Education Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College, founded in 1862 and formally located in St. Peter in 1876, plays a key educational and employment role in the St. Peter and Minnesota River Valley region. The college, on the western bluffs of St. Peter, has rebounded and rebuilt in spectacular fashion since the 1998 tornado which hit the St. Peter community. The four-year liberal arts college, under the leadership of President Rebecca Bergman and the Board of Trustees, has been growing and building. Capital improvements continue to broaden the college’s campus footprint and opportunities. Gustavus is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and has an enrollment of about 2,200. The college employs over 700 people. Students can earn bachelors of arts degrees in 72 majors in 24 academic depart-
Saint Peter Community & Family eduCation
600 South 5th St., Ste. 207, St. Peter, MN 56082 (507) 934-3048 x. 1 www.stpetercommunityedonline.com
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St. Peter Community & Visitors Guide ‘21
ments and three interdisciplinary programs. The college offers a wide variety of student opportunities to complement its educational offerings. There are more than 110 recognized student groups and organizations, including about a dozen student-run religious organizations. The college campus boasts over 20 academic and service facilities, as well as more than a dozen residence halls and apartment or townhouse complexes. Up to 90 percent of Gustavus’ students typically reside on campus. The Gusties are members of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), affiliated with the NCAA Division III. The college offers 23 varsity athletic programs for its students. Also, some 80 percent of students participate in the 30 intramural athletic offerings and nine club sports. Gustavus’ athletic facilities host many student and regional events throughout the year. The Lund Center for Physical Education and Health has been named one of the finest small college sports complexes in the U.S. The facility involves nearly 85 percent of the student body with its varsity, intramural and personal fitness programs. The Swanson Tennis Center, a domed indoor tennis facility, offers memberships for juniors, adults and families. The beautiful 340-acre campus also includes the 135-acre Linnaeus Arboretum. Students also participate in many fine arts and music programs. The Hillstrom Museum of Art and the Schaefer Fine Arts Center, which includes the Kresge Dace Studio and Jussi Bjorling Recital Hall, are popular among
