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GENERAL
INFORMATION
Fort Lewis College is a four-year, state-assisted undergraduate institution
that offers quality baccalaureate degree programs in the arts and sciences
and in the professional areas of education and business. Fort Lewis has
an enduring commitment to develop and maintain its programs at a level
equal to those of other outstanding undergraduate institutions in the
nation. The following mission statement has been adopted by the State Board of Agriculture, the governing body of Fort Lewis College. The mission of Fort Lewis College is to open minds and kindle thought and action by instilling in students knowledge, a desire to acquire knowledge, the tools for doing so, and an understanding of how knowledge can be put to use for a common good. The experiences students have here should help them learn to live wisely and should make a significant difference in their futures by enabling them to pursue their own educational goals throughout their lives. They should be able to demonstrate thoughtful scholarship in pursuing and weighing knowledge. They should be able to communicate and cooperate with others. The College should also play an active role in the community and the region as a multifaceted learning resource. Fort Lewis College has chosen to pursue its mission via its historic role as an undergraduate, public, four-year liberal arts college. Because of the liberal arts focus, we require common general studies courses which include the fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and the natural sciences in addition to more specialized junior and senior courses offered through the various majors. Our curriculum is designed both to ensure that students understand the values and assumptions implicit in their major fields of study and to prepare them for a rapidly changing world. The College's first obligation is to create a personalized learning environment in which faculty and staff are accessible to all of its students. Therefore excellence in classroom teaching is our first priority. We are committed to hiring experienced faculty and professional staff dedicated to teaching and to working directly with students. The College also supports and encourages research, scholarly inquiry and creative performance by its faculty in order to enhance their work with students and the students' own work. We will continue to acquire the resources necessary to fulfill our primary mission. It
is essential to Fort Lewis College's mission that we contribute to the
cultural diversity and economic development of the Four Corners region.
To play an active role in the community, state and region, we must ensure
that our programs fulfill the needs of our student population and the
residents of our area. Our ethnic and regional heritage must be reflected
in the make-up of our student body, in our special programs, and in our
curriculum. Because of terms established in the original charter of the
College, we have an honored tradition of providing tuition-free education
for American Indian students. The College will continue to enhance educational
opportunities for other minority groups, especially those originating
in the Southwest. While a large percentage of our students should continue
to come from Colorado, the College will encourage enrollment of students
from other regions and from abroad in order to provide a diversified student
body. Fort Lewis College offers a unique educational experience where academic programs link knowledge and practice. Situated at an historical and cultural confluence in the American Southwest, the College is dedicated to undergraduate education that integrates the traditionally separate disciplines of the liberal arts and professional schools. The academic program is designed to help students develop an informed and critical capacity to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. Because individuals define themselves through what they do, the course of study encourages students to cultivate a sense of self through the knowledge, abilities, and values they will carry to a lifetime of meaningful work. The curriculum consists of three essential components: general education, the major, and free electives. Through general education students confront issues about life and work in a complex global and technical culture. General education emphasizes: 1.
an understanding and appreciation of diverse legacies of culture and expression; General education complements the academic major, which provides in-depth mastery of a field of study and continued development of higher order literacies including research, writing, speaking, problem solving, and ethical decision-making. Free electives encourage exploration of academic areas outside the major. The College accomplishes these educational purposes through its traditions of teaching excellence and commitment to close student-faculty and student-student interaction. The College promotes life-long learning for faculty and students alike.
In this context, the College recognizes the primary importance of, and
provides wide opportunities for, preparation for a career -- whether it
be in the arts, in business, in education, in the sciences, or in any
of the many ways a student may desire to serve mankind and self. Fort
Lewis' commitment to providing students with a quality undergraduate education
has been acknowledged through the College's steady growth during the past
36 years. In 1962, about 720 students were enrolled at the College. In
1999-00, enrollment was 4,357. The College continues to maintain the personal,
quality educational experience that only a small undergraduate school
like Fort Lewis can provide. Fort Lewis College is named for Fort Lewis, a U.S. Army Post established in 1878 at Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Two years later, the military post moved to Hesperus, Colorado, a location more central to Indian settlements and pioneer communities. The U.S. government abandoned the site as a military post in 1891, and in its stead, established Fort Lewis as a school offering free education to Native American students. By 1911, Congress had deeded the Hesperus site to the State of Colorado, which then established a high school of agriculture under the supervision of the State Board of Agriculture. The school began to offer some college-level courses in 1925, and in 1933, Fort Lewis began to offer college courses exclusively. In 1948, Fort Lewis was officially designated a junior college with its own president. Fort Lewis moved to the Durango campus in 1956. The first baccalaureate degrees were granted in 1964. And in 1986, Fort Lewis joined the Colorado State University System under the governance of the State Board of Agriculture. Colorado State University in Fort Collins and the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo are sister institutions in the system. Fort
Lewis continues to honor its historic commitment to Native Americans by
offering tuition scholarships to all qualified American Indians who meet
admission requirements. It is the only college in Colorado to do so, as
it has for more than 100 years. Fort
Lewis College sits on a mesa-like terrace overlooking Durango and the
13,000-foot peaks of the La Plata Mountains. With a population of 13,275,
Durango is the largest community in Southwest Colorado and serves as a
hub of commercial activity for a regional population of more than 60,000.
