Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus College (/ɡəsˈtvəs/ gəs-TAY-vəs) is a private liberal arts college in St. Peter, Minnesota.[4] It was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans and is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The college retains its Swedish and Lutheran heritage.

Gustavus Adolphus College
MottoE Caelo Nobis Vires[1]
Motto in English
Strength Comes To Us From Heaven
TypePrivate liberal arts
Established1862 (1862)
Religious affiliation
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Endowment$194.4 million (2019)[2]
Budget$135.6 million (2016)[3]
PresidentRebecca M. Bergman
Academic staff
170 full-time
Students2,450
Location, ,
United States
Campus1.38 km2 (0.53 sq mi)
or 138 ha (340 acres)
ColorsBlack and Gold
Nickname"Golden Gusties"
AffiliationsMIAC
Mascot"Gus" the Lion
Websitegustavus.edu

History

Founding

View of the campus c. 1905
"Whatever we do, let us do it well."- The Rev. Eric Norelius

The predecessor to the college was founded in 1862 as a Lutheran parochial school in Red Wing by Eric Norelius. The school offered classes for grade-school children; collegiate courses were not offered until nearly a decade later, but the college uses the earlier date as the year it was founded.[5] Originally named Minnesota Elementarskola (elementary school in Swedish), it moved the following year to East Union, an unincorporated town in Dahlgren Township. In 1865, on the 1,000th anniversary of the death of St. Ansgar, known as the "Apostle of the North", the institution was renamed and incorporated as St. Ansgar's Academy.[5]

Renaming

In April 1873, the college was to be renamed Gustavus Adolphus Literary & Theological Institute in honor of King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden once the final location and buildings were secured. A delegation of residents from St. Peter won favor from the founders to relocate there as a result of an economic crisis and the town's offer of $10,000 and donation of acreage for a larger campus. Courses were initially to start in the fall of 1875 but slow progress on the construction of the first campus building, Old Main, delayed the opening. On October 16, 1876, Gustavus Adolphus College opened at the location that still stands today. It is the oldest of several Lutheran colleges founded in Minnesota. It was founded as a college of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1962 it became affiliated with the Lutheran Church in America, when the Augustana Synod merged into that body. The Lutheran Church in America merged in 1988 to create the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

World War II

During World War II, Gustavus Adolphus College was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a Navy commission.[5]

Founding of the Nobel Conference

The annual Nobel Conference was established in the mid-1960s when college officials asked the Nobel Foundation for permission to name the new science building the Alfred Nobel Hall of Science as a memorial to the Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. Permission was granted, and the facility's dedication ceremony in 1963 included officials from the Nobel Foundation and 26 Nobel Laureates. Following the 1963 Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm, college representatives met with Nobel Foundation officials, asking them to endorse an annual science conference at the college and to allow use of the Nobel name to establish credibility and high standards. At the urging of several prominent Nobel laureates, the foundation granted the request, and the first conference was held at the college in January 1965.

Presidents

  • Eric Norelius, 1862–63, Founder
  • Andrew Jackson, principal 1863–73, acting principal 1874–76
  • John J. Frodeen, principal 1873–74
  • Jonas P. Nyquist, 1876–81
  • Matthias Wahlstrom, 1881–1904
  • Peter A. Mattson, 1904–11
  • Jacob P. Uhler, acting president 1911–1913, 1927
  • Oscar J. "O.J." Johnson, 1913–42
  • Walter Lunden, 1942–43
  • O.A. Winfield, acting president 1943–44
  • Edgar M. Carlson, 1944–1968
  • Albert Swanson, acting president 1968–69
  • Frank Barth, 1968–75
  • Edward A. Lindell, 1975–80
  • Abner W. Arthur, acting president 1980–81
  • John S. Kendall, 1981–91
  • Axel D. Steuer, 1991–2002
  • Dennis J. Johnson, interim president 2002–03
  • James L. Peterson, 2003–08
  • Jack R. Ohle, 2008–14
  • Rebecca M. Bergman, 2014–present

Academics

Curriculum

Gustavus Adolphus College encourages students to work toward a just and peaceful world. The curriculum prepares students for fulfilling lives of leadership and service in society.[6] Students choose from over 70 programs of study with 75 majors in 25 academic departments and three interdisciplinary programs (including 17 honors majors), ranging from physics to religion to Scandinavian studies. Gustavus has been among the top 10 liberal-arts institutions nationally as the baccalaureate origin of physics PhDs.[7] The college has 170 faculty, of whom 94% are tenure-track. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1, creating an average class size of approximately 15. The college's Writing Across the Curriculum program fosters writing skills in all academic disciplines. Since 1983, the college has had a chapter of the academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa.

