Luther College (Iowa)

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For other places with the same name, see Luther College.

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Luther College
The Luther bell, which stands in front of the Dahl Centennial Union
Motto Soli Deo Gloria
and Verbum Dei Manet in Æternum (Latin)
Motto in English
 To God alone be the Glory
and The Word of the Lord endures forever
Type Private
Established 1861
Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Endowment $131 million[1]
President Paula J. Carlson
Academic staff
 180 full-time
Students 2,385
Location
Decorah
,
Iowa
,
USA
Campus 175 acres (71 ha) main campus, an additional 825 acres (334 ha) of field research areas[2]
Colors Blue and White          
Nickname Norse
Affiliations Phi Beta Kappa, Associated Colleges of the Midwest
Website www.luther.edu

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Luther College is a private coeducational liberal arts college located in Decorah, Iowa, United States. Established as a Lutheran seminary in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, the school is today an institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, enrolling about 2,385 students.[3]

History

On October 10, 1857, the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church created a college to supply ministers for Norwegian congregations in the Upper Midwest. Until the college was established in 1861, students studied at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. On October 14, 1859, the Rev. Peter Laurentius Larsen was appointed professor to the Norwegian students at Concordia by the NELC.

Upon the closing of the seminary in April 1861, at the start of the Civil War, the NELC decided to open its own college that fall in a former parsonage at Halfway Creek, Wisconsin, just north of La Crosse, Wisconsin and close to present day Holmen, Wisconsin. On September 1, 1861, classes officially began with an enrollment of 16. The following year classes moved to Decorah, Iowa, with NELC Pastor Ulrik Vilhelm Koren successfully arranging the college's relocation and permanent settlement.

In 1866, a group of students signed a "bill of rights" criticizing the rigid schedule, the rules about going downtown, the lack of windows in some of the sleeping rooms, and the wood cutting and shoe shining chores, concluding that "there was not enough freedom".[4] The leader, 18-year-old Rasmus Anderson was expelled.[4] This event was viewed as a rebellion and "the worse of sins" by the pastors assembled in a pastoral conference shortly after.[4]

Campus House, built in 1867, is the oldest building on campus. Originally a parsonage for Nils O. Brandt (1824-1921), pastor of the campus, it was soon purchased by the College.

In 1905, Dr. Carlo A. Sperati, an 1888 graduate of Luther, became the music director of the college and developed the Luther College Concert Band, founded in 1878, on the model of the wind ensemble pioneered by John Philip Sousa. Under Sperati, the band undertook several tours of Europe, their first in 1914, earning international acclaim for their musical talent. Sperati remained on the faculty until his death in 1945.

In 1932, Luther College dropped its mandatory study of the classics and embraced the modern concept of the liberal arts education. Due to financial constraints associated with the Great Depression, the college decided to admit women to the student body in 1936. During the 1960s Luther constructed several new campus buildings and adopted a 4-1-4 semester schedule.

Luther's current Main Building is the third to stand in the same location; fire destroyed the previous two.

In 1964, Luther's museum collection became separate from the college and was established as the Norwegian-American Museum. Now known as Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, it is the largest and most comprehensive museum in the United States devoted to a single immigrant group. Nordic Fest, started in 1967, grew from Luther College Women’s Club annual celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day.

Campus

Luther lies at the edge of Decorah, a small town situated in the hilly driftless region of the Midwestern United States. The Upper Iowa River flows through the lower portion of the nearly 200-acre (81 ha) central campus. The college owns an adjoining 800 acres (320 ha) devoted to environmental research, biological studies, and recreation.[2]

Luther student housing includes residence halls (Miller Hall, Dieseth Hall, Ylvisaker Hall, Farwell Hall, Brandt Hall, Larsen Hall, Olson Hall) and several houses and apartment buildings. Ninety percent of Luther students live on campus all four years.[5]

Koren building, one of the oldest on campus, houses Luther's social sciences departments.

In the 2000s, the college engaged in extensive building projects. A renovation of residence halls and the Dahl Centennial Union was completed in 2006, and Sampson Hoffland Laboratories, an extension of Valders Hall of Science, was completed in 2008.

The Center for Faith and Life is Luther's largest and primary performing arts facility.

