LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 318

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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