Official Workbook report source text
Official Workbook source-navigation report record. No analysis has been added.
- Report number/id
- R14
- Report title
- R14 Concordia University System
- Workbook start page
- 83
- Workbook end page
- 86
- Source pages
- 83, 84, 85, 86
- Source status
- source_checked
- Committee
- Not available
R14 Concordia University System Established by the 1992 Synod convention, the Concordia Uni- versity System (CUS) unifies the universities of the Synod around our central mission to educate students for godly vocations in the Church and the world, with a biblical foundation and the Luther - an confession of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The 2023 convention further refined this role by relieving CUS of operational responsi- bilities, allowing us to focus on our universities’ Lutheran identity and mission. CUS, under the leadership of its board of directors and new staff, has taken up the challenge of this mission and made great strides toward an established, lasting approach that implements the Synod’s convention decisions while honoring the academic free- dom and autonomy of our institutions. CUS, as a synodwide cor - porate entity, serves as a buffer between corporate Synod and the five Synod universities, implementing the directions of the Synod’s conventions while maintaining the degree of separation required by national accrediting boards for our institutions. CUS accomplishes this delicate task through a system of visi- tation in accordance with Synod Bylaws and the best practices of the Lutheran educational tradition. Under the direction of our board of directors, the CUS staff has diligently maintained open lines of communication with our institutions and demonstrated the Synod’s care for our universities through extensive visits and financial sup- port. Throughout our history, the Synod has entrusted us with the stewardship of a large endowment comprising many funds to sup- port our institutions and student scholarships. The CUS staff also facilitates coordinated efforts among our universities to promote Lutheran higher education, recruit students, and drive collaborative improvement. CUS maintains a small staff to handle assigned tasks. The Rev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe retired after ten years of service to CUS in 2024. Following the restructuring after the 2023 Synod convention, the CUS Board of Directors called the Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy to serve as president, the Rev. Dr. Douglas Spittel to serve as vice-pres- ident, and the Rev. Dr. Paul Philp to serve as executive director of Concordia University System Education Network (CUEnet). CUS has completed the formal visitations to the universities. All have received the highest affirmation that CUS can give its schools. This first round of formal visitations has gone very well, and our schools are in a strong place regarding the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards (LIMOS). In 2024, we overhauled our website, cus.edu. Visitors to the site now have access to information about all our universities; links to admissions departments; protocols, policies, and procedures gov- erning our work; news from across the system; scholarship applica- tions; and a donor portal. This report references several documents available on the website. Readers are encouraged to visit the site. CUS has successfully awarded 120 $5,000 scholarships to LCMS church work students in 2025. This effort has been an excel- lent new step towards funding church work education throughout the system. We are also seeking to expand our endowment funds to increase the number of scholarships we award. CUS staff have completed a new asset allocation across the portfolio with the LCMS Foundation to maximize returns on endowment funds. We are now working with the LCMS Foundation to expand our asset class and investment opportunities. 2026 Convention Workbook 84 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS A.3. Res. 7-05A, “To Bring Accountability to Concordia Boards of Regents and to Improve Doctrinal Fidelity and Amenability to Ecclesiastical Supervision” In keeping with Bylaw 3.10.6.2.2, CUS works with the LCMS Board of Directors to provide orientation and ongoing education for elected and appointed members of the boards of regents of our several universities. The orientation is conducted in person. Fol- low-up education and training are delivered in person and online to ensure all regents have ready access to the material. Meetings with regents are also included in the visitation pro- cess, in the spirit of Resolution 7-05A, to keep regents involved in the implementation of Res. 7-04B, especially LIMOS IV and V . CUS staff have also been invited to attend regular regents’ board meetings to report on CUS activities and observe university gov- ernance. This comprehensive system of visitation has strengthened the Synod’s connection with our universities. B. CUS Institution Data B.1. Enrollment B.2. Scholarships and Institutional Support In FY2026, Direct Student Scholarships were separated from Gen- eral Institutional Support to better honor donor restrictions. A.2. Res. 7-04B, “To Revise Bylaws to