Each college has its separate character - a uniqueness which sets it apart from other colleges. Consider the religious heritage and commitment, the nature of the community in which it resides, the mission, the size, its faculty and students, its vision and its dreams, and an image of its character emerges. Wisconsin Lutheran College is one of those very special Christian colleges combining the excitement and vitality of a large metropolitan area with the seriousness of helping students to understand more fully the Scriptural implications for their lives, as well as the world in which they live.
History
When a handful of dedicated Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod members gathered to organize this liberal arts college in the early 1970s, they had little more than strong faith in God and great determination. They had no facilities and no faculty, yet they proceeded. By the grace of God they opened this infant college in the fall of 1973 with a part-time faculty and two dozen students. It wasn’t until two years later that the school had its first full-time president.
The year 1977 was memorable at Wisconsin Lutheran College. God showed how marvelously He works. The school purchased facilities; five complete buildings, an 8.5-acre campus, and a complex set of plans that allowed for growth and development. In 1982, the college reached another milestone when it purchased the entire academic library from Milton College. Volunteers moved and installed this 60,000 volume library. In 1983, the college purchased and installed the science laboratory furnishings of the University of Wisconsin Center at Medford, again largely through the cooperation of volunteers. These major additions helped the college pursue its dream of becoming a four-year college
After careful study, the faculty and administration submitted a comprehensive curriculum plan to the Board of Regents describing a complete four-year program of study in eleven majors with fifteen minors. In 1984, the Board of Regents approved the program for implementation in the fall of 1985 with the addition of the junior class. The evaluation team from North Central Association of Colleges and Schools concurred with the Board’s decision and agreed that the necessary planning and resources existed to enable Wisconsin Lutheran College to move toward accreditation as a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.
The Board of Regents then began extensive master site planning to ensure that the facilities required for a four-year college could be constructed at the present site. In July of 1985 an eighteen room home on 2.65 acres adjacent to the college property was purchased. Architectural consultants acknowledged that the newly expanded campus could accommodate the planned student body.
In May of 1987 the first twelve students graduated from the new four-year curriculum with baccalaureate degrees. In June of 1987 the Executive Commissioners of the North Central Association granted Wisconsin Lutheran College initial accreditation as a baccalaureate degree-granting institution.
By September, construction had begun on the first building to be erected on campus. One year later, on September 10, 1988, the Marvin M. Schwan Library was completed and dedicated to the glory of God. In July of 1991, after two years of negotiation with the City of Wauwatosa, construction began on the college’s second new building, the Recreation Complex. The REX was dedicated on September12, 1992. A third building, the Center for Arts and Performance, was completed in 1996, and the Campus Center was finished and dedicated in 1998. Two much needed residence halls were constructed and dedicated on September 9, 2000. After two years of additional negotiation with the City of Wauwatosa and neighbors, construction began on the Science Hall which was dedicated on September 11, 2004. In February of 2004 the college purchased 26 acres of land in the northwest quadrant of the Milwaukee County Grounds as a site for its new outdoor athletic complex. Warrior Fields was dedicated on September 10, 2005.
Dr. Gary Greenfield, who served as the college’s first President for 28 years, retired in June of 2003. Dr. Timothy Kriewall was inaugurated as the second president on September 7, 2003, and retired in June of 2008. Dr. Daniel Johnson accepted the call to be the third fulltime president of Wisconsin Lutheran College in July 2008 and was inaugurated on April 24, 2009.
The College received a 10-year accreditation in 2005. It has been ranked annually as one of America’s best colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
In the midst of challenging times for the economic world, the country, state, and this metropolitan setting, Dr. Johnson has initiated several proactive initiatives to move WLC forward into new educational arenas.
In summer 2009, the college initiated planning for the addition of an Adult Degree Completion (ADC) program. The new program enrolled its first cohort of ten students in March, 2010, following with additional cohorts in June and October.
Dr. Johnson’s initiatives have included a substantive change request made to the Higher Learning Commission in August, 2010. The first element of this substantive change request involves realizing WLC’s long envisioned addition of graduate degree programs. The second element of this substantive change request is aimed at positioning the college to continue to compete in a changing world of technological advancement where online degree programs are quickly becoming an expected and highly desired programming element for any institution of higher learning.
The HLC ruling in October, 2010, granted graduate degree granting status for a Master of Arts in Education with specialties: High Performance Instruction, Instructional Technology and Educational Leadership and Innovation.
Additionally, the Commission granted approval to provide online program delivery for adult and graduate studies programs. In 2011, the Transition to Teaching specialty was added to provide a second career option for the intended K-12 initial educator license.
In 2013, Special Education was added on the graduate level as an additional option for those who already possess the regular educator license. In 2016, with the addition of leadership courses anchoring the Christian Leadership Certificate, a specialty in Organizational Leadership was added for those individuals seeking and emphasis in leadership skills outside of the k-12 educational setting.