Durango's elevation is 6,500 feet; it's surrounded by the Rocky Mountains,
yet it's only 50 miles away from the deserts of the Southwest. Durango
is about 350 miles from Denver, 200 miles from Albuquerque and 450 miles
from Phoenix. The distinctive architecture of custom stonework found on the Fort Lewis campus reflects the heritage of Southwest Colorado's Anasazi Indians, whose ancient pueblo ruins can be found throughout the region. The architecture is set off by the backdrop of the rugged San Juan Mountains, creating a learning environment of incomparable natural beauty. Academic activities are centered in Hesperus Hall, the Sage Hall, the John F. Reed Library, the Theatre Building, Dan Noble Hall and the academic wing of Berndt Hall. The College Union Building houses a cafeteria, snack bar, post office, bookstore, lounge and meeting rooms, as well as Student Government offices, the student newspaper, public radio station, Outdoor Pursuits and Student Activities. The on-campus Housing Office, Financial Aid Office, Records Office, Native American Center and Health Center are in Miller Student Center.
About 1,580 students live on campus in one of seven residence halls and
three apartment complexes. Physical education and recreation facilities
include a large gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, football stadium, tennis
courts, softball fields, track, nature trails, and, nearby, cross-country
ski tracks in winter and golf course in summer. Fort Lewis College operates on a modified trimester plan. The fall and winter trimesters are each about 15 weeks long. The third trimester also is 15 weeks long but is divided into three five-week sessions. The fall trimester generally begins in late August or early September and ends in mid-December; the winter trimester begins in early January and ends in late April. The three five-week summer sessions extend from about the first of May through early August.
Students who choose to attend all three trimesters can graduate in as
few as two and two-thirds calendar years. Those who attend only during
the winter and fall trimesters graduate in the traditional four years
and often find the long summer a valuable time for employment as well
as for a pleasant vacation period.
Fort Lewis recruits its faculty from the best colleges and universities
in the country. Of the 168 full-time, tenure-track faculty members on
campus during 1999-00, 91 percent held the highest degree attainable (doctorates,
masters of fine arts) in their disciplines. Many of the Fort Lewis faculty
have developed national reputations for excellence in teaching, research
and curriculum development. Because Fort Lewis offers only undergraduate
programs, faculty members have the time to concentrate on their teaching
and to give their students one-on-one attention when needed. Scholastic honor societies maintain chapters at the College to recognize outstanding academic achievement by Fort Lewis students. Among them are the following: Beta Alpha Psi - Beta Alpha Psi is a national honor society and a scholastic, professional and accounting fraternity. The objectives of Beta Alpha Psi include the recognition of outstanding academic achievements in the field of accounting; the promotion of association among members and practicing accountants; the provision of opportunities for self-development; and the encouragement of a sense of ethical, social and public responsibilities. Beta Beta Beta - The Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society was established in 1922 with the goal of encouraging scholarly activity in undergraduate biology education. The Fort Lewis College Chapter, Epsilon Upsilon is among the many chapters that are established nationwide. Membership in the society offers students opportunities to conduct undergraduate research, present findings at local and national meetings, and publish in the Tri-Beta scholarly journal. Tri-Beta activities include trips to scientific laboratories and natural field sites, and well as volunteer work in conservation biology. Beta Gamma Sigma - The National Honor Society in Business and Management. Founded in 1913, Beta Gamma Sigma encourages and rewards scholarship, promotes advancement of education in business and fosters integrity in the conduct of business operations. Kappa Mu Epsilon - Mathematics Honor Society. Kappa Mu Epsilon was founded in 1931 to further the interests of mathematics in schools which place their primary interests in undergraduate programs; to educate the undergraduate on the importance mathematics has played in western civilization; to develop an appreciation for mathematics' demand for logical and rigorous thought; to recognize outstanding achievement in mathematics; and to educate members on advances made in the field. Native American Honor Society - The Fort Lewis College Native American Honor Society was established in 1982 to promote and recognize outstanding scholarship among Native American students on campus. All activities are directed toward public service. Membership is open to junior and senior Native American students with cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 or better. Phi Alpha Theta - The national history honor society recognizes outstanding scholarship among history