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Lawrence University

Coordinates: 44°15′40″N 88°24′00″W / 44.261°N 88.400°W / 44.261; -88.400
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This article is about the college in Wisconsin. For the university in Michigan, see Lawrence Technological University. For the university in Canton, New York, see St. Lawrence University. For the school in Pakistan, see Lawrence College Ghora Gali.
Lawrence University
Former names
  • Lawrence College (1913–1964)
  • Lawrence Institute (1847–1849)
MottoLight! More Light! Veritas est lux.
Motto in English
"Truth is Light"
TypePrivate liberal arts college
Established1847; 177 years ago (1847)
Academic affiliations
Endowment$440 million (2022)[1]
PresidentLaurie Carter
Students1,465 (fall 2023)[2]
Location
Appleton
,
Wisconsin
,
United States

44°15′40″N 88°24′00″W / 44.261°N 88.400°W / 44.261; -88.400
CampusUrban: 84 acres (34 ha)
Björklunden: 425 acres (172 ha)
NicknameVikings
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division III – Midwest Conference
Websitelawrence.edu

Lawrence University is a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1847, its first classes were held on November 12, 1849. Lawrence was the second college in the U.S. to be founded as a coeducational institution.

History

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Lawrence's first president, William Harkness Sampson, founded the school with Henry R. Colman, using $10,000 provided by philanthropist Amos Adams Lawrence, and matched by the Methodist church. Both founders were ordained Methodist ministers, but Lawrence was Episcopalian. The school was originally named Lawrence Institute of Wisconsin in its 1847 charter from the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, but the name was changed to Lawrence University before classes began in November 1849.[3][4] Its oldest extant building, Main Hall, was built in 1853.[5] Lawrence University was the second coeducational institution in the country.[6]

Lawrence's first period of major growth came during the thirty-year tenure (1894―1924) of alumnus Samuel G. Plantz as president, when the student body quadrupled, from 200 to 800.

From 1913 until 1964, it was named Lawrence College, to emphasize its small size and liberal arts education focus. The name returned to Lawrence University when it merged with Milwaukee-Downer College. The state of Wisconsin then purchased the Milwaukee-Downer property and buildings to expand the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Initially, the university designated two entities: Lawrence College for Men and Downer College for Women. This separation has not lasted in any material form, though degrees are still conferred "on the recommendation of the Faculty of Lawrence and Downer Colleges" and the university by-laws still make the distinction. The traditions and heritage of Milwaukee-Downer are woven into the Appleton campus, from the grove of hawthorn trees (called Hawthornden) between Brokaw and Colman halls, to the sundial on the back of Main Hall, to the bestowing upon each class a class color and banner.

The Lawrence Conservatory of Music, usually referred to as "the Con", was founded in 1874. Lawrence offers three degrees: a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Musical Arts. It also offers a five-year dual degree program, where students can receive both B.A. and B.Mus. degrees.

First-year Studies (formerly named Freshman Studies) at Lawrence is a mandatory two-term class, in which all students study the same selected 11 classic works of literature, art, and music, the list varying from year to year. President Nathan M. Pusey is credited with initiating the program in 1945, although Professor Waples chaired the Freshman Studies Committee and was responsible for implementing the program. The program continues to this day, despite being temporarily suspended in 1975.[7]

Presidents

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Campus

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Lawrence Memorial Chapel

The 84-acre (34 ha) campus is located in downtown Appleton, divided into two parts by the Fox River. The academic campus is on the north shore of the river, and the major athletic facilities (including the 5,000-seat Banta Bowl) are on the southeast shore. Lawrence also has a 425-acre (1.7 km2) northern estate called Björklunden (full name: Björklunden vid sjön), which serves as a site for retreats, seminars, concerts, and theatrical performances. It contains a chapel for weddings. Donald and Winifred Boynton of Highland Park, Illinois, donated the property in Door County, Wisconsin to Lawrence in 1963.

In the mid-1980s, the Physics Department built a $330,000 small laser laboratory which includes 800 5 mW small lasers and more than 500 mirrors.

In 2009, Lawrence opened the Richard and Margot Warch Campus Center, a gathering place for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests from the Fox Cities community.[9] The 107,000-square-foot (9,900 m2) building is situated on the Fox River on the site of the former Hulburt House. The Warch Campus Center includes a cinema, campus dining services, campus mailboxes, and various meeting and event spaces. The building has earned a LEED certification.

