Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 125

2026 Convention Workbook
90 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
Retention remains strong, supported by faculty mentorship, 
comprehensive student services, and a vibrant, Christ-centered 
community, reflecting CUNE’s distinctive mission and enduring 
appeal.
This vibrant community life is especially evident in the grow-
ing participation in daily chapel among students, faculty, and staff. 
As CUNE’s worship life continues to flourish at the heart of cam-
pus, the steady increase in attendance suggests that the university 
may need to consider how to provide worship space that can fully 
support a growing campus family and a shared life of Word and 
worship through a stand-alone chapel.
Strategically, the university remains focused on recruiting mis-
sion-fit students seeking a Lutheran higher education. Recruitment 
pipelines have been strengthened through partnerships with Lu-
theran schools, districts, and ministries, while marketing outreach 
highlights CUNE’s Christ-centered academic excellence, academ-
ic communities, and pathways into church work vocations.
A.1. Academic Communities and Christ-Centered 
Excellence
CUNE continues to focus on mission-driven student support, 
as well as disciplinary catechesis and vocational discipleship. A 
key thread of the strategic plan is strengthening our commitment 
to Christ-centered academic excellence through the development 
of distinct, inspiring, and holistic academic communities, includ -
ing: 
•	 Luke Scholars Honors Program—a rigorous, Christ-cen -
tered honors community emphasizing academic excellence, 
leadership, and service.
•	 Micah Pre-Health Scholars Program—supporting students 
pursuing medical and health-related careers through men-
toring, advising, and service-learning grounded in Christian 
compassion.
•	 Paul Scholars Work Education Program—supporting stu-
dents through meaningful classroom experience integrated 
with vocational exploration.
•	 Uzziah Ag Scholars Program—equipping the next genera -
tion of agricultural leaders through hands-on experiences, 
industry engagement, and a theology of stewardship.
A.2. Church Work Recruitment and Support
CUNE continues its commitment to raising up faithful church 
workers for the LCMS. The university’s current undergraduate 
enrollment includes more than 300 students majoring in church 
work with a goal to recruit 100 new church work students each 
year. Recruitment initiatives include collaboration with districts 
and Lutheran high schools, revitalized visit days for church work 
recruitment, digital storytelling highlighting current church work 
students and alumni, and a dedicated church work admissions re-
cruiter. 
CUNE’s Church Work Scholarships, together with church and 
outside scholarships and federal aid, mean that church work stu-
dents pay, on average, less than $3,500 in tuition per year, helping 
students pursue their callings in ministry without undue financial 
burden. As the number of students preparing for service in Christ’s 
church continues to grow, additional gifts and ongoing support 
will be essential to sustain and enhance the financial aid packages 
that help make this formative preparation possible.
ary 2026, CUI has raised $43M in gifts and pledges towards 
these projects! Thanks be to God!
•	 In 2025, CUI received a $5M pledge to support the build-
ing of new engineering and computer science labs to support 
the expansion of new concentrations in these two majors, 
including mechanical, electrical, and biomechanical engi-
neering, and cybersecurity and robotics as concentrations in 
computer science. Thanks be to God for this transformative 
educational gift!
•	 CUI’s partnership between Music and PBS SoCal and na-
tional PBS syndicates continues each year to produce a 
made-for-TV special called “A Concordia Christmas.” Since 
2021, CUI has created six award-winning broadcasts, shar -
ing the Gospel through music and spoken word, which have 
reached audiences in the millions throughout the U.S. During 
the 2025 Christmas season, CUI led all of higher education 
in reach and impact by delivering over 750 hours of nation -
wide programming, outstripping even St. Olaf College and 
Belmont University, known nationally for music. We were 
pleased to feature a song in the 2025 show that was filmed 
and recorded at the LCMS Youth Gathering.
•	 As part of our ongoing effort to communicate more boldly, 
clearly, and widely that CUI is the premier Christian uni-
versity in Orange County, Calif., the university entered into 
a 12-year partnership with the National Hockey League 
(NHL)’s Anaheim Ducks and OCVIBE, one of the nation’s 
largest sports and entertainment locations (over 100 acres) 
as the “Official Educational Partner.” Throughout this part-
nership, which includes extensive marketing through digi-
tal billboards throughout the complex and inside the Honda 
Center, CUI will tell our story visually and orally. Addition-
ally, this partnership includes guaranteed annual student 
internships, performances at new venues, educational of-
ferings for Ducks and OCVIBE employees, and community 
events, prominently sponsored by CUI. This is a wonderful 
opportunity to introduce CUI more fully to southern Califor-
nia and, through NHL broadcasts, to the nation.
Michael A. Thomas, President
R14.3
Concordia University, Nebraska
Greetings from Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE) where 
we continue our joyful work of equipping men and women for lives 
of learning, service, and leadership in the church and world. In the 
spirit of the 2026 Synod convention theme, Christ Is Risen Indeed 
(1 Cor. 15:20–22), we give thanks that hope in the resurrected 
Christ continues to shape our students, strengthen our mission, and 
sustain our shared service to families and churches of the Synod 
and their neighbors who are sympathetic to our confession.
A. Enrollment
CUNE continues to experience significant enrollment growth, 
reflecting a strong interest in Christ-centered higher education. Last 
fall, the university welcomed 1,281 undergraduate students, along 
with 422 graduate students pursuing advanced degrees. The univer-
sity also celebrated substantial growth in its dual credit program, 
which now serves 2,038 high school students across 43 schools in 
the United States and internationally.