Student Services
The services offered by the Diversity Center provide opportunities for US students from historically underrepresented groups and international students to achieve their academic and developmental goals. The Center also provides opportunities for the campus and the Decorah community to understand and employ strategies that foster diversity appreciation and develop cultural competence.
The LDC achieves the mission of Luther College by:
- Providing programming around various diversity areas
- Providing leadership opportunities for students and affiliated student groups
- Facilitating campus wide diversity initiatives
- Supporting faculty development initiatives
- Collaborating with other departments on diversity projects
Personal Counseling
- Coping mechanisms for adjusting to college
- Helping students to develop self advocacy skills
- Helping students learn how to take advantage of opportunities for growth & development
Academic Counseling
- Academic advising and progress monitoring
- Internship workshops
- Liaising on behalf of students with academic departments, advisers, Career Center
Social Activities
- Welcome activities for new students – dinner, dance and scholarship recognition reception
- Shopping trips, barbecues, and other outdoor activities
- Soup’s On – an informal gathering of first and second year LDC students and participants in the Student Support Services program
- Graduation reception & dinner
Educational Activities
- Campus wide programming around cultural celebrations
- Educational activities – talks, dialogues, film discussion etc focused on various areas of diversity and their challenges
- Student Organizations - provide cultural, educational, and social growth within the Luther Community.
- Synergy Newsletter
- Luther College Black History Conference
Participation at Conferences
- Laying Claim to the Spirit, African American Museum, Cedar Rapids
- Iowa International Fellows Program
- Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference ...
International Student Support
All Diversity Center staff provides support for international students. Support specific to immigration issues is provided by the International Student Coordinator, who is the PDSO (Principal Designated School Official), as designated by the Department of Homeland Security.
The International Student Coordinator provides specific support to students who are required to have either an F-1 Student Visa or a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa in order to study in the U.S. The ISC can provide information and support relative to a student's academic career, personal problems, employment questions, and immigration issues.
The LDC works to diversify the Luther campus in a variety of ways and provides support for international students including organized activities to help new international students meet their American peers. The LDC sponsors events such as the annual Ethnic Arts Festival and the Host-Family Program for international students to celebrate and share their home cultures with the Luther community and Decorah residents.
Orientation for new international students is facilitated by the LDC staff as well as by International Student Assistants (ISAs) and Multicultural Student Assistants (MSAs). These student assistants are peer advisors who provide transportation from the airport to campus, assist students in settling into residence halls, provide ongoing advice and support, and organize social and educational activities throughout the year.
The LDC also provides opportunities for students to receive help in setting up banking accounts, obtaining a Social Security number, preparing their tax forms and securing internships. Fun activities are often planned and might include shopping trips to nearby cities, cooking international foods together, dances and more.
For more information or to make an appointment, please call the LDC or stop in sometime! We're always happy to see you!