Revisit and Renew Relationship of Colleges and Universities with the Synod” The CUS Board of Directors has revised and amended the Ar - ticles of Incorporation and Bylaws of CUS in compliance with the 2023 convention’s ratification of Resolution 7-04B. After review by the Synod’s Commission on Constitutional Matters, these docu- ments were filed with the Missouri Secretary of State. The CUS Board of Directors ratified the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcome Standards (LIMOS) in 2024. The three-page document, which may be found at cus.edu, includes specific points to define and clarify the seven main standards: Identity Standard I—Ecclesiastical Mission and Goals The institution’ s ecclesiastical mission and goals appropriately center on Christ, the Holy Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and the shared confession and practice of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. Identity Standard II—Spiritual and Academic Life The spiritual and academic life of the institution reflects and embraces its ecclesiastical mission and goals. Identity Standard III—Student Recruitment and Student Life Student recruitment, student affairs, campus life, and other pro- grams reflect and embrace the institution’ s ecclesiastical mission and goals. Identity Standard IV—Planning and Resourcing Planning, resourcing, and personnel reflect and embrace the institution’ s ecclesiastical mission and goals. Identity Standard V—Governance, Leadership, and Admin- istration The governance, leadership, and administration of the insti- tution foster and embrace the institution’ s place in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Identity Standard VI—Assessment of Effectiveness The institution’ s assessment of its achievement of the Lutheran Identity and Mission Outcomes is foundational to and effective in advancing its ecclesiastical goals. Identity Standard VII—Handling and Resolving Concerns of Constituents The institution’ s handling of legitimate concerns expressed by constituents is foundational to and effective in advancing its eccle- siastical goals. This document is supplemented by an evaluation tool that pro- vides discussion-starting questions for use during formal and in- formal visits. The formal and informal visitations form the backbone of the implementation of Res. 7-04B. The CUS Board of Directors has established protocols for conducting these visits in accordance with the Synod Bylaws. Curriculum standards for programs leading to vocations in the church have also been established. All these docu- ments are available to view on cus.edu. 2026 Convention Workbook 85 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS C.3. Curriculum As noted above, the CUEnet courses include the first six courses common to all categories of the commissioned ministry colloquy. CUEnet’s curriculum includes two additional courses specific to teacher colloquy: Lutheran Teacher I and Lutheran Teacher II. Each course in the curriculum is offered in a month-long format. The courses are offered in an asynchronous format so that students may progress at their own pace. Students watch prerecorded course vid- eos, read from various sources, and complete assignments, which are submitted to their course mentor. Each course is mentored by an ordained LCMS pastor with expertise in the course content area. CUEnet is currently blessed to have five pastors serving as mentors. Students may take courses each consecutive month, enabling them to complete the coursework portion of their colloquy journey in as little as eight months. The current CUEnet curriculum and associated videos are due for review and upgrade. This process is beginning and will be a significant focus during the 2026–29 triennium. Res. 7-04B re- quired the CUS to develop theological and curricular standards for all programs leading to certification as a commissioned minister. This process has been undertaken, and the overarching theological standards have been completed. Phase II of this work, to devel - op program-specific standards, is currently underway. The CCCM is also responsible for developing standards for all categories of commissioned colloquy. This parallel but separate process is also currently transpiring. The CUEnet curriculum will be required to be responsive to these standards as it is revised and redesigned. As such, the curriculum review process timeline depends on the work of the CUS and the CCCM on standard development. An advisory committee will be formed to facilitate the curricu- lum review process. This committee will draw its membership from educational leaders and subject-matter experts across the Synod’s higher education institutions. District education executives and other Synod leaders will also be important resources for this com- mittee. The committee will advise on the curriculum redesign and assist in course development. They will also review the course de- livery model and seek to determine the best means for the future of online teacher colloquy course delivery. C.4. CUEnet Non-Colloquy Offerings • Seminar is a program of theological study designed to en- hance a non-Lutheran teacher’s understanding of the distinct teachings, practices, and identity