Pacific Lutheran University
Encyclopedia
Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) is located in Parkland
, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington
. In September 2009, PLU had a student population of 3,582 and approximately 280 full-time faculty. It currently consists of the College of Arts and Sciences (consisting of the Division of Humanities, the Division of Natural Sciences, and the Division of Social Sciences), the School of Arts and Communication, the School of Business, the School of Education and Movement Studies, and the School of Nursing.
n, mostly Norwegian
, immigrants to further Lutheran higher education in the Pacific Northwest
, PLU is an institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
. The school merged with Everett's
Columbia College in 1920, became a two-year school, and resumed operations as Pacific Lutheran College. Spokane
College merged with Pacific Lutheran College nine years later. PLC resumed awarding four-year degrees in 1939.
Pacific Lutheran gained university status in 1960. PLU retains strong ties with its Scandinavian heritage, having been visited multiple times by Norwegian
and Swedish
monarchs and the Norwegian Parliament, Stortinget.
PLU's SPJ chapter is nationally recognized and has a record of high achievement. Students in the chapter are regularly involved in on-campus and off-campus events. For the past three years, they have staged the "First Amendment Free Food Festival" and received the award for the outstanding student chapter in region 10 for five consecutive years (2005-2010). Students have also been recognized in the following areas:
KCNS is one of the few student-run television stations in the state of Washington where students run all aspects of production. They have received awards in the category of Television Newscast.
MediaLab, an award-winning internship program at PLU was founded in 2006 and offers services such as advertising, broadcasting, copy editing, event planning, graphic design, marketing, online media, public relations, photography, research and analysis, videography, and writing for businesses in the Puget Sound area. Since 2007 they have received multiple awards including:
Prominently highlighted in all academic programs is the opportunity for international education. International education is built into the curriculum. PLU became the first American university to have students studying abroad on all seven continents at the same time
. PLU has a rich tradition of athletic success: in the Northwest Conference, no other school has won the All-Sports Trophy as many times as PLU has.
Varsity Sports
Club Sports
Lower Campus includes:
Additional buildings off campus are also used for University purposes, including offices, the Wang Center for International Studies, East Campus, the Women's Center, the Faculty House and Trinity Lutheran Church.
The rose window, located in Eastvold Chapel, has been a symbol of PLU since its dedication in 1952. The stained-glass window is eight feet in diameter and contains many elements symbolic of Christian theology.
Parkland, Washington
Parkland is a census-designated place in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,053 at the 2000 census and grew to 35,803 as of the 2010 census...
, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
. In September 2009, PLU had a student population of 3,582 and approximately 280 full-time faculty. It currently consists of the College of Arts and Sciences (consisting of the Division of Humanities, the Division of Natural Sciences, and the Division of Social Sciences), the School of Arts and Communication, the School of Business, the School of Education and Movement Studies, and the School of Nursing.
History
Founded in 1890 by ScandinaviaScandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n, mostly Norwegian
Norwegian American
Norwegian Americans are Americans of Norwegian descent. Norwegian immigrants went to the United States primarily in the later half of the 19th century and the first few decades of the 20th century. There are more than 4.5 million Norwegian Americans according to the most recent U.S. census, and...
, immigrants to further Lutheran higher education in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
, PLU is an institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
. The school merged with Everett's
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
Columbia College in 1920, became a two-year school, and resumed operations as Pacific Lutheran College. Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
College merged with Pacific Lutheran College nine years later. PLC resumed awarding four-year degrees in 1939.
Pacific Lutheran gained university status in 1960. PLU retains strong ties with its Scandinavian heritage, having been visited multiple times by Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
monarchs and the Norwegian Parliament, Stortinget.
