Lawrence University is a nationally recognized undergraduate college of the liberal arts and sciences with a conservatory of music. Ranked among the best of the nation's small, private colleges, Lawrence enrolls over 1,500 full-time undergraduates from 46 states and more than 42 other countries. Chartered in 1847, Lawrence was among the first colleges in the United States to be founded coeducational. Lawrence is located in Appleton, Wisconsin, a city at the center of the Fox River Valley in the northeast part of the state.

Mission

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 learning community of scholars and artists we engage each other in a transformative process that emphasizes individualized learning, supported by an environment of rich educational opportunities in a residential campus setting.

Educational Philosophy

Students enter Lawrence at a time when they are actively forging their identities and seeking their place 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, articulate a personal identity that leads to thoughtful life choices, and who is committed to responsible citizenship. 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, and continues through the sophomore and junior years, and into our Senior Experience programs.

Lawrence in the Community

Lawrence is part of an intellectual and creative community that includes the Fox Valley, Lawrence's alumni, and the larger global community. We are committed to providing service to and learning from the larger community. Through such resources as Björklunden and the Academy of Music, Lawrence contributes to the vitality of the surrounding community by: (1) making available programs of cultural enrichment, (2) drawing on the knowledge and experience of members of that community in the exploration of significant issues, (3) providing opportunities for alumni to maintain a lifelong connection with the institution and with each other and encouraging their continuing interest in learning, and (4) providing such educational programs as the certification as public school teachers in the state of Wisconsin.

Campus

The 84-acre Lawrence campus is situated on a bluff overlooking the historic Fox River and contains 58 instructional, residential, recreational and administrative facilities. Adjacent to downtown Appleton, the campus is bordered on two sides by attractive early 20th-century residential neighborhoods. Björklunden vid Sjön, a 425-acre estate on Lake Michigan in Door County, serves as the college’s northern campus, hosting curricular retreats and seminars for students each weekend throughout the academic year and continuing education seminars during the summer for alumni and the public. Lawrence is a residential college and more than 90 percent of all students liveon campus in one of seven residence halls, 18 small houses and other student residences.

Accreditation

Lawrence is accredited as a degree-granting institution by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The Conservatory of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.