The school offers an alternative interdisciplinary general education program known as the Three Crowns Curriculum. Recently the college instituted a test-optional admission policy, making it the first private college in Minnesota to forgo the ACT/SAT score requirement on its application.

Since its founding, Gustavus Adolphus College has produced various Fulbright, Goldwater, Marshall, Rhodes,[8] Truman, National Science Foundation, and NCAA Postgraduate fellowship winners and scholars.[9][10]

Rankings

University rankings
National
Forbes[11] 173
THE/WSJ[12] 192
Liberal arts colleges
U.S. News & World Report[13] 77
Washington Monthly[14] 58

In 2017, Gustavus was ranked 77th in the national liberal arts college category and 45th in the Best Value Schools category by U.S. News & World Report.

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education college rankings placed Gustavus 48th on its list of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the United States in 2017,[15] third among Minnesota private colleges. Gustavus placed 140th out of 1,061 institutions measured, including public and private colleges.[16][17]

The 2016 edition of the Washington Monthly college rankings placed Gustavus 58th among liberal arts colleges.

In 2016, Gustavus ranked 74th of 705 colleges and universities in Money magazine. The college also ranked 23rd on the magazine's list of the 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges.[18]

The New York Times ranked Gustavus No. 35 in the United States in their third annual College Access Index of Top Colleges in 2017.[19]

Admissions

In 2016, U.S. News & World Report classified Gustavus Adolphus College as more selective in its National Liberal Arts Ranking.[20] To increase student enrollment, Gustavus offers an expenses-paid "Gustavus Fly-In Program" to US citizens and permanent residents. In 2014, the school had an acceptance rate of 61.1%.[21]

The average ACT score in the middle 50% of enrolled students was between 24 and 30; 78% of students presented the ACT as part of their applications. The average SAT score in the middle 50% of enrolled students was 590–680 for math and 555–690 for reading; 11% of students submitted the SAT as part of their applications.[21] Gustavus is a test-optional admissions policy college, reaffirming its commitment to holistic admissions. A student's coursework is the most important factor in admission. The average high school GPA for incoming freshmen was 3.67.[22]

In 2017, Gustavus expanded scholarship funding for high-achieving students with a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.9 or above and an average composite ACT score of 32–36.[23][24]

Campus

Nicollet is a sculpture by Paul Granlund at Gustavus Adolphus College

The college's first building in St. Peter, affectionately known as Old Main, originally housed the entire college. The campus, known as The Hill, comprises 340 landscaped acres and features science facilities, computer and language labs, and a large dining facility. The campus includes 33 sculptures by the late Minnesota sculptor Paul Granlund, an alumnus of the college who for many years was sculptor-in-residence.

Every tree indigenous to Minnesota is grown in the college's Linnaeus Arboretum. In 2009 students founded Big Hill Farm, which grows produce for the cafeteria and aims to connect the campus to sustainable agriculture. In the fall of 2011, a new social science center, Beck Hall, opened on campus.

Old Main, Gustavus Adolphus College
Old Main
LocationGustavus Adolphus College campus, St. Peter, Minnesota
Arealess than one acre
Built1876
Built byO. N. Ostrom
ArchitectEdward P. Bassford and O. N. Ostrom
Architectural styleItalianate
NRHP reference No.76001065[25]
Added to NRHPMay 12, 1976

Notable buildings

A bust of King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden on campus
Christ Chapel, built in 1959–1961

Old Main

"Old Main" was the first building erected at Gustavus Adolphus College. Its cornerstone was laid on August 12, 1875.[26] Contracted to O. N. Ostrom and constructed from Kasota limestone, the total cost of the building was estimated at $25,000.[26] Old Main was completed in 1876 and dedicated on October 31 of that year. Originally called the School Building, as more buildings were erected it became known as the Main Building and by 1905 as Old Main.[26]

The building was heated by wood stoves and housed the entire college in the institution's first years. It originally contained several classrooms and sleeping quarters for students, faculty, and the president as well as a kitchen, dining room, chapel, library, and museum.[27] Until 1920, it was tradition for seniors to gather on the building's roof for a sunrise breakfast the morning of commencement.[27]

On its 50th anniversary in 1926, Old Main underwent a renovation from funds provided by the Minnesota Conference.[26] The 1998 tornado, which destroyed much of the Gustavus campus, damaged Old Main's bell tower. In 2005 another renovation was completed; the building now houses the Office of the Chaplains and the religion, political science, philosophy, and classics departments.

