Our Mission

CALLED BY OUR MISSION

“Luther College inspires and equips students to courageously serve the common good …

Students receive more than a degree at Luther College. A Luther education is transformative and our graduates transform their communities. We move students beyond immediate interests into the larger world, inspiring them to take risks and to serve with distinction for the common good. We prepare students with the tools and dispositions to be global citizens working to make a difference in the world.

… through a holistic education in the liberal arts”

Luther College celebrates the liberating power of a broad course of study in the humanities, fine arts, and natural, physical, and social sciences supported by a robust co-curricular experience. Luther College is a laboratory for life. A Luther education leads students through processes of self-exploration, reflection, and engagement—a progression of inward and outward discoveries that nurtures heart, mind, and body; a sense of belonging and community; and a focus on others. Students take risks, test new roles, and develop lifelong skills, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a sense of wonder, purpose, and adventure.

GROUNDED IN OUR IDENTITY

a place of intersection

Luther College connects ideas, people, and places. Founded where river, woodland, and prairie meet, we strive to be a community where students, faculty, and staff are enlivened and transformed by encounters with one another and by the exchange of ideas.

a community of learners

Community is the foundation of everything we do at Luther College. We honor our heritage as a college founded by Norwegian immigrants by committing to an inclusive community that welcomes all and focuses on uplifting each other through shared inquiry. We believe that the study of the liberal arts is a collective pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness, and we strive together for knowledge and wisdom.

committed to academic excellence

Luther College draws out excellence. We push every student out of their comfort zone, beyond what they thought might have been capable for them. We emphasize curiosity and growth over time as individuals recognize and develop their unique gifts and talents. Our commitment to excellence is both a call for individual achievement and a collaborative pursuit that elevates communities and society.

the development of whole persons

We embrace and enrich all aspects of campus life for an educational experience that develops hearts, minds, and bodies. From athletic competitions to recital halls, laboratories to sacred spaces, Luther College takes a holistic approach to students and their education, striving for well-rounded graduates prepared for lives of meaning and purpose.

servant leadership

Luther students are creative, compassionate, and critical thinkers who become leaders in their communities and careers. Grounded in commitments to sustainability and justice, our graduates lead through a focus on serving others.

the exploration of faith, vocation, and values

Luther College inspires students to explore and discover what gives meaning and direction to their lives. We invite students to a lifelong journey of connecting their passions and gifts to the deepest needs of the world. We help students discern how they may stay rooted in their most profound guiding principles while meeting the challenges of the present moment.

an inclusive residential community

Luther College strives to be a place where all people feel a sense of belonging and a community that is open and welcoming to all. Our beautiful campus in Decorah, Iowa, is the heart of this community, which extends across the globe to include our alumni and friends.

grounded in the Lutheran tradition

Luther College embraces a rich faith and intellectual tradition that calls us to couple freedom of inquiry with intellectual humility; promote the well-being of individuals so that communities may flourish; identify oppression and seek justice to heal divisions; and practice radical hospitality, welcoming all so that we may learn from all.

GUIDED BY OUR VALUES

COMMUNITY
We live and learn in community, so we

• strive to be transformed by encounters with one another.
• support one another and sustain lifelong relationships.

CURIOSITY
We cultivate curiosity, so we

• ask big questions and tackle tough problems.
• take joy in learning and in a sense of wonder.

EXCELLENCE
We prioritize excellence, so we

• challenge each other to grow in our learning, creating, and competing.
• accept risk and equip ourselves to serve with distinction for the common good.

INCLUSIVITY
We are committed to inclusivity, so we

• embrace the diverse identities and perspectives that enliven our campus.
• strive to be a community where people of all backgrounds and identities flourish and belong.

SUSTAINABILITY
We pursue sustainability, so we

• care for one another, for our place and for the planet that sustains us.
• prepare globally engaged leaders who understand and confront a changing society.