# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S979
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES . 281

4 report on the Seward, Nebr., teachers’ college, which is scheduled
j.to apply for accreditation in 1951. The Board has every hope also
; that some junior colleges can achieve such status during the next

In the process of examinations in connection with accreditation
q applications, certain very valuable facts have been uncovered.
These relate primarily to a clarification of the line of admin-
j. 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
f. directive of a previous convention that “the Board shall study
; the sections of the synodical Handbook dealing with higher edu-
PF cation. and submit the necessary revisions,” the Board is now
B 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 that one of the critical areas of
the college, so far as meeting the standards of North Central
Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools goes, is in the
area of general control.

... “In reading the minutes of the Board of Control over
a period of time, numerous practices were found which indi-
cated that a sort of dual control of the institution has existed
in 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
connected with the plant administration were handled in many
cases quite independently of the president. Communications
from various synodical agencies and other sources relating to
important administrative problems sometimes went directly to
Board of Control members or committees and never crossed
the president’s desk.

“The examiner was confused by the synodical regulations
on this point. In the synodical Handbook (6.91) there is
a statement about the authority and duties of the president
which appears to be fully in line with the best American
practice. This statement says clearly that he (the president)
‘shall be the executive officer of the Board of Control.’ It
says further that the ‘Synod, its Boards, and its members shall
first of all hold him responsible in all matters pertaining to
the institution.’ ... From a study of the minutes of the Board
of Control it does not appear to the examiner that the prin-