Lawrence University

Lawrence University of Wisconsin, through its undergraduate residential college and Conservatory of Music, educates students in the liberal arts and sciences. The university is devoted to excellence and integrity in all of its activities and committed to the development of intellect and talent, the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, the cultivation of sound judgment, and respect for the perspectives of others. Lawrence prepares students for lives of achievement, responsible and meaningful citizenship, lifelong learning, and personal fulfillment. As a diverse learning community of scholars and artists, we actively foster a transformative process that emphasizes engaged learning, supported by an environment of rich educational opportunities in a residential campus setting.

Lawrence University seeks academically motivated students with diverse talents, interests, backgrounds and aspirations who demonstrate the potential to both transform and be transformed by Lawrence University.We have designed an admission process that helps us find and select those students in a way that reflects our institutional values, follows the Statement of Principles of Good Practice of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, and—above all—puts students at the center of the admission process.

Students enter Lawrence at a time when they are actively forging their identities and seeking their places in the world. A Lawrence education is therefore transformative: We strive to help each student develop as a liberally educated person who can think deeply and creatively about ideas, gather and analyze evidence, communicate effectively, and articulate a personal identity that leads to thoughtful life choices. This transformation is supported by a learning community that immerses students in the breadth of human experience, engages ideas in a spirit of open discourse, values the uniqueness of the individual, and celebrates accomplishment. The foundation for this learning community is a vibrant, safe, and healthful residential campus that contains talented and diverse groups of students, faculty, administrators, and staff.Our residential experience is enhanced by opportunities to study abroad and to become involved in the wider community. The university values effective teaching combined with distinguished scholarship and creative activity.

We see in each student the potential to become an informed, independent thinker and concerned, responsible citizen. Lawrence students can personalize their learning through interactions with peers, professors, and staff in a wide variety of settings, both formal and informal. The process begins with our Freshman Studies program, continues through the sophomore and junior years, and ends with the Senior Experience.

The Faculty of Lawrence University reaffirms its commitment to fostering a diverse and welcoming learning community that embraces all members, including those marginalized by aspects of their identities. The principles of respect and inclusion are critical to our mission as an educational institution dedicated to cultivating dialogue across differences and to the development of meaningful citizenship that will meet the challenges of a complex world.

Lawrence is part of an intellectual and creative community that includes Appleton and the Fox Valley, Lawrence's alumni, and the larger global community. We are committed to providing service to and learning from the larger community.

Lawrence University, a liberal arts college and conservatory of music, is dedicated to the development of intellect and talent, the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and the cultivation of critical literacy and sound judgment. To that end, members of the Lawrence community are free to engage in, speak on, and write about scholarly research and creative activity without fear of censorship or retaliation. In the classroom, laboratory, and studio, teachers must be free to teach and students free to learn; we must be free to challenge each other’s beliefs, to explore new ideas and critically examine old ones, and to listen to others without disruption.

Knowledge, skill, understanding, and creative expression are acquired through interactions that are often complex and even controversial. Although these interactions may at times cause discomfort, they may not be obstructed. Intellectually honest and vibrant communities engage in complex interactions and the ability, hereby protected, to exchange ideas in a spirit of mutual respect is essential to our educational mission.

Lawrence University faculty, as well as invited speakers and performers, may express their views publicly. However, the University may restrict speech that is defamatory of character, harassing, or infringes a protected right to privacy or confidentiality.

Lawrence University places a priority on preparing students for a life of personal fulfillment and professional accomplishment and a lifetime of learning. It is the job of all Lawrentians to learn by availing themselves of those things that are truly unique to Lawrence.

Engaged Learning is that which characterizes a Lawrence education and distinguishes Lawrentians. Although students may have encountered engaged learning experiences elsewhere, at Lawrence it is the foremost attribute of every subject and every class we offer. By actively engaging in challenging and meaningful learning experiences with faculty and with one another, students will be prepared to adapt and succeed in an ever-changing world. Those who prefer to passively absorb information passed from teacher to student will find Lawrence to be a poor fit. Those who prefer instead to explore, debate, create, research, practice and perform in collaboration with others—to be an active participant in the learning experience—will find Lawrence to be an exhilarating community in which to live and thrive.