Academics

Luther is an exclusively undergraduate institution, enrolling 2,466 students and employing 182 faculty in 2012-13.[6] The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.[7] It is a member institution of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest[8] and the Annapolis Group.[9]

Among liberal arts colleges, Luther was ranked 89th for 2015 by U.S. News and World Report,[10] 52nd in 2008 by the Washington Monthly,[11] and 87th in 2008 by the Center for College Affordability & Productivity.[12] Luther was listed among the 170 "Best in the Midwest" colleges by the Princeton Review and named a top 13 liberal arts college by the Teagle Foundation.[13][14]

Luther admitted 636 students out of 2,054 applicants for the class of 2012. Thirty-nine percent of freshmen were in the top 10 percent of their high school class, the average high school grade point average was 3.6, and the interquartile range for SAT scores was 1530-1910.[15] Tuition and fees are shown as $40,600 for 2011-2012,[16] with 98 percent of students receiving need- and/or merit-based financial aid.[17]

Music

Luther College campus

Luther has a number of music organizations that tour and sell recordings internationally. The Nordic Choir, Concert Band, Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra are the college's four internationally touring ensembles, which have performed in many of the major concert halls and music centers of Europe, as well as Russia, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, and the Caribbean.[18] About 40 percent of the student body participates in at least one of the college's seven choirs, three concert bands, three string orchestras, and two jazz ensembles.[19] "Christmas at Luther," Luther's annual Christmas concert, is broadcast nationwide each year.[20] The sound-only concert broadcast is updated annually, with the professionally-produced televised version updated every four years.

Much of Luther's musical heritage can be largely attributed to the influence of two long-serving individuals. The 40-year tenure of Dr. Carlo A. Sperati, Class of 1888, fostered the college's Lutheran musical tradition beginning in 1905 and developed the Luther College Concert Band into one a nationally touring music ensemble. Sperati's Concert Band quickly achieved national acclaim, and famed bandmaster John Philip Sousa canceled a performance of his own touring ensemble just so that he could attend a performance of the Luther College Concert Band, which was scheduled to appear in a nearby city.[citation needed]

Sperati's foundation was built upon by Weston Noble '43, himself a student of Sperati. Following three years of U.S. Army enlistment in World War II, Noble returned to his alma mater to conduct the Concert Band and the Nordic Choir, direct Christmastime performances of George Frederic Handel's Messiah, and teach in the Music Department. Noble's bands (which he conducted until 1973) and choirs completed coast-to-coast tours and international appearances. Ensembles under his direction performed solo concerts at such venues as Lincoln Center and Town Hall in New York; the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City; Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles; Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center in Chicago; Orchestra Hall and the State Theatre in Minneapolis; and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul. Under Noble's direction, Luther ensembles also appeared at historic cathedrals and concert halls throughout Europe, Russia, and Scandinavia, as well as on the programs of many national conventions of the American Bandmasters Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Music Educators National Conference.

The Nordic Choir was featured in the film "The Joy of Bach," and in four weekly international broadcasts of "The Hour of Power" from the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. Weston Noble retired from the faculty at the close of the academic year in 2005, having served continuously for 57 years, from 1948 to 2005.

The 64,000-square-foot (5,900 m2) Sampson Hoffland Laboratories expanded Valders Hall of Science.

The Nordic Choir, which tours internationally, is one of the seven choral ensembles at Luther. Collegiate Chorale is a mixed choir composed of juniors and seniors. Cathedral Choir is a mixed choir that draws exclusively from the sophomore class. Aurora (formerly known as Pike Kor, which is Norwegian for "young women's choir") and Norsemen are gendered choirs composed entirely of first-year students. Cantorei is a women's choir drawing membership from all classes, primarily sophomore through senior. Collegium Musicum is an Early Music ensemble specializing in the music of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The ensemble is open to singers of all years at Luther. In addition to the seven choirs, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble is open to first through fourth year students and often performs jointly with Luther's instrumental jazz ensembles.[21]

Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, and Concert Band also tour internationally. Symphony Orchestra establishes residency in Vienna every four years, and Jazz Orchestra has toured in the Caribbean and Brazil. Concert Band travels to Japan and China following spring semester every four years. Other instrumental ensembles include Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia, Jazz Band, Varsity Band, Brass Ensemble, and Wind & Percussion Ensemble.[18]

Currently, Joan deAlbuquerque conducts the Concert Band, and Allen Hightower has succeeded Craig Arnold (who succeeded Weston Noble) as Director of Choral Activities and conductor of Nordic Choir. Daniel Baldwin conducts the Luther College Symphony Orchestra, and Juan-Tony Guzmán directs Jazz Orchestra.

