Texas Lutheran University

Texas Lutheran University
Motto Veritas Christi Liberat Homines
Motto in English
 The truth of Christ sets people free
Type Private
Established 1891
Affiliation Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Endowment $92.582 million[1]
President Stuart Dorsey
Undergraduates 1,400
Location Seguin, Texas, U.S.
29°34′26″N 97°59′10″W / 29.574°N 97.986°W / 29.574; -97.986Coordinates: 29°34′26″N 97°59′10″W / 29.574°N 97.986°W / 29.574; -97.986
Campus Small town/Suburban
Tagline Learn Boldly. Live to Inspire.
Colors Black and Gold
         
Athletics Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division III
Mascot Bulldog
Website www.tlu.edu

Texas Lutheran University (TLU) is an undergraduate, coeducational, private university of the Liberal Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is located in Seguin, Texas, about thirty-five miles east of San Antonio, and fifty miles south of Austin. TLU is ranked #3 by the U.S. News & World Report 2014 Best West Regional Universities.[2]

History

100th anniversary sign of TLU in Seguin, unveiled 2011.
Texas Lutheran University historical marker in Brenham

The University traces its roots back to 1891, to an academy of the First German Evangelical Lutheran Synod in Texas,[3] in Brenham. That school accumulated crushing financial problems, but in 1912 it was rescued by an offer of 15 acres and $20,000 from local businessmen to relocate the academy to Seguin.[3] Initially the Lutheran College of Seguin, Texas, as it was newly named, had only one building on a bare former cotton field, with 46 students.

The academy reached junior college status in 1928 with accreditation from the Texas state department of education. The Swedish Lutheran Trinity College of Round Rock was having trouble maintaining a minimum 40 freshmen and 20 sophomores, so in 1929 it pooled its resources with the larger Seguin institution, bringing two professors and support from Swedish Lutherans. The combined school was renamed Texas Lutheran College in 1930. It became a four-year institution in 1948. Then Texas Lutheran absorbed Clifton College of Clifton, a Norwegian Lutheran school in 1954, again gaining faculty and support from a larger base.[3]

When the college received recognition in 1953 as a fully accredited senior college by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, faculty and students rang the "Victory Bell" in celebration for hours. After 40 years of growth, the institution was once again renamed, taking its present title of Texas Lutheran University in 1996.[4] Over the 100 years since moving to Seguin, TLU's span has increased to over 40 buildings and sports fields on 184 acres with about 1,400 students each semester.

Academics

Student Body Texas Lutheran University currently has an enrollment of approximately 1400 students with 48% male and 52% female. Students come from 23 states and 8 foreign countries. About 65% of full-time students live on campus, and 96% receive some financial assistance. TLU has 19% Lutheran students, 27% Hispanic, and 10% African-American students.

Rankings and Accreditation TLU is ranked #3 by the U.S. News & World Report 2013 Best West Regional Universities. Texas Lutheran University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and also accredited by ACBSP, CAATE, and TEAC.

Campus

Entrance sign to Texas Lutheran University

The campus lies just off Interstate 10 on State Highway 46, between US Highway 90 and Alt. US 90. The address is 1000 West Court St., which is also Alt. U.S. 90, and Seguin's main east-west street.

The campus occupies more than 40 buildings and athletic fields covering 184 acres, as well as a biology field station at neighboring Lake McQueeney. Located in the heart of the campus is the Chapel of the Abiding Presence. There are several residence halls, as well as on-campus apartments and family housing for students who are married or have children. Student and alumni art can be found throughout campus, and sections of the sidewalk are designed for bricks dedicated to Texas Lutheran University affiliates. Oaks and other trees shade the campus, and rows of flowering crape myrtles provide color.

Chapel of the Abiding Presence

The Chapel of the Abiding Presence

The Chapel of the Abiding Presence (locally known as the Weinert Chapel after the principal donors) is located in the heart of the campus. The Gothic Revival building of Austin limestone was designed by ecclesiastical architect Henry Steinbomer[5] of San Antonio in 1954. The Chapel is listed in the Historic Campus Architecture Project of the Council of Independent Colleges.[6] After a fire in 1969, architect Ed Sovik from St. Olaf College[7] in Minnesota supervised the rebuilding with a nontraditional interior.