Academics
The university music department includes touring ensembles, such as Choir of the West. PLU has a reputation for diverse academic offerings including Schools of Business, Education and Nursing, as well as well-respected programs in Pre-Medicine and Pre-Law preparation. Many students are involved in the arts, including music, theatre, and dance. PLU's student media and organizations have won multiple awards both locally and nationally. Student media organizations include Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), MediaLab, KCNS, and The Mooring Mast.PLU's SPJ chapter is nationally recognized and has a record of high achievement. Students in the chapter are regularly involved in on-campus and off-campus events. For the past three years, they have staged the "First Amendment Free Food Festival" and received the award for the outstanding student chapter in region 10 for five consecutive years (2005-2010). Students have also been recognized in the following areas:
- Feature Photography
- General News Photography
- Breaking News Photography
- Online Independent New Site
- Online Feature Reporting
- Online Opinion writing
- General Column writing
- Television Sports Photography
KCNS is one of the few student-run television stations in the state of Washington where students run all aspects of production. They have received awards in the category of Television Newscast.
MediaLab, an award-winning internship program at PLU was founded in 2006 and offers services such as advertising, broadcasting, copy editing, event planning, graphic design, marketing, online media, public relations, photography, research and analysis, videography, and writing for businesses in the Puget Sound area. Since 2007 they have received multiple awards including:
- Carol Sheffels Quigg Award for Excellence and Innovation
- National Broadcasting Society Regional Award for "Building Connections: Reclaiming Lost Narratives of the Alaska-Canada Highway."
- National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award (College Division) for: "Illicit Exchanges: Canada, the U.S. and Crime."
- National Broadcasting Society First Place Grand Prize for "Illicit Exchanges: Canada, the U.S. and Crime."
- Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts Honorable Mention for: "Illicit Exchanges: Canada, the U.S. and Crime."
- National Broadcasting Society Honorable Mention for: "Point of Entry: Migrating to North America."
- National Academy if Television Arts & Sciences EMMY nomination (College Division) for: "Point of Entry: Migrating to North America."
- Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts Honorable Mention for: "Point of Entry: Migrating to North America."
- Accolade Award of Excellence for: "Point of Entry: Migrating to North America."
- Accolade Award of Merit for "New American Family: Defining Commitment in a Changing Society."
- Accolade Award of Merit for: "Oil Literacy."
- Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts Honorable Mention for: "Oil Literacy."
Prominently highlighted in all academic programs is the opportunity for international education. International education is built into the curriculum. PLU became the first American university to have students studying abroad on all seven continents at the same time
Degrees
PLU offers the following degrees:- Bachelor's: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Arts in Education; Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education; Bachelor of Arts in Recreation; Bachelor of Business Administration; Bachelor of Fine Arts; Bachelor of Arts in Communication; Bachelor of Music; Bachelor of Music Education; Bachelor of Musical Arts; Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Bachelor of Science in Physical Education; Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science.
- Master's: Master of Arts in Education; Master of Arts in Education with Initial Certification; Master of Arts in Social Sciences, Marriage and Family Therapy; Master of Business Administration; Master of Science in Nursing; Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
Athletics
PLU is a member of NCAA Division III, as well as the Northwest ConferenceNorthwest Conference
The Northwest Conference is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are located in the states of Oregon and Washington.-History:...
. PLU has a rich tradition of athletic success: in the Northwest Conference, no other school has won the All-Sports Trophy as many times as PLU has.
- Baseball
- Basketball (Men's and Women's)
- Cross Country (Men's and Women's)
- Football- most well-known for coach Frosty WesteringFrosty WesteringForrest "Frosty" Westering born is a former American football coach. He served as the head coach at Parsons College , Lea College , and Pacific Lutheran University...
, head coach from 1973-2003. - Golf (Men's and Women's)
- Rowing (Men's and Women's)
- Soccer (Men's and Women's)
- Softball
- Swimming (Men's and Women's)
- Tennis (Men's and Women's)
- Track and Field (Men's and Women's)
- Volleyball
Club Sports
- Lacrosse
- Ultimate Frisbee- Women's team 2010 Ultimate DIII Champions.
Campus
The campus of PLU is unofficially divided into two sections, Upper Campus and Lower Campus, with Hinderlie Hill dividing them. Upper Campus is home to:- Harstad Hall, or "Old Main", the oldest building on campus, once housed the whole university but is now used primarily as a residence hall. It is an all-female hall, the only single sex hall on campus.
