[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 131 (Monday, August 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11797-S11798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                CONGRATULATIONS TO CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

 Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, 90 years ago, in the basement of 
a Portland, OR, Lutheran church, Concordia College was founded. Two 
years later, its founder moved the college to