Today the sanctuary can seat 400, and hosts a tracker-action Schlicker organ. The chapel is used by campus organizations to hold various activities and services, as well as weddings of students and alumni.

Chapel services that last 20 minutes are open to the public. They are held Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10 a.m. during the academic year.

Other notable buildings

Langner Memorial Hall, named for the first president of TLU, houses English, history, and psychology instruction

Also facing the quadrangle on the southwest corner is the Emma Frey Hall, a former women's dormitory in Spanish Colonial Revival style by noted architect Marvin Eichenroht in 1929. The building is the oldest on the campus and has been remodeled to serve as offices for computer science and mathematics faculty offices, as well as the Honors programs.

On the east side is Langner Hall, named for the first president of TLU, and built to plans by Atlee B. Ayers in 1947. Today it houses classrooms and faculty offices for the social science and humanities departments, as well as the Mexican American Studies Center, and the Fiedler Memorial Museum and outdoor geological garden.

Residence Halls

TLU offers a variety of housing options for students, including residence halls and on-campus apartments. Residence halls are co-ed or single sex, and separated by grade level. Co-ed residences include Centennial, Knutson, Clifton, Baldus, and Seguin Hall. Freshman residences include Centennial, Baldus, and Clifton Hall. Sophomore residences include Knutson and Seguin Hall. Trinity Hall is a women's residence for freshmen and sophomores.

On-campus apartments include the North, South Efficiency, and Glazener apartments, as well as Bogisch family housing. All on-campus units, with the exception of Bogisch family housing, are available to junior and senior level students. The North and South apartments are two-bedroom units and house up to four students. The North units are equipped with a full kitchen, and the South units include a kitchenette. Glazener apartments each have two bedrooms with full kitchens, and house up to two students. Bogisch family housing is reserved for students who are married or have children, and have two bedrooms with a full kitchen.

Alumni Student Center

The ASC is located at the north end of the quadrangle. Inside is the bookstore, Lucky's Kennel snack bar, lounges, meeting rooms, a post office for on-campus mail, student publications offices and lab, and an academic computer lab. The ASC has offices for counseling, career development, and student activities.

Blumberg Library

The Blumberg Memorial Library at TLU opened in 1970.

The Blumberg Library, which opened in 1970, is next to the Alumni Student Center. It includes over 262,000 items of library materials and subscribes to over seven hundred journal titles. It is a member of the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) system and also provides an Online Public Access Catalog, which gives students access to databases in each academic discipline.

Hein Dining Hall

Weimar and Paula Hein Dining Center

Hein Dining Hall, with cafeteria style service and food stations, is the main dining hall. The Centennial Commons seats 350 and is the general dining area for students. Other smaller dining rooms are the Timmerman Room, Suehs Room, and Katie Conference Center, which are often used by campus and community groups for meetings.

Jackson Auditorium

Jackson Auditorium seats 1,050 for concerts and other events.

Jackson Auditorium seats 1,050 and many of the special events at TLU, like the Krost Symposium or concerts, happen here. It is also used by the Mid-Texas Symphony and other community and church organizations.

Classrooms and other buildings

Tschoepe Hall, a classroom building
Schuech Fine Arts Center

Other campus buildings include O. G. Beck College Center, Moody Science Building, Tschoepe Hall, Health Center, Krost Center, Lutheran Ministry Center, Moline Center for Student Leadership, and the newest, Centennial Hall—named in celebration of 100 years in Seguin—with ground floor classrooms and housing above.

Schuech Fine Arts Center is a multipurpose facility with a 200-seat theater, recital hall, band hall, music studios, art labs, and a gallery.

The Jesse H. Jones Physical Education Complex, named for the former United States Secretary of Commerce Jesse H. Jones, has a 2,200-seat gym for intercollegiate basketball and volleyball games, offices for faculty and coaches, locker rooms, racquetball courts, and an eight-lane collegiate-size swimming pool, as well as the Grossman Fitness Center, the Kieffer Kinesiology Laboratory, and Rinn Field House.

The O.G. Beck College Center is the administrative headquarters of the university.

The campus has intramural sports fields, the Gustafson Soccer Field, the Katt-Isbel Baseball Field, the Morck Softball Field, a putting green/driving range for the golf team, tennis courts, sandlot volleyball courts, a police department, and a maintenance complex.