A popular ghost story surrounding Old Main is the tale told by former Chaplain Richard Elvee of two deceased Gustavus security officers, Harley and Barney, occasionally wandering its halls while he composed his sermons on Sunday mornings.[28]

Christ Chapel

Christ Chapel is a church in the center of Gustavus Adolphus College. Constructed from March 2, 1959, to fall 1961, the chapel was dedicated on January 7, 1962. Its construction was made possible by gifts from the congregations of the Lutheran Augustana Synod, a predecessor body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which is affiliated with the college. Ecumenical services are held each weekday and on Sundays during the academic year. There is seating for 1,500 people in the chapel, 1,200 on the main floor and 300 in the balcony. It is the largest seating area on campus.

The chapel and surrounding grounds are adorned by the sculptures of Paul T. Granlund, the former artist-in-residence at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Christ Chapel's organ was originally built by Hillgreen-Lane when the Chapel was built. It has been significantly altered in the last 30 years. These renovations, carried out by David Engen and more recently by the Hendrickson Organ Company of St. Peter, include a new console with solid-state combination and relay, moving several ranks of pipes from an antiphonal position in the basement into the main organ above the balcony, restructuring the Swell mixture, and extensive repairs after the 1998 tornado. It has 55 speaking ranks of pipes, played from a four-manual console, and a preparation on the new Great chest for a mounted Kornet V stop.[29] The Chapel also houses a small portative organ of three stops on one manual that is used for accompanying and especially for continuo playing in Baroque compositions.

On March 29, 1998, the chapel's spire was toppled by the tornado that left most of St. Peter, Minnesota in ruins. On March 17, 2008, the cross that had been atop the spire was hung from the chapel's ceiling during a service marking the 10-year anniversary of the tornado.

Disasters

  • On January 8, 1970, the Auditorium was completely gutted by a fire, after which it was not rebuilt.
  • On March 29, 1998, the college's campus was hit by a mile-wide F3 tornado that broke 80 percent of the windows, leveled nearly 2,000 trees, toppled the chapel's spire, and caused more than $50 million in damages. This is considered one of the most expensive college disasters in history. There was only one death (not a Gustavus student) despite the tornado's widespread path, most likely because most students were away on spring break at the time. Hundreds of volunteers worked to get the campus back into a condition where the students could return after a three-week hiatus. Still, some classes were held in FEMA trailers as some campus buildings were too severely damaged.

Campus life

Students and alumni of the college are known as Gusties. Most students live in 14 residence halls on campus or in college-owned houses/apartments; a small minority live in theme areas such as the Carlson International Center, CHOICE substance-free housing, and the Swedish House. Students with permission from the college may choose to live off campus, in St. Peter or elsewhere.

The college has an independently operated dining service, serving the Market Place cafeteria and Courtyard Cafe.

Gustavus Adolphus College Crest

Traditions

Gustavus traditions include traying down the hill from Old Main in the winter, random Gustie Rousers, stargazing on top of the academic building Olin, playing tennis in the Bubble, and streaking through the Linnaeus Arboretum. Gustie traditions are mostly exclusively known by Gusties.[30]

Student organizations

There are more than 120 special interest groups and organizations at Gustavus. Students are very engaged on campus. In 2015, the Carnegie Foundation designated Gustavus a "community-engaged campus"—the highest national distinction available for higher education.[31]

Active student organizations on campus have included Model United Nations, the National Forensics Debate team, and the Gustavian Society of Filmmakers. Students are encouraged to create their own clubs or teams and apply to Student Senate for funding.

Nearly 1/5 of students are active in Greek life at Gustavus. There are ten recognized Greek organizations on campus (some have been suspended and are no longer recognized by the college).

Music

Many musical ensembles perform throughout the year, including the Gustavus Choir, the Choir of Christ Chapel, the Lucia Singers, the Gustavus Adolphus Symphony Orchestra, Gustavus Wind Orchestra, Gustavus Jazz Lab Band, etc.

In 1942, Percy Grainger, writing in The Musical Quarterly, publicized the "pathbreaking activities"—as an historically appropriate ensemble—of the college's A Capella Choir and chamber orchestra, which toured a series of concerts of music from the 13th to 20th centuries. He praised the "rare value", "practical skill" and "subtle esthetic intuition" of conductor G. Adolph Nelson.[32]

Grainger had an opportunity to observe the work of Nelson, the choir and orchestra at close quarters by touring and performing with them that year. Nelson was the college's musical director from 1930 to 1945 and the driving force behind a group that toured the eastern states, winning both critical acclaim and financial success. He was particularly concerned to revive and share the music of the chapel, including not just voices but also the instruments that supported them, including organ, brass and strings. "Nelson, through his dedication to choral singing and to Gustavus Adolphus College, his innate musicality, and his pioneering spirit, gave birth to the ensemble now known as the Gustavus Choir."[33]

Theatre and dance

Gustavus has a very active theatre program. Theater and dance events are a vibrant part of Gustie life, with shows every fall and spring and a musical every other year. Students do not need to be a part of the theatre program to audition for plays. The Gustavus Dance Company and the Apprentice Company hold open auditions and perform a fully produced set of work.