Academics

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Main Hall is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is an Appleton landmark.

The student/faculty ratio at Lawrence is 9:1.[10]

The college offers majors in most of the liberal arts. The school also offers the option of interdisciplinary areas of study and allows students to design their own majors. Lawrence grants Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees, with a double degree possible. Lawrence offers a number of cooperative degree programs in areas such as engineering, health sciences and environmental studies.[clarification needed]

Seeley G. Mudd Library contains over 420,000 volumes

All students are required to take First-Year Studies during their first trimester, which introduces students to broad areas of study and provides a common academic experience for the college. Known as Freshman Studies until 2021, the program was established in 1945, and aside from a brief interruption in the mid-1970s it has remained a consistent fixture of the school's liberal arts curriculum.[11] Lawrence's First-Year Studies program focuses on a mixture of Great Books and more contemporary, influential works, which include non-fiction books, fiction books, and various other types of works, such as paintings, photographs, musical recordings, and the periodic table of the elements. Readings are replaced every few years, with the exception of Plato's Republic, which was included in the list from 1945 until the program was revised in 2024.[12]

The Lawrence University Conservatory of Music was founded in 1874 and has been a part of Lawrence University ever since. The Conservatory offers Bachelor of Music degrees in Performance, Theory/Composition, Music Education, and a five-year double degree option that grants both a BM degree from the Conservatory and a BA degree from the College. Approximately 25% of the Lawrence student body, or 350 students, is in the Conservatory. The Conservatory has three choirs, two bands, two jazz ensembles, a symphony orchestra, an improvisation collective, five world music ensembles, and numerous chamber music groups. The Conservatory offers also a Bachelor of Musical Arts, primarily—but not exclusively—for students whose interest is in other than Western Classical Music. Students complete coursework in both the College and the Conservatory, and choose a "cognate"--a secondary field of study in the college to accompany their music studies.

Lawrence is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, an academic consortium of 14 liberal arts colleges in the Midwest and Colorado that coordinates several off-campus study programs in a large number of countries as its primary activity. Lawrence University is also part of the Oberlin Group, a consortium of liberal arts college libraries.

Rankings and reputation

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In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report college rankings, Lawrence University was ranked 69th (tied) of 211 liberal arts colleges nationwide.[13] Lawrence was ranked 85th in the national liberal arts colleges and 12th in Pell Grant performance in Washington Monthly's rankings in 2024. [14]

Student life

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Hiett Hall, a dormitory

Lawrence enrolls about 1,500 students. The total enrollment in academic year 2010–11 was 1,566 students,[15] the largest student body in Lawrence University's history. Over 75% of the students identify as white,[15] about 12% are international students,[10] and about 25% of students study in the conservatory of music. In the fall of 2014, a quarter of the incoming class were domestic students of color.[16]

Lawrence students have been named Rhodes Scholars seven times. Since 1976, 57 students and nine faculty have received Fulbright Scholarships. Since 1969, 73 students have been named Watson Fellows.[17]

Traditions

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At the beginning of every academic year in September, incoming freshmen arrive a week before returning students to partake in Welcome Week. During Welcome Week, various activities are planned in order to help the incoming class get to know one another and to help them acclimate to college life.[18] During the first night of Welcome Week, students and their parents attend the President's Welcome, which concludes with the traditional matriculation handshake, where every member of the incoming class shakes hands and exchanges words with the university's president.[18]

During the fall term, the on-campus fraternity Beta Theta Pi hosts the annual Beach Bash. For this event, the brothers of ΒθΠ shovel approximately 14 tons of sand into the fraternity house basement,[19] and install a boardwalk and a lifeguard station that doubles as a DJ booth.This tradition was skipped in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]

The Great Midwest Trivia Contest, claimed to be the longest-running college bowl trivia competition,[21] is hosted by a group of Trivia Masters composed of current Lawrence students every January. Alumni and independent teams from around the world are also able to compete, with the contest broadcast previously over radio and currently on Twitch.

