Concordia University Chicago is a
private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
university in
River Forest, Illinois
River Forest is a suburban village adjacent to Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, U.S. Per the 2020 census, the population was 11,717. Two universities make their home in River Forest, Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago. The v ...
. Formerly a college exclusively for
parochial Parochial is an adjective which may refer to:
* Parishes, in religion
** Parish churches, also called parochial churches
* Parochial schools, primary or secondary schools affiliated to a religious organisation
* Parochialism
Parochialism is the ...
teacher education
Teacher education or teacher training refers to programs, policies, procedures, and provision designed to equip (prospective) teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, approaches, methodologies and skills they require to perform their ...
, Concordia-Chicago now offers more than 100 undergraduate and postgraduate
degrees and enrolls more than 5,000 students. The university is a member of the
Concordia University System
The Concordia University System (CUS) is an organization of seven colleges and universities and one satellite campus in the United States that are operated by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). All of the institutions are named "Concordi ...
, a nationwide network of colleges and universities affiliated with the
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), also known as the Missouri Synod, is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 1.8 million members, it is the second-largest Lutheran body in the United States. The LC ...
(LCMS).
Concordia Chicago, originally named Addison Teachers Seminary, was founded in the
Lutheran
Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...
tradition by
Saxon
The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic
*
*
*
*
peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...
German immigrants in 1864.
[ The university continues to maintain strong ties to its faith-based heritage.
]
History
Background
Lutheran teacher training in the United States began in Perry County, Missouri
Perry County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 18,956. Its county seat is Perryville. The county was officially organized on November 16, 1820 (effective ...
; Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Indiana, United States. Located in northeastern Indiana, the city is west of the Ohio border and south of the Michigan border. The city's population was 263,886 as of the 2020 Censu ...
; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at th ...
, in 1839, 1846, and 1855 respectively. In 1857, the responsibility for the operation of the teachers seminary in Milwaukee was given to the LCMS. Subsequently, the Milwaukee teachers seminary moved and merged operations with Fort Wayne's uniting it with the theological seminary that had been founded there by followers of Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe
Johann Konrad Wilhelm Löhe (21 February 1808 – 2 January 1872) (often rendered 'Loehe') was a pastor of the Lutheran Church, Confesional Lutheran writer, and is often regarded as being a founder of the deaconess movement in Lutheranism and a fou ...
.
In October 1863, the LCMS in convention voted unanimously to move the teachers seminary to Addison, Illinois
Addison is a village located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 36,942 at the 2010 census.
History
The community itself was originally named Dunkley's Grove after the settler Hezekia ...
, appointed the first Praeses
''Praeses'' (Latin ''praesides'') is a Latin word meaning "placed before" or "at the head". In antiquity, notably under the Roman Dominate, it was used to refer to Roman governors; it continues to see some use for various modern positions.
...
of the institution, and instructed that a new building be constructed on land donated by a local Lutheran congregation.
Founding and Addison campus
Concordia University Chicago marks 1864 as its founding in Addison, Illinois
Addison is a village located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 36,942 at the 2010 census.
History
The community itself was originally named Dunkley's Grove after the settler Hezekia ...
. Originally called Addison Teachers Seminary, the institution is the oldest in the Concordia University System
The Concordia University System (CUS) is an organization of seven colleges and universities and one satellite campus in the United States that are operated by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS). All of the institutions are named "Concordi ...
. The West District School Society (today's St. Paul Lutheran Church) sold to the college for the nominal amount of $10 in November 1863, and construction began on a new facility, with the cornerstone-laying service on June 15, 1864. Zion Lutheran Church donated $3,128 towards construction. The Civil War impeded construction, so a vacant nearby two-story tavern building was rented to ensure the new teachers' seminary could carry out its educational training as scheduled, beginning September 1, 1864. Forty-three men and boys, aged 14-33, were in attendance the first year.
The first building, a three-story structure designed for 60 students, was dedicated on December 28, 1864. Enrollment grew to 110 in 1874 and to 240 in 1885, requiring additional construction. A north wing to the main building opened in 1868, a south wing in 1875, and a separate lecture hall called New Hall in 1885. The Commons Building, containing the dining room, kitchen, and bakery, opened behind the main building in 1886, and the physical education building, called Turnen Hall, opened in 1895. The faculty grew from two in 1864 to nine in 1906, housed in nine faculty residences on the campus. The college acquired additional acreage over time, eventually giving it a campus of .
A large celebration was held when the final Addison class graduated in June 1913. The campus was purchased in 1914 by the Chicago City Mission Society and became the Addison Manual Training School for Boys and the Industrial School for Girls. In 1924, the original buildings were demolished and replaced by a larger facility. When alumni learned of the planned demolition, they retrieved the cornerstone, 75 stone window sills, the stone steps of the north wing, and the stone slab over the entrance of Old Main on the site of the seminary and constructed a monument. The monument was dedicated in 1925 and refurbished in 1982.
River Forest campus
On November 12, 1912, ground was broken for a new campus in River Forest, Illinois. More than 8,000 people attended the cornerstone laying service on December 15, 1912. On October 12, 1913, the institution moved to its present campus with an estimated 30,000–45,000 people attending the dedication. Prior to the dedication of the River Forest campus, much discussion took place regarding a new name for the institution. On May 20, 1913, the faculty settled on Concordia Teachers College with the official charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the rec ...
from the Illinois Secretary of State
The Secretary of State of Illinois is one of the six elected executive state offices of the government of Illinois, and one of the 47 secretaries of states in the United States. The Illinois Secretary of State keeps the state records, laws, libr ...