A major expansion of intercollegiate sports was part of its 2013 Homecoming, when TLU officials broke ground for a football and track and field stadium, as well as a new and lighted softball field, lights for the baseball field (to allow night games), and a concession stand with toilets.[8] The Bulldog teams began playing in the new facilities in 2014.

Student life

There are also a number of Greek life opportunities for students including sororities and fraternities. The sororities include: Xi Tau, Beta Alpha Sigma, Kappa Pi Gamma, Delta Alpha Delta, and Sigma Delta Lambda The Fraternities include: Omega Tau, Zeta Chi, and Sigma Phi Theta.

Student organizations are offered in many areas on campus. Some are based on department, such as Athletic Training Club and Geography Club; Honorary Greek Organizations, such as Alpha Chi National Honors Society and Psi Chi Psychology Honors Society; Professional Organizations such as Alpha Kappa Psi National Business Fraternity and Student Education Association for Student Teachers; Band Service Fraternity and Sorority Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma; Campus Ministry and Religious Organizations such as Catholic Student Organization and Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Campus Organizations such as the Cheerleaders and the Student Government Association; Service and Social Organizations such as the Black Student Union and Mexican American Student Association; Theater Organizations such as Alpha Psi Omega, the theater honor society; Musical Organizations such as the variety of TLU choirs and TLU bands; Student Publications such as the Lone Star Lutheran Magazine and the Sidewalk; and others.

Athletics

Almost one third of full-time TLU students take part in one of the intercollegiate sports.

The Athletics Department includes baseball, softball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, volleyball, women's cross country, women's track & field, and recently football. All sports teams compete at the NCAA Division III level under the team name, the Bulldogs.

Starting July 1, 2013, Texas Lutheran University switched to a new conference, competing in SCAC, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, in all sports except football. SCAC does not have enough member schools with football teams. Meanwhile, the football team is an independent.[9]

The schools in SCAC are similar to TLU. Student athletes receive no athletic scholarships. The others in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference are Austin College in Sherman, Centenary College in Shreveport, Colorado College in Colorado Springs, University of Dallas in Irving, Schreiner University in Kerrville, Southwestern University in Georgetown, and Trinity University in San Antonio.

Baseball Greg Burnett is the head baseball coach.

Softball Wade Wilson is the head coach of the softball team. They were the 2014 SCAC regular season and tournament champions.

Men's Basketball Jimmy Smith is the head coach for the Bulldogs.

Women's Basketball Mel Dixon is head coach for the Women's Basketball team.

Men's Soccer Eddie Salazar is head coach of the men's soccer team.

Women's Soccer Coach Larry Schaffer took over the women's soccer program in 2012.

Men's Golf and Women's Golf H.C. Tran is the head coach for both the men's and women's golf teams. They practice on the courses at Max Starcke Park, Chaparral Golf Club (both in Seguin), and The Bandit at Long Creek (in nearby McQueeney) for daily on-course practice. Players compete in many tournaments, often traveling out of state.

Volleyball Tiffany Davis is the head coach of the volleyball team.

Men's Tennis and Women's Tennis Michael Hunt is the head coach for both the men and the women. Both teams play home matches.

Women's Cross Country and Women's Track & Field Darlene Holland is the head coach for cross country and track. Track & Field won the conference championship the past 4 years.

Football The head coach of TLU's newest sport is Danny Padron.

Cheerleaders and Dance Team The TLU Cheerleaders and Mascot (Lucky) are part of the TLU Athletics Department. The squad participates at home football and basketball games as well as a few away games. The Gold Star Dance Team performs at halftime of every home football and basketball game.

Media

Lone Star Lutheran

The Lone Star Lutheran (LSL) has been a student-run newspaper on the TLU campus for many years. In 2011, the LSL changed to a magazine format before returning to its original publication format of a tabloid newspaper in 2013. The staff includes the editor-in-chief, managing editor, four copy editors, a website manager, and a variety of student writers from all departments. Additionally, TLU offers a student module that allows students to work on the LSL for the class credit.

Bulldog TV

Bulldog TV is the cable channel that is all about TLU.

