General Information

Mission

Loras, as a Catholic liberal arts college, creates a community of active learners, reflective thinkers, ethical decision-makers and responsible contributors in diverse professional, social, and religious roles.

Vision

Inspired by Christ and committed to the dignity and value of all people, Loras College fosters a learning community that …

• Develops the whole person - in mind, body, and spirit - to achieve meaningful outcomes throughout life and across careers;
• Integrates learning inside and outside the classroom, across disciplines, and beyond limiting perspectives; and
• Challenges us to make a difference in society by deepening our sense of humanity and purpose.

Values

The Loras College community embraces core values that define the way we work, behave, and relate with others.

• Truth: We are dedicated to the pursuit and communication of truth. We rely on the integrity of each individual to create a community that engages freely and creatively in the search for truth and grapples joyfully with intellectual and moral issues.
• Respect: We cherish and treat each person as an individual created in the image and likeness of God. We value the dignity, diversity, and uniqueness of each person.
• Responsibility: Individuals are responsible for their own actions and for the common good.
• Excellence: We strive for excellence in teaching and in every other aspect of the Loras experience.
• Service: We encourage each member of the Loras community to serve others in an extraordinary way.

Dispositions

• Active learners want to learn. They are curious about the world and seek to make sense of their experiences. Loras students demonstrate their ability to learn in active ways.
• Reflective thinkers display insight. They take into account their own dispositions and biases as they think creatively and critically. Loras students demonstrate their ability to think in a reflective manner.
• Ethical decision-makers discern religious, cultural, and personal values in order to act with justice and compassion. Loras students demonstrate their ability to decide matters ethically.
• Responsible contributors to professions, societies, and religious communities develop their talents and share them with others in ways that respect a global environment and are sensitive to cultural differences. Loras students demonstrate that they contribute in responsible ways.

Institutional Learning Outcomes

• ILO #1: Students will think critically and creatively.
• ILO #2: Students will communicate ideas and information effectively to diverse audiences using a variety of methods.
• ILO #3: Students will demonstrate depth of knowledge in an academic discipline.
• ILO #4: Students will integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines and diverse experiences to comprehensively address complex issues and challenges.
• ILO #5: Students will thoughtfully examine their life’s purpose in relation to their personal talents and the needs of communities.
• ILO #6: Students will engage personal, professional, social, and global concerns with principled ethical judgments guided by reason, justice, and compassion.
• ILO #7: Students will apply knowledge of diverse contexts and cultural competencies to advance human dignity and serve the common good through inclusive and equitable communities.

History

Iowa’s oldest college, Loras is at home on 60 acres atop the highest bluff of historic Dubuque, overlooking the Mississippi River at the junction of the states of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Loras College was founded in 1839 by the Most Rev. Mathias Loras, first bishop of Dubuque, who established St. Raphael Seminary to educate young men for the priesthood, but with the expressed intention  of also providing an opportunity for higher education to the citizens of the area. The College has functioned under several names (St. Raphael Seminary, Mt. St. Bernard, St. Joseph College, Dubuque College and Columbia College), finally adopting its present name during its centennial in 1939.  Loras became coeducational in fall of 1971.

From the time of its founding, the College devoted its faculty and facilities to an undergraduate program; initially conferring the Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science degrees.  First accredited by the North Central Association under the name Dubuque College in 1917, Loras has maintained continued accreditation to offer undergraduate degrees for more than 100 years and currently awards Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in more than thirty major areas.

While initially focused solely on undergraduate education, from 1934 until 1963, Loras served as a branch campus location for the Catholic University of America, enabling graduate degrees to be offered on the Loras campus.  When the Catholic University of America discontinued its branch campus, the College recognized the need for graduate educational opportunities in the Dubuque area and sought approval from the North Central Association to offer its own graduate programs.  Preliminary approval for graduate work leading to a master’s degrees in Education, English, History, and Latin was granted in June of 1964 and final approval was granted in 1970.  Today, Loras offers Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees, as well as the Master of Athletic Training degree.