Loras College diversity Assessment

Joshua Arnold
Brad Cavanagh
Cultural Competency in Practice
10-7-14
Loras is very particular about how they want the culture of Loras to be. Loras has set up
depositions and missions statements to try and shape the culture of Loras into an accepting and
inviting culture for anyone to be at. Loras Colleges dispositions are something that everyone
who attends Loras should be more like, they should acquire these particular characteristic traits,
the traits being as follows; active learners, reflective thinkers, ethical decision makers, and
responsible contributors (loras.edu). With these traits a person should be more inclusive and
adding to the inclusive and open culture that Loras is striving to build. Unfortunately, what is
desired is not what always happens. Lorass culture is very much made up if the dispositions, but
it is also largely based on the student body, professors and adjuncts, and the execution of the
activities of that year. With all of these factors playing a huge part in the culture of Loras there
are things that could go wrong or not mesh well together but if these factors all play their part
then the culture will be one of open mindedness and acceptance.
When students first arrive at loras they participate in something called launch into Loras.
At Launch into Loras the faculty pounds into your head the dispositions that are in the mission
statement. The idea of the dispositions is to make the culture of the college a very accepting and
welcoming place. Active learners are always curious about learning and always want to acquire

the truth, and thirst for more knowledge (Loras.edu). With this thirst for more knowledge a
person should then be able to make ethical decisions, which is the ability to make decisions
based on your personal values and have compassion and justice for others. Reflective thinking is
what helps a person decide what his values are. Being able to decide for yourself what is
important to you and what values are yours is extremely important. Another part to reflective
thinking is to be able to understanding your own personal biases (Loras.edu). Understanding
these biases assists a person in being able to make decisions that are not clouded or being able to
fully understand when they should not be involved in a situation due to biases. Then all of those
add up to being able to responsibly commit to others. Being a responsible contributor means
being able to put aside your biases and use your values to help make the lives of others better
(Loras.edu). These dispositions are the very foundation of Loras, and the accepting culture that is
trying to be built here at Loras.
Loras College like any other institution has a set of demographics and the key to
understanding the culture is to understand the people and the demographics that you are starting
with. Loras cannot be an accepting culture if there were no people, so understanding the people
that are here is a necessary start. Loras College is a four year private institution with a Liberal
Arts education. Loras currently educates 1,523 students according to campusdiscovery.com.
Loras College is placed in the northeastern part of Iowa. This four year private institution
currently costs about $39,000 (CampusDiscovery.com). The average student receives about
$13,000 in grants every year (Campusdiscovery.com). Loras has a graduation rate of about sixty
percent in total but the average changes based on race (campusdiscovery.com). This statistic can
be misleading however based on the ratio of the other races compared to that of the white
majority which currently makes up about eighty three percent of the student body

(campusdiscovery.com). When first applying to Loras there is a requirement based on your ACT
score and your GPA. The average person that is accepted to Loras has between a 21 and 26 on
their ACT (Colleges.Niche.com). This means that the average student that attends Loras is just a
tad bit above average. The Loras students that we have are diverse in their ACT scores, a smaller
bit of diversity based on their race and diversity in their financial situations but Loras
understands that is accepting and helps these students to the best of its abilities.
Loras is very unique in the way that they treat their students and the way the faculty
interacts with the student body and that is very important to the accepting culture that Loras has.
Loras College does something that I do not think very many other colleges do and that is the
Launch into Loras. Launch into Loras requires all first years to move in three days prior to the
Sunday before classes start. The college then has many activities and interesting things planned
for the students in those three days. The whole point of this exercise is for each student to get to
know faculty, professors and other students. Moving into college is a very big change. This can
be quite intimidating for many people. With Launch into Loras it requires each student to interact
with other Loras College members. With this interaction there is born a common thinking a
bond. This bond, which you form with these strangers, whether you know it or not is bringing
you into the culture. The open and accepting culture that Loras has starts the very first day you
get there. The faculty are so warm and excited to meet you that it just makes everyone feel so
welcome. Also, many people know either one or two other people there so it forces everyone to
get to know other people and invite them into their friend group. Accepting other people and
forming relationships is the whole point of the Launch into Loras weekend. The forming of
relationships does not stop there however.

