Fort Lewis College

Fort Lewis College is a public, residential liberal arts college located in Durango, Colorado, situated on a stunning mesa overlooking the Animas River Valley and the San Juan Mountains. It is distinguished by its unique history and its location in the Four Corners region, which informs its commitment to diverse perspectives and environmental stewardship. The college offers a wide array of undergraduate academic offerings that emphasize experiential learning, field-based research, and community engagement. As a designated Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution, it fosters a multicultural campus environment that celebrates the heritage and contributions of Indigenous peoples.

The college has a complex and significant history, originating in 1892 as a federal Indian boarding school located in Hesperus, Colorado. In 1911, the site was transferred to the State of Colorado to be transformed into a public vocational and agricultural high school, with the unique mandate to provide tuition-free education for Native American students in perpetuity. The institution evolved into a two-year agricultural college in 1927 and eventually moved to its current location in Durango in 1956 to allow for greater expansion. It achieved four-year status in 1962 and has since grown into a comprehensive liberal arts college. This evolution from a boarding school to a premier institution of higher learning is central to its mission of reconciliation, empowerment, and educational equity.

Fort Lewis College is a remarkable institution that honors its complex past by serving as a vibrant hub for Indigenous education and environmental scholarship. By maintaining its historic commitment to tuition-free access for Native American students and leveraging its spectacular Western landscape for hands-on learning, the college prepares graduates who are culturally competent and environmentally conscious. Its journey from a rural school to a nationally recognized liberal arts college highlights its resilience and its enduring role as a catalyst for social mobility and intellectual discovery in the American West.