wfn.org | [LCMSNews] University system enrollment climbs

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>12.2.2008		
>	LCMS News	 	
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>THE LUTHERAN CHURCH Missouri Synod  	 	
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	December 2, 2008 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 70

>University system sees record-high enrollment

>By Paula Schlueter Ross

With a total of 23,318 students enrolled in graduate and undergraduate
classes this fall, the Synod's 10 Concordia University System schools
nationwide have set -- for the seventh consecutive year -- another
enrollment record.

This fall's record enrollment represents an increase of 1,479 students,
or 6.8 percent, according to figures compiled by the Synod's Board for
University Education (BUE).

Like previous years, the jump is due primarily to an increase in the
number of graduate students -- from 9,035 last fall to 10,180 this year,
an increase of 1,145 students, or 13 percent.

The number of undergraduates also grew in the past year -- from 12,804
to 13,138, an increase of 334 students, or 3 percent.

Dr. Kurt Krueger, executive director of the BUE and president of the
Concordia University System (CUS), credits the schools' "excellent
academic programs and Christ-centered education" for drawing more and
more students each year -- especially teachers seeking graduate degrees.

Even though they have "an incredible number of choices" of graduate
programs in metropolitan areas like Chicago, thousands of teachers are
choosing Concordia, River Forest, and other LCMS universities, he says,
which "says a lot about the quality of the programs."

The CUS schools with the largest graduate enrollments are Concordia
University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., with 3,032 students; Concordia
University Wisconsin, Mequon, with 2,763; Concordia University Texas,
Austin, with 1,088; and Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., with
1,078.

Those with the largest undergraduate enrollments are Concordia, Mequon,
with 3,786 students; Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn., with 1,691;
and Concordia, Irvine, with 1,375.

"Particularly gratifying" among this fall's undergraduate enrollments,
Krueger says, is the 5 percent enrollment increase at Concordia College
in Selma, Ala., the country's only historically Black Lutheran college.
After several years of falling enrollments, the college gained 28
students.

"This summer the college used $1.8 million allocated from the BUE Risk
Endowment Fund to upgrade campus facilities, bolster admission efforts,
and improve academic and student life programs," Krueger explained.  "As
a result of these efforts, enrollment increased from 551 in 2007 to 579
this year."

On-campus student housing there is now "at capacity," according to
Krueger, "and many students are being housed in nearby apartments."

But, even as enrollments rise at CUS schools, the number of students
studying for church careers continues to decline, just as it has every
year since 2002.

Just over 2,000 students are currently studying for careers in church
work, a drop of about 200 students from last year, notes Krueger.  And,
even though the decline "mirrors the decrease in the number of LCMS
youth across the Synod," Krueger is concerned because "the need for
professionally trained church workers to serve in our congregations and
schools is great."

As a result, he says, "recruitment of church work students through the
individual efforts of the 10 Concordias and the What a Way project
continues to be a high priority for the Concordia University System."
Especially needed, he said, are directors of Christian education (DCEs),
church musicians, and elementary school teachers.

This year's 2,034 church-work students include 1,210 teachers (down 84),
315 DCEs (down 41), 281 pre-seminary (down 45), 121 lay ministry (down
31), 42 directors of family life ministry (up 7), 26 deaconesses (up 5),
22 directors of parish music (down 11), and 17 directors of Christian
outreach (down 3).

CUS tuition ranges from a high of $24,900 per year at Concordia, St.
Paul, to a low of $6,264 at Concordia, Selma.  The average CUS tuition
is about $3,000 less than the national average for four-year private
institutions, according to Krueger.

"Generous" scholarship help is available at CUS schools, he added,
especially for church-work students, with the tuition of the average CUS
student discounted by some 30 to 40 percent.

This fall's enrollments -- which include both undergraduate and graduate
students -- at individual CUS schools are as follows:

	

*	Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich. -- 852 (a decrease of 223
students, or 21 percent, over fall 2007).

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*	Concordia University Texas, Austin -- 2,269 (up 434, or 24
percent).

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*	Concordia College, Bronxville, N.Y. -- 734 (down 10, or 1
percent).

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*	Concordia University, Irvine, Calif. -- 2,453 (up 61, or 2
percent).

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*	Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon -- 6,549 (up 616, or 10
percent).

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*	Concordia University, Portland, Ore. -- 1,709 (up 65, or 4
percent).

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*	Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. -- 4,185 (up
59, or 1 percent).

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*	Concordia College, Selma, Ala. -- 579 (up 28, or 5 percent).

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*	Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn. -- 2,644 (up 384, or 17
percent).

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*	Concordia University Nebraska, Seward -- 1,344 (up 65, or 5
percent).

>Seminary enrollment

Total enrollment in all programs at the Synod's two seminaries combined
is down --from 1,115 last fall to 1,085 this year, a drop of 30
students, or 3 percent.

The total number of residential students enrolled in programs leading to
ordination at both seminaries has fallen dramatically -- from 752 last
fall to 660 this year (a drop of 92 students, or 12 percent).

But, offsetting that figure is the increase in distance-education
students, which brings the total decrease down to 15 students, or a 2
percent drop, notes Rev. Glen Thomas, executive director of the Synod's
Board for Pastoral Education.

Still, adds Thomas, "any decrease in seminary enrollment is unwelcome as
we look forward to beginning 2,000 new mission sites, revitalizing
another 2,000 congregations, and note the aging of our clergy roster."

The number of pastoral students enrolled in distance-education programs
at both seminaries grew from 135 in 2007 to 212 this year, an increase
of 77 students, or 57 percent.  This year's figure includes 55 students
in the new Specific Ministry Pastor Program, which was approved by the
Synod's 2007 national convention and began accepting students this fall.

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, reported a total enrollment of 703
students (22 fewer than in 2007), with 584 in master of divinity
(M.Div.) and "alternate-route" programs leading to ordination, a drop of
9 students.

Included in the total headcount at the St. Louis seminary are 386 M.Div.
students, 22 alternate-route pastoral students, 176 non-residential
pastoral students, and 20 deaconess students.

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, reported a total enrollment
of 382 students (8 fewer than last year), with 288 enrolled in programs
leading to ordination, a drop of 6 students.

Its student body includes 235 M.Div. students, 17 alternate-route
pastoral students, 36 non-residential pastoral students, and 32
deaconess students.

"We thank the Lord of the church for the 148 new residential students
and 83 new distance-education students who are preparing for service in
the pastoral ministry at our seminaries," said Thomas.  "These 231 new
students and the 641 returning ordination-track students at our
seminaries are answers to the prayers of God's people that He would
raise up workers for His harvest field."

Thomas also noted the 46 new students in the seminaries' graduate
programs.  "We often fail to mention the significant contribution these
graduate schools make in providing future leaders for our church and
furthering the study of confessional Lutheran theology around the
world."

Thomas said future "agenda items" for the seminaries will include:

	

*	determining the "proper mix of residential education and
distance education" to form "the very best pastors possible," and

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*	discussing how to make the cost of theological education more
affordable.

"Many people mistakenly believe that distance education is very
inexpensive to provide and, as a result, feel that the way to lower the
cost of theological education is simply to shift more of it to distance
education rather than residential education," Thomas said.

"It is not that simple.  Distance education, if done with the same
standard of excellence we have expected of our residential programs, is
not inexpensive.  It is labor-intensive and requires large investments
in technology and faculty time."

>****************************************

If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release, contact
Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org
<mailto:joe.isenhower@lcms.org>  or (314) 996-1231, or Paula Schlueter
Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org <mailto:paula.ross@lcms.org>  or (314)
996-1230.

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