of the Lutheran school in which they are teaching. The program surveys the major doctrines of the Lutheran Church and compares and con- trasts these teachings with those of other Christian denom- inations and other religions. Compared with colloquy, sem- inar is a significantly shorter, less rigorous introduction to Lutheranism. It does not lead to becoming rostered. Neither scholarships nor college credit is available. • Images of Faith is a set of multi media presentations de- signed to supplement a congregation’s catechism program. Complete with a handbook that offers discussion points and conversation starters, this collection of 23 videos covers top- ics including the Ten Commandments, the Creeds, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and more. It is available at no cost to the congregations and schools of the LCMS, WELS, and ELS. • Gemstones is an ever-expanding, searchable library of video presentations on a variety of theological topics. It is designed C. Concordia University System Education Network (CUEnet) CUEnet was founded in 1996 as a collaborative effort among CUS colleges and universities to provide online teacher colloquy education. Online teacher colloquy remains the primary activity of CUEnet. CUEnet’s offices are located in Bend, Ore., while students are served throughout the entire Synod. Administratively, CUEnet is responsible to the leadership of the CUS and the CUS campus presidents. In addition to providing online teacher colloquy, CUEnet also offers colloquy courses for those pursuing colloquy in other catego- ries of commissioned ministry through one of the CUS colleges or universities. The first six courses (Old Testament, New Testament, History of Theology, Christian Doctrine, Lutheran Confessions, and Varieties of Belief) are common to all commissioned collo - quy programs. As such, students may take these six courses with CUEnet if the institution through which they are seeking certifica - tion allows. CUEnet provides a seminar program, Gemstones, and Images of Faith as additional educational resources. These programs draw on material from the colloquy courses, along with additional mate- rials, to further enhance Lutheran education within the Synod and beyond. Additional information will be shared about each of these elsewhere in this report. C.1. Leadership Change During the 2023–26 triennium, CUEnet experienced a leader - ship change. Prior to the 2023 convention, several individuals who had previously served CUEnet for many years discontinued their service. CUEnet’s founder, the Rev. Dr. Ray Halm, was called to his eternal rest. CUEnet’s chief operations officer, Dr. Heather Stueve, accepted a call to serve at another LCMS ministry. Another long-time staff member also left CUEnet to pursue a different area of service. The result of these various staff changes was a period of vacancy, which included additional staff transitions. In the summer of 2024, the Rev. Dr. Paul A. Philp was called by CUS to serve as executive director of CUEnet. Dr. Philp served the ten years prior as the CUS director of institutional research and in- tegrity. In that role, he regularly interfaced with the CUEnet staff on various issues and served as the CUS representative to the Colloquy Committee for Commissioned Ministry (CCCM). Dr. Philp was in- stalled in September of 2024 and continues also to serve as assistant to the CUS president and CUS representative to the CCCM. Dr. Philp’s connections to the CUS, the individual CUS institutions, the CCCM, and CUEnet enable regular interaction and partnerships to continue the work of teacher colloquy. C.2. Strategic Planning CUEnet is developing a strategic plan for the future. This strate- gic plan will build on CUEnet’s strengths in colloquy education and explore new and expanded ways for CUEnet to partner with various stakeholders in this area. A critical component of CUEnet’s strate- gic future will be strengthening its relationships with the CUS insti- tutions it serves. Closer relationships with the campuses will enable sharing of ideas with content experts, strengthening CUEnet’s of- ferings. CUEnet will also seek to build strategic partnerships with other entities to bolster the work of CUEnet, increase philanthropic support for student scholarships, and develop added resources for use in the congregations and schools of the Synod. 2026 Convention Workbook 86 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS 2023–25 Enrollment. The statistics for enrollment for the final months of the 2023–26 triennium were not available at the time of the publication deadline. C.6. Tuition and Scholarships Current (academic year 2025–26) tuition is $974 per course. The total cost of the eight courses is $7,292 before any scholarships are applied. CUEnet has received a generous scholarship grant that covers $400 per course for each student in the current academic year. Many students also receive scholarship assistance from their LCMS district and the ministry in which they are currently serving. Additional fees include $50 for the endorsement process and $172 for the Logos library subscription. Tuition, scholarship amounts, and costs are subject to change. Jamison J. Hardy, President