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.
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 History of the William R. Kellett School of Adult Education
To meet the needs of a growing population of working adults, the college established its Lifelong Learning program, which was accredited in 1978 and is now known as the William R. Kellett School of Adult Education or the Evening, Weekend and Online Program. Lifelong Learning began with three off-campus locations. There are currently seven centers throughout the state of Wisconsin and Lakeland University Online.
The John Esch Library
The John Esch Library is located at the center of the main 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. 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, Credo Reference, EBSCOhost, JSTOR, Morningstar, Naxos Music Library, Nexis Uni, Opposing Viewpoints, the Oxford English Dictionary, ProQuest, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, 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’s 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. or M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development 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, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (R.N. to B.S.N. Completion Program) degree(s) 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 12-week online and BlendEd® courses in the fall, spring, and summer and 7-week online 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 predictable access to an outside Internet provider 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 four degrees: the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling, the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), the Master of Education (M.Ed.), and the Master of Science (M.S.) in Leadership and Organizational Development.
The Lakeland Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Counseling provides 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, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs.
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 courses to integrate 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, hospitality management, human resource management, nonprofit leadership, project management, sport leadership 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.) offers classroom teachers and department heads who seek opportunities for intellectual and professional growth within the context of a liberal arts education.
The Lakeland Master of Science (M.S.) in Leadership and Organizational Development degree program equips students with the essential skills for successful careers in leadership and management positions. This graduate program provides returning adult students relevant knowledge for employability, professional advancement and enhancing career opportunities for seeking initial employment, employment change, career progression, and personal development. Courses will prepare students to navigate an ever changing and competitive work environment, become an effective leader, and develop skills, knowledge and ability in many facets of today’s complex organizations, including the growing need for competent leaders who can effectively guide change and strategic management. Students may take elective courses in traditional business areas such as accounting, finance or marketing or pursue a concentration area of their choice.
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 in the English language, except those offerings of 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
Degree Completion Partnership (Graphic Design Major-MATC-Milwaukee)
- Articulated partnership with Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC-Milwaukee) for students earning an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design.
- Students should discuss the option with their MATC advisors who work with Lakeland University staff to gain entry into this program.
Students must complete the Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design at MATC and transfer relevant coursework to Lakeland (70 semester hours).
Students apply for admission to Lakeland’s Graphic Design degree program and complete the following coursework (offered at the LU Milwaukee Center, MATC campus location or other delivery formats, online, BlendEd®, BlendEd® LIVE):
Note: The following lists the minimum requirements for program completion. Additional coursework may be required based on an analysis of transfer credits.
Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements Remaining:
Graphic Design Major Requirements Remaining:
Graphic Design Elective Requirements:
Students must complete fifteen (15) semester hours from the following:
General Electives
- Students must complete twenty (20) semester hours of general electives to earn 120 total semester hours to degree.
Degree Completion Partnership (Graphic Design Major-NWTC)
- Articulated partnership with Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) for students earning an Associate of Applied Science in Design and Graphic Technology.
- Students should discuss this option with their NWTC advisors who work with Lakeland University staff to gain entry into this program.
Students must complete the Associate of Applied Science in Design and Graphic Technology at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College and transfer relevant coursework to Lakeland (71 semester hours).
Students apply for admission to Lakeland’s Graphic Design degree completion program and complete the following coursework (offered at the LU Green Bay Center, NWTC campus location or other delivery formats, online, BlendEd®, BlendEd® LIVE):
Note: The following lists the minimum requirements for program completion. Additional coursework may be required based on an analysis of transfer credits.
Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements Remaining:
Graphic Design Major Requirements Remaining:
Graphic Design Elective Requirements:
Students must complete seven (7) semester hours from the following:
General Electives
- Students must complete twenty-one (21) semester hours of general electives to earn 120 total semester hours to degree.
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