Art

There are two art galleries on campus, the Hillstrom Museum of Art and the Schaefer Art Gallery.

Study abroad

The college's study abroad program has included internships at BNU-HKBU United International College in Zhuhai, China.[34] Gustavus is also a member of the Intercollegiate Sri Lanka Education (ISLE) consortium, run by Bowdoin College.[35]

Athletics

Gustavus is a founding member of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, MIAC. Key sports at the college are tennis, swimming & diving, golf, basketball, ice hockey, football, and soccer. The school's team name is the Golden Gusties, represented by a lion mascot because Gustavus Adolphus was known as "The Lion of the North." Gustavus has had three players drafted in the NFL Draft: Russ Buckley in 1940, Kurt Ploeger in 1985, and Ryan Hoag in 2003. On March 26, 2014, Gustavus announced it would not continue its men's and women's Nordic skiing team.

Varsity sports

The Gustavus women's softball team placed third in the NCAA Division III national tournament in 2009. The Gustavus men's hockey team placed second in the NCAA Division III national tournament in 2009. The Gustavus soccer team finished second in the NCAA Division III national tournament in 2005—led in part by three-time all-American Robert "Bobby" Kroog. In 2003 the Gustavus men's basketball team finished second in the NCAA Division III national tournament. In the middle of the twentieth century, the Gustavus football team was coached by long-time coach/AD Moose Malmquist. In addition, the women's hockey team has won seven conference titles, including six straight, and has placed in the top four nationally in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2010. The Gustavus men's tennis team have made 11 consecutive appearances at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Gustavus Adolphus College hosted the 2013 USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championships at the Swanson Indoor Tennis Center and Brown Outdoor Courts in St. Peter, Minnesota. In 2003 Steve Wilkinson's squad placed third at the NCAA Division III Championships as well as a first-place finish at the ITA Indoor Championships. Steve Wilkinson retired in 2009 as the winningest coach in college tennis history with a record of 929–279. Gustavus player Eric Butorac, closed out his senior season of 2003 by winning both the NCAA Division III singles and doubles championships, with Kevin Whipple as his partner. In 2003, Eric Butorac turned pro. He is now a doubles specialist, and has achieved success being the no. 3 ranked American doubles player for the bulk of the past six years.

A couple of women alumni who played ice hockey at Gustavus, have gone on to represent the United States at the 2016 Women's Bandy World Championship, and one represents the Unified Korean team at the 2018 Winter Olympics.[36]

Directors' Cup

Gustavus placed 8th in the 2008–09 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings. The Directors' Cup is the only all-sports competition in intercollegiate athletics.[37] In Division III, standings are based on national tournament finishes in 18 sports. In 2002–03 Gustavus placed a school-best sixth in the Directors' Cup standings.

Fight Song

Also known as the Gustie Rouser;

Come on you Gusties, Fight on, Fight on. Shout out the battle cry of victory. Come on you Gusties fight to the end, fight on for dear old G – A – C. Gusties will shine tonight, Gusties will shine, Gusties will shine tonight, Gusties will shine. Beat 'em, bust 'em, that's our custom, Gusties will shine!

Media

Gustavus Adolphus College is home to several publications and broadcasters:

  • The Gustavian Weekly, first published in 1920, is the campus newspaper. Its predecessor was the College Breezes. In addition, there were various other names for the student paper from June 1891 into 1902.
  • Firethorne is an arts and literary magazine published twice per year. Students submit short stories, poetry, creative nonfiction, photography, visual art, or other creative content.
  • KGSM is a webcast-only radio station operated entirely by students. The studio moved to the Beck Academic Hall in 2011 to improve the quality of its webstream and added a digital audio workstation.
  • The newest campus media outlet is GAC TV. Started by a group of students interested in bringing television broadcasting to campus, GAC TV became an instant success when students started watching the weekly show before free on-campus films.
  • The Gustavian yearbook publishes a yearbook for each class and dates back to 1920 with predecessor publications released under different names dating back to 1904.
  • TV broadcasts from Gustavus are released over Internet II.
  • An alumni magazine, the Gustavus Quarterly, features articles of interest to graduates.

