Campus clips: Concordias receive honors, launch new programs

Jacqueline Ferrer and Anastacio Martinez, freshmen in the engineering program at Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), work together to build a house of cards as part of a welcome event for new students. (CUW)

Accreditation bound

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA), Ann Arbor, Mich., is on track to achieve full accreditation by December, ensuring students can graduate and sit for their national certification exams. The program has successfully navigated the accreditation journey and is on the cusp of full recognition from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. Program Director Dr. Juliane Chreston is confident that full accreditation will be granted before the first CUAA cohort graduates, ensuring they can take their certification exams without delay. In order to practice occupational therapy in the United States, an individual must obtain a degree from an accredited institution. Learn more at cuaa.edu/otd.

Engineering fun

In 2022, Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., announced that it would soon launch two new engineering programs leading to bachelor’s degrees in industrial engineering and chemical engineering.

This fall, CUW celebrated its first official cohorts of learners in these programs. Students kicked off the fall semester with hands-on lessons in formulating the perfect ice cream and designing a house of cards with structural integrity. Learn more at cuw.edu/engineering.

Top performer

In the U.S. News & World Report rankings released this fall, Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., was recognized as a Best Regional University—Midwest, and as the #20 Top Performer on Social Mobility among regional universities in the Midwest. CUC has a notably high graduation rate for students who receive federal Pell grants, which are awarded to undergraduates who display exceptional financial need. Studies show that economically disadvantaged students are less likely to finish college. This ranking, up 23 positions from last year, shows CUC has been able to help students improve their lives through an affordable, Christ-centered education.

The publication evaluated universities based on many factors, including graduation rate, financial resources, student-faculty ratio and peer assessment. Learn more at usnews.com/best-colleges.

Enrolling veterans

Concordia University Irvine (CUI), Irvine, Calif., welcomed a record number of veterans and veteran-related students to campus this fall as former service members seek an education grounded in faith and a greater purpose while training for their new careers. In recent years, CUI has enrolled four or five veterans as new undergraduate students each year. This year, that doubled to nine, and the number of graduate students in CUI programs who are veterans stands closer to 50. There are also 16 military dependents, many of them using their parents’ Veterans Administration benefits to attend college.

“CUI offers something unique in the education marketplace,” said Richard Lewis, a former paratrooper and combat cameraman who now serves as the director of CUI’s SSG Matthew Thompson Veterans Resource Center. “Our idea of serving God by serving your neighbor through your vocations is very attractive and very healing for veterans.”

Students confessing Christ

Faith Lutheran Church and Student Center, La Crosse, Wis., and the Rev. Jacob Eichers, Faith’s pastor, recently welcomed students from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse (UWL); Viterbo University; and Western Technical College back for the fall term. At both Faith and at student organization fairs on the school campuses, they handed out welcome bags provided by the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Students also participated in a service project at UWL’s annual welcome carnival, packing pencil bags with school supplies for upper elementary and middle school students in the La Crosse Public School System.

Additionally, on Sept. 20–21, they hosted LCMS layman Dr. Stephen Saunders, who is a psychology professor at Marquette University, Milwaukee, to give two talks — one on mental health tips, and one on Martin Luther’s approach to helping others with mental illness. The congregation of Faith and the students it serves request your prayers as they confess Christ on campus and beyond.

Enrollment up 9%

Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), Seward, Neb., welcomed 404 new undergraduate students for the Fall 2024 semester. Combined with the university’s 818 returning undergraduate students, current undergraduate enrollment is 1,222. The university also serves 448 full-time and part-time adult learners.

“When Fall 2022 began, we had 1,124 undergraduate students on campus,” said Aaron Roberts, CUNE associate vice-president of undergraduate enrollment. “To be at 1,222 students for Fall 2024 means we’ve grown by nearly 100 undergraduate students in the last two years. The faith so many families and students have put in our faculty and staff is a blessing beyond words.”

Luther and Melanchthon

Dr. Scott Keith, executive director of 1517.org, will serve as the lecturer for the Vern Gundermann Reformation Heritage Lecture Series at Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP), St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday, Nov. 14. Keith’s topic is “Categorical and Topical: How Luther and Melanchthon Do Theology.” A recording of the lecture will be available on CSP’s YouTube channel following the event.

Supporting seminarians

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), hosted its annual Donation Day Oct. 8, welcoming members of Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) groups and other guests to campus for worship and fellowship. Several LWML leaders brought greetings from their districts after the morning chapel service and presented mission gifts for the CTSFW food and clothing co-ops, which support seminarians and their families.

Seminarian David Clark, president of the fourth-year class, let the visitors know how much their support has meant to him and his family. “By God’s grace, we have received everything that we have needed, every step of the way,” said Clark. “While making our way through seminary, we have been surrounded by the support and love of Christ’s church.”

Donations to the food co-op in the last fiscal year helped provide over 20,000 pounds of fruit and produce; 1,600 dozen eggs; and almost 9,000 pounds of pork to students and their families.

Record campaign

Friends, alumni, faculty and staff together contributed a record $119,968 for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis’ (CSL) Give Green and Gold Day Sept. 25, surpassing the $100,000 goal. Gifts raised from the campaign’s 415 donors will be used where needed most as the seminary carries out its mission. By comparison, 370 supporters raised $106,468 for the 2023 campaign.

“We are immensely grateful to all of the donors who gave so generously,” said Vicki Biggs, senior vice-president of seminary advancement and chief communications officer. “This outpouring of support means so much as we serve to implement the vital mission of Concordia Seminary and prepare men and women to bring the Gospel to a world in need.” Donors have given a total of $414,968 since the inception of the annual event. Learn more at csl.edu/support.

Posted Nov. 1, 2024/Updated June 29, 2026