# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S234
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

260 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES
The Board for Higher Education has had so many and
insistent requests for reviews of this system that it undertook
provide for a detailed study of the entire subject of “student aig’
within the Church. This study was made by Dr. Albert Huegh! a
of our River Forest college at the request of the Board for Higher
Education. It was presented for detailed discussion to the collec,
presidents and sent to the “Indigent Student Fund” representatives
in every District for analysis and comment.
The reactions conveyed to the Board indicate that some SpeCifie
suggestions on basic principles, organization, and procedures would
be welcomed by most Districts. The information and the recom.
mendations supplied to this convention are based upon two aS |
tivating premises: 3

1. The intention of the Church in operating a system of pro. 8
fessional schools is that it shall receive from them a cop.
tinuous supply of apt and able, well-qualified and well.
trained leaders in school and parish life. In pulpit oy in
classroom the Church cannot afford mediocrity. The times
are too urgent, the task too great, the opportunities too
limitless. The strategy of the armies of the Lord must be
planned and executed by the best we have among us,

2. No young man or woman who has the necessary gifts, con-
secration, and zeal for professional service in the Church
should be prevented from entering its ranks because of
financial handicaps. The essence of democracy, especially
in a democratic church body, is the equality of opportunity
for those who can make something of it. Fallible we may
be in our selection and depend upon the Spirit of God for
the dedication of hearts to the great cause, but we have no
excuse for failing to open doors which remain closed be-
cause we do not bestir ourselves.

College Student Aid Program
In making the extensive survey the Board for Higher Educa-
tion became aware of the fact that our colleges do indeed have
a rather acceptable system of student aid. This system consists of
the following sections:
a. Awards for academic achievements
1, Prizes
2. Scholarships
b. Financial aid to needy students
1, Grants in aid
2. Loan funds
3. Student employment programs ;
It will be evident that there is an increasing awareness among
our colleges of their responsibility for establishing techniques of
encouraging student academic proficiency in a tangible way and
for granting assistance for students in financial need. The follow-

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SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES

seommendations were submitted by Dr. Huegli for the con-
iderditi son’ of the colleges:

«x, So far as possible, student aid programs should be under

adirect institutional control and supervision. Synod has long
.provided a basic pattern of assistance in the granting of
_. free tuition to professional students, the supplying of stu-
“ “dent work funds, and the development of a generous system

“"* ‘of grants-in-aid through the Districts. The colleges need

*: to cultivate these facilities of student aid and integrate them

- with their own programs. They should exercise authority
in the granting or withholding of such aid. They should
further supplement these aid devices with programs on
their own initiative.

2. Every school should recognize the scholarship and aid cate-
gories of student assistance as they apply in the individual
institutions. A thorough survey of the needs of the students
in this respect should be made on each campus, and the es-
tablished patterns of American higher education adapted to
the local situation.

3. A program of scholarships and prizes as incentives to aca-

:. demic achievement ought to be undertaken by every col-
lege. A Scholarship Committee, following standard prac~
tices, should be appointed for the fostering and supervision
of this part of the program.

4. The various colleges of Synod, after evaluating their own
needs, should seek to co-ordinate and systematize financial
aid to the students through Student Aid Committees ap-
pointed by the respective presidents. These committees
would control campus loan and employment arrangements
and work closely with District student aid funds for the
benefit both of the school and the Church.

5. The program of student aid should always be associated with
the counseling arrangements at our schools. It is not some-
thing by itself, but a part of the counseling function. It
should therefore be established in policy, but flexible as an
instrument of service to the growth and assistance of the

udents,

6. The synodical colleges should encourage the establishment

. of a clearinghouse for exchange of information on student
aid and maintenance of general policies in the best interest
of the Church as a whole. It is suggested that the office of
the executive secretary of the Board for Higher Education
be expanded to meet this need. :

The District Student Aid Funds
In addition to accumulating information on the student aid
Program which is followed by other church bodies, the survey
director secured information directly from the synodical Districts
by means of a questionnaire which dealt with questions of organiza-
tion, administration, funds received and disbursed, the beneficiaries,
criteria of awards, contacts after awards, and general evaluation.