History of Lakeland University
Lakeland University traces its beginnings to German immigrants who traveled to North America and eventually to the Sheboygan area where they settled in 1847. Even as they struggled for food and shelter, these pioneers thought in terms of higher education for their children.
In 1862, they built Missionshaus (Mission House), a combined academy-college-seminary. The school provided training in the liberal arts followed by a traditional seminary curriculum, as most of the students were destined to become ministers. As the needs of students changed, Mission House gradually broadened its purpose. By the end of the century, enrollment was no longer limited to pre-theological students and the college had developed strong programs of study in a number of disciplines.
A talented, scholarly faculty set high standards for the college early in its existence, standards which have been maintained to this day. Known simply as Mission House for 95 years, the college adopted the name Lakeland in 1956. Higher education was evolving, and the seminary moved to Minneapolis/St. Paul in 1962 to become United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. The era of Mission House had ended, but Lakeland College became heir to its campus, tradition, and educational mission.
Over the next 60 years, Lakeland evolved to meet the needs of students around the state and around the world. Beginning in 1978, Lakeland began to meet the needs of a growing population of working adults who sought advanced coursework by developing evening degree programs at seven centers throughout Wisconsin. Accreditation was extended to online undergraduate degree programs in 1998 and graduate programs in 2002. Today, students taking classes in Lakeland’s Evening, Weekend and Online program make up a significant percentage of the university’s student body.
Lakeland also delivers an accredited program through its branch campus in Tokyo, Japan. Lakeland’s Japan campus was developed in 1989-90, gained accreditation in 1991 and 1993, and uses the Wisconsin campus’s general education requirements as the foundation for its Associate of Arts degree. In December 2005, Lakeland College Japan became the second U. S. branch campus in Japan to receive official Japanese recognition as an institution of higher education.
In 2016, the institution changed its name to Lakeland University in order to reflect the broad array of programming it provides. However, its core identity as an independent, private, liberal arts university related to the United Church of Christ remains. The university’s undergraduate and graduate programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Lakeland’s teacher education program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation Programs (CAEP).
The ambition of Lakeland University is less to be large than to be effective; its aim is not to rank first in size, but to rank first in helping students realize their potential for intellectual growth. Valuing excellence above all else, Lakeland’s commitment is to enhance student access to educational resources, student closeness to faculty and staff mentors, and student success in both classrooms and careers.
The John Esch Library
The John Esch Library is located at the center of campus and is open to all Lakeland University students. The library’s collection includes more than 71,000 books. The university also subscribes to over 200 academic journals, newspapers, and magazines. The library contains a computer lab, group study rooms, and individual study space. As a member of the Monarch Catalog of the Monarch Library System, the university has local access to over 1,400,000 additional items. Lakeland students also have access to the following academic databases: BadgerLink, EBSCOhost, ProQuest, JSTOR, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, LexisNexis, Morningstar, Opposing Viewpoints, the Oxford English Dictionary, Psychotherapy.net, Sage, and Value Line.
Academic Programs
Lakeland offers students the opportunity to pursue graduate and undergraduate degrees in several locations and through several modalities:
Lakeland’s Main Campus
Students may take any of Lakeland’s degree programs at the main campus. Over 30 majors and three bachelor’s degrees (B.A., B.F.A., and B.S.) are available at Lakeland’s 240-acre main campus, which is located 12 miles northwest of Sheboygan in rural, eastern Wisconsin. The university is 60 miles north of Milwaukee, 120 miles northeast of Madison, and 60 miles south of Green Bay. The campus is in close proximity to Lake Michigan and the picturesque Kettle Moraine State Forest. Lakeland’s bachelor degrees require the completion of 120 semester hours with a minimum grade-point-average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. During the admissions process, qualified students may apply for a special program allowing them to complete a B.A. and M.B.A. in five years, all at the main campus.
Students at the main campus may also complete an Associate of Arts degree (A.A.) or an Associate of Science degree (A.S.). Each program requires a minimum of 60 semester hours of coursework with a minimum grade-point-average of 2.0. The specific course requirements include but are not limited to those listed as the Interdisciplinary Studies course requirements of the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees at the freshman and sophomore levels (100- and 200-level courses).
