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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 88

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

40% Graduate School
4% Professional (Pharmacy)

Key Strategic Priorities
Among the many strategies in the current University Plan, the following strategies will receive primary focus in the next academic year:
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41% Lutheran traditional undergraduate students 5% International
20% Minority
25% first generation, traditional undergraduates

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Committed to Purposeful Growth

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One University, two residential campuses

Concordia University Wisconsin’s merger with Concordia
University Ann Arbor was finalized on July 1, 2013. Total student
enrollment at CUAA is up 32%. The University will open a new
School of Nursing in Ann Arbor in the fall of 2016. New academic
programs in Business, Education, and Athletic Training, and campus enhancements (including the purchase in fall 2015 of the former
Cooley Law School located in north Ann Arbor, athletic facilities
including a new football stadium, and multimillion dollar renovations to the Science Building and the Kreft Center for the Arts) have
brought new vigor to CUAA’s 900 students.
Developing student vocation
Concordia students are educated to develop a lifelong vocational
orientation that will focus their careers on serving the Church and the
world. As part of the Concordia Career and Calling Advantage, in its
pilot phase at CUAA, all students develop a Vocational Portfolio that
helps to clarify their professional goals and deepens their sense of
Christ-led purpose.
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Champions for Access and Opportunity
The Concordia Promise
Concordia provides access to the highest-value higher education
experience.Through the Concordia Promise Dual Credit Program,
enrolled high school students pay a reduced tuition cost of $50 per
credit hour. Students are then eligible to participate in the Concordia
Promise Plus, a scholarship in the amount paid for dual credit courses
that is applied toward their undergraduate tuition at CUW or CUAA.
The result? Students can achieve one full year of undergraduate education cost free.
Serving our heroes

As a result of a strategic effort to help veterans achieve their educational goals, Concordia’s student veteran population has increased
82% since fall 2014. The formation of American Legion Post 1881,
one of only 11 in the nation on a college campus, underscores our
commitment to our nation’s heroes.
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2016 Convention Workbook

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Enhance the Christ-centered identity of the University, as evidenced
by a deeper expression of faith by individuals, within classrooms, and
throughout the campus communities.
Create a student learning-centered environment by prioritizing academic rigor university-wide, and by strengthening a comprehensive
and innovative curriculum.
Increase graduation rates by developing more effective academic and
student services.
Expand the Concordia Promise to ensure a Lutheran higher education
experience becomes available for more students, not fewer.
Increase lead generation among self-identified Lutheran students.
Broaden the University-Wide Learning Outcome for global citizenship.
Offer expansive service learning experiences for students in the local
community and throughout the Church.
Pursue vigorous, rapid, mission-minded, market-ready new program
development.
Manage tuition percentage increases by improving efficiencies, reducing waste, and innovating significant new funding sources.
Engage alumni in a lifelong relationship by increasing Concordia’s
investment in their careers and alumni investment in Concordia’s ongoing mission.

Patrick T. Ferry, President
R16

Lutheran Church Extension Fund:
“Upon This Rock, Repent, Confess, Rejoice.”
Organization Mission Statement:
“To support the Church in fulfilling its mission of sharing the Gospel of
Jesus Christ by being a Christ-centered servant partner of the LCMS,
ensuring that funds and services are available now and in the future.”

The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) is honored to serve
and support LCMS-related ministries in support of the sharing of
the Gospel.
During the period from July 1, 2013, through December 31, 2015,
the United States economy grew moderately with the gross domestic product experiencing 2–2.5 percent growth. Employment was
strengthened during this period as the unemployment rate decreased
from 7.4 percent at the end of 2013 to 5.3 percent at the end of 2015.
The housing and auto industries performed strongly due to pentup demand, but recent manufacturing data is reflecting a slowdown
due to the strengthening of the dollar and global growth concerns.
The Federal Reserve’s actions to increase US interest rates, slowing
growth in China, and emerging economies and falling commodity
prices have resulted in significant volatility in financial markets.
Investors are concerned about the ability of the central banks to support economic growth, the potential of a global recession, and the
increasing threat of global terrorism.
In spite of the challenges and concerns outlined above, the Lord
continues to bless LCEF with many opportunities to serve the ministries and members of the LCMS with investments, loans, and services.
LCEF is pleased to report on the key financial trends and activities
of the LCEF during the period from July 1, 2013, through December
31, 2015, below. For more current information, visit lcef.org or call
800-843-5233.
Investments
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Investor Payables—Loyal investors continue to provide funds for
loans to LCMS ministries to support their efforts to expand God’s
kingdom. In line with projected loan demand, LCEF managed an