Army ROTC was established in the New Orleans Area at Tulane University and Loyola University in 1947. Initially, Tulane University was activated to produce officers for the Army Transportation Corps, while Loyola University was detailed to train and commission officers for the Military Police. Both programs were established and remained independent of each other until 1978.
After the enrollment declines of the sixties and seventies had passed, the decision was made in 1978 to expand Army ROTC to include students from several of the local public and private universities. Under the leadership of Colonel Kenneth L. Wenn, Army ROTC was offered to students attending the University of New Orleans, Dillard University, Southern University at New Orleans, and Xavier University. At that time, separate headquarters at Loyola and Tulane merged into one Army ROTC Headquarters. Only one Professor of Military Science, located at Loyola University, was assigned to the New Orleans area. The Consortium concept was born, and the New Orleans Area Consortium was recognized as the New Orleans Area Instructor Group (NOAIG).
With the deactivation of the New Orleans Area Instructor Group (NOAIG) came three separate Host Universities. The headquarters at Loyola divided up the personnel assets, but retained control over the consolidated Supply Room and Arms Room operation. The University of New Orleans, Tulane University and Loyola University were, for a short period, independent Host institutions. Tulane University exercised a cross-enrollment agreement with Xavier University. The University of New Orleans had an extension-center agreement with Dillard University and a cross-enrollment agreement with Southern University at New Orleans. Loyola University had no extension centers or cross-enrolled universities.
Due to historical low enrollment and production figures at the University of New Orleans and Loyola University, both universities fell prey to the ever-tightening Army budget and by June 1986 it was official that only one Host University would operate in the New Orleans area. Based on its solid production rate, Tulane University assumed the role of the New Orleans area's sole ROTC Host institution in 1987, when Loyola University's request for co-host status with Tulane was denied. Loyola University, The University of New Orleans, Southern University at New Orleans, Xavier University, University of Holy Cross, LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, and Dillard University are currently represented as extension schools within Tulane University's Army ROTC program.
