University of Louisiana at Lafayette is also known as UL Lafayette. The abbreviations University of Louisiana (UL) and ULL are not considered acceptable versions of the University name. It is located in Lafayette, Louisiana, and is the oldest and largest campus in the University of Louisiana System. UL Lafayette was founded in 1900 as the Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute (SLII). In 1960, the institution gained university status and became the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL); in 1999, the university became known by its present name.