LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 243

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HIGHER EDUCATION

cause later historians to comment adversely on the lack of
wisdom of the Synod. On the other hand a clear-eyed recogni-
tion of the present problem and bringing it to the attention of
our people will result in the preservation of a precious treasure
this church body has and of which other church bodies are
envious. It has been the experience of the administration of
Concordia that when the people of our church are made aware
of the needs of the college, they respond vigorously and with
great consecration and generosity.

Students

One of the continuing evidences of the Holy Spirit at work in
the church is the steady stream of consecrated young men and
women who continue to come to Concordia, River Forest, to
prepare for mission, ministry, and lay leadership roles in the
church. These students have high ideals. They love their Lord.
They are concerned about their fellowman and certainly are
reason for us to be optimistic about the future of the church. In
its most recent academic year Concordia experienced an
increase of 7 percent in its enrollment. Seven out of every 10
students are preparing for a church-related profession. Stu-
dents come from Illinois and other states surrounding the
college, but also from many other areas across the length and
breadth of our country, including some foreign countries. One
of the prime challenges that faces the church today is to make it
possible for these young people to prepare for church profes-
sions which are not apt to bring them a high financial reward.
Student aid is a very important thing to these young people.
The college attempts to keep its tuition costs low. However,
inflationary forces keep driving fees higher. Assistance is
needed from the church in general and also from individualsin
the church in terms of special gifts for the support of the
scholarship program of Concordia.

Enrollment Summaries

Undergraduates 1979—80 1980—81
Degree-seeking Graduates ....... 942 1,002
Specials ..................0.005. 38 39
Interns ............ 0.0... eee eee 5 3

Totals .................000 08. 985 1,044

Graduates
Degree-seeking Graduates ....... 97 98
Guest Graduates ................ 44 55

Totals ...............0000000, 141 153

Totals
Undergraduates................. 985 1,044
Graduates ................00000. 141 153

1,126 1,197

Summer School Enrollment
Undergraduates................. 202 179
Graduates ..................0.. 321 297

Placement

The Lord continues to bless His church with outstanding
young men and women, prepared and eager to serve Him in
full-time ministry. However, an increasing number of requests,
coupled with a reduced number of available graduates,
indicates that a shortage exists, and that the demand for
Lutheran teacher candidates exceeds the number available.

Total Assignments 1978-79 1979-80
Men ............ 20.00. cece eee 61 46
Women ...............00 00 e eee 106 105

Totals .............0 00. ec eee 167 151

Special Assignments

Secondary ...................--- 18 21
Synodical Colleges .............. 7 1
Director of Christian Education. . 6 9
Early Childhood ................ 3 8
Special Ministry ................ 2 0
Foreign ....................2-2-: 2 1

Totals ...................005. 40 40

243

Personnel
Board of Control

During the past biennium the following served on the Board
of Control: Rev. E. H. Happel, chairman; Rev. H. O. Krueger,
vice-chairman; Mr. H. O. Koeneman, secretary; Mr. Ralph
Brauer, Mr. Robert Carpenter, Mr. James Haar, Dr. Henry
Mathews, Mr. Arnold Stoppenhagen, Rev. Herbert Wians.

The Synod owes a special debt of gratitude to these men,
who meet once each month and without compensation give
freely of their time and wisdom.

Mr. Ralph Brauer retires from the board at this time, having
served three terms. Special thanks are due to Mr. Brauer for his
faithful and distinguished service given so freely.

Faculty

The faculty of Concordia College, River Forest, numbers 96
full-time and 40 part-time members. Two-thirds of the full-time
faculty hold permanent tenure. Fifty-five percent of the full-
time faculty have earned doctorates; eight more are currently
at the dissertation stage. Concordia has an able and gifted
faculty which continues to provide a quality education for all of
its students.

New members of the faculty serve Concordia with the same
commitment and dedication as do the veterans on the staff who
have built a strong tradition of dedication and service to God,
church, and nation. Additions to the faculty for the past two
years include the following: Joel Baseley, Bonnie Bondavalli,
Manfred Boos, Christopher Chweh, Gwendolyn Davis, Nancy
Nicol, Robert Pieper, Robert Schaibley, Ronald Schuchard,
and Robert Toepper.

Dr. Paul Bunjes was formally retired in 1980. However, he
continues to serve Concordia as professor of music on contract
basis. Dr. Leslie Zeddies plans to retire at the end of the current
school year. The faithful service of these members of the Music
Department over many years has influenced the lives of many
hundreds of students who are now serving ably in congrega-
tions all over the country. We ask the Synod to join us ina
prayer of gratitude to God for the long and faithful service
rendered to the church by these two professors.

Curricular Changes and Plans for the Future

On the basis of an authorizing resolution at the 1979
synodical convention, Concordia College has developed a
synodical deaconess training program. Miss Nancy Nicol has
assumed the duties of director of the program, which is now in
its first year of operation. There are 20 students in the program,
and the first interns will be available forsummer or fall of 1981.
God willing, the first graduates of this new program will be
available to congregations in the Synod by 1983.

In December of 1980 the first three graduates of the
Hispanic Pastoral Colloquy Center at Concordia, River Forest,
were presented to the church. The program has been function-
ing under the leadership of Dr. Herbert Sims, with close
supervision exercised by the synodical colloquy board for
pastors. Recently four new students were added to this
program.

Also during the past biennium Concordia has developed
and implemented two new undergraduate degrees: bachelor of
music and bachelor of music education. These two new pro-
grams are expected to help Concordia recruit additional
students who have a serious interest in music and music
education. In the near future the bachelor of music education
program will be taken to the state certification board for
certification by entitlement. we

Over the past 2'’2 years Concordia has offered graduate
courses at a Milwaukee extension. The program has been well
received. A large number of Milwaukee area students are
presently engaged in master’s level work in several areas.
Concordia is currently exploring the possibility of offering a
similar extension program to several other areas which have
large concentrations of Lutheran teachers. _

Concordia expects to launch a business management major
in the liberal arts program starting in September 1981. This is
an interdisciplinary approach to providing a good business
and administrative program for undergraduate students who
plan to seek positions in business and/or continue their
education in a master of business administration program.