Mar 28, 2024  
2012-2013 Academic Catalog 
    
2012-2013 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Life


 

The friendly Wartburg spirit, easy to catch and impossible to forget, characterizes campus life. As a residential college, Wartburg offers a wide range of programs, activities, and services. Students participate in nearly 100 campus clubs and organizations, 17 men’s and women’s intercollegiate athletic programs, club sports and intramurals, and a number of music groups through the Music Department, Campus Ministry and independent student music groups.

The college’s emphasis on leadership and service is reflected in campus life, where students provide leadership for campus organizations and student government and get involved in a variety of service projects. Ethics and values shape the life of the community, and the living/learning environment supports a tradition of academic excellence.

Residential Life

Residential life is an important part of the total educational program at Wartburg College. More than 80 percent of the student body lives on campus. Unless students reside at home, are married, have dependent children, or are over the age of 24, all students are required to live on campus.

Living on campus enhances classroom learning by providing an opportunity for students to learn more about themselves and others. Residential options include Hebron Hall (men); Vollmer and Centennial Halls (women); Clinton Hall (coed by wing); The Residence, Grossmann Hall, and Löhe Hall (special-interest housing, coed by suite); Founders Hall (coed by floor); Afton and Waverly Manors (upper-division students, coed by floor); and Knights Village (townhouse apartments for seniors). First-year students live in the Complex (Hebron, Centennial, and Vollmer Halls) or on one of the first-year floors in Clinton Hall.

Depending on building assignment and class year, students may choose from three- or four-person rooms, double-occupancy rooms, suite-style arrangements, townhouse living, and a limited number of single rooms. Professional and peer advisers assist students in achieving a living environment that complements the classroom experience, encourages positive, healthy relationships, and promotes personal growth.

Residence halls close during major college vacation periods. Students whose homes are 500 or more miles from campus may remain on campus with permission and/or by paying a small fee, but they may be required to move to another building during the break.

Dining

Dining Services is self-operated by Wartburg College. Students who live on campus have a board plan that gives them access to Mensa, an all-you-care-to-eat dining facility, as well as options elsewhere on campus. Board plan options vary based on academic status and housing location. Other locations to eat at Wartburg include: the Den, a quick-service restaurant with convenience store items; the Konditorei, a coffee house and light meal restaurant; and the Zesty Orange which offers beverages, snacks, and meals. In addition to ordering on-site, food can be ordered from the three restaurants using Webfood online ordering, so the food is ready when the guest arrives. Students appreciate having fresh food with no wait!

More than 250 students are employed by dining services (30 of them are supervisors of other students, and there is a long-term business management internship program). Students serving students, combined with everyone dining together, helps to create a friendly, close-knit community.

Student Health

Wartburg College and the Waverly Health Center work together to provide health care to students in the Noah Campus Health Clinic in the Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center.

The Noah Campus Health Clinic is a comprehensive outpatient clinic. It offers a wide variety of illness, injury, and wellness services. Three exam rooms along with laboratory and office space provide a comfortable, professional environment for patient care. A certified physician assistant directs and coordinates health consultation and education, treatment, and referrals when necessary to appropriate services.

The clinic is open five days per week when the college is in session. For after hours emergency assistance, contact Campus Security or Residence Hall Directors.

Health services are available to all students who pay the student services fee and submit a completed Wartburg health record, which includes verification of immunity to communicable diseases. New students must submit this record prior to moving into the residence halls. All students must show proof of health insurance. Students are strongly encouraged to review their family’s plan or to purchase a supplementary policy to protect them while at College. The waiver form, insurance information, and immunization forms are available online at the Wartburg Noah Campus Clinic Web site.

Counseling Services

The Wartburg campus community affords a wide variety of resources to help students adjust to college life. Counseling Services, located in the Pathways Center, provides psychological support as students pursue their academic and personal goals. Professionally trained counselors offer a supportive environment, where students can talk openly and confidentially about personal issues. This office also facilitates the college’s substance abuse education program and organizes support groups and psychoeducational workshops as needed. When warranted, Counseling Services provides referrals for off-campus counseling. The office also advises student-led A.W.A.R.E. (Alcohol Wisdom and Real Education) and S.M.A.R.T. (Sexual Misconduct and Resource Team).

Alcohol and Other Illegal Drug Policies

The Drug-Free School and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, Public Law 101- 226, requires that the college notify students and employees about campus policies, legal sanctions, and programs. Wartburg College students are expected to be positive, contributing members of the campus community. The possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs contradicts that commitment to community. Illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia are not permitted on the Wartburg campus. The college will cooperate with law enforcement agencies to enforce those laws. Violations of this college policy are considered serious, and sanctions can include dismissal from the college. Students who have attained the legal drinking age of 21 may possess or consume alcoholic beverages in their private living quarters, if their quarters are in buildings where alcohol is allowed. Alcohol may not be provided to students or guests under the age of 21. Those in need of alcohol/drug evaluation or treatment beyond the scope of the College will be referred to the appropriate agency for care.