Christmas Vespers

In preparation for the Christmas holidays, the TLU choirs collaborate with the TLU band to host the annual Christmas Vespers services. This celebration of music and word honors the integral role music has played and is playing in Texas Lutheran curriculum and cultural history. The service is usually held four days in Seguin and one or two days in Austin to allow the campus and Seguin communities, as well as TLU families and the Austin community, the opportunity to attend the service.[10]

The School of Music

The School of Music offers training on a professional level for those who want to pursue careers in music and music education. It also offers various opportunities to students from all majors to enhance and develop their musical education by choosing to study music, either from the offered classes (music history, literature or theory) or performance (piano, organ, instrumental, voice, and vocal or instrumental ensembles). Students have several performance options, including the annual Choir Tour, the popular Christmas Vespers, and the different clubs that go along with being into music.[11]

Having music in the Liberal Arts curriculum allows all students at the University to have an opportunity to experience the important role that music can play in their cultural, aesthetic, and religious lives. The School of Music strives to bring to the forefront the appreciation of music among all members of the student body, and it gives professional training to those interested in a career in music.

Degree options include Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Music in All-Level Music Education: Instrumental Emphasis, Bachelor of Music in All-Level Music Education: Vocal Emphasis, Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance, Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, and Minor in Music.

Numerous scholarship award opportunities are available both for music majors and non-majors.

Da capo Award in Music - up to full tuition per year (By Invitation Only) The Da cap Award is the most distinguished award available. Students who have excelled in high school, who are admitted by Feb. 5 and who have indicated that they plan to major in music are invited to participate in PACE Day at TLU. On PACE Day, you compete through interviews and auditions for TLU's top scholarship award of up to full tuition. This scholarship is renewed for up to three additional years provided you maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

Performance Awards Performance awards may not be combined with Academic Distinction awards but may be awarded in addition to other scholarships and are determined by the level of your participation. When participating in more than one ensemble or performance area, you may receive up to $2,000 from the combined Performance awards. Auditions are required and must be scheduled in advance.

Jones Fine Arts for Music Majors - $2,000 to $4,000 per year Jones Fine Arts for Dramatic Media Majors - $2,000 to $4,000 per year Jones Fine Arts Awards provide artistic and cultural recognition for outstanding musical and dramatic media performance to those students majoring in music or dramatic media who demonstrate a meaningful contribution to the life of the university through participation in performance ensembles while they are pursuing a baccalaureate degree.

Performance Awards for Non-majors - Up to $2,000 per year Performance awards provide support for outstanding musical and dramatic media performance to those students in any major field of study who demonstrate a meaningful addition to the university through participation in performance ensembles while they are pursuing a bachelor's degree. Performance awards are given in the areas of band, choir, strings, piano, solo vocal performance, organ and dramatic media.

Performance Opportunities

Texas Lutheran University Symphonic Winds Membership in the TLU Symphonic Winds is earned by audition at the start of each semester. Members are the top woodwind, brass and percussion performers enrolled at TLU. The ensemble rehearses four hours per week and performs regularly both on and off campus.

Texas Lutheran Concert Band Open by audition to all students of the university, the band performs in concert on campus and on tour. Band members participate in three hours of rehearsal each week, plus special appearances. Members are encouraged to enroll for private lessons.

Texas Lutheran Choir Open by audition to all students of the university, the choir performs a range of both sacred and secular genres on campus and on tour. The choir participates in five hours of rehearsal each week, plus special rehearsals, sectionals, and appearances.

TLU String Ensemble Open to all TLU students, the orchestra rehearses three hours per week and performs each semester.

Other Performance Opportunities Include: • Texas Lutheran Jazz Band • TLU Women’s Chorus • Chapel Choir • Bulldog Pep Band • Numerous wind and percussion ensembles • Opera • Musical theatre workshops • Annual Christmas Vespers • Solo recital opportunities • Mid-Texas Symphony

TLU Symphonic Winds and TLU Concert Band This band performs musical pieces from the traditional to the historical to contemporary art literature. Membership is open to all university students who wish to continue performing instrumental music either as a music major or non-major. Beth Bronk, Director of Bands

TLU String Ensemble The TLU String Ensemble consists of TLU students who choose to study string instruments. Work is done on chamber music as well as larger ensembles. Membership is open to all university students who wish to continue performing instrumental music either as a music major or non-major. Eliza Thomason, Director of Strings

