Who we are
We value a caring, diverse, and inclusive community that fosters a sense of belonging for all students, staff, and faculty. As a community of scholars we work together to solve problems, produce knowledge, and collaborate on research endeavors to enhance learning and prepare students for future vocations.
How we teach
We value student-centered, evidence-based teaching. Using multiple means of engagement, we encourage our students’ intellectual curiosity and critical thinking about the natural world. Through our teaching, mentorship, and example, we help students develop scientific literacy.
What we create
We value applying the scientific method as a tool for discovery and informing evidence-based beliefs about the world and our place within it. We believe this discovered knowledge can fulfill our fundamental human desire for understanding as well as improve our planet and our daily lives through its broad application, such as to medicine, agriculture, and technology.
We educate students within the liberal arts tradition to apply scientific and quantitative reasoning to seek answers and pursue just solutions to our world’s evolving challenges by working in their local and global communities.
PLU’s College of Natural Sciences aims to create a vibrant STEM community where faculty facilitate the learning and growth of our students and help them to become adept communicators and active, engaged members of professional and local communities. Our students utilize scientific and quantitative reasoning and disciplinary-specific technologies and skills to exhibit care for people, other organisms, and the Earth.
Student Learning & Growth
- Provide high-quality educational experiences in STEM.
- Promote interactive, engaging, and effective learning experiences informed by student outcomes data and with a focus on equity
- Provide students access to current equipment, instrumentation, and technology used professionally in the STEM disciplines
- Incorporate purposeful experiential learning (undergraduate research, internships, and relevant student employment) for all students
- Support student professional development and leadership opportunities, including the ability to fully participate in professional meetings and disciplinary events in both the local community and beyond
- Provide meaningful mentorship of students by STEM professionals (faculty, alumni, and other STEM professionals in the community)
Vibrant STEM Community
- Create co-curricular opportunities for engagement among students, faculty, and community members by developing meaningful professional and social STEM programming
- Focus on increased connection and collaboration within the College among its faculty and students
- Create welcoming spaces conducive to fostering joy, well-being, and social interactions among students, faculty, and community members
Resources: Faculty, Spaces, and Equipment
- Promote the investment in our faculty and staff as our most important resource:
- To support their health and well-being
- To ensure that staffing levels are appropriate and sustainably balanced to meet the demands of enrollment and workload
- To improve faculty members’ abilities to teach and connect with current and future students with a focus on equity and inclusion
- To improve faculty members’ abilities to pursue a successful scholarly agenda and uplift their roles as teacher-scholars, departmental and program leaders, and engaged university servants
- Advocate for the investment in and the maintenance of the physical resources required to provide high-quality meaningful educational and experiential opportunities in STEM for both students and faculty
- Spaces (classrooms, labs, third spaces)
- Equipment, instrumentation, and technology that are current, reliable, and accessible to students
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