Luther students also participate in faculty-coached student chamber ensembles ranging from piano trios to a full flute choir. Some of these ensembles include the Luther Ringers student handbell choir; the 40+ member Trombone Choir; five student-led, small-group a cappella ensembles; the Luther College Balalaika ensemble; and the student-led Luther Gospel Choir.

In 1996, musician Dave Matthews appeared in concert with Tim Reynolds at Luther College in the Center for Faith and Life, the site of their 1999 album Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College.

In 2002, the Empire Brass, with college organist William Kuhlman, appeared in concert and recorded an album, Baroque Music for Brass and Organ, in the Center for Faith and Life.

In 2008, musician Ben Folds appeared for his second time in concert at Luther College in the Center for Faith and Life. During the concert, crowd tracks were recorded to be incorporated into his most recently released album.

Study abroad

Over 75 percent of Luther students study abroad or away.[citation needed] Since 1990, over 140 Luther faculty have led Luther students on an overseas program.[22] Since 1990 Luther has operated its own courses and programs in 70 nations.[citation needed]

Athletics

The Luther Norse have been a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (commonly called the Iowa Conference or IIAC) since its founding in 1922.[23] Luther competes in 10 men's and nine women's intercollegiate athletic programs. Since joining the Iowa Conference, Luther has won 226 IIAC titles.[23]

Three hundred ten All-American honors have been earned by Luther student-athletes, and twenty-one athletes have been crowned national champions. Fifty-three student-athletes have been awarded the CoSIDA Academic All-American honor, and thirty-six have received the distinguished NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.[23]

Since 1993-94, the first year of the award, 1,551 academic all-conference honors have been earned by Luther student-athletes.[23] To earn academic all-conference honors, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.50 or greater on a 4.0 scale, have attended the school for a full year, and have competed in a varsity sport.

Luther's football and track teams compete in Carlson Stadium.

About 20 percent of Luther's student body participates in one of the 19 varsity sports offered, and 70 percent of the student body participates in club sports. Sixty percent of students participate in the school's intramural sports program, which ranges from slow pitch softball to Wii bowling.[24] Backyard Wilderness Pursuits, a student-led organization, leads outdoor activities such as skiing and rock climbing in Decorah and the surrounding area. The school also fields dance and cheerleading squads.

Varsity sports

  • Men's
    • Football
    • Cross Country
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    • Wrestling
    • Swimming and Diving
    • Baseball
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Track and Field
  • Women's
    • Cross Country
    • Soccer
    • Basketball
    • Volleyball
    • Swimming and Diving
    • Softball
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Track and Field

Club sports

  • Women's
    • Ultimate Frisbee
    • Rugby
    • Added 2010-2011: Lacrosse

Outdoor facilities

Carlson Stadium: 5,000 seats; football field; eight-lane, 400-meter polyurethane track with two-directional approaches for pole vault and all jumping events; two shot put circles; discus/hammer cage; and multi-directional javelin-throwing areas.

Indoor facilities

The Regents Center Gymnasium: three full-sized basketball courts and seating capacity for 2,600. Used for practice and playing of volleyball and men's and women's basketball, and as the competition site venue for wrestling. Norse basketball teams also have access to full-sized cedar basketball court in the auxiliary gym and two basketball courts in the Sports and Recreation Center.

Sports and Recreation Center: 200-meter, six-lane polyurethane-surface track; easily accessible elevated walkway allowing up to 600 spectators; six tennis courts; year-round training facility for baseball, softball, soccer, tennis and football.

Legends Fitness for Life Center: 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) training center with cardiovascular-conditioning machines; free weights; weight machines; climbing wall; computer lab; and social area.

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ As of 2013.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ http://www.luther.edu/ir/assets/luther_college_enrollments__2009_2013__20130917__CENSUS_.pdf
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ https://www.luther.edu/admissions/information/facts/
  6. ↑ http://www.luther.edu/ir/assets/IPEDS_profile_Luther_2012_13.pdf
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ url=http://www.luther.edu/financialaid/tuition/
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 https://www.luther.edu/music/tours/
  19. ↑ https://www.luther.edu/admissions/information/profile/
  20. ↑ "PBS"
  21. ↑ https://www.luther.edu/music/ensembles/
  22. ↑ http://www.luther.edu/global-learning/
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 http://www.luther.edu/sports/about/history/
  24. ↑ http://www.luther.edu/recservices/intramurals/
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK 1882

Other sources

  • Bothne, Gisle C. J. History of Luther College (Decorah, IA. Fortfatteren. 1897)

External links

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