The very next thing you learn in Loras is how open and accepting the professors are with
their students. Most professors on the first day give you a syllabus with their personal cell phone
numbers on them. The professors trust their students enough to give them the ability to ask
questions whenever they need to. That makes anyone who is still frightened feel a bit more at
home. A lot of the professors even allow you to call them by there first names. The informality
of the first name and the personal cell number allows students to feel more comfortable and not
as intimidated as they would otherwise. The professors are establishing a relationship based more
on companionship rather than a relationship based largely on a power difference. There is more
of a personal connection than there is otherwise with the usual professors. This is a very large
key component to the accepting and openness of the Loras culture.
Acceptance is a very key component to the Loras culture that even when you graduate it
never stops. Loras professors continue to associate and work with students who have graduated
with Loras College. In my time at Loras while walking around various stores in Dubuque or in
other towns or applying for jobs there is always someone who comments on my Loras College
attendance, whether that be from a resume or a shirt that I am wearing. The statement that people
outside of the campus can identify Loras College and even Alumni are so ecstatic to see your
Loras attendance that they will come up to you as a stranger and start a conversation. Personally
I acquired three jobs so far based on the fact that I knew someone who was in the company
higher up that had a degree from Loras or was recommended by someone who was a Loras
Professor. The professors require students to get out of the standard classroom in the desk setting
and require you to meet people in the community. This also introduces you to new people and
spreads the words of Loras. I do not know of very many other schools that almost make it a

requirement for you as a student in college to go out into the community and volunteer or work
with someone in your field as much as Loras.
The cultural fiesta is another very unique Loras College event. Loras College gathers all
of the students that have various talents that may seem a bit different or even just foreign and
they give these students a chance to perform them for all of the students to see. The students
performances range anywhere from traditional tribal dances from Nepal, to rap performances by
someone who is from Minnesota. The uniqueness and the fact that we display this uniqueness
and condone it is very amazing. Loras as an institution is saying that differences are welcome
and that they should be celebrated. Everyone is not going to be equal so instead of fighting over
differences let us celebrate them and learn about them. This is the institution accepting other
cultures and making them feel comfortable and welcome; this is usually supported by a large
majority of the student body as well.
Being known as accepting is very difficult and is often challenged when it comes to ideas
that most people or institutions do not see and appropriate, an example of non-appropriate
behavior would be alcohol. Loras is such an accepting an open institution that it supports
drinking when it is done within the confines of the law. An example of this behavior would be
the Miracle Mile. The seniors put together this drinking event every year at homecoming and
Loras College continues to let it happen in the confines of the law. This may not seem like a very
large deal but this is very huge in the acceptance of the culture. Drinking is often seen as a huge
part in college, as far as in media depiction. The college is accepting the fact that the students
drink and are allowing them to participate in traditions without getting them into trouble or
having problems. This does not condone the drinking of underage adults or condone misbehavior

in condones being responsible and the ability to drink without disobeying the law or creating
problems.
Walking down the halls at Loras the one thing that will stand out is how everyone will
say hello to everyone else or the friendliness that most people have. This means that everyone
knows each other, if you know the people that are around you most likely you will be able to
contribute more and be able to actively participate in things more often. This contributes to the
open and accepting nature of the college because it makes people feel more important. If you are
walking down the halls and have at least two of the five students say a greeting to you, you are
going to smile a bit and feel important. It makes a person feel welcome. It is even this way with
the professors, they want to get to know you on a more personal level and not just your name on
the pages you hand in. The professors want to know where you came from and the experiences
you have had in life. This personal connection allows them the ability to help you make
connections with other people who will be able to give you jobs. The professors often do not
mind being there just to lend an ear to while you are having a rough day.
As mentioned earlier in the paper the idea of being involved with the community. It is
highly encouraged in Loras to be involved everywhere on campus and off. According to
colleges.niche.com nearly 43% of males participate in some sport on Lorass campus. That is not
even the least of it. You as a student are encouraged to join anything from off campus housing
approval boards to residence life, to the sports teams. Being actively involved on Lorass campus
is very condoned and recommended.
Loras College has a wide array of unique events, and even unique people on the campus.
This uniqueness adds to the accepting nature of Loras College. Everything about Loras is about

forming relationships with new people and getting to know other people and broaden more of
your horizons. It is almost required to be involved on campus and in the community. All of the
professors still contact other graduated students and connect current students with them. Even the
dispositions lead people to being actively involved in the communities and being a responsible
contributor in those communities. Loras Colleges culture is one of acceptance and openness, it
is set within the institution to be accepting and open then carried out by the faculty and graduates
then handed down to the current students.

References
CampusDiscovery.com. (n.d.). Retrieved October 13, 2014.
Loras College - Athletics. (2014, January 1). Retrieved October 13, 2014.
Mission, Vision & Values. (2013, January 1). Retrieved October 13, 2014.