Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSUS) is a branch of the Louisiana State University System in Shreveport, Louisiana. Opened in 1967, LSUS is the only public four-year university in the Shreveport-Bossier metro area. The school, with more than 4,600 students, is a multipurpose system of higher education, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and exerting a major influence on the economic, social, and cultural life of its citizens. The university has on campus apartments located at the northwestern edge of the campus. The school has nationally-ranked NAIA teams and offers more than 70 extra-curricular programs. LSUS operates Red River Radio, a public radio network based in Shreveport. After nine years as a two-year institution, LSUS was advanced to four-year status in 1976 through the efforts of state Senator Don W. Williamson of Shreveport and state Representative Joe Henry Cooper of Mansfield, the seat of De Soto Parish. Since becoming a four-year institution, LSUS has acquired regional and national accreditation and has added more programs.