Concordia University Ann Arbor

Concordia University Ann Arbor
Motto Christ First in Everything
Type Private
Established September 30, 1963
Affiliation Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
President Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry
Campus Chief Executive Curt Gielow
Students 1,081 [1]
Location Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
42°16′26″N 83°40′59″W / 42.274°N 83.683°W / 42.274; -83.683Coordinates: 42°16′26″N 83°40′59″W / 42.274°N 83.683°W / 42.274; -83.683
Campus 187 acres (76 ha)
Colors Cardinal, Black and White
              
Athletics NAIA
Nickname Cardinals
Affiliations Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference & Mid-States Football Association
Sports 24 teams[2]
Mascot Corky The Cardinal
Website www.cuaa.edu

Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) is a private liberal arts university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Its 187-acre (76 ha) campus sits on the banks of the Huron River, about ten minutes outside downtown Ann Arbor. Concordia is affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and is a college of the Concordia University System. President Rev. Dr. Patrick Ferry, along with the CUAA Board of Regents (chaired by Rev. Dr. Paul R. Naumann) orchestrated CUAA's merger with Concordia University Wisconsin, located in Mequon, Wisconsin, which became official in July 2013. After the merger, Curt Gielow, former executive dean of CUW’s School of Pharmacy and former mayor of Mequon, is serving as Vice President of Administration and Chief Campus Officer at CUAA.

Concordia University Ann Arbor has approximately 1,000 students, with a student-faculty ratio of about 15 to 1. Concordia offers over 70 areas of study, graduate programs, a set of adult education programs, and a variety of study-abroad activities.

History

Earhart Manor on the Concordia campus

On September 30, 1962, Lutherans from across Michigan gathered on the grounds of the former Earhart estate in Ann Arbor to install the cornerstone of a building that would soon become the center piece of a new college. The motto inscribed on the cornerstone, "That in All Things Christ Might Have Preeminence," set the tone and function for the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the surrounding buildings that would embody the college. Soon after the dedication, construction began with the goal of opening the college the following fall. There were many who thought that it was not possible to complete the project in such a short time, however the goals were achieved.

On September 30, 1963, over 15,000 people gathered to dedicate the newly completed college. The ceremony, which included the college’s 236 students and 24 instructors, took place in the campus gymnasium, which served also as the chapel before the completion of the Chapel of the Holy Trinity in 1964.

The institution was originally established as Concordia Lutheran Junior College but underwent multiple name changes over time. The institution changed its name to Concordia College when it began offering four-year degree programs in 1976, and finally became Concordia University Ann Arbor in 2001.

Chapel of the Holy Trinity

The university commissioned architect Vincent G. Kling to design the chapel so that its spire would cast its shadow over each of the academic buildings, reminding students, faculty and staff of the college’s primary purpose.

In 1977, Concordia began performing the "Boars Head Festival", an annual Christmas celebration filled with song, music, and drama; much beloved by current students, alumni, and community members.

From 1993 to 1995, it was the home of Accordion Magazine, which has since been resurrected under the name Arbor Light Magazine.

In 2015, the university purchased the former Ann Arbor campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. The building now houses the university's new School of Nursing, the first new fully accredited school opened by Concordia since its merger with Concordia University Wisconsin in 2014.[3]

Coupled with expanding academic programs and athletic offerings, enrollment reached an all-time high at Concordia University's Ann Arbor campus during the 2017-18 academic year with a total of 1,081 students.[4][5] The 2016 freshman class of 325 new students marked the largest incoming class since 1976 when the university transitioned from a junior college to four-year institution.[5] CUAA enrollment has increased for four consecutive academic years from 2013 to 2017 in the traditional undergraduate, high school dual credit and graduate studies student populations, a 42 percent increase.[5]

Pictures of Concordia's campus

Athletics

CUAA athletic teams are known as the Cardinals. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC), while its football team competes in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA). Men's sports include baseball (varsity and JV), basketball (varsity and JV), bowling, cheerleading, competitive dance, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, as well as track and field (in and outdoor). Women's sports include basketball (varsity and JV), bowling, cheerleading, competitive dance, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball (varsity and JV), tennis, track and field (in and outdoor), and volleyball.

Concordia University Ann Arbor's mascot is named Corky the Cardinal.

National Championships:

  • 1998 - Softball - NCCAA Division I
  • 1999 - Softball - NCCAA Division I

References

  1. ↑ http://blog.cuaa.edu/concordia-sets-record-breaking-enrollment-rate/
  2. ↑ "HOCKEY TO BE ADDED TO CUAA ATHLETIC PROGRAM OFFERINGS". Concordia University Ann Arbor. 2017-06-23. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  3. ↑ Allen, Jeremy. "Ann Arbor's Concordia University launches new School of Nursing program". MLive Media Group. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
  4. ↑ Hicks, Justin P. (2015-01-11). "Concordia University Ann Arbor uses athletic facility improvements to help boost enrollment". MLive Media Group. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  5. 1 2 3 Slagter, Martin (2016-10-28). "Concordia University enrollment in Ann Arbor hits all-time high". MLive Media Group. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
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