Waldorf College

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Coordinates: 43°15′49″N 93°38′23″W / 43.263607°N 93.63962°W / 43.263607; -93.63962

Waldorf College
Motto Lux et Veritas, Light and Truth
Established 1903
Type For-profit university
Religious affiliation formerly Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, currently for-profit
President Dr. Robert Alsop
Students 580
Location Forest City, Iowa, USA
Colors Purple and Gold          
Nickname Warriors
Website http://www.waldorf.edu/

Waldorf College, located in Forest City, Iowa, United States, is a four-year liberal arts, for-profit college.[1]

Founded in 1903, the college was affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America until 2009,[1] when, due to financial problems,[2] the college was sold to for-profit Mayes Education, owner of Columbia Southern University, a distance education institution, located in Orange Beach, Alabama.[3][4]

Academics

Waldorf's curricula includes residential programs in biology, business, communications, creative writing, education, English, history, humanities, music, psychology, theater arts and wellness. Hybrid programs offered primarily online with a minimal residential requirement will be offered early 2010 in business administration, criminal justice administration, fire science administration, international management, organizational leadership, and sport management.[2] The colleges is accredited by the accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.[5]

The Biology Department became a baccalaureate program in 2005 and grants B.A. or B.S. degrees, with tracks in conservation biology, cell and molecular biology and anatomy/physiology. The department equips four laboratories to provide student learning experiences in molecular studies, organismal biology, and ecology. In addition to maintaining high teaching standards, Waldorf faculty build and support federally funded research programs that allow students to participate in research at the undergraduate level, addressing questions in developmental and cancer biology, microbiology, field ecology, and physiological and ecological modeling. The department also features a GeoWall which creates a 3-D environment where students can examine landscapes and intricate structures like a cell, a section of DNA or an internal body organ.

The college is also known for the strength of its communications program which features intensive training in television, radio, public relations, web design and newspaper journalism. Its student-managed broadcast facilities (WAL-TV and KZOW-FM) were among the first in the nation built to operate with only digital media. Its multimedia facility was recently renovated to ensure it's fully compatible with high definition standards.

Waldorf College recently established a new human performance lab for its Wellness Department which features exercise technologies currently being used by NASA and the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The lab, also known as an exercise physiology lab, features a hydrostatic weighing system for the measurement of body density, a metabolic measurement system, and a Trackmaster treadmill that is programmable from the metabolic computer.

The college has one of the few undergraduate programs in the country to specialize in Shakespeare studies. The minor in Shakespeare allows students who complete a satisfactory course of study at Waldorf to continue into graduate work. They are able to complete this study at the Mary Baldwin College and American Shakespeare Center. (Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance program). The Theatre Arts Department offers four annual productions, including a Shakespeare play and a musical coordinated with the Department of Music. Waldorf College also offers a major in creative writing and boasts an excellent history program and a dynamic education program. Education majors are required to engage in practical experiences in area schools during each semester they are enrolled.

The Waldorf Choir is recognized as one of the oldest a cappella choirs in the midwestern United States. It tours annually (domestically or internationally) as does the Waldorf Wind Symphony.

Athletics

Waldorf College teams are known as the Warriors. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC), while its football team competes in the Midwest League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA). The Warriors formerly competed in the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC).[6] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, soccer and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball and wrestling.

The Waldorf College Cheerleaders are a competitive squad recognized for all-female stunting routines. The college expanded athletics in 2010 by adding men's ice hockey and women's wrestling.[7] The ice hockey began play during the 2011-12 academic year and plays an independent schedule of club programs, as the NAIA does not currently sponsor a championship for ice hockey.[8] The program is coached by Brett Shelanski, former head coach at Minnesota Flying Aces junior A team.[9] The college launched Iowa's first collegiate women's wrestling program in 2010.[10]

Notable alumni


Alumni include Brad Anderson, CEO of Best Buy, who received his A.A. from Waldorf College in 1969. Other distinguished alumni include John K. Hanson, founder of Winnebago Industries; Irving "Bud" Alne, former Lockheed executive; Olaf Storaasli, distinguished NASA and Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientist, Dennis N. Highby, CEO of Cabela's; Kent Stock, coach of Norway Iowa High School baseball portrayed by actor Sean Astin in the film The Final Season; and Dan Meyer, 2007 Ig Nobel Laureate in Medicine, and President of the Sword Swallowers Association International. Bob Backlund, a former professional wrestler, who is considered a top 50 Pro Wrestler ever was a 2x wrestling All-American. Henry Waechter, former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Redskins.[11]

Major Benefactors

Waldorf has been the recipient of many large donations from the John K. Hanson family, founders of recreation vehicle-maker Winnebago Industries, also located in Forest City. Brad Anderson, CEO of Best Buy, gave the college $5.5 million, its largest one-time financial gift.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Waldorf College | Best College | US News". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Waldorf College sale to Mayes Education finalized". Globegazette.com. 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  3. ↑ "No Page 404 - Columbia Southern University". Ssl.columbiasouthern.edu. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  4. ↑ "CSU president: Waldorf College will be better than ever". Globegazette.com. 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  5. ↑ "College Navigator - Waldorf College". Nces.ed.gov. Retrieved 2012-09-27. 
  6. ↑ "Members". Midwest Collegiate Conferenceurl=http://www.midwestcollegiateconference.com/members.php. 
  7. ↑ "Waldorf College Launcing Hockey Team". Waldorf College. Se[tember 22, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2011. 
  8. ↑ Yost, Rae (September 16, 2010). "Waldorf College adds hockey program". Forest City Summit. Retrieved September 28, 2011. 
  9. ↑ Dyrdal, Andrew (August 27, 2011). "Waldorf hockey hires new coach". Albert Lea Tribune. Retrieved September 28, 2011. 
  10. ↑ "Waldorf College launches new women's wrestling program". Access News. 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2011. 
  11. ↑ "Henry Waechter". databaseFootball.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012. 

External links

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