# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S624
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

40 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

bers of the reserve army and must drill twice a week be
spending two weeks during the summer at an army camp.
arrangement has in no way interfered with the regular work o
college, and our relations with the military authorities are m
cordial. No further obligations are involved if students gradu
or discontinue their studies,

Due to special circumstances, Synod was kind enough thre
years ago to grant us permission temporarily to accept non-minis
terial students without payment of tuition. This experiment wé
eminently successful. Though the provincial high school coursé
was introduced in 1939 and this fact was advertised extensively
we did not have one non-ministerial student during the next
years. Then, in 1941, when tuition was canceled, we immediate
drew 20. The next year this number grew to 30 and this ye
we had 38.

This increase enhanced the efficiency of our institution to:
very marked degree. A small enrollment tends to have a de
pressing effect upon teachers and students alike. It is quite gen}
erally recognized that there is a minimum number below whi
the enrollment ought not to fall if the school is to operate ef
ficiently. For some years we were below that number. For
reason we believe that Synod acted wisely three years ago wh
‘it took the action it did. The increased enrollment brought ne
life and enthusiasm into the institution, and this redounded em%
phatically to the benefit of the entire student body. An abrup'
change in policy at this time would, we fear, jeopardize what h
been built up in the past three years and seriously interfere
the services the institution can render our Church in Weste:
Canada. In view of this, we feel that action ought to be postpon
until the Board for Higher Education can more thoroughly study
the special needs and requirements of our institution: Accor
ingly we very respectfully ask Synod to resolve: .

1. That the resolution of three years ago remain in force fo
the time being; and

2. That the Board for Higher Education survey the enti
question during the coming year and be given authority to dete
mine the policy to be adopted in the future. ‘

Since Prof, W. A. Baepler’s removal to Springfield in 1936,
have been operating with a reduced staff. Due to the elim
tion of Sexta and a small enrollment, it was possible to carry
but it has meant a faculty load of 33 “Douglas hours” for thre
the professors and 26 for the Director. An assistant can rende
only limited service, since ‘he cannot qualify as a high scho