Concordia University Wisconsin

Concordia University Wisconsin

Established	1881
Affiliation	Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
President	Rev. Dr. Patrick T. Ferry
Academic staff	260
Students	7178
Undergraduates	1926
Postgraduates	3091
Location	Mequon , Wisconsin , United States
Nickname	Falcons
Website	cuw.edu

Concordia University Wisconsin is a private liberal arts college located in Mequon, Wisconsin. The school is an affiliate of the 10-member Concordia University System, which is operated by the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS).

File:Cuw for wiki.jpg

CUW Campus - Health and Fitness Facility and Chapel (background)

The university is a coeducational institution, accredited by the NCA, with 78 undergraduate majors and minors, nine graduate programs, and eight accelerated adult education programs.

The university's mission statement reads: "Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world."

Campus

The university is in Mequon, Wisconsin, a city of just over 20,000 citizens north of Milwaukee. Residing on the shore of Lake Michigan, the university owns a 192-acre (0.78 km²) campus with over 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of indoor walkways. The current location of Concordia University Wisconsin was formerly a Roman Catholic convent owned and operated by the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

History

Concordia University Wisconsin was opened in 1881 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Milwaukee. Classes were taught in the basement of the building, with only 13 students in attendance. One year later, the college, known then as Concordia College, purchased nearby land to erect a permanent facility. The college was located between 31st and 33rd streets and State Street and Highland Boulevard in Milwaukee until 1983. These facilities are now partially occupied by the Indian Community School.

Growth

Seeing an opportunity for growth, the college, under the direction of President Wilbert Rosin, asked the Missouri Synod to become a four-year institution for its programs in engineering, social work, teacher education, and nursing. In 1978, the request was approved.

On August 27, 1989, the college sought approval from the Board of Regents to gain university status. The Board approved the request, making Concordia University Wisconsin the first among the 10 colleges of the Concordia University System to achieve this standing. President Dr. R. John Buuck led the university in its transition from the old Milwaukee campus to the Mequon facility (and into university status) during a presidency of 18 years.

Enrollment

CUW Chapel Courtyard

CUW Chapel Courtyard

Following the installment of its current president, the Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry, the university saw tremendous growth in enrollment, nearly doubling in size over 10 years to approximately 1,600. Enrollment now stands at almost 5,600 students. Also expanded were the adult education programs, which are among the largest in Lutheran higher education. As of its 125th academic year (2005–2006), Concordia University Wisconsin became the largest Lutheran school in the United States by enrollment.

In keeping with its liberal arts tradition, Concordia's largest undergraduate majors as of the 2006-07 school year were:

Major area	Students	Percent
Education	444	27%
Health professions	354	21%
Business	167	10%
Theology/Religious vocations	137	9%
Public administration and service	103	6%
Biological and biomedical sciences	82	5%

Other key demographics for CUW students: (a)

• Lutheran 64%
• Minority 11%
• International 3%
• Church work 31%
• Boarding 63% [1]

(a) Note: Source of data traditional undergraduate students only.

Faculty

Student/Faculty ratio: 14 to 1
Average class size: 19
Full-time faculty with terminal degree: 69%

School presidents

• Rev. Christoph Henry Loeber - installed 1885
• Rev. Max Albrecht - installed 1893
• Rev. G. Christian Barth - installed 1912
• Dr. Walter W. Stuenkel - installed 1953
• Dr. Wilbert Rosin - installed 1977
• Rev. Dr. R. John Buuck - installed 1979
• Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry - installed 1997 (current president)

Student Media

Concordia University Wisconsin is home to several student publications, including the official student newspaper,The Beacon , which was founded in 1984. Prior to The Beacon's first publication in 1984, papers like The Courier and The Quill made up the student news publications. An underground publication at Concordia is The Shadow, which contains humorous fictional stories and is distributed by secret editorial staff, is currently in its third incarnation, following in the foot steps of the original but renamed as The Shadow Reborn.

Notable alumni

• André Carson, U. S. Representative, second Muslim elected to Congress
• David A. Clarke, Jr., Sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
• Rev. Ken Klaus, speaker on The Lutheran Hour worldwide radio broadcast
• Martin E. Marty, theological scholar and philosopher
• John Scardina, NFL player
• Walter Wangerin Jr., award-winning American author and educator
• Norman Wengert, political scientist
• Ty Schill, switch-hitting Minor League baseball shortstop.
• Kurt W. Schuller, Wisconsin politician

External links

• Concordia University Wisconsin
• The Concordia Beacon
• The Shadow
• The Shadow Reborn
• School Sisters of Notre Dame
• The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
• Indian Community School of Milwaukee