Motor Vehicles

Students may have motor vehicles, but the vehicles must be registered with the Security Office and parked in assigned college lots.

For further information about standards of conduct, legal sanctions, educational programs, or counseling and treatment opportunities, contact the Student Life Office, Student Life webiste, or consult the Wartburg College Student Handbook.

Responsibilities of Students

Students are expected to assume responsibility for their conduct and for making full use of educational opportunities. They are expected to observe established standards for scholarship, conduct, and campus life. Some standards exist because the college is part of a larger community governed by federal and state legislation. Other standards are unique to Wartburg and support an environment conducive to the learning and nurturing of Christian values. It is especially important that students observe academic honesty and integrity as described in the Wartburg College Honor Code.

The Wartburg College Honor Code

As a matter of personal commitment, students, faculty, and staff of Wartburg College are expected to demonstrate four simple principles:

  1. All work submitted be your own.
  2. When using the work or ideas of others, including fellow students, give full credit through accurate citations.
  3. Maintain academic honesty both on examinations and class assignments.
  4. If you are uncertain about the ground rules on a particular assignment, ask for clarification.

All are responsible for abiding by these guidelines and opposing academic dishonesty by reporting any act that goes against these guidelines.

When evidence of dishonesty is discovered, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The Wartburg College Student Handbook outlines standards of conduct and regulations governing student life. Copies are available from the Student Life Office.


Religious Life

Wartburg College views the spiritual dimension of life as crucial and believes that an education is not complete unless it deals with deeper issues of faith and life. Religious life at Wartburg celebrates both the unique heritage of the Lutheran tradition and the variety of peoples and faiths that come together on the campus. Wartburg welcomes students of all faiths and offers many avenues for worship, study, fellowship, service, and outreach. Wartburg College is affiliated with the E.L.C.A., the Evangelical Lutehran Church in America.

The Wartburg Chapel serves as the center for campus worship and houses the offices of the campus pastors and Campus Ministry organizations. Morning chapel services, led by faculty, staff, students, and the college pastors, meet three times a week. A midweek Eucharistic service is celebrated on Wednesday evenings. Sunday morning services offer both contemporary and traditional worship formats. The Lilly Reflection Room, on the second floor of the Student Center, is a quiet place for prayer and meditation, open to students and staff of all faith traditions.

Waverly churches, including Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopal, United Church of Christ, Baptist, Open Bible, Vineyard, and Church of the Nazarene, also welcome Wartburg students.

Students plan an annual Spiritual Emphasis Week that highlights spiritual life on campus through worship services, special activities, and musical events. Campus Ministry organizations include Adopt-a-Grandparent, an outreach to the elderly; Catholic Knights; Faith Alive, an outreach ministry to churches; a worship and arts group; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Amnesty International; Habitat for Humanity; and Spiritsong, a ministry of song and devotion.

The college pastors provide leadership in worship, counseling, and the teaching ministries, drawing upon the rich resources of the Wartburg/Waverly community. They welcome students of any background.


Activities

Student groups, with the assistance of professional staff, offer a wide variety of social activities. Comedy and variety entertainers, coffeehouses, social activities, and special events that include Homecoming and Outfly are scheduled throughout the year.

Cultural Events, Convocations

The Wartburg College Artist Series brings outstanding programs of music, drama, and dance to the campus community. Admission to Artist Series programs is free for students.

The Convocation Series offers speakers on a variety of academic, artistic, political, and social issues. Programs are generally scheduled on Tuesday mornings during a community time that is built into the academic schedule. Convocations are free and open to the public.

Wartburg regularly schedules extended visits by distinguished speakers or scholars-in-residence, who conduct classes and seminars, lead discussions, present lectures, and interact with students.

Further enhancing the campus cultural life are recitals and concerts by students, faculty, college music groups, and guest performers. The Wartburg Players present drama productions. The Waldemar A. Schmidt Art Gallery in the Fine Arts Center offers a series of touring art exhibits throughout the year and also displays the work of students and faculty. Student organizations, including the International Club and Black Student Union sponsor a variety of cultural events throughout the academic year.

Student Media

The opportunity to get hands-on experience in award-winning media is open to all students through several campus groups.