's office being issued on April 28, 1915.
In 1979, the institution expanded its education-centered program to become a full liberal arts institution and changed its name to Concordia College. Eleven years later, in 1990, having experienced tremendous growth in its graduate offerings, the school reorganized and changed its legal name to Concordia University. Since then the institution has branded itself as Concordia University River Forest (1990–2006) and Concordia University Chicago (2006–present)
Colleges
Concordia University Chicago has four colleges:
*College of Business
*College of Education
*College of Health, Science & Technology
*College of Theology, Arts & Humanities
Many students attend classes online or at Cohort (educational group)
A cohort is a Student group, group of students who work through a curriculum together to achieve the same academic degree together. Cohortians are the individual members of such a group. In a cohort, there is an expectation of richness to the lea ...
sites around the Chicago metropolitan area
The Chicago metropolitan area, also colloquially referred to as Chicagoland, is a metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. Encompassing 10,286 sq mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hi ...
.
Athletics
Concordia Chicago teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges an ...
's Division III
In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Division III, is often the third-highest division of a league, and will often have promotion and relegation with divisions above and below.
Association football
*Belgian Thir ...
. Concordia Chicago was a member of the Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference
The Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference (NIIC) was a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division III
In sport, the Third Division, also called Division 3, Division Three, or Divi ...
until the spring of 2006, and since 2006 has been a member of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference
The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC), formerly the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC), is a college athletic conference. It participates in the NCAA's Division III and began its first season in the fall of 2006.
The NACC sponsors ...
(NACC). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and track & field; women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. The school colors are maroon and gold.
Music
The current chair of the music department is Professor Johnathan Kohrs. Dr. Richard Fischer is the Director of Bands, where he conducts the Wind Symphony and University Band as well as teaching conducting and music education classes. The Wind Symphony, Concordia's premiere instrumental ensemble, has performed in 43 states, Europe, Asia, and most recently, South Africa. The group has released fourteen recordings of sacred wind music. The ensemble has given many premiere performances of compositions by current wind band composers. The Wind Symphony performed at Carnegie Hall on March 4, 2014, and again on March 13, 2019.
The Kapelle, under the direction of Dr. Charles Brown, is the university's premiere choral ensemble, and has performed around the U.S. and in Europe and South America. The ensemble also has multiple recordings to its credit. Dr. Steven Wente, previously the chair of the music department, retired as distinguished professor of music in 2020. Wente continues to teach organ as an adjunct professor and serves as the organist for the Chapel of Our Lord. Other musical ensembles include Schola Cantorum (Chapel Choir, conducted by Jonathan Kohrs), Chamber Orchestra (Maurice Boyer), Mannerchor (Men's Chamber Choir with Charles Brown), Laudate (Women's Chamber Choir with Maurice Boyer), Jazz Band (Kirk Garrison), University Handbells (Johnathan Kohrs), Cougar Band (student-led pep band), and other ensembles.
Notable alumni
* Bernard Bull
Bernard D. Bull (born 1971) is an American academic administrator and scholar. He is currently serving as president of Concordia University Nebraska. Bull previously served as president of Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont.
Biography
Aft ...
—American academic administrator and scholar
* Adrian Griffin
Adrian Darnell Griffin Sr. (born July 4, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA as a shooting guard ...
—basketball coach and former college basketball player
* Tony Harper (American football)
Tony Harper is an American football coach. He served as the head football coach at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota from 2002 to 2004 Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings is a city and the county seat of Adams ...
* Paul Walter Hauser
Paul Walter Hauser (born October 15, 1986) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for his supporting roles in the films '' Cruella'', ''I, Tonya'', '' Late Night'', ''BlacKkKlansman'', and ''Da 5 Bloods''. In 2019, Hauser had his breakout ...
—actor and comedian
* Richard Hillert—composer and professor of music
* Scot Kerns—Lutheran pastor and member of the Montana state legislature
The Montana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Montana. It is composed of the 100-member Montana House of Representatives and the 50-member Montana Senate.
The Montana Constitution dictates that the legislature meet ...
.
* Paul Manz
Paul Otto Manz (May 10, 1919 – October 28, 2009), was an American composer for choir and organ. His most famous choral work is the Advent motet "E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come", which has been performed at the Nine Lessons and Carols, Fe ...
—composer, organist, conductor, and professor of music
* Nick Nurse — basketball coach, author, and former college basketball player
* Jim Platt
James Archibald Platt (born 26 January 1952) is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Northern Ireland.
Playing career
During his career, Platt won 23 caps for Northern Ireland, an amount largely restricted due to the presence of ...
—basketball coach
* Carl Schalk
Carl Flentge Schalk (September 26, 1929 – January 24, 2021) was a noted Lutheran composer, author, and lecturer. Between 1965 and 2004 he taught church music at Concordia University Chicago. —composer, professor of music
* Mark Warkentien
Mark Warkentien (April 16, 1953 – December 23, 2022) was a basketball coach and executive whose most recent job was as a Special Assignment Evaluator for the Oklahoma City Thunder.https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-warkentien-10a52a9/ He recently ...
—basketball coach, recruiter, and executive
References
External links
Official website
{{authority control
Educational institutions established in 1864
Universities and colleges affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Universities and colleges in Cook County, Illinois
Private universities and colleges in Illinois
1864 establishments in Illinois