# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1953_S940
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

100 SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES SEMINARIES AND COLLEGES 101

Building Program

‘During the past triennium, funds from the “Conquest 5
Christ” offering made possible the completion of our admin; tion
building, Luther Hall, and the erection of the west wing to ho on
the chapel (upper floor) and the library (lower floor). The
project entailed an allocation of approximately $125,000, The house

' formerly occupied by Professor Sylwester was remodeled and con.
verted into a dormitory. annex, to accommodate fifteen students.
A new president’s home, erected through a grant of $25,099 from

rdia’s faculty. In November, 1951, the thirtieth anniversary
Co roe E. H. Brandt’s service on our faculty was observed in
of pel. In December, 1951, the golden jubilee of Karl Lorenz’s
‘nation was commemorated in a divine service. At the opening
sce of the 1950—51 school year, Pres. Thomas Coates was

honored upon the attainment of the degree of Doctor of Theology.
Because of the expansion of our faculty, and in view of the
ed demands of our college program, we request permission
create an additional associate professorship (without, however,

Synod’s Building and Loan Fund, was completed in February, 1953 . creasing the size of the faculty).

In addition, plans are currently under way for the construction ofa

new Service Building, to house the dining room, kitchen, infi Board of Control

lounge, and staff quarters. An allocation of $110,000 for this build. One change has occurred on our Board of Control during this

ing has been made from the “Conquest for Christ” offering, Bids triennium. Chairman Arthur H. Raasch resigned from the Board

for this project were to be opened on April 16 of this year, with when he moved away from Portland. Mr. Richard Brandon was

construction to begin shortly thereafter. appointed to fill this vacancy, and Mr. George W. Udy was elevated
_ Facilities to be included in the new Service Building are a to the chairmanship of the Board. ,

present housed in the basement of Centennial Hall. With the
removal of these facilities to their new and permanent location, we
wish to use this space for recreational rooms and for student
quarters. We therefore request an appropriation of $25,000 for this
remodeling program.

Junior College Program

The junior college program was inaugurated at Portland in the
fall of 1950. The first college graduating class completed their
studies here in June, 1952. Of the eighteen members of this class
all but two continued their studies either at Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, or at Concordia Teachers College, Seward.

Pursuant to the action of the 1950 convention, Portland was
designated by the Board for Higher Education to serve as a “pilot”
school in its experiment with the four-year junior college program.
To date, the Freshman high school year has been dropped, restrict-
ing this school to a five-year program. While this arrangement has
posed certain problems, its over-all effect has been to afford greater
concentration upon the specific objectives of this school in the
preparation of pastors and teachers. It has, moreover, increased the
level of maturity in the student body.

Faculty

Concordia’s faculty has been considerably enlarged since the
last report, on account of the expansion of our program. The Rev.
Karl W. Keller and Mr. Alfred R. Roth joined the faculty in 1950,
the Rev. Walter G. Boss and Mr. Donald W. Lorenz in 1951; and the
Rev. Paul W. F. Harms in 1952. In addition, Mr. Theodore Moeller
served as assistant in the school year 1951—52 and Mr. Walter E.
Keller, 1952-53.

Prof. F. W. J. Sylwester retired in 1951, after uninterrupted
service at this school since its inception in 1905; he continues to
serve Concordia, however, in the capacity of librarian. In 1952
Prof. Omar Stuenkel accepted a call into the parish ministry. These
two vacancies were filled with the election of the Rev. Arthur G.
Wahlers and the Rev. Karl W. Keller as associate professors on
October 10, 1952. (Both men had been serving Concordia for some
years as assistant professors.)

In January, 1952, the position of Business Manager was created,
and -Prof.. Alfred R. Roth was appointed to serve in this capacity,
devoting approximately half time to these duties. In January, 1953,
the Board established the office of Dean of Students and appointed
Prof. Karl W. Keller to this position.

In November, 1950, Prof. F. W. J. Sylwester was honored at a
special service upon the completion of 45 years as a member of

Student Body

The enrollment for the past three years has been, respectively,
107, 120, 110. The elimination of the Freshman high school year
has made the problem of recruitment somewhat more difficult, but
this has been offset by the advantages noted above. It is most en-
couraging that 80 per cent of our enrollment has been preministerial
and preteacher during this triennium. Portland’s student body is
restricted to young men. We do not favor the introduction of
co-education within the foreseeable future because of the fact that
our program and facilities are not designed to accommodate this
type of student body.

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