The William R. Kellett School of Adult Education
In addition to its on-campus programs, Lakeland offers working adults and other non-traditional students the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree in a variety of majors through The William R. Kellett School of Adult Education. Utilizing several delivery modalities, students taking courses through the Kellett School may participate in online, on-ground or BlendEd® classes through one or more of the off-campus centers: Chippewa Valley, Fox Cities, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Sheboygan, Wisconsin Rapids, Kohler Company, and at other corporate locations throughout the state. The Kellett School offers 14-week online and BlendEd® courses in the Fall and Spring, 10-week online and BlendEd® courses in the Summer, and 7-week online accelerated courses throughout the year. Such courses link faculty and students from many different locations into interactive learning groups via academic software and computer networks. Online courses require all students to have access to an outside Internet provider that is required for research, class projects and connection to download/upload class notes.
While students in the William R. Kellett School do not enjoy all of the benefits available to traditional undergraduate students (for example, participation in athletics, student government, and access to on-campus facilities), they do have access to the university’s online library resources, and receive a challenging, academically rigorous program of study.
The William R. Kellett School of Adult Education also provides students the opportunity to complete graduate degrees through online and BlendEd® courses. Students may pursue one of three degrees: the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), the Master of Education (M.Ed.), and the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling.
The Lakeland Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree program, especially designed for working adults, provides a broad-based professional education consisting of post-graduate coursework which integrates research, case studies, computer technology, and other instructional processes. The objectives of the program include an understanding of business and economic problems and the development and refinement of managerial skills to address these problems in the context of the global workplace. Students interested in furthering their professional goals in accounting, finance, healthcare management, human resource management, project management, and supply chain management may pursue emphases in these areas. Students may also work with the program director to build an emphasis specific to their interests.
The Lakeland Master of Education degree in Teaching and Professional Development (M.Ed.) is designed for classroom teachers and department heads who are seeking opportunities for intellectual and professional growth within the context of a liberal arts education.
The Lakeland Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling degree is designed to provide a broad-based education in counseling for professionals in the field and for interested educators. Students accepted into this program can pursue an emphasis in one of three areas: Early Childhood through Adolescence School Counseling, Community Counseling, or Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs.
Lakeland University Japan (LUJ)
Lakeland maintains an accredited branch campus in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo branch campus offers Japanese students an intensive English language program and an accredited Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree program. All classes at Lakeland University Japan are conducted in English, except those offering foreign language instruction.
American students from Lakeland University and from other accredited colleges and universities in the United States may also study at Lakeland University Japan as part of their undergraduate program. The Study Abroad at LUJ program provides the opportunity to study Japanese language and culture while continuing a student’s undergraduate education. No prior Japanese language proficiency is required.
Special Academic Programs
Five-Year B.A. to M.B.A.
The 5-year program leading to Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degrees is designed for high-achieving, goal-oriented students who are committed to completing an M.B.A. as part of their professional education. Students admitted to this program will complete the requirements for and graduate with the B.A. in four years of study, and complete the M.B.A. degree by the end of the fifth year. Students must achieve a satisfactory level of academic performance to be eligible for expedited M.B.A. admission and must adhere to the prescribed schedule for program completion to achieve both degrees in five years.
Pre-Nursing
Lakeland University partners with Columbia College of Nursing (CCON) in Milwaukee to offer students the opportunity to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Students earn an Associate of Science degree by completing their general education and prerequisite sequence at Lakeland over two years, then complete their nursing coursework at CCON, earning a bachelor’s degree in nursing from CCON. Interested students may either apply for direct admission to the CCON program upon initial application to Lakeland or may apply for admission at a later point in their Lakeland career. Students who are directly admitted upon initial application must complete all required prerequisites with prescribed minimum grades in order to retain their direct admission to CCON.
Pre-Pharmacy
Lakeland University has partnered with Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW) School of Pharmacy (SOP) in Mequon to offer students an opportunity to complete preparatory coursework to qualify and apply for admission for the Doctorate of Pharmacy degree at CUWSOP while earning a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Lakeland University. Lakeland students complete their general education and the designated emphasis in the Biochemistry curriculum in order to meet prerequisite/admission course requirements at CUWSOP. Students that earn a cumulative 2.75 GPA, have a C or better in all pre-pharmacy courses, achieve a composite score of 35 on the PCAT(to be taken no later than July prior to the student’s third year), have notified his or her academic advisor of entry into the program in order to be connected with a CUWSOP admissions counselor, and submitted the PharmCAS application by March 1 (CUWSOP Early Decision process requires earlier submission) of their third year will be guaranteed an interview at CUWSOP. Admitted students will start at CUWSOP in the student’s fourth year. Upon successful completion of the student’s fourth year coursework, taken at CUWSOP, the student will receive a BS in Biochemistry from Lakeland University.