Notable alumni

Academics

Margaret Anderson Kelliher, former Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives

Arts and entertainment, journalists, writers

James M. McPherson Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author

Business

Actor Peter Krause

Politics and public service

Sports

  • Marissa Brandt, South Korean ice hockey player (known by her legal name in Minnesota, not her birth name, Park Yoon-jung)
  • Eric Butorac, professional tennis player and 2011 Australian Open doubles semi-finalist
  • Wendell Butcher, American football player
  • Kurt Ploeger, professional football player
  • Earl Witte, professional football player

Notable faculty

See also

References

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  2. As of May 31, 2019. "Gustavus Adolphus College Statements of Financial Position May 31, 2019" (PDF). Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP. 2019. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  3. Kennedy, Patrick. "Minnesota Nonprofit 100". StarTribune News. Minneapolis StarTribune. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  4. "Economic diversity and student outcomes at Gustavus Adolphus". The New York Times.
  5. Waldhauser, Steve (2011). "Songs of Thy Triumph – A Short History of Gustavus Adolphus College" (PDF). St. Peter, Minnesota: Gustavus Adolphus College. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  6. "Mission and Core Values". Gustavus Adolphus College. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  7. "ncsesdata.nsf.gov – WebCASPAR|Home – US National Science Foundation (NSF)". ncsesdata.nsf.gov. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  8. Ap (December 10, 1990). "RHODES SCHOLARS SELECTED FOR 1991". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  9. Ap (December 10, 1990). "RHODES SCHOLARS SELECTED FOR 1991". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  10. List, The Chronicle (February 19, 2017). "Top Producers of Fulbright Scholars and Students, 2016–17". The Chronicle of Higher Education. ISSN 0009-5982. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  11. "America's Top Colleges 2019". Forbes. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  12. "Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2021". Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  13. "Best Colleges 2021: National Liberal Arts Colleges". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  14. "2020 Liberal Arts Rankings". Washington Monthly. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  15. "Best liberal arts colleges in the United States". Times Higher Education (THE). January 11, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  16. "Explore The Full Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings". The Wall Street Journal. September 28, 2016. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  17. "Gustavus Adolphus College". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  18. "Money Magazine's new college rankings finally get it right for students". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  19. "Top Colleges Doing the Most for the American Dream". The New York Times. May 25, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  20. "US NEWS GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE". Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  21. "Gustavus Adolphus College | Minnesota's Private Colleges". www.mnprivatecolleges.org. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  22. "Should I Apply? – Admission | Admission". gustavus.edu. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  23. "Anonymous alumni commit $40 million to Gustavus Adolphus". Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  24. "$40 Million Commitment is Largest Gift in Gustavus Adolphus College History – The landmark gift will position Gustavus among the elite liberal arts colleges in the nation for years to come.Posted on July 11th, 2017 by JJ Akin '11". Gustavus Adolphus College. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  25. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  26. "The Dedication of 'Old Main': the fiftieth anniversary." Gustavus Adolphus College, 1926. Print.
  27. "Dedication Ceremony: on the occasion of the renovation of the Old Main building." Gustavus Adolphus College, 2005. Print.
  28. Freiert, William K. "Old Main Rededication Remarks." Rededication of Old Main. October 8, 2005. Print.
  29. "Christ Chapel". Gustavus Adolphus College.
  30. "Gustavus Traditions". The Gustavian Weekly. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  31. "Carnegie Selects Colleges and Universities for 2015 Community Engagement Classification – Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching". Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  32. Grainger, Percy Aldridge (April 1, 1942). "The culturizing possibilities of the instrumentally supplemented a cappella choir". The Musical Quarterly. XXVIII (2): 163. doi:10.1093/mq/XXVIII.2.160.
  33. Holdhusen, David (2011). Commitment to Musical Excellence: The 75 Year History of the Gustavus Choir. EBSCO ebook academic collection. Cambridge Scholars Pub. pp. 16–32. ISBN 978-1-44382-804-8.
  34. "UIC welcomes 20 international interns aboard". United International College. Archived from the original on November 18, 2016.
  35. http://www.bowdoin.edu/isle/pdf/ISLE_brochure_2016_Bowdoin.pdf
  36. "From Hockey to Bandy: Gustavus Alumnae to Compete in World Bandy Championship This Weekend" Posted on February 18th, 2016 by Nick Hoelmer, read on February 19, 2016
  37. "NACDA.COM :: NACDA Official Web Site".

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