# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S318 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 318 HIGHER EDUCATION Mr. Donald Schroeder, 1973: Mr. James Koerschen, 1974: Dr. William F. Meyer, 1974. The full-time faculty now numbers 21. This group is ably assisted in the teaching task by 8 to 10 part-time faculty. Concordia finds itself in the position of being adequately though not generously staffed for its present administrative and academic programs. As a result, both faculty and administration have been able to turn significant attention to resource-pro- ducing functions such as recruitment and development while at the same time giving concerted effort to improving teaching effectiveness. Administration Two men from the ranks of the faculty have accepted ap- pointments to responsible administrative positions: Dr. Milton Riemer, academic dean (beginning with the 1974—75 school year), and Prof. A. Paul Vasconcellos, dean of student affairs (beginning with the 1975 —76 school year). Welcome additions to the administrative staff from outside the institution have been Rev. D. R. Nelson for recruitment and admissions counseling, Dr. William F. Meyer as director of business affairs, and Rev. Victor O. Mennicke as director of planning and development. It is characteristic of administrators at Concordia that they combine their administrative roles with teaching. counseling, or coaching assignments. Student Body Concordia in Austin rejoices in a record enrollment in 1974—75. Total enrollment increased by more than 40 percent over the previous year and stands at very nearly double the enrollment of 5 years ago. Comparative figures for a number of years are given for the sake of sharing the context of this drama: Pastoral Teaching Other Liberal Ministry Ministry Ministries Arts Total 1968-69 857 59 11 88 195 1969-70 831 54 9 103 197 1970-71 4 831 67 7 153 258 1971-72 8 57 6 169 260 1972-73. _ ss 330 46 10 179 265 1973—74 28 32 11 198 269 1974-75 40 31 14 299 384 Some interpretation of enrollment trends is in order. Total enrollment had stabilized for a 4-year period after significant increase in 1970—71. What has changed in the last biennium is that staff and budget for recruitment has been increased to levels more nearly adequate for producing correspondence, publicity, and personal contacts to reach additional hundreds of potential students. What is more, the quality of the recruit- ment efforts of the faculty in general and the recruitment staff in particular is highly commendable. Also apparent in the tabulation above is that Concordia in Austin has shared in the synodical dilemma of declining enroll- ment in church work students. Austin has escaped sharp de- cline, teaching ministry students excepted, but the pattern is certainly no better than stable in any category. The school year 1974—75 has produced a reversal in trend, not apparent in the tabulation. The freshman class of 1974—75 includes 56 professional church work students, compared to 36 in the fresh- man class of 1973—74~an increase of more than 50%. Concordia’s ministry of teaching and counseling students in the liberal arts continues to be well received. Recruitment from among this group for church work professions continues to be successful enough at least to replace announced church work students who for personal or academic reasons discon- tinue their programs. But the fine reputation that Concordia has among its ex-students who pursue other careers has en- couraged prospective students to choose Concordia for the simple excellence of its program. Finances Concordia has entered an era of imaginative and energetic fund raising, a program imposed by necessity and directed by the skillful leadership of Victor Mennicke. Because synodical subsidy for the school has not changed significantly for almost a decade. an increasing part of the operating budget of the insti- tution must be secured from individuals, congregations, and agencies in the church and in the community. Concordia is almost entirely dependent on similar sources for any anticipated building needs. The members of the Texas District have continued their supportive stance through special offerings and commitments. Also especially noteworthy are the continuing annual grants of the B. M. Woltmann Foundation and the periodic grants of the Texas District LWML. Special gratitude is extended to members of congregations in the southeast corner of Texas (Golden Triangle) for undertaking and completing a project to furnish and equip a modern laboratory for instruction in mathe- matics. Concordia is also indebted to the members of Aid Association for Lutherans, Appleton, Wis., for providing funds and guidance for the purchase and installation of equipment to record and play videotape for instructional purposes in all of the educational facilities of the campus. Concordia has, in fact, turned to many donors who have re- sponded with gifts and services, large and small, to provide campus improvements, equipment, student aid, and operating funds. These people are our special friends. Facilities The present number of resident students has filled the housing, dining, and recreational facilities to near capacity. No additional office space for faculty and staff is presently available. Very few classrooms are idle any hour of the class day. Ingenuity in space assignment and scheduling will extend the capacity of present facilities, but the planning of additional facilities is already a matter of high priority. First consideration has been given to a large educational and recreational activities center, to which the Texas District has responded with the com- mitment to a major offering, and a greatly expanded library facility. for which plans and funding are pending. Repairs, remodeling, and redecorating, though costly. con- tinue to make present facilities very functional. Golden Anniversary The 1975-76 school year will be Concordia’s 50th year, leading to the actual golden anniversary of the institution in the fall of 1976. That year will also mark the silver anniversary of the Junior College in Austin. The President of the Texas District has appointed special committees to join with personnel of Concordia in planning events and activities of celebration and thanksgiving. Faculty and students, along with the thousands who have benefited from education at Concordia over the past 50 years, invite the entire Synod to rejoice with us on the occasion of this significant milestone. The Future Recent developments at Concordia in Austin are positive enough to suggest that the school is on the threshold of program development which would allow it to be of greater service to young people of the Southwest and South in behalf of The Lutheran Church ~ Missouri Synod. Such development may well include the establishment of a 4-year program in several edu- cational disciplines. Certainly there will be opportunity for progress in the quality of learning at whatever levels of educa- tion are a part of Concordia’s future. The future belongs to the Lord of all of history and of the church's role in history. But the Synod within its own resources also holds the key to some of Concordia’s future potential. What is essential is that the Synod maintain a high degree of interest in and support for Lutheran higher education in the Southwest and South. Concordia wishes to be an arm of the Synod and wishes to participate in the formation and execution of the policies and programs by which the Synod will serve our God. We of the faculty and staff, therefore, repent of what we have done and have failed to do in the development of the present dilemma of the Synod and pledge ourselves to participate in reasonable attempts at reconciliation. Concordia wants its future to be parallel to and integrated with the loyalty to Jesus Christ and enthusiasm for His mission which we feel must characterize the future of the Synod. Ray F. Martens, President