students. The Fort Lewis chapter was established in 1964-65 and is the college's oldest, continuously active honor society. Phi Epsilon Kappa - A national honor society that recognizes outstanding students in Exercise Science. The society is committed to community service as well as providing educational activities for its members. Membership is open to Exercise Science students with a minimum grade point average of a 3.0 within the Exercise Science major. Phi Kappa Phi - This honor society is the oldest and largest national honor society which recognizes and encourages superior scholarship in all academic disciplines. Established in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi selects members who meet high academic standards from throughout the college community. Fort Lewis College was awarded a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi in 1992, thus recognizing the quality of the college's faculty, students and academic programs. Phi Sigma Iota (Chapter Chi) - This honor society for foreign language students recognizes outstanding scholarship for those who have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, who have completed at least one junior-level course and who rank in the highest 35 percent of their class in general scholarship. Psi Chi - The Psychology Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarship for students majoring in psychology. The society encourages the advancement of psychology through observation, logical thinking and critical - yet tolerant - openmindedness and to continue the effort of understanding human nature. Sigma Delta Pi (Chapter Kappa Tau) - The Hispanic Honor Society recognizes students majoring in Spanish who have completed at least one junior-level Spanish course and have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average in their Spanish courses and overall. Membership in Sigma Delta Pi is the highest academic honor in the field of Spanish studies. The society seeks to develop a better understanding of the language, literature and culture of Spanish-speaking peoples. Sigma Pi Sigma - Sigma Pi Sigma was founded in 1921 and is the only national physics honor society. It is a fully recognized honor society within the Society of Physics Students, a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, and is an affiliated Society of the American Institute of Physics. Sigma Pi Sigma exists to foster interest in physics at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Sigma Tau Delta (Chapter Kappa Psi) - The English Honor Society. Its purpose is to honor undergraduates, graduates and scholars in academia, as well as professional writers who have realized accomplishments in linguistics or literary realms of the English language. Fort Lewis College students who are eligible for membership are those who have successfully completed at least 45 hours of course work with a cumulative grade point of at least 3.25. Sigma
Xi - Sigma Xi was founded in 1886 at Cornell University as an honor
society for scientists, engineers and mathematicians. It rewards excellence
in scientific research and encourages a sense of companionship and cooperation
among scientists in all fields.
The College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges
and Schools. In addition, the School of Business Administration is accredited
by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. The Chemistry
Department offers a bachelor of science degree which is accredited by
the American Chemical Society; and the Music Department is accredited
by the National Association of Schools of Music. Fort Lewis College also
is a member of the American Council of Learned Societies and the Council
of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. To improve instruction and prove that it meets its educational goals, the College regularly assesses students' progress. The College assesses the results of collegewide and departmental programs by using surveys, term papers, senior theses, its own instruments, and nationally standardized tests such as Graduate Record Exams to measure the quality and success of its programs. The College requires all freshmen and seniors to participate in assessments to help the College improve its academic programs and teaching methods. Many departments require their seniors to demonstrate their writing, thinking and values as well as expertise in their major. The faculty has unanimously approved four collegewide goals to be assessed. They are: Learning as Inquiry -- Living, useful learning, not just rote and regurgitation. It is demonstrated by seniors who exhibit curiosity and openness to evidence and have mastered broad bodies of knowledge. Critical Thinking as Problem Solving --Includes complex evaluative reflection that results in effective decisions, plans and actions in real-world contexts. Communication as Intellectual Contribution --Telling an audience something they don't already know by balancing complexity and clarity of argument, clear conceptual organization of evidence, and adaptation to context and audience.
Action as Responsible Application of Academic Learning -- Using
all of the above to make the world a better place. Such action is characterized
by tolerance, respect, and application of academic learning. |