Enrollment numbers see dynamic change

With its largest incoming class in years, Luther’s enrollment of students of color and international students has also risen. The class of 2013 contains the most students of color since 1971 and the most international students since 2001.

One reason for a 61 percent increase in students of color is Admission’s new recruiting strategies in urban America.

“Instead of recruiting directly, we try to identify programs throughout the country to help communicate with low-income, first-generation students,” Keith Lesmeister, admissions counselor, said.

Working with programs such as Mission Possible, Gear Up and Upward Bound, Luther supplements their efforts trying to place inner-city youth in the right environment.

“We ask students if they are interested in getting out of their current environment,” Lesmeister said. “If they are, Luther and Decorah could be a good change of scenery.”

Luther is also trying to distance itself from other colleges who employ an “all or nothing” attitude toward prospective students who are considering other institutions.

“Part of what is driving what we do in admissions is service related,” said Lesmeister. “It is important to reach out to students who come from disadvantaged situations. At the very least, we want to give them opportunities they’ve never had.”

If Luther isn’t the right fit for a prospective student, Luther shifts its focus to finding the right place for them.

“As a society that values education, we should try to help get students to college,” Lesmeister said.

With the highest number of incoming international students in eight years, Luther’s total nears 130. It should not be overlooked that those 130 students represent nearly 50 different countries, something that has declined in the post-9/11 world.

Jon Lund, Associate Dean for Student Life and Director, was asked by the Luther Board of Regents to increase these numbers.

“I have focused not only on getting the overall number of international students back to roughly 150, but also [to increase] the range of countries represented,” Lund said. “We have been more intentional in meeting the goals they have set forth.”

The recruitment of international students, something that Luther has been involved in for more than twenty years, requires a collective effort from the Luther community.

“Our international students, alums, and parents are some of our best recruiters,” Lund said. “Word of mouth is very effective.”

But word of mouth cannot do it alone. Lund travels to various parts of the world introducing Luther to guidance counselors, U.S. education advising officers, students, and parents.

Students overseas also serve as ambassadors for the college, participating in music tours, athletic events and student-teaching experiences.

“I just received several e-mails from students in New Zealand, Australia, and Brazil,” Lund said. “They were interested in receiving information about Luther based on their interactions with Luther students currently on study abroad programs.”

While Luther’s diversity is increasing, it had to combat obstacles in the past decade. The aftermath of 9/11 had a significant effect on visa insurance and competition outside the U.S. began to rise.

“Other countries significantly increased their marketing and outreach to capture the international student market,” Lund said. “Fortunately, U.S. colleges and universities responded and things are back on track.”

The diversity center is excited about the change in demographics and has plans to keep diversity resonating well in the student body.

“More African-Americans, Latinos, Latinas, and others are becoming part of our wonderful country,” Sheila Radford-Hill, Executive Director of Luther Diversity Center, said. “We have a strategy that goes with the demographic flow, not against it.”

While challenging one another to learn in community, the diversity center is working towards finding new ways to work together after we all come together.

“If we throw people together and aren’t intentional in living together, feeling comfortable with each other, it will be to culturally challenging and students would leave,” Radford-Hill said.

The hope is when one reads Luther’s mission statement saying, “[That] as people of all backgrounds, we embrace diversity and challenge one another to learn in community,” it is apparent.