During spring term, Lawrence hosts a music festival, LU-aroo (a play on words on the popular music festival Bonnaroo). Held on the quad, the festival features many talented student bands, both from the college and the conservatory.[22] In 2016, the musician The Tallest Man on Earth played at the festival.[23]

An on-campus bar, the Viking Room (VR), serves as a beloved campus lounge within the basement of the Memorial Hall classroom building. Professors and other senior university personnel frequently serve as guest bartenders, and "VR tokens" are commonly distributed during campus events or when bartering to exchange for drinks at the bar. Students of drinking age customize a numbered tankard that is stored in the VR and is reused by the individual each time they order a drink. Upon graduation, students take their mug with them as a reminder of the many great times spent in the VR.[24]

Media

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The student newspaper, The Lawrentian, has been published for over a century. Lawrence had a radio station, WLFM, from 1955 (broadcasting beginning in 1956) through 2005.

Athletics

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Lawrence Vikings
Logo
UniversityLawrence University
ConferenceMidwest Conference
Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (hockey only)
NCAADivision III
Athletic directorJason Imperati
LocationAppleton, Wisconsin
Varsity teams21
Football stadiumBanta Bowl (5,255)
Basketball arenaAlexander Gymnasium
Baseball stadiumWhiting Field[25]
MascotBlu the antelope
NicknameVikings (1926)[26]
Fight song"Go, Lawrence, Go"[26]
ColorsNavy and White
   
Websitewww.lawrence.edu/athletics/

Lawrence University's intercollegiate athletic teams, known as the Vikings since 1926,[26] compete in the Midwest Conference in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, fencing, football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, and track & field; women's sports include basketball, cross country, fencing, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

In 2005–06, the men's basketball team was ranked first in Division III for much of the season, after starting the season unranked.[27] The Vikings were the only undefeated team in all divisions of college basketball for the last six weeks of the season, ending with a record of 25–1. Star forward Chris Braier won the Josten's Award as the top player in the country for both playing ability and community service.[28] Coach John Tharp was named Division III Midwest Coach of the Year.[29] Beginning in 2004, Lawrence qualified for the Division III national tournament in five of the next six years (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009).[27] Their best result was in 2004, advancing to the quarterfinals (Elite 8), but fell to eventual national champion Wisconsin–Stevens Point by a point in overtime at Tacoma, Washington.[30]

In 2011, Lawrence's men's cross country team won the Midwest Conference championships for the first time since 1985, beating Grinnell College and ending its 14-year winning streak.

In 2021, Lawrence unveiled a new athletics logo, featuring a Viking ship incorporating the antelope from the crest on the Lawrence coat of arms. This replaced the longstanding previous Viking logo with variations utilized by many other organizations, notably including the Minnesota Vikings.[31] In 2022, the Vikings debuted a new mascot, an antelope named Blu.[32]

