Academics
A liberal arts school near Tacoma, Washington, Pacific Lutheran University 鈥渙ffers [a] well-rounded education and encourages students to be active participants in the world鈥 by encouraging students to lead 鈥渓ives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership and [to] care for other people, their communities, and their planet.鈥 Students say that the school emphasizes 鈥渟ustainability and social justice鈥 and 鈥減rovides various opportunities to learn about community, culture, their importance, and our impact on them.鈥 Students say that PLU provides them 鈥渨ith [a] quality education鈥 and a curriculum that 鈥渟eeks to educate their students in thoughtful and diverse discussions while teaching [them] to be thoughtful of our environment and community.鈥 They say that through this 鈥渄istinctive education [PLU] sets itself apart from other colleges.鈥 Students find their professors to be 鈥渒ind, understanding, [and] very knowledgeable and interested in their subject.鈥 PLU professors 鈥済enuinely enjoy educating鈥 and 鈥渁re capable of holding interest as well as teaching in a functional way鈥 because they are 鈥渆ngaging and passionate about their subject matter.鈥 Students enjoy the typical PLU teaching style that places a greater emphasis on discussion and group activities, explaining that 鈥渄iscussion and activity time make learning much more exciting.鈥 Some PLU students said that their professors 鈥渁re not afraid to challenge us,鈥 and while some students were 鈥渙verwhelmed at first,鈥 all agree that the majority of the faculty 鈥渁re accessible and friendly and obviously care about their students.鈥 Many students complain that the school needs to 鈥渂ecome more diverse in its student and faculty population.鈥
Student Body
The typical PLU student is 鈥渆ngaged in the on-campus community and interested in the surrounding community,鈥 鈥減assionate about their major,鈥 鈥渂ut often [focused] even more on social justice and community service.鈥 Students say that 鈥渋t takes a couple weeks to adjust to the new scenery and structure,鈥 but because the 鈥渟tudents are welcoming and there are many ways and places to get involved on campus,鈥 鈥渋t is easy to reach out to find who you will really fit in with.鈥 Many students stressed to us that 鈥渆very student is unique, and . . . weirdness is encouraged.鈥 PLU students value 鈥渁n understanding of larger global issues,鈥 but some criticize the student body as being 鈥減rivileged, with no concept of life outside of privilege.鈥 Indeed, many agree that the student body skews demographically towards 鈥渨hite, middle-upper middle class鈥 鈥渉eterosexual female Lutheran[s]鈥 from the Pacific Northwest and that the school would benefit from greater diversity. But students who 鈥渄on鈥檛 fit with all of those鈥 categories say they 鈥渁lways feel welcome and feel like I fit in.鈥
Campus Life
Living on campus is obligatory for all students 鈥渢he first two years or until they turn 20, then most people live either within a few blocks . . . or move into the campus-owned apartment buildings, which are really nice.鈥 Despite 鈥渁 large commuter population,鈥 鈥渢here is still a lively community of students that live near campus.鈥 PLU doesn鈥檛 have a Greek system, 鈥渂ut there are still 鈥減arty houses鈥 and there are open parties around campus every weekend.鈥 On campus students can choose from 鈥渁 lot of different groups to join, . . . and because of our proximity to mountains and other outdoor activities there is a huge community of outdoorsy people鈥 who 鈥渓ove to hike around here on different trails or mountains.鈥 In fact the school鈥檚 鈥淥utdoor Recreation takes trips of students for low costs to amazing things like rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, [and] snowshoeing.鈥 Students also 鈥渓ove to go to concerts for a wide variety of music鈥 and enjoy 鈥渋n-depth talks about current issues.鈥
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