1957
• The State Board of Education approves master of science degrees in mathematics, science, and engineering.
• A bond issue is passed to pay for new construction on campus. It funds construction of Roy and Caffery Halls (men’s dormitories); Coronna Hall, Guillory Hall, and Olivier Hall, in the Student Union group; the Reseweber Building at the dairy farm; H. F. Madison Hall (engineering); a marine biology laboratory at Red Fish Point, Vermilion Parish; Billeaud Hall (biology); and renovations to DeClouet Hall.

1958
• The Faculty Senate is created.

1960
• SLI becomes the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
• Fall enrollment is 4,910.
• The USL Opera Guild is created.
1961
• USL acquires its first digital computer.
• The first floor of Dupré Library is completed.

1962
• Bonin Hall, a women’s dormitory, is completed.

1963
• McCullough Hall (men’s dormitory), F.G. Mouton Hall (College of Commerce), and the new Martin Hall (administration) are completed.
• KRVS begins broadcasting.

1965
• The School of Art and Architecture is created.
• Voorhies Hall (men’s dormitory) is completed.

1966
• Dr. Clyde Rougeou becomes university president.

1967
• The second floor of Dupré Library is completed.
• Maxim Doucet Hall (College of Education) and Stokes Hall (men’s dormitory) are built.

1968
• Blackham Coliseum is renovated.
• Denbo Hall (women’s dormitory) and Wharton Hall (medical sciences building) are completed.

1969
• The State Board of Education authorizes doctoral degrees in biology, computer science, English, history, mathematics, microbiology, and statistics.

1970
• The first football games are played in the $4.5 million Cajun Field.
• A $1.4 million digital computer system is installed.

1972
• H.L. Griffin Hall is competed at a cost of $3.2 million.

1974
• Dr. Ray P. Authement becomes president. The campus now includes some 735 acres.

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