McNeese State University McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles , Louisiana , in the United States . Founded in 1939 as a junior college , McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region . It adopted its present name in 1970 . McNeese is part of the University of Louisiana System and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Master ' s University . " U . S . News and World Report " designates McNeese as a Tier One Regional University . The selective admissions university consists of six colleges and the Doré School of Graduate Studies . McNeese is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools , and all programs of study are accredited by their respective national boards . History . McNeese State University was founded in 1939 as a division of Louisiana State University and was originally called " Lake Charles Junior College " . It offered only the first two years of higher education . McNeese opened its doors on an tract donated by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury with two buildings : the former Administration Building ( Kaufman Hall ) and the McNeese Arena ( Ralph O . Ward Memorial Gym ) . The auditorium , now Francis G . Bulber Auditorium , was completed in 1940 as the third building on the campus . These three buildings are still in use today . The name became John McNeese Junior College in 1940 by resolution of the University Board of Supervisors in honor of this pioneer educator of Lake Charles . The college advanced to four - year status and separated from Louisiana State University in 1950 and was renamed McNeese State College . Its administration was transferred to the Louisiana State Board of Education . The Legislature authorized McNeese to offer curricula leading to the master ' s degree in 1960 , and to the degree of Educational Specialist in 1966 . In 1970 its name changed to McNeese State University . McNeese was first accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1954 . Campus . The main campus occupies lined with live oak trees in the heart of south Lake Charles . Contraband Bayou flows through the campus . The main campus includes 68 main buildings . In addition , the physical plant also includes the McNeese Farm , a Athletic plant , Burton Coliseum , the Louisiana Environmental Research Center , and nearly of donated farm property used for research , farming , and ranching . A renovation of the quadrangle was recently completed to relieve the flooding that plagued students during rainy days . The Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development ( SEED ) Center is under construction on the university campus to allow local business leaders and McNeese students to work in tandem . The newly renovated Jack V . Doland Field House , which now houses offices for all of the football coaches , equipment manager , conditioning and strength coach and members of the athletic administration as well as the ticket office , held its official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony September 9 , 2011 . A commemorative statue of John McNeese has recently been placed near Smith Hall , and new decorative signs have been built on each corner of the main campus . Also , a recent $ 16 million annex to the Shearman Fine Arts Center has been completed and renovations have begun on the older sections of the facility . The McNeese Recreation Complex includes two weight rooms , basketball courts , tennis courts , an indoor track , and an Olympic - size swimming pool . Academics . McNeese State University offers 83 degree programs in its eight colleges and divisions : - The College of Business - The Burton College of Education - The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology - The College of Liberal Arts - The College of Nursing - The College of Science - The Division of General and Basic Studies - The Doré School of Graduate Studies . McNeese is the first university in the State of Louisiana to offer a concentration in forensic chemistry . It is one of the first schools in the nation to offer a concentration in terrorism , preparedness and security . The College of Nursing and the Department of Mass Communications are housed in the Juliet Hardtner Hall , named for a McNeese donor and daughter of the Louisiana timber magnate and conservationist , Henry E . Hardtner of La Salle Parish . The Department of English and Foreign Languages , in conjunction with the local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta , publishes " The Arena " , which is an annual collection of art , essays , fiction , and poetry by students , regardless of major . A significant number of McNeese faculty have received Fulbright Award s . Faculty members in the Departments of Engineering , Performing Arts , Social Sciences and English and Foreign Languages have taught in Rwanda , Romania , Greece , Korea , and Wales , among other countries . In the Department of English and Foreign Languages alone , four faculty members have received Fulbrights . McNeese is the only institution in the state of Louisiana to have a Kodály Certification Program as part of its Music Education degree . The College of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business . Less than 5 % of the world ' s business schools are accredited by this prestigious association . The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology offers a multi - discipline curriculum to all students with majors in chemical , civil , electrical , and mechanical engineering . That is , students in these individual disciplines are taught by faculty of other disciplines in certain classes . In addition to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering , the college also offers the Master of Engineering degree in chemical , civil , electrical , and mechanical engineering and engineering management . The Department of Engineering Technology offers bachelor degrees in process plant technology , instrumentation , and electronics . The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology is closely linked to the nearby petrochemical industries and refineries through the Industrial Advisory Board and Lake Area Industry Alliance / McNeese Engineering Partnership . Many students participate in internships with the related industries . McNeese recently formed an Institute for Industry - Education Collaboration that will offer training courses as well as continuing education courses for local Lake Area industries and graduates of McNeese . Athletics . McNeese ' s colors are blue and gold . The men ' s sports teams are known as the Cowboys , while the women ' s athletic teams are the Cowgirls . McNeese State sports teams participate in NCAA Division I ( Football Championship Subdivision ( I - AA ) for football ) in the Southland Conference . Football . The football team plays at Louis Bonnette Field at Cowboy Stadium , which seats 17 , 000 fans . It is also known as " The Hole " and is located near campus . The team played in the inaugural Independence Bowl game in 1976 , a 20 – 16 victory over Tulsa . They would go on to make two more appearances in 1979 and 1980 . The Cowboys football team have more recently played in two Division I - AA Finals , in 1997 and 2002 . Basketball . The Cowboys basketball teams play at Burton Coliseum , to the south of campus . In 1956 the Cowboys won the NAIA Division I Men ' s Tournament . It was the only appearance the Cowboys made in the NAIA tournament . McNeese State defeated Texas Southern 60 to 55 . The men ' s basketball team has made two appearances in the NCAA Men ' s Basketball Tournament , most recently in 2002 , and the team has qualified for the NIT three times , the most recent invitation being in 2011 . The women ' s basketball team earned their first invitation to the " Big Dance " in 2011 , by sweeping the Southland Conference Tournament . In 2011 , both the men ' s and women ' s basketball teams claimed the Southland Conference title in their respective divisions , marking the first time in the 25 year history of the Southland Conference that the men ' s and women ' s teams from the same school have won regular - season titles in the same year . Baseball . The baseball team plays games at Cowboy Diamond . The Cowboys ' baseball teams have made several appearances in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship , most recently in 2000 and 2003 . Student organizations . McNeese State University ' s speech and debate team is recognized as a national powerhouse and boasts numerous national championships over the last 40 years . The McNeese State University newspaper is " The Contraband " , a weekly publication which has existed since 1939 . The university ' s award winning student yearbook is " The Log " . It was first published in 1941 .