Campus Equity

At Texas Lutheran University,
we are committed to a culture
of respect and equity for every person.

On this page you can explore some of our campus communities.

“From its onset, Texas Lutheran has been committed to providing higher education in an environment that enables faculty and staff members to teach, know, support, and challenge students as individuals.”

Stephen Anderson from Forward in Faith: A History of Texas Lutheran University

A Special Message From President Cottrell

Texas Lutheran University’s excellence is directly tied to its diversity. We are fortunate to be a campus that encompasses a variety of backgrounds, a diverse array of perspectives, and a respect for differences. We are particularly proud to be a place that welcomes and supports first-generation college students. By design and practice, we serve and reflect our region well. The values articulated in our Commitment to Diversity Statement—equality, inclusion, social justice, freedom, and leadership through service—provide the foundation for the teaching and learning that take place at TLU every day.

We also recognize that the critical work of diversity, inclusion, and equity is not easy, nor is it ever finished. The environment on our campus requires that we continually put energy toward respect, education, and communication as we celebrate the differences within our community.

Our Diversity Committee, working closely with the President’s Cabinet, will continue to do important work on our campus. We anticipate focusing on opportunities associated with training and development, search processes, and assessment efforts to help inform our strategic planning process. The success of this work will require that all members of our campus community participate in these opportunities and consider individually and collectively how we will grow and advance the concept of being an inclusive campus.

As the president of TLU, I am committed to furthering all of these efforts and to celebrating the diverse components that comprise our community of learning and of faith. It is an honor to join with you on our journey of excellence and diversity.

We Are Committed To

• Equality – We promote a culture of mutual respect and strive to create opportunities for all.
• Inclusion – We are committed to fostering a welcoming atmosphere that respects and celebrates contributions made by our diverse community members and their cultures.
• Social Justice – We are called to work alongside people on the margins to empower them and to improve their quality of life.
• Freedom – We value dialogue, difference, and debate in pursuit of knowledge and understanding that encourages growth and discovery.
• Leadership Through Service – We value opportunities for growth as global citizens and leaders through service learning and civic engagement.

Demographics as of Fall 2025

*Asian American/Pacific Islander, Native American, International, More Than One Race, or Unknown
These numbers were sourced from the TLU Registrar’s Office as self-reported by students.

With a Hispanic student population of 49 percent, TLU has been historically designated by the Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

Religious Diversity

TLU is one of 28 colleges and universities associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the largest Lutheran denomination in the United States. A key part of the ELCA mission is to “seek the common good for society, provide moral vision and [address] social and cultural injustices and issues.” The Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) applies this mission in a common calling, that we are “called and empowered to serve the neighbor so that all may flourish” in a multi-faith society and on multi-faith campuses. TLU affirms the shared commitments of NECU schools in “cultivating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and valued” and people receive “the specific resources and support they need to thrive, based on their unique circumstances” as we create “environments where fairness, equity, and compassion are at the core of community life.”

TLU students, faculty, and staff have a wide variety of religious identities, including no religion at all. We welcome this pluralism and the shared dialogues it sparks.

We do not require a faith commitment of any kind, for any member of our community.

Some self-reported religious identification percentages for the total student body, fall 2025:

• Catholic 17%
• Baptist 9%
• Lutheran 8%
• Church of Christ 6%

Chapel services on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays provide opportunities for prayer, community, and spiritual growth. These are purely voluntary and incorporate worship practices from many Christian traditions. As part of the General Education curriculum, students take at least one course in Theology so as to cultivate informed reflection on faith and its relation to the contemporary world.

First-Generation Forward

Texas Lutheran University defines a first-generation college student as an individual whose parents or legal guardian have not completed a bachelor’s degree but may have some college experience.

First-generation college students make up 43% of our student body and being first-generation is a claimed identity of many of our faculty and staff, including President Cottrell and other senior leadership. We celebrate the courage, perseverance, and hard work of our first-generation college students as they write a new chapter in their families’ histories.

In 2020 TLU was recognized as a FirstGen Forward institution. As a member of the FirstGen Forward Network, we join a national consortium of institutions focused on advancing the success of first-generation students. Involvement with FirstGen Forward keeps TLU professionals informed on current research on first-generation college students and focused on how to build more inclusive experiences that emphasize students’ belonging.

From the first semester to the last, we look to build community among first-generation students through a variety of programs from their official pinning ceremony, mixers connecting students to faculty, staff, and a variety of campus resources, to First-Gen Graduation where they receive their first-gen stole.

Veterans

As a university close to San Antonio, dubbed Military City, USA, TLU has several students, faculty, and staff members with military backgrounds who have shaped our campus. Texas Lutheran has several areas that collaborate to support our veteran and dependent student population. Our Registration & Records Office houses the VA Certification Officer.

Student Affairs oversees Freedom Hall, a lounge space reserved for veterans and their dependents. Our Veteran Services Assistant utilizes Freedom Hall to host programs that connect students to local resources, in addition to collaborating with campus departments to provide workshops on topics such as mental health and career development. Veterans and Society Together is an active student organization with the mission of providing a positive setting for veterans and dependents, and an outlet for non-military faculty, staff, and students to support those who have served and who are still serving.

LGBTQIA+ Resources

LGBTQIA+ Resources at Texas Lutheran University is committed to maintaining an open, safe, and supportive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer + (LGBTQ+) students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the campus community. For more information, see our LGBTQIA+ Resources page.

Service Learning & Volunteering

Texas Lutheran University is dedicated to civic engagement—actions designed to address the needs of a community. TLU graduates are empowered to collaborate for positive social change, both as local leaders and global citizens. Find out more about TLU’s work with Service Learning & Volunteering.

Student Engagement

TLU encourages student involvement through a wide variety of organizations, events, activities, workshops, seminars, and structured experiences that promote personal learning and growth in a student-centered environment. Discover more about Campus Activities & Student Engagement.

Counseling Services

The Counseling Center at TLU recognizes the critical role that identity plays in one’s mental health and overall wellness. We know that bias and discrimination have significant consequences on marginalized communities and the individuals within them. This may impact an individual’s sense of safety, self-image, connections, and ability or willingness to receive care. We are committed to helping students navigate challenges related to mental health while honoring their identity and cultural context. We offer free and confidential services to all registered TLU students. We also connect students with free telehealth services that allow them to choose a provider who has a specialization or identity that best meets their needs. For additional information about counseling services or accommodations, please email Sarah Westerfield, LPC-S or call 830-372-8009.

Celebrating Community and Cultures

TLU honors the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our community members with celebrations throughout the year.