Luther College
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

Endeavor Together is an immersive, multi-day, pre-orientation program for diverse groups of incoming first year students to build camaraderie, trust and empathy. The program features outdoor activities and challenges led by student leaders, and bolstered by faculty and staff mentors. The program aims to build self-efficacy and strengthen confidence, broaden students' perspectives by engaging with peers of diverse backgrounds from across the country and the world, and engage in activities throughout the Luther College region that develop a sense of place and belonging. Endeavor Together simultaneously develops a sense of place in new students, builds community and self-efficacy, and directly addresses goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. By combining these objectives in a single, immersive program during students' first week on campus, the program sets a tone and lays a foundation for all future sustainability efforts.

Since 2012, Luther has developed three large solar arrays, totaling 1,955 kW, in unique partnerships with local investors. The first array was leased from an investor, with the power going directly to Luther's Baker Village, a carbon-neutral upper class cluster of student townhouses. The remaining two facilities were built on campus land that was leased to local investors. Power purchase agreements (which were made legal in Iowa since the first array was completed) allow Luther to purchase power from the investors at rates below what would be paid to the local utility. All of these projects enhance the economy, save on operating costs, and reduce carbon emissions. Moreover, they are attractive to investors, who can capture federal and state energy credits that aren't available to Luther because of its non-profit status. Luther has shared this financing model with other non-profit entities as a way to catalyze additional renewable energy projects by non-taxable entities.

Less than one mile west of campus, the Luther College 1.6 MW wind turbine was also installed through creative financial arrangements. Erected in 2011, the turbine was purchased by Luther College Wind Energy Project, LLC (LCWEP), a for-profit corporate entity formed in 2005. LCWEP receives Iowa’s 476C tax credit for renewable energy, which adds about $50,000 per year to the project’s bottom line. Luther's wind turbine was fully paid off in the fall of 2021.

As a residential college, Luther students move out en masse each May causing a large waste management challenge for the college. For the past four years, students have planned, managed and tracked results of a week-long, campus-wide initiative to reduce the amount of landfilled move-out waste in every campus residence hall, as well as college-owned apartments. This project utilizes community partners to enhance effectiveness while also serving community needs.

The 2021 student-led event alone diverted over 12 tons of materials from the landfill, including 6.4 tons of recyclables and compostables, and 5.7 tons of food, books and household items.

The emphasis is on donating and reusing as much as possible, recycling where needed, and considering "landfill last." Clothing, household and school items, and food are all donated. Electronics, refrigerators, and containers are recycled. Only waste and non-serviceable items are landfilled. Students are responsible for sorting their items at the dropoff center in each residence building.

Students have recruited, and work directly with local thrift stores to make daily trips to pick up items that can be reused, and coordinate scheduling with the county's recycling hauler. Both partners run their loads across a scale to weigh their contents.