Strengthening Community

Office of the President
Strengthening Community

VALUES FOR

Strengthening Community – Engaging Across Difference

The Strengthening Community – Engaging Across Difference initiative was launched in Spring 2024 to strengthen the ability of the St. Olaf community to engage in difficult discussions, care for each other, and work together to find solutions to the many complex and often contentious issues that challenge us today. Rooted in St. Olaf’s mission and vision, the initiative advances a set of core values to guide engagement and provides resources to help our community of solution-seekers develop skills, practices, and knowledge needed for productive, community-focused engagement in a divided world.

Values for Engaging Across Difference

Broadening our Perspectives with Curiosity

Cultivating Belonging in an Inclusive Community

Finding Courage in Challenging Moments

Responding with Grace to Each Other

Consistent with the college’s mission to be an inclusive, globally-engaged community, and inspired by its vision of excellence in preparing students of character to be contributing citizens of the world, four aspirational values guide and inform how we as a campus community engage with each other across difference to learn about, discuss and productively address challenging issues.

A Task Force appointed by the President’s Leadership Team developed and refined these values drawing on external research and internal feedback from across the St. Olaf Community. Members of the Values Task Force included:

Esi Amoah ’26
Doug Casson (Political Science, chair of Academic Freedom Task Force)
Chris Chapp (Political Science, Institute for Freedom and Community director) – Task Force Chair
Norma Charlton (Assistant Director of Equity and Intercultural Engagement, Taylor Center)
Kaya Clemons ’26
Sarah Jurewicz (Associate Director of Orientation and Transition Experiences, Student Life)
Sara Pillatzki-Warzeha (Theater)
Chang Dao Vang (Associate Dean, Student Life)

Community members can get engaged and access resources and information to develop skills and practices needed to address conflict productively and build community and relationships. Resources, workshops, events, and lectures are available from a variety of offices, programs, and departments, including:

Academic Success Center
Center for Innovation in the Liberal Arts
Campus Ministry
Flaten Art Museum
Lutheran Center for Faith, Values, and Community
Piper Center for Career and Vocation
Smith Center for Global Engagement
Taylor Center for Equity and Inclusion

Overview Opportunities →

Study Abroad/Away Student Panel

Tomson Hall 210

Carleton Global Engagement: Ecology and Anthropology in Tanzania Study Abroad Program Info Session

Tomson Hall 200

CET Colombia Study Abroad Virtual Information Session

Virtual

Augsburg CGEE Social Change in Central America: New Activisms, Human Rights and Social Justice Study Abroad Semester Program Information Session

Tomson Hall 200

Mission:

St. Olaf College challenges students to excel in the liberal arts, examine faith and values, and explore meaningful vocation in an inclusive, globally engaged community nourished by Lutheran tradition.

Vision:

St. Olaf College will be known as one of the country’s best liberal arts colleges, nationally and internationally recognized for excellence, academic rigor and community inclusivity, while developing and preparing students of character to lead lives of substance as contributing citizens of the world, through four commitments: developing the whole person; improving St. Olaf culture and living out our values; empowering diversity, equity and inclusion; becoming agile and focused.