Named Iowa’s safest city, Sioux Center offers Dordt University students a comfortable, welcoming, and supportive environment rooted in strong community values.
Sioux Center, home to Dordt University, has been named the safest city in Iowa according to two independent websites, Safehome and Safewise.
The websites’ city safety rankings are based on FBI crime statistics, supplemented by additional demographic data and research. While a city’s safety, in the context of these studies, refers primarily to crime rates, Sioux Center community members recognize that safety extends far beyond that. It’s a shared commitment to the well-being and flourishing of others.
“We have a strong sense of community here in Sioux Center,” Scott Wynja, Sioux Center’s city manager, says. “People genuinely look out for one another, and our culture reflects a deep commitment to one of our city’s core values: ‘count on us.’”
“Sioux Center residents know what it means to be a neighbor,” adds Derek Buteyn, director of students & residence life & associate dean of students at Dordt. “There’s a genuine care and interest in the well-being of others.”
“The Dordt community is not just an island within Sioux Center but is fully integrated into its life and culture.”
According to Wynja, Sioux Center’s safety is supported by intentional partnerships between the city and local institutions, including law enforcement and schools. “One great example is the recent addition of two school resource officers who will work closely with local schools,” he says. “We also work closely and partner with Dordt University, ensuring their student population finds a place within our culture and feels safe when they are here.”
“Our students are invited into this because they’re valued as important contributors to the vibrancy and health of Sioux Center’s community,” adds Buteyn. “The Dordt community is not just an island within Sioux Center but is fully integrated into its life and culture.”
Because safety is a driving factor in a student’s college decision, Dordt University is intentional about cultivating an environment, both on campus and within the surrounding community, where students feel secure, supported, and genuinely at home. “Our students consistently say that for them, Dordt feels like home, and for many of us, this is the place where we can feel safe and be ourselves,” says Buteyn. “In this environment, students have the opportunity to excel and be successful—academically, socially, and spiritually.”
As Sioux Center and Dordt University continue to experience significant growth, it’s crucial that the community continues to champion safety. “There are many components that go into being a safe community,” says Wynja. “The recent ranking is great recognition of what we have, but we should make certain we do not take that for granted and make sure we are meeting that community expectation daily.”
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.
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