# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S223 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 240 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES Handbook Section 6.79 effective, therefore, all presidents and Boards of Control will be held to bring their local e- ments into conformity with this policy no later than the eng of the current triennium: July 1, 1950. ; “8. Sections (A, 2, 3; B,7) covering procedural relations between local administrations and the Board for Higher Edy. cation are to become effective after January 1, 1949.” Because of the fact that there is such an extreme variety of circumstances involved, that a mere mechanical application of the pension and retirement laws at this time would not satisfactorily discharge the Church’s obligation in this matter, and that a deep regard for the welfare of the brethren who are required to retire under this directive is a solemn obligation of Synod, the Board foy Higher Education recommends That the Fort Wayne directive in this matter, as inter- preted by the quoted policy statement of the Board for Higher Education, continue to guide the deliberations and the actions of the local Boards of Control and the Board for Higher Edy. cation over a period of the five years subsequent to 1951.- We recommend finally That the Board for Higher Education be directed to convey its further recommendations to the convention of 1956, when it makes its report on the status of the retirement program at that time... : Accreditation Considerable progress can be reported with regard to the directive given by the Centennial Convention that “all teachers’ colleges and junior colleges (except Edmonton) be directed to apply for regional accreditation as soon as thty have achieved con- ditions which would give reasonable indication and assurance. that they are acceptable to the association involved,” and, further, “that the Board for Higher Education be directed to assist the schools wherever possible.” The Board has now had sufficient experience with the regional accrediting agencies and with examiners and other officials of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools to recognize very clearly that accreditation of Synod’s colleges and secondary schools will involve no vital changes in the purposes or programs of our institutions. High School Departments We are indeed happy to be in a position to report that all but three of the synodical high schools which come under the juris- diction of regional accrediting agencies are now regionally ac- credited. The three remaining schools (Fort Wayne, Milwaukee, and Concordia, Mo.) are accredited with their State universities and have completed, or are in the process of, self-evaluation, which SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 241 isa prerequisite for regional accreditation. It is anticipated that all three remaining institutions will make application during the coming triennium and that it will be possible to secure the desired status. Colleges Some progress can also be reported on the college level. The junior college at Bronxville continues to enjoy regional accredita- tion with the Middle States Association, but we regret to report that the application of one of our remaining junior colleges was declined by the North Central Association in 1949. On the other hand, it is with extreme joy that we announce the achievement of the very important regional accreditation with the North Central Association by Concordia Teachers College, River Forest, Ill. At the next convention we hope to have a similar report on the Seward, Nebr., teachers’ college, which is scheduled to apply for accreditation in 1951. The Board has every hope also that some junior colleges can achieve such status during the next triennium. In the process of examinations in connection with accreditation applications, certain very valuable facts have been uncovered. These relate primarily to a clarification of the line of admin- istrative control between Synod and the institutions. Since all these adjustments will contribute to the effective administration which Synod desires, it will be the part of wisdom to apply the knowledge gained so that unnecessary losses in scoring which were occasioned by some of these items may be eliminated when additional col- leges apply for accreditation. On the basis of these experiences and in accordance with the directive of a previous convention that “the Board shall study the sections of the synodical Handbook. dealing with higher edu- cation and submit the necessary revisions,” the Board is now ready to“point out areas requiring clarification or adjustment if they are expected to contribute toward achieving sound administra- tion and regional accreditation for our colleges. _ ; In order to indicate the problems, we quote from the report of the original examiner at one of our institutions: =, . “The pattern map shows - critical area: the college, so far a mecting the standards of Mech Central Association of Colleges and Secon is i area of general control dary Schools Boes, 1s " the _.+. “In reading the minutes of the Board of C a period of time, numerous practices were found which indi. cated that a sort. of dual control of the institution has existed m practice... . The business manager was reported as pre- senting the budget, which would be considered by practically all accrediting agencies and by the great majority of college heads the clear and important function of the president. Affairs ’