Texas Lutheran University Choir Open by audition to all students of the university, the choir performs a wide range of both sacred and secular genres on campus and on tour. The TLU choir participates in five hours of rehearsal each week, plus special rehearsals, sectionals and appearances. Douglas Boyer, Director, Director of School of Music

Texas Lutheran University Women’s Choir Open by audition to all female students of the university, the choir performs a variety of both sacred and secular genres on campus and on tour. The TLU Women’s choir participates in two and a half hours of rehearsal each week, special rehearsals, sectionals and appearances. Dr. Douglas Boyer, Director, Director of School of Music

Kantorei Chamber Choir Open by audition to all members of the TLU Choir, the chamber choir focuses on the performance of the music of our time. The chamber choir participates in two hours of rehearsal each week, plus special rehearsals, sectionals and appearances. Dr. Douglas Boyer, Director, Director of School of Music

The Jazz Ensemble Performs in concert at least once each semester to present a variety of big band jazz representing many historical styles. Membership is open by audition.

The Bulldog Pep Band, under the direction of Professor Beth Bronk, performs school spirit music at all university home football games and select home basketball games. Enrollment is open to all interested TLU students and serves as an opportunity for students to continue musical ensemble participation without the time commitment of Concert Band.

The Mid-Texas Symphony provides an opportunity for students to audition for membership in this professional orchestra, which is based on the TLU campus. Mr. David Mairs is conductor of this regional organization. The Mid-Texas Symphony performs at least seven concerts per year.

Performance opportunities are available at Texas Lutheran University in weekly recitals, chapel services and ensembles. In addition, the Seguin community offers the student pianist the opportunity to teach private piano lessons, work as a church pianist at a local church, or serve as an accompanist for UIL competitions in the area.

Faculty Clinics and Master Classes All TLU wind and percussion faculty are available for instructional aid. Arrangements for clinics and/or master classes can be made by contacting Beth Bronk or any individual instructor.

Special events

Texas Lutheran University invites speakers, performers and musicians to campus.

Past cultural events presented by TLU include Chanticleer, The Vienna Choir Boys, The Joffrey Ballet, The Guthrie Theatre, The Dixie Chicks, The Chinese Golden Dragon Acrobats, Canadian Brass, Bach Society Houston, U.S. Navy Band Country Current and The Second City Touring Company.

Past speakers include Arun Gandhi, Bob Dole, Morris Dees, Barbara Ehrenreich, Harry Benson, Paul Roberts, John Besh, David Gergen, Aron Ralston, Michele Norris and Judy Shepard.

Krost Symposium

Every year, Texas Lutheran hosts a symposium focusing on a particular new topic. This multi-day Krost Symposium event brings in guest speakers with a range of viewpoints and experience on the chosen topic. The first Krost Symposium was held in 1981, and the program has continued annually without interruption ever since. Events are free and open to the public.

The next Krost Symposium, Grey Matters: Discerning the Impacts of Head Injury, will be held October 7–8, 2015.[12]

Past Krost Symposia

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ As of June 30, 2014."U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2014 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2013 to FY 2014" (PDF). 2014 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Texas Lutheran University". rankingsandreviews.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Wiederaenders, Arthur G. TLC's First Century: an Age of Growing Excellence. Lubbock, Texas: Craftsman Printers Incorporated.
  4. ↑ M. H. Alderson, "TEXAS LUTHERAN UNIVERSITY," Handbook of Texas Online. TLU Handbook online, accessed July 05, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
  5. ↑ "STEINBOMER, HENRY JOHN". tshaonline.org.
  6. ↑ "The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project". artstor.org.
  7. ↑ "Retired art professor, campus architect Edward Sövik dies — St. Olaf College". stolaf.edu.
  8. ↑ Expansion of Athletic facilities
  9. ↑ "Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs". Texas Lutheran University.
  10. ↑ ww.tlu.edu/news/tlu-invites-community-to-annual-christmas-vespers-2014/
  11. ↑ "School of Music - Academics - Texas Lutheran University". tlu.edu.
  12. ↑ "Krost Symposium 2015". tlu.edu.
  13. ↑ "Krost Symposium 2014". tlu.edu.
  14. 1 2 "Krost Symposium 2013". tlu.edu.
  15. ↑ "College Bound Workshop: Understanding College Admissions & Financial Aid". tlu.edu.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Krost Symposium Poster Hanging in the Krost Building on TLU Campus.
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