Programs Abroad
Pursuant to the university’s mission to prepare students for life in a diverse, global society, and to its intent to make the campus both a port of entry to the world for American students and a port of entry to American higher education for other students from around the world, Lakeland offers a variety of short and long term study abroad opportunities, and encourages students to participate in one of these exciting opportunities. For more information on any of these programs, please contact the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.
In addition to the Lakeland study abroad programs listed below, other programs are available on a case-by-case basis. Students may also participate in a wide array of programs around the world, available through Lakeland’s membership in the Wisconsin Association of Colleges and Universities (WAICU).
Tama University in Japan
Lakeland maintains an exchange program with Tama University in Japan. Students pursuing majors or minors through the School of Business and Entrepreneurship are eligible to participate in this program. All classes in Tama University’s School of Global Studies are conducted in English. No prior Japanese language proficiency is required.
Foreign Study Semester in Germany
The university offers guest semesters in Germany to all students with knowledge of German, regardless of major. Students are eligible to study for one or two semesters at Universität Kassel or Universität Marburg. The semesters in Germany include intensive German language practice, study trips, foreign student orientation and assistance in selecting classes for the regular semester. A one-month long summer seminar in Germany may also be available.
London Theatre Trip
The university offers on a regular basis an eleven-day study tour in England where students see and analyze five productions performed by some of the most prestigious theatrical companies in the West. The course focuses on productions in Stratford-upon-Avon and London. Past groups have seen Taming of the Shrew, Cats, Billy Elliot, Volpone, Phantom of the Opera, Tales from Ovid, Winter’s Tale, and a variety of others. Also included in the trip is a full-day tour to Bath and Stonehenge, and a London Underground pass. Students have also gone on walking tours to Anne Hathaway’s cottage, locales around London frequented by the Beatles, and the British Museum, the Tower of London, and Warwick Castle.
Spanish Language Programs
Lakeland University has a sister school relationship with the Universidad Reformada in Barranquilla, Colombia. Opportunities during summer term for Spanish language study are also available in Spain and Latin America. These programs are coordinated by the Spanish department in cooperation with other Lakeland University departments and/or outside agencies.
Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture
This escorted course is conducted at Lakeland’s sister school, Shanghai Finance University (SFU) in Pudong, metropolitan Shanghai. Costs are minimized through Lakeland’s collaborative arrangement with SFU. No prior Chinese language proficiency is required.
Tropical Biology Program
The Lakeland University Biology Program offers an intensive study abroad program in Belize every two years. This program is designed for junior and senior biology majors and explores tropical terrestrial and aquatic ecology as well as exposing students to past and present Central American cultures.
University of Luxembourg
Lakeland University students are eligible to spend a semester studying at the University of Luxembourg. Located in the heart of Europe, Luxembourg is a small country located between France, Belgium, and Germany. The University of Luxembourg offers many programs in English, including courses in business, economics, biology, chemistry, computer science, and education to name a few. More information about the University of Luxembourg and their programs may be found at http://wwwen.uni.lu/.
Program for Alumni Career Enhancement (PACE)
Lakeland University’s unique Program for Alumni Career Enhancement (PACE) offers Lakeland University bachelor’s degree graduates the opportunity to return to the classroom to achieve their evolving career goals. A Lakeland graduate can strengthen a major or minor, add a new major or minor, develop a new area of concentration, or complete certification requirements for a new profession. This program offers on-campus Lakeland traditional undergraduate program courses to alumni at a reduced cost.
A Lakeland University graduate returning under the PACE program will not receive a second degree and will not receive another diploma if the degrees are the same. The new major and/or minor will appear on the student’s transcript as an additional major and/or minor. For example: The graduate would receive a second degree and diploma if the first degree earned was a Bachelor of Arts and is now completing a Bachelor of Science.
For more information on these programs, please refer to the Academic Rules, Policies, & Information and Curriculum sections of this catalog.
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