God’s abundant grace has been evident throughout the years at Wisconsin Lutheran College. And always, to God be the glory.
Identity
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a comprehensive college rooted in the liberal arts and affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. It is located in Milwaukee. The college has a two-semester academic year and awards the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees with liberal arts and professional majors and several pre-professional programs. Additionally, the college offers a graduate program and awards the Master of Arts in Education degree.
Purpose
Wisconsin Lutheran College is a Christian school of higher education offering various academic programs in the arts and sciences and in professional studies. Realizing that in Christ “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” the college integrates God’s truths into every discipline, helping students relate their faith to life in today’s world.
Its primary purpose is to provide higher education taught within the framework of Christian doctrine. Although Wisconsin Lutheran College programs are designed for job preparation and upgrading, they are all the more concerned with preparing Christian men and women to face life and deal with it through the application of Christian principles found in God’s Word.
Organization
Wisconsin Lutheran College annually reports to a national conference of Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregations. The Board of Regents is charged with the responsibility of providing an effective local administrative organization through which the purpose of the college can be achieved. The Board of Regents discharges most of its functions in consultation with and through the president of the college, who represents the faculty and is directly responsible to the Board of Regents and the Wisconsin Lutheran College Conference, Incorporated.
The catalogs of Wisconsin Lutheran College describe its academic offerings and student services and represent a description of the college as it ordinarily operates. However, the college reserves the right to make changes as circumstances warrant.
Philosophy
- Declaration of Faith
Wisconsin Lutheran College believes, teaches and confesses that the 66 canonical books of the Old and New Testaments-in all their words and all their parts- -are the inspired and inerrant Word of God, that these Holy Scriptures are the only source and authority for Christian doctrine and life, that they are efficacious in presenting God’s plan of salvation through Law and Gospel, and that they are sufficient and clear in revealing God’s truth. Wisconsin Lutheran College believes, teaches, and confesses all the symbols of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as contained in the Book of Concord of 1580 without reservation, not insofar as, but because they are a correct presentation and explanation of the Word of God and a summary of the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. These symbols are the three ecumenical Creeds (Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian), Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, Dr. Martin Luther’s Large Catechism, the Unaltered Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, and the Formula of Concord.
- Adherence
All that is done or taught at Wisconsin Lutheran College shall be in accordance with the Word of God. Likewise, any controversies or disputes shall be settled by the norm of Holy Scripture.
- Confessional Affiliation
Wisconsin Lutheran College shall maintain confessional fellowship only with a church body that holds to all the truths of God’s Word in doctrine and practice and is bound to the confession of faith set forth in this philosophy if, and as long as, such a church body exists.
- Principles of Education
Wisconsin Lutheran College accepts the principle that education is inseparable from religion, that all knowledge in all areas of human thought and endeavor is worthy of inquiry when viewed in the light of human sin and divine grace. It is also committed to the total development of its students, not just intellectually, but also spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially. In this Christian college the main source of life and growth is God’s Word. As members of the Body of Christ, all serve and are served, all teach and all learn. All recognize that the freedom of the Christian life lies within the bounds set forth in Holy Scripture.
Mission of Wisconsin Lutheran College
Wisconsin Lutheran College, affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, is a Lutheran liberal arts college for Christian men and women. The college is committed to providing quality teaching, scholarship, and service that are rooted in Holy Scripture; promoting the spiritual growth of students, faculty, and staff; and preparing students for lives of Christian leadership.
Accreditation
Wisconsin Lutheran College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The programs of teacher education are approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
The Higher Learning Commission
Telephone: (312)263-0456
Web site: www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org
Effective Catalog
Students are bound by the policies, regulations, and requirements of the catalog in effect at their enrollment at Wisconsin Lutheran College unless they choose to adhere to a subsequent catalog. Students who interrupt their progress toward a degree by withdrawing from the college and then re-enrolling at a later date must abide by the catalog in effect at the time of re-admission if that absence has been more than two consecutive semesters.
All statements contained in this bulletin reflect the approved policies of Wisconsin Lutheran College that were in effect as of July 1, 2017. However, for the best possible educational experience of its students, or for unexpected financial reasons, the college reserves its right to change at any time any of the provisions, statements, policies, curricula, procedures, regulations, and fees.
The academic catalog is reviewed every year. The entire college catalog can be found on the college’s website. Archived copies of each annual catalog are kept for reference.
FERPA
Wisconsin Lutheran College voluntarily complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and its amendments. Students have the right to inspect the contents of their campus files and records. Student information other than “directory information” is not released to people outside the college without student authorization. WLC designates the following as “directory information”: student name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent previous school attended, and photograph. Wisconsin Lutheran College may disclose any of those items without prior written consent unless noticed in writing within five days of the opening of any given semester or summer session. The relationship Scripture establishes between parents and dependent children is recognized by the college in sharing important information regarding a student’s health, status, and well-being with parents.
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