Notable faculty

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Notable alumni

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lawrence University Profile 2022-2023" (PDF). Lawrence University Office of Institutional Research. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "CDS 2023-24" (PDF). Lawrence University Office of Institutional Research. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Lawrence History | Lawrence University". Lawrence.edu. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  4. ^ See also Charles Breunig’s book, A Great and Good Work: A History of Lawrence University, 1847–1964.
  5. ^ Council of Independent Colleges, "Main Hall", Historic Campus Architecture Project.
  6. ^ "President Mark Burstein". Lawrence University. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Freshman Studies History". Lawrence University. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  8. ^ West, Samantha. "Lawrence University announces Laurie Carter as its next president, replacing Mark Burstein". The Post-Crescent.
  9. ^ "About the Campus Center". Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  10. ^ a b "International Resources - Lawrence University". Lawrence.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  11. ^ F. M. Doeringer, "A History of the Freshman Program, 1945–1986", lawrence.edu, retrieved June 28, 2022.
  12. ^ Ed Berthiaume, "2020-21 guide to Freshman Studies reading list: 'Shows a remarkable range'", lawrence.edu, August 5, 2020, retrieved June 28, 2022.
  13. ^ "Lawrence University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "2024 Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking".
  15. ^ a b As of Fall 2010. "2010 Profile" (PDF). Lawrence University. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 11, 2012.
  16. ^ "Hail to the Class of 2018: Lawrence Welcomes More than 400 New Students". Lawrence University News Blog. 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
  17. ^ "Student Outcomes". 2021-02-26. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  18. ^ a b "Welcome Week 2016 Schedule" (PDF). Lawrence University. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  19. ^ Birch, Hannah (7 November 2016). "Senator Tim Kaine campaigns on campus, pushes early voting". The Lawrentian. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  20. ^ Denault, Ethan. "Y'all gonna make me act a fool". The Lawrentian. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  21. ^ Patterson, Kara (January 22, 2009). "Crazy for Trivia". The Post Crescent Weekend. pp. 4, 5.
  22. ^ Senye, Yame. "LUAROO". Lawrence University Student Stories. Lawrence University. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  23. ^ Nyman, Shane. "LU to host Tallest Man on Earth". The Post-Crescent. USA Today. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  24. ^ Badiane, Ava}. "These 13 beloved traditions keep Lawrentians connected". Lawrence University. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Lawrence University Athletics venues". Lawrence.edu. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  26. ^ a b c "Traditions: Lawrence University". lawrence.edu. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  27. ^ a b "Men's Basketball: Lawrence University Athletics". lawrence.edu. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  28. ^ "Jostens Trophy Winners Archive - ODAC". Odaconline.com. 2002-01-06. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  29. ^ John Tharp. "John Tharp - Hillsdale College Athletics". Hillsdalechargers.com. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  30. ^ "Scoreboard: Saturday's men's results". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). March 14, 2004. p. E8.
  31. ^ "Lawrence debuts new athletics logo; Viking ship gives nod to school history". Ed Berthiaume. Apr 6, 2021.
  32. ^ "Lawrence Hearldry". Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  33. ^ "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: BAER, John Miller". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  34. ^ "BALDWIN, Melvin Riley - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  35. ^ "University of Southern California Official Athletic Site - Athletics News". Usctrojans.com. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  36. ^ "Myrt Basing NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. 1957-04-29. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  37. ^ "Whoops! - Lawrence University". Lawrence.edu. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  38. ^ "Whoops! - Lawrence University". Lawrence.edu. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  39. ^ "Champ Boettcher, FB at". nfl.com. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  40. ^ "BROWN, Webster Everett - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. 1929-12-14. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g "Life after Lawrence - Lawrence University". Lawrence.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  42. ^ "Paul Driessen". Grassrootinstitute.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  43. ^ "Siri Engberg". Pew Center for Arts & Heritage. Archived from the original on September 9, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  44. ^ "Alumni Authors - Lawrence University". Lawrence.edu. Archived from the original on 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  45. ^ "WER: Edna Ferber / Writing Under Difficulties". Library.wisc.edu. 1998-01-01. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  46. ^ "Biographical Sketches : James A. Frear". Files.usgwarchives.net. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  47. ^ "Lawrence University Alumnus, Poet William Fuller Gives Reading". Lawrence University News Blog. February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  48. ^ "A Captivated Audience – Film Studies at Lawrence". Blogs.lawrence.edu. 2010-03-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  49. ^ "Dominic Fumusa Biography". tvguide.com. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  50. ^ "GAMBLE, John Rankin - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  51. ^ "GAMBLE, Robert Jackson - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n [1] Archived April 6, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
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  54. ^ [2] Archived June 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  55. ^ [3] Archived March 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  56. ^ [4] Archived September 19, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  57. ^ "HUDD, Thomas Richard - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  58. ^ "Johnson's 'thesongadayproject' hits 2 years on YouTube". www.jsonline.com.
  59. ^ [5] Archived March 7, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  60. ^ "Takakazu Kuriyama 'Takes Five'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 2006-10-13. Archived from the original on 2014-04-08. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  61. ^ a b [6] Archived June 1, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  62. ^ [7] Archived January 6, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  63. ^ "Biographies: Major General John S. Mills". AF.mil. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  64. ^ Alumni Record, 1857–1915 - Google Boeken. 2007-11-15. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  65. ^ "Site Search | Television Academy". Emmys.com. 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  66. ^ "Rip Owens NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. 1970-08-22. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  67. ^ a b [8] Archived March 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  68. ^ "RIDDICK, Carl Wood (1872–1960)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  69. ^ "A Captivated Audience – Film Studies at Lawrence". Blogs.lawrence.edu. 2010-03-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  70. ^ "WARNER, William - Biographical Information". Bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
[edit]
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