Student Engagement

Early interventions are critical to personal and academic success for students.  Submitting a Luther 360 SOS Referral is a way for Luther community members to alert the college personnel when students are experiencing personal difficulty so that staff may intervene appropriately. We encourage you to report a student as soon as a concern arises.

Submit a SOS Referral

Student Handbook (pdf) 

The Luther College Student Handbook is a collection of student conduct standards, policies, and procedures that define community expectations for students at Luther. It also serves as an important resource for students, highlighting a wide variety of topics related to life on the Luther campus.  It is the responsibility of each student to become familiar with the Student Handbook. Students must also become familiar with other official publications including, but not limited to, the Academic Catalog, Emergency Procedure Guide, and other important documents pertaining to student rights and responsibilities.

Table of Contents

• Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Bias Incident, Hate Act, Hate Crime, Discrimination, and Harassment Policy and Procedures
• Code of Conduct
• Early Arrival
• Honor Code
• Missing Student Policy and Procedures
• Other Policies and Procedures
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Student Records: Access to and Confidentiality
  • Bicycle Regulations
  • Care Team
  • Chosen Name and Gender Identity Policy
  • Disability Services
  • Email Communication with Students
  • Environmental Statement
  • Federal Drug Free Workplace/Drug Free Schools and Communities Act
  • Fund-Raising Guidelines
  • Greek and Other Campus Organizations
  • Hazing
  • Human Subjects Review Board/Surveys and Research
  • Involuntary Leave of Absence
  • Leave of Absence
  • No Contact Directive
  • Nondiscrimination Statement
  • Parent/Guardian Notification Policy
  • Religious Groups, Organizations, and Activities at Luther College
  • Retaliation
  • Student Activities Participation Eligibility Requirements
  • Student Definition
  • Student Presence on Campus While Separated form the College
  • Student Senate
  • Student Worker Responsibilities
  • Voter Registration Information
  • Withdrawal from Luther College
• Parking and Traffic Policies and Procedures
• Residence Life Policies and Procedures
• Student Sexual Misconduct Policies and Procedures

Jenson Medal for Graduating Seniors

The Jenson Medal is presented each year to a senior, selected by the graduating class, who best demonstrates the ideals of the college through service to students and the college community. The Jenson Medal, a cash prize, and a certificate of the award will be presented at commencement.  The official ballot will be distributed to seniors during the Spring semester.

Krahn Family Student Engagement Service Award 

This award is determined through a nomination process. A selection committee reviews nominations and makes a final determination. Nomination deadline is April 7, 2025.

Nominees must be Sophomore and Junior students who have demonstrated a strong contribution to campus life in a way that embraces the spirit and mission of Luther College. Any student, faculty, or staff member may nominate a student. This Krahn Family Student Life Service Award is designed to recognize a student who makes a positive impact to student life. The $1,000 award is expected to be over and above any financial assistance a student receives.  NOMINATION FORM

Kuh Family “Positively Luther” Award

This award is determined through an application process. A selection committee reviews the applications and makes the final determination. Application deadline is April 7, 2025.

This Kuh Family “Positively Luther” Award shall be given each year to a student whose character, leadership, and participation in co-curricular and other educationally purposeful activities enhance the quality of campus life. The recipient must be in good academic standing with a demonstrated need for financial assistance. This $5,000 award is expected to be over and above the financial aid package offered by the College, and should not be substituted for other support for which the selected student’s need makes them eligible. APPLICATION FORM

Luther College to announce the First-Generation Student Essay Contest, part of the 2024 First-Gen Celebration!

Submission Deadline: Monday, November 11, 2024

Who Can Enter: Any first-generation Luther College student is invited to participate by choosing one of the essay themes below and submitting a personal reflection.

Essay Guidelines:

• Length: 500 words
• Themes: Reliance, Transition, and Firsts. Students are encouraged to share personal stories of challenge, identity, and growth. Essays should explore how education shapes perspectives and experiences.

Judging and Prizes:  Essays will be reviewed by editors and scholars associated with Agora, an interdisciplinary journal rooted in the humanities. The winning essay will receive a $500 scholarship, sponsored by Dean Watson, and be published in Agora. Additionally, the winner can work with faculty mentors to further develop their essays and explore other publication opportunities.

We look forward to hearing your voices and celebrating the experiences of first-generation students!

Essay themes:

1. Resilience:  As a first-generation student, describe a challenge and skills you developed. How has this experience shaped your social, political, or inner life, and what wisdom did you gain that applies beyond academics?
2. Transition:  How do you define being first-generation, and how has this identity evolved? How have you navigated between family expectations, academic life, and personal goals? How has education shaped your understanding of yourself and your role in society?
3. Firsts:  Reflect on your first day in college and how it shaped your view of education. What advice or wisdom would you give someone facing a major “first” in their life, based on what you’ve learned?

At Luther, acts of bias go against our mission and our community values. We seek to provide you a timely response and support. Bias refers to language and/or behaviors against persons because of, but not limited to, others’ actual or perceived: age, color, creed, disability, gender, gender identity/expression, genetic information, national origin, race/ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or veteran status.

If you or someone you know may have experienced a bias incident, hate act, hate crime, harassment, or discrimination on campus or in the Decorah community, please report a bias incident.

View the Student Handbook for more information about Bias Incidents.

Submit a Bias Report

If you or someone you know may have experienced sexual misconduct on campus or in the Decorah community, please complete a report for sexual misconduct.

Luther College is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment where all members of the community—students, faculty, staff, and visitors—are treated with respect and dignity.

Therefore, the college will not tolerate sexual misconduct in any form. Sexual misconduct is not only an act against an individual; it is also an act that affects the entire college community. Sexual misconduct, fondling, rape, relationship violence, and stalking are inconsistent with our educational mission, and students found responsible for such acts are subject to disciplinary measures up to and including expulsion. Supportive measures are available to impacted individuals even without a formal process, for more information please visit the Get Help Now webpage.

Submit a Sexual Misconduct Report