatric and labor delivery unit.

The MBA program at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette is one of the best in the nation, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company features UL Lafayette in the new 2011 edition of its book, "The Best 300 Business Schools,” published by Random House. UL Lafayette’s Mathematic Department is one of the Top 100 university math departments in the nation, according to the National Science Foundation. The University is also listed among the 2011 Best Colleges designated by the U.S. News Media Group. The college has also been associated with some famous names, from current writer- in- residence Ernest Gaines to former professors such as, artist Elemore Morgan Jr. and John Kennedy Toole, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "A Confederacy of Dunces.”

Dr. E. Joseph Savoie serves as the sixth UL Lafayette President. Savoie is the former Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Louisiana. Prior to this, Savoie also served as the UL Lafayette Vice President for University Advancement, the executive director of the Alumni Association, program director for the Union Program Council and student government advisor, as well as an adjunct assistant professor.

For more information, call 337-482-1000 or visit the UL Lafayette Website at www.louisiana.edu.

Other Colleges, Universities and Institutes

The Lafayette area offers a wide range of postsecondary educational opportunities for students. A community college and numerous vocational and technical schools and colleges augment the UL Lafayette experience and serve a variety of needs for thousands of students in Lafayette Parish. Programs of study offered range from nursing, business and computer programming to teacher preparation, cosmetology and emergency medical services, to name a few.

South Louisiana Community College with its main campus located in Lafayette, is one of the Top Ten fastest growing two year colleges in the U.S. Currently enrolling more than 4,000 students, the college is fully accredited and offers a broad array of transfer associate degree and workforce programs. Courses are available day and evening through both on site and on line delivery for student convenience.

Contact individual schools for a list of their offerings.

Acadiana Area Career College

337.896.9776

www.aaccweb.com

Aveda Institue Lafayette

337.233.0511

www.beautybasicsinc.com

Blue Cliff College

337.269.0620

www.bluecliffcollege.com

Delta College of Arts & Technology – Lafayette

337.988.5455

www.deltacollege.com

Louisiana Technical College

337.262.5962

www.ltc.edu

Remington College

337.981.4010

www.remingtoncollege.edu

South Louisiana Community College

337.521.8896

www.southlouisiana.edu

UL Lafayette Coninuing Education

337.482.6391

www.ce.louisiana.edu

Unitech Training Academy

337.988.6764

www.unitechtrainingacademy.com

University of Phoenix

337.237.0464

www.phoenix.edu/lafayette

Public Schools

The Lafayette Parish School System is comprised of 43 public schools, all accredited by the Louisiana Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The LPSS also has five "Schools of Choice,” six high school "academies,” French Immersion, gifted and alternative programs, and an arts academy. The student

population is more than 30,000. Furthering educational excellence, the high schools designated as academies create career-themed learning communities for students and

encourage real-world experience through course work and internships. For more information visit the Lafayette Parish School System online at lpssonline.com.

Private and Parochial Schools

Inspired by a rich and diverse cultural base, the citizens of Lafayette Parish enjoy a variety of private educational offerings. The oldest of these is the school system offered by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette. Thirteen Catholic schools are located throughout Lafayette Parish. In addition, other private schools offer individual attention and excellent programs of study. For more information on Catholic schools, call the Diocese of Lafayette at 337-261-5543 or visit www.dol-louisiana.org/ocs/.

Member Private Schools

Ascension Episcopal School

337.233.9748

www.aesgators.org

Episcopal School of Acadiana

337.365.1416

www.esacadiana.com

Pope John Paul II Academy

337.896.6050

www.pjpa.org

Schools of the Sacred Heart

337.662.5275

www.sshcoteau.org

St Pius Elementary School

337.237.3139

www.stpiuselementary.org

St Thomas More High School

337.988.3700

www.stmcougars.com

Teurlings Catholic High School

337.235.5711

www.tchs.net

Westminster Christian Academy

337.948.4623

www.wcala.org

For more information, call the Lafayette Parish School Board at 337-521-7000 or visit their Web site at www.lpssonline.com.