- Phillip Hauge Administration Building
- University Center, which has recently been renovated to meet L.E.E.D. Certification SILVER standards. This houses the all-campus cafeteria, called the University Commons, and the Old Main Market. In addition it houses the offices of Campus Ministry, Student Involvement and Leadership (SIL), Residential Life, the Diversity Center, the Scandinavian Center, Student Media (KCNS, the Mast Newspaper, KCCR Student Radio, etc.), Resident Hall Association, the Associated Students of PLU (the student government usually referred to as ASPLU), Dining Services, Conferences and Events, and the Chris Knutzen Lecture Hall.
- Eastvold Chapel
- Mortvedt Library
- Xavier Hall, which houses the Philip Nordquist Lecture Hall
- Ramstad Hall
- Ingram Hall
- Mary Baker Russell Music Center and Lagerquist Concert Hall, which houses the Gottfried and Mary Fuchs Organ
- Stuen Hall
- Ordal Hall
- Kreidler Hall (Originally West Hall)
- Hinderlie Hall (Originally South Hall for Women) became the men's hall on campus, officially Hinderlie, but widely nicknamed after a local beer, "Rainier" or "Rainier House" from the 1970s to the early '90s. "Rainier" housed primarily new students and members of the varsity football team in the 1980s. Hinderlie became co-ed in 1993.
- Hong International Hall (Originally North Hall) has five language wings (Norwegian, Chinese, French, German, and Spanish) and the International Honors wing.
Lower Campus includes:
- Rieke Science Center
- Olson Auditorium
- Memorial Gymnasium
- Names Fitness Center
- Columbia Center
- Morken Center for Learning and Technology (L.E.E.D. Certified GOLD)
- Foss Hall
- Pflueger Hall
- Tingelstad Hall
- South Hall
- University Golf Course
- Keck Observatory
- Martin J. Neeb Building (L.E.E.D. Certified GOLD)
Additional buildings off campus are also used for University purposes, including offices, the Wang Center for International Studies, East Campus, the Women's Center, the Faculty House and Trinity Lutheran Church.
The rose window, located in Eastvold Chapel, has been a symbol of PLU since its dedication in 1952. The stained-glass window is eight feet in diameter and contains many elements symbolic of Christian theology.
Notable alumni
- William FoegeWilliam FoegeWilliam Herbert Foege M.D., M.P.H. is an American epidemiologist who is credited with "devising the global strategy that led to the eradication of smallpox in the late 1970s"....
'57: Worked with World Health OrganizationWorld Health OrganizationThe World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
to eradicate smallpoxSmallpoxSmallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, former director of U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Carter CenterCarter CenterThe Carter Center is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter. In partnership with Emory University, The Carter Center works to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering...
. - Rick LarsenRick LarsenRichard Ray "Rick" Larsen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
'87: United States Representative, 2nd Congressional District, Washington. - Sean ParnellSean ParnellSean R. Parnell is an American Republican politician who is the tenth and current Governor of Alaska. He succeeded Sarah Palin following her resignation, and was sworn in at the Governor's Picnic in Fairbanks on July 26, 2009...
'84: Governor of Alaska and lawyer. - Chris E. Egan '95: Sports Anchor/ Reporter for KING-TVKING-TVKING-TV, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Seattle, Washington, affiliated with the NBC network. Owned by Belo Corporation, it broadcasts on UHF digital channel 48. Its offices and broadcasting center are located just east of Seattle Center...
Seattle. - Graham Johnson '96: News reporter for KIRO-TV Seattle.
- Lois Capps '59: United States Representative, 22nd Congressional District, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. - Jack MetcalfJack MetcalfJack Metcalf was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001. He represented the 2nd Congressional District of Washington as a Republican....
'51: Former United States Representative, 2nd Congressional District, Washington. - Connor TrinneerConnor TrinneerConnor Trinneer is an American film, stage and television actor. His highest profile role has been the role of Charles "Trip" Tucker III on Star Trek: Enterprise and Michael on Stargate Atlantis.-Biography:...
'91: Actor most notable for playing Commander 'Trip' Tucker in Star Trek Enterprise - David Smock, '78: sportscaster, Internet TV play-by-play for California State University, Dominguez HillsCalifornia State University, Dominguez HillsCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills is a public university located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County and was founded in 1960...