# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1947_S196
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

194 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

patterns in American education. At the same time, such status is
achieved without involving the closing of any existing synodical
school or the reassignment of any faculty. In fact, the access to the
established instructional departments of Valparaiso University
would relieve Synod of the very formidable problems involved in
the calling of a completely new faculty characterized by the appro-
priate teaching and administrative competence.

There is one contribution toward the solution of the problem
which only this plan could make. Since Valparaiso University
already enjoys full accreditation, the difficult problem of attaining
accreditation for the Senior College would be completely disposed
of and the Bachelor’s Degree would immediately have an accept-
able status.

The construction of an adequate partial plant on the campus
in River Forest would be much less costly than the construction
of a satisfactory complete plant on an entirely new campus. Nor-
would additional expenditures for land be required. Further sig-
nificant economy might be expected from the joint use of certain
facilities by the Ministerial School and the Teachers College.
These might, in turn, make possible the fuller development of
certain facilities to the benefit of both schools.

It appears, finally, that this plan would avoid the serious prob-
lems which would be invited if the faculty and the character of
an existing institution were to be reorganized for strictly Senior
College purposes, or if the Senior College were to be established
on the Valparaiso campus. The partially new plant and the entirely
new staff contemplated in this plan would enable the Senior College
to pursue its objectives reasonably free from the restraining
influence of pre-established traditions, viewpoints, and methods.
At the same time, Synod would retain an effective control over
its students and would be assured of adequate control over courses
and teachers, without impairing the necessary independence of
Valparaiso University.

St. Louis

The final proposal receiving detailed analysis considers the
location of a Senior College on the campus of the Seminary at
St. Louis.

This campus is the largest of those owned by Synod and seems
ample to accommodate the complete physical plant needed for a
Senior College. The College could be planned to provide facilities,
eventually, for five hundred students. From previous studies made
by the Board, it would appear that this number will meet the
demands for future ministerial candidates for at least fifty years.

It is conservatively estimated that the cost of a complete com-