KWAR—Student-operated stereo FM radio station, 89.9 mhz, broadcasting to a 30-mile listening radius locally and on the World Wide Web

WARTBURG TELEVISION—Student-produced programming telecast to the college and community via cable access channel 8

THE CASTLE—Student-produced literary magazine

THE WARTBURG TRUMPET—Weekly newspaper written and edited by a student staff

THE CIRCUIT—Converging student media, campus events, and organizations into an easy to access, unique online environment

Music Organizations

Music is an integral part of campus life at Wartburg, and the college is known for the quality of its performing groups. The Wartburg Choir, Castle Singers, and Wind Ensemble make annual concert tours in the United States and travel abroad every three years during May Term.

CASTLE SINGERS perform vocal jazz; selected by audition; next international tour in 2015.

CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLES provides students with opportunities to perform in a small ensemble setting.

CHAPEL CHOIR provides leadership for campus worship.

GOSPEL CHOIR performs traditional and contemporary gospel music on campus and in the area.

KNIGHTLITERS JAZZ BAND presents concerts on campus and in the Waverly area.

PEP BAND performs at athletic events; led by a student director.

RITTERCHOR performs men’s choral literature.

ST. ELIZABETH CHORALE performs women’s choral literature.

SYMPHONIC BAND performs standard classical and contemporary band literature.

WARTBURG CHOIR sings a cappella sacred music and spirituals; selected by audition;has appeared twice at New York City’s Carnegie Hall; next international tour in 2014.

WARTBURG COMMUNITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA presents a five-concert season; comprised of students, area residents, and professional musicians.

WIND ENSEMBLE performs standard classical and contemporary band literature; selected by audition; next international tour in 2013.

Recreation, Athletics

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES—The Wartburg-Waverly Sports & Wellness Center offers fitness and recreational facilities for students and the community, including an indoor aquatics center, the Schuldt Natatorium.

Near campus, students enjoy biking and jogging along Cedar Lane and the Waverly Rail Trail, hiking the trails of Three Rivers Pond and Cedar Bend Park, and boating, canoeing, fishing, and water skiing on the Cedar River. Waverly has an outdoor swimming pool, two 18-hole golf courses, a golf driving range, a bowling alley, and a three-screen movie theatre.

INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS—Wartburg competes in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC). Other colleges in the conference are Buena Vista, Central, Coe, Cornell, Dubuque, Loras, Luther, and Simpson. As a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division III, Wartburg does not award athletic
scholarships. Men compete in intercollegiate baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and wrestling. Women compete in intercollegiate basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball. The Wartburg wrestling team won the NCAA Division III national championship in 1996, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. The women’s track and field team won the NCAA Division III national outdoor championship in 2005, 2009, and 2012 and the NCAA Division III national indoor championship in 2009, 2010, and 2012. Wartburg has won the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All Sports Championship for seven consecutive years. Intercollegiate athletics are supported through the Lowell Walker Endowed Athletic Directorship.

INTRAMURAL ATHLETICS—Students, faculty, and staff can participate in competitive and non-competitive sports and activities through Wartburg’s intramural program. The intramural director works with students and the Athletic Department to plan a wide variety of programs and special events. Activities coordinated by the Intramural Office include basketball, bowling, dodgeball, flag football, racquetball, softball, and volleyball.

RECREATIONAL GROUPS—Students also are involved in special-interest recreational groups that include Cheerleading, Rugby Club, Tri Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, Lifting Club, and Dance Team.


Student Life Services

Student Diversity Programs and Services

Wartburg is committed to enrolling and graduating American-ethnic students. The Student Diversity Services Office promotes multicultural programming and activities that lead to an understanding and appreciation of differences.

The director provides academic, social, and personal advisory support to American-ethnic students. The director also serves as adviser to the Black Student Union. The organizations promote cultural diversity on campus by sponsoring social events, educational forums, and community service projects.

The nearby Waterloo metropolitan area has the largest American-ethnic population of any city in Iowa, offering opportunities for interaction between Wartburg students and Waterloo groups. American-ethnic students also receive support from alumni. A Diversity National Advisory Board meets on campus to maintain rapport with students and respond to their needs. The committee works to improve recruitment and retention of minority faculty and administrative staff, who serve as role models for students.

International Student Programs

Wartburg College welcomes international students. Students from more than 40 countries provide a valued international dimension to the campus community. The International Programs Office, located in the Saemann Student Center, offers support through orientation, personal and academic counseling, preparation of government reporting documents, and connections with local International Friendship Hosts. The Director of International Programs serves as sponsor for the International Club and International Fellows delegates who represent Wartburg College in intercollegiate events. English language evaluation and intensive English training are coordinated through this office. The International Programs Office also supports and promotes events and workshops to facilitate intercultural and international training and understanding. The office serves as a liaison for international students on and off campus.