Facilities

One aspect of Luther's science programs that other colleges find difficult to duplicate is the college's biologically rich location. Luther is situated in the Oneota Valley, surrounded by high limestone bluffs and wooded hillsides. The Upper Iowa River flows through a portion of the campus. The 800 acres of college land include ponds, woodlots, and prairie areas for field study.

Science courses also make extensive use of publicly owned nature areas, including Hayden Prairie, Yellow River Forest, Cardinal Marsh, Lake Meyer, Falcon Springs, and the Upper Mississippi River Fish and Wildlife Refuge, all located within an hour of campus.

Valders Hall of Science, home to the biology, chemistry, nursing, physics, and psychology departments, has 25,000 square feet of classrooms and laboratories equipped with computers and a range of professional-grade instruments, including:

Two electron microscopes
Modern physiological recording instruments
A respirometer
An image-analysis facility

The Salsbury Animal Center greatly enhances study and research opportunities for students in biology and offers additional laboratories for Luther's psychology and behavioral studies programs. It houses rodents, wild animals, insects, and aquatic organisms.

In addition, Luther is planning a 58,000-square-foot, $20 million expansion and renovation of Valders as part of its current Higher Calling Campaign.