Campus clips: Concordia students learn, march, pray

Occupational therapy students at Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA), Ann Arbor, Mich., practice splinting during class. CUAA’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program was recently accredited. (CUAA)

This monthly column includes brief reports submitted by LCMS schools, campus ministries, universities and seminaries.

OT program accredited

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has granted the entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program at Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA), Ann Arbor, Mich., a Status of Accreditation for a seven-year period, the maximum term allowed for a new program. CUAA first announced its plans to launch an OT doctoral program in 2018 and welcomed its inaugural cohort in 2020. This accreditation news comes as CUAA prepares to graduate its first cohort of OTD candidates in May.

The timing of ACOTE’s approval is in keeping with the standard accreditation timeline for new programs. CUAA’s OTD class also recently received glowing reviews from fieldwork educators upon the completion of their Level II clinical placements at the end of the Fall 2024 semester. “Your program is doing a wonderful job preparing students,” noted one fieldwork educator. “Please send more my way.” Learn more at cuaa.edu/otd.

Hemingway to speak at CUW

The Concordia Free Enterprise Center (CFEC) at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., will continue its biannual speaker series in March by welcoming Mollie Hemingway, senior journalism fellow at Hillsdale College and editor-in-chief at The Federalist. The series also recently welcomed former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm. The goal of the series is to further the center’s mission of promoting the ideals of a free and virtuous society.

Hemingway’s presentation is scheduled for March 19 at 6 p.m. Central time. She will be on the CUW campus in person, but a livestream of her presentation will also be available. This event is free and open to the public. Guests are asked to register to receive the link. Visit blog.cuw.edu/epp-on-the-bluff-2025 for more information.

Striving for excellence

The Academic Excellence and Innovation Fund at Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), Seward, Neb., was created to encourage and celebrate faculty and student scholarship, placing particular focus on the intersection of faith and academic disciplines as well as critical issues in the family, church and world. Through the generous contributions of donors, these grants support initiatives that enhance scholarly endeavors and drive academic advancements across campus.

Fourteen grants were awarded in Fall 2024, including funding to support an early childhood partnership with Lutheran schools, districts and organizations; physiology lab equipment; and mission team and trip leader training for interested faculty and staff.

Campus in prayer

All faculty and staff at Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., recently received a customized prayer book for use in their professional and personal lives. The publication serves as a blessing to employees as they prepare CUC students to live and serve in the church and world. Based on CUC’s nine principles on truth, freedom and vocation, the prayer book includes a litany, collects, situational prayers, homilies, psalms and canticles.

CUC Associate Vice-President for Church Relations and Mission Rev. Dr. Chad Kendall led the ambitious project, which was developed by a committee comprising faculty from all four CUC colleges. “This project was only able to be completed because of the dedication of the committee members from beginning to end,” said Kendall in a message to the campus. “It is our hope that this will enrich your lives as we all gaze upon the cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the life of the world.”

Graduates recognized

In December, Concordia University Irvine (CUI), Irvine, Calif., celebrated the first graduates from its Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision. The doctoral program is part of CUI’s Townsend Institute, which brings a biblically informed perspective, from expert faculty and fellows, to empower licensed counselors to teach, serve, conduct research and advocate for others at the highest level. The three doctoral graduates — Michelle Hollomon, Jordan Fink and Karen Thacker — successfully defended their dissertations in Fall 2024 and participated in CUI’s December commencement ceremony.

The Ph.D. program is the second doctoral-level program offered by CUI. The new program began offering classes in 2021. In 2014, Irvine’s School of Education began offering an Ed.D. in Leadership, with specializations in educational administration, organizational change and special education. Since that time, CUI has graduated 186 doctoral students.

(From left) Dr. Karen Thacker, Dr. Jordan Fink and Dr. Michelle Hollomon are the first three students to graduate from the Ph.D. program in Counselor Education and Supervision at Concordia University Irvine (CUI), Irvine, Calif. (CUI)

Marching for life

As this issue went to press, 15 students and two staff members from Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP), St. Paul, Minn., were slated to attend the March for Life on Jan. 24 in Washington, D.C. Led by the Rev. Tom Gundermann, CSP university pastor, and Anna Gruen, ministry associate, the group’s involvement was spearheaded by CSP student Julia Aarsvold.

“The opportunity … to attend the March for Life is truly a blessing,” Aarsvold said. “It enables us to advocate for the innate value of every human life created by God while growing as Gospel-motivated voices for life. We are excited to share our faith and the hope and love found in Christ.”

Surge in applications

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), continues to see an increase in applications. As the new year begins, the seminary has received 119 applications for the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program — the highest number in over a decade. Additionally, the residential deaconess program has experienced a boost in interest, with 15 applications now submitted. While final class sizes will be confirmed as part of the upcoming enrollment and matriculation process, this ongoing increase in applications reflects a growing commitment to pastoral and deaconess ministry. CSL invites continued prayers for all prospective students as they discern their call to serve in the church.

Learning the catechism

Christ Academy will hold its spring confirmation retreat on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), Feb. 21–23. The retreat topic is the Ten Commandments, with sessions taught by CTSFW Assistant Professor Rev. Dr. Geoffrey Boyle. In addition to catechetical sessions, the retreat includes a fun evening event for students and Sunday worship in downtown Fort Wayne. The cost for the entire weekend is $120 per individual (whether catechumen or chaperone), which includes food, housing and classes. For more information, or to register, visit ctsfw.edu/ctsfw-events.

Posted Feb. 19, 2025