Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 123

2026 Convention Workbook
88 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
•	 Strong and growing church work programs: We have 
seen increased enrollment in our six church work programs 
that prepare students for lives of service to the church. 
•	 Growing nursing and strong education programs: Nurs-
ing classes began in August 2023, and the program is already 
one of our most popular. Our 162-year heritage of teacher 
education remains strong, with more of our traditional un-
dergraduate students enrolled in teaching programs than in 
any other field. 
•	 Revitalized honors program: Our new honors program 
aims to challenge and nurture students throughout their un-
dergraduate career, forming them in truth and honing their 
minds and character.
•	 Centers of Excellence: The university’s four Centers of Ex-
cellence provide an array of diverse resources to help stu-
dents and community members fulfill their callings.
•	 Dynamic Office of Enrollment: The team continues to build 
on its successes in recruitment for our church work programs 
while also continuing to strengthen recruitment of those who 
seek Christ-centered education for vocations outside the 
church.
o
 For under
graduates, transfer students and home -
school students are two areas of growth.
o Graduate enrollment 
continues to be healthy, with 
more than 3,000 students. 
•	 Dedicated Office 
of Advancement and OCRM: These of-
fices continue their strong work in donor cultivation, com-
munication, and service that addresses the needs of congre-
gations and constituents.
•	 Outstanding senior administrative staff: All members of 
the president’s executive cabinet are faithful, highly motivat-
ed experts in their respective fields. 
•	 Desirable location: Just a short train ride from downtown 
Chicago, our location allows students to explore a world-
class city while enjoying the benefits of living in leafy, sub-
urban River Forest.
•	 Christ-centered chapel life: Commitment to a rhythm of 
worship that is based on Lutheran Service Book and the 
Church Year, all ordered by the proper distinction of Law 
and Gospel.
D.1.b. Weaknesses
•	 Financial strength and flexibility: Although greatly im-
proving for CUC, this continues to be a challenge for us and 
for many private Christian universities.
D.1.c. Opportunities
•	 New scholarships and discounts: Both Prepared to Serve 
and Advance with Purpose provide opportunities for donor 
cultivation and student recruitment to provide church work-
ers to the Synod and support continued education for em-
ployees of LCMS entities.
•	 New academic programs: Innovative programs provide op-
portunities to address the market while being defined by our 
three pillars of truth, freedom, and vocation.
•	 Distinctiveness in local market: Our commitment to 
Christ-centered university education is without peer in our 
•	 We introduced the Prepared to Serve Church Professional 
Guarantee, enabling students who study in one of our six 
church work programs to pay a maximum of $5,000 per year 
in tuition. We continue to demonstrate our commitment to 
the church by keeping our top-quality formation for church 
work students affordable. 
•	 The mission and identity of the university have been a major 
focus in the last triennium:
o
 The OCRM 
led the development and implementa -
tion of a faculty course on the mission and identity 
of the university. All full-time faculty must take the 
course. A capstone assignment is required to assess 
tenure eligibility. A similar course for staff is in de-
velopment.
o
 We 
expanded and enhanced our mission and identity 
interview process for all finalists for full-time facul-
ty and senior staff positions. This process, which in-
cludes interviews by the OCRM as well as President 
Dawn, fosters the ongoing development of a unified, 
faithful community at CUC.
•	 CUC built a course called “Unity and Civility in a Diverse 
Community,” which provides an opportunity for faculty and 
staff to learn how to apply biblical and confessional teach -
ings to dialogue and discourse on socially and politically 
sensitive topics.
•	 We initiated the Lectureship in Christianity, Humanities 
and Public Life, generously funded by Dr. and Mrs. C. Ross 
Betts. This semi-annual lecture series hosts leading schol-
ars who engage with our students, faculty, and staff around 
critical issues that affect the church, our neighbors, and the 
world.
•	 Chapel life is central to the ongoing development of a vi-
brant, unified community at CUC. Chapel is centered on 
Lutheran Service Book. All services are liturgical, biblical, 
and confessional, delivered with the proper distinction be-
tween Law and Gospel. Wednesday evening Divine Service 
is properly sacramental. The Church Year is observed with 
its seasons, feasts, and observances to draw faculty, staff, 
and students into the life of the church.
 D. Conclusion
We thank God for the many ways He has blessed and continues 
to bless CUC and its students, faculty, and staff. Our past successes 
were only possible due to His grace and the ways He has worked, 
through us, to bring students into our Christ-centered community. 
D.1. SWOT Analysis
As we look ahead with open eyes and hearts, we reflect on our 
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats we may face.
D.1.a. Strengths
•	 Mission and identity: Comprehensively, the university 
continues to focus on initiatives that emphasize our strong 
Lutheran identity and mission. This includes hiring aligned 
faculty and staff. We received a strong and very positive re-
port from the Concordia University System with respect to 
their formal visit in 2025.