About

KSLU 90.9 FM & HD is a 3000-watt, CPB-qualified, non-commercial educational radio station in Hammond, Louisiana owned and operated by Southeastern Louisiana University. The radio station’s city-grade signal reaches a 10-mile radius and is often heard from Denham Springs to Covington to Kentwood. Many of the announcers are communication students at Southeastern training for careers in the broadcast industry. KSLU strives to serve both the Southeastern and surrounding communities. For this reason, it has adopted the following mission…

Mission Statement

In support of Southeastern’s mission, KSLU functions to provide entertaining and informative on-air programming for both Southeastern Louisiana University and the broader Hammond community while providing a learning environment designed to attract and enable qualified students to gain and practice skills needed to work professionally in the communications field.

KSLU seeks to achieve excellence on the air, in the classroom and in the community.

KSLU History

KSLU began operation in 1974 as a radio club at Southeastern Louisiana College (as it was known then) operating at ten watts of power. Initially the station was on the air a few hours a day during the week; the transmitter was turned off during the weekends and during the holidays. Thanks to support from the Student Government Association and self-assessed fees of the student body, in 1983 the station qualified for membership in the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Since that time the station has increased power to 3,000 watts.

In 1988, KSLU became the first radio station in the South to install a digital touch screen operating system. This video monitor displayed everything needed by the operator, from the day’s log, to timing of cuts, announcer copy, and even which pizza places deliver on weekends! The installation was featured in Broadcast Engineering magazine and visited by radio personnel from across the world.

The broadcast schedule offers a vast array of non-commercial programs which enlighten and entertain. Diversity is the strength of KSLU, with offerings including local talk shows, news and sports, campus and community activities. KSLU is the station in the local market playing current popular music. Our daytime format is AAA (Adult Album Alternative) and features artists such as Lucinda Williams, Weezer, Dave Matthews, Moby, and others. At night we become a bit more freeform and experimental.

In 1993, an emergency situation room was added utilizing amateur radio equipment purchased with grants from State Farm Insurance and Louisiana Power and Light. During critical times this room is manned by local ham operators who are members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service in the Florida parish area.

In the past, the station has produced political forums which were fed to several public and commercial radio stations in Louisiana via Louisiana Network Inc.

1996 brought another exciting time as KSLU began broadcasting globally via the internet, enabling families of international and out-of-state students to hear live university events.

Mailing Address

KSLU Radio

SLU 10783

Hammond, LA 70402

Southeastern Louisiana University is a member of the University of Louisiana System and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).