# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S300 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 300 HIGHER EDUCATION to the pastors and teachers of the area a summer in- stitute is annually held on its campus. The response to this program has indicated the necessity of continuing and enlarging this particular program. In August 1969 another such institute is planned. Concordia has opened its facilities and offered its personnel for workshops, institutes, and similar pro- grams, With the assistance of a grant of $1,000 from Lutheran Brotherhood, Concordia annually conducted a professional ethics seminar —in 1967 in communica- tions with Dr. Martin Marty as the guest speaker; in 1968 for members of organized labor with Dr. Dwight Zulauf as speaker and resource man. Every effort is being made, in cooperation with Lutheranism in the area, to expand adult education into evening and sum- mer programs. A start in this direction is envisioned in the fall of 1969. Academic Program Accreditation Since 1962 Concordia College has been accredited by the Northwest Association of Secondary and Higher Schools. The high school has been accredited since 1948 by the same accrediting agency. The college is making a routinely requested progress report as part of its present 5-year extension of accreditation granted in 1966. Faculty Concordia has perennially pursued academic .excel- lence. To this end, it encourages and helps provide for additional schooling for its faculty. All of the 25 full- time instructional staff members are engaged in a pro- gram of continued study. While further education alone does not guarantee better instruction, it is Concordia’s contention that effectiveness in instruction is greatly enhanced by such efforts. The faculty of Concordia has, under God, given it an academic and spiritual strength and vigor which has been reflected in the students. “The Cross of Christ Is My Light” is more than a motto. It is a way of life on this campus. A remarkable unanimity and cohesive- ness has been apparent through the years. Efforts to maintain these essential qualities will continue to be the objective of the school. Curricular Improvement Both the college and the high school faculty con- tinue in in-depth studies of the philosophy, objectives, and the curriculum. The high school department is involved in an experimental 4-year German program designed to supplant the previous 2-year German and 2-year Latin offerings. The college department is re- viewing all of its offerings in order to provide a more effective and meaningful program of studies for its students. An expanding Instructional Media Center plus the establishment of a Study Skills Center are items which have passed the planning stages and are now realities. Discussions are taking place with colleges in the area designed to inaugurate some working agreements or consortiums. All of these items are evidence of a genu- ine concern to be contemporary and also to be planning for an exciting future. Student Personnel Enrollment The following table indicates enrollment figures for the past few years. a3 2 3 ff 22 = fsio taeu EF 68 § g yO wm eo eg: a acd Pa o eCge geez ge %3 6 2 5 gE & ge me 1956. 20 31 — 12 30 _— 12 105 1958 _____ 27 36 20 12 44 — 10 149 1960 _____ 37-53 18 23 56 9 196 1962 ___. 29 70 17 21 65 _ 13 215 1964 ___._ 33.76 26 26 87 — 5 253 1966 __. 41 60 32 28 103 _ 6 270 1967 ___. 39-54 30 14 85 _ 11 233 1968 ___._ 43. 45 21 16 66 7 18 216 The enrollment figures reflect a drop in total en- rollment for the past 2 years. However, it is actually only in these last 2 years that Concordia has suffered any total decrease in enrollment. Prior to that time an increase was noted each year. In fact, from 1956 to 1966 the enrollment increased 157 percent. It is good to see that college ministerial figures have increased rather uniformly during the past years. Present indications from the recruitment office indicate an increase in enrollment for the 1969—70 school year. The valley has been passed, and Concordia is again on its way to a peak. Concordia still contends for the continuation of the high school for the area in which it is located. The Northwest region has no Lutheran secondary school and relatively few Christian day schools. The absence of these institutions makes recruitment difficult. We, however, are aware of the financial burden which this situation places on the church. Therefore, to ease that burden as well as to make its high quality of Christian education available to a greater number of young peo- ple, we gradually are changing our former synodical high school into a combination of community and synod- ical operation. The shift is not easy, but under God we are confident of a successful transition. Scholarships Costs of education continue to increase. This neces- sitates expansion in scholarships and professional ser- vice grants. Fortunately, Concordia can report an in- crease in both categories. In the 1968—69 school year this amount surpassed the $47,000 mark. The Northwest District, individual organizations, organizations of vari- ous types, individuals, and the federal government have participated in the total amount in which more than half of the student body has been the beneficiary. We are grateful to all donors and constantly seek to increase the amount of assistance available to needy and worthy students.