MONROE, La. – The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) and Louisiana State University Alexandria (LSUA) signed a memorandum of understanding at a press conference on May 21, 2026. The agreement provides pathways for students graduating from LSUA to enter graduate programs at ULM, including Pharmacy, Criminal Justice, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Strategic Communications.
"In many of my comments, you’ve heard me say, ‘Either we partner, or we perish.’ This is a partnership that we see as just the beginning. It’s all around supporting our students and giving them opportunities,” said ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille. “We both share a commitment to educational opportunity, fostering innovation, supporting student success, and strengthening regional collaboration.”
As part of the agreement, the ULM College of Pharmacy will grant preferred admission to five LSUA graduates per year, while LSUA will provide five transfer scholarships to students enrolling in select ULM graduate programs such as Criminal Justice, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Strategic Communications.
LSUA Chancellor Dr. Paul Coreil noted that while his university only focuses on undergraduate programs, many LSUA graduates wish to further their education with master’s and doctoral degrees. “What better way to do that than to have partnerships with great universities like ULM?” said Coreil, noting the short distance between Monroe and Alexandria, as well as the similarity of the communities.
“We are excited about the future of this partnership and how it will develop students to meet immediate workforce needs in our state,” said Castille. “Workforce development has to be the focus of higher ed,” agreed Coreil.
The provisions of the agreement include opportunities for the two universities to collaborate academically through avenues such as guest lectures, virtual exchanges, and academic workshops. The agreement also opens doors to collaboration on research and innovation and joint pursuit of strategic funding and grant development.
Through this collaboration, ULM and LSUA seek to strengthen academic excellence, expand learning opportunities, and enhance research capacity. The partnership aims to create meaningful educational experiences, support innovation, and contribute to the well-being of the communities served by both institutions.
For more information about ULM, please visit ulm.edu.
For more information about Louisiana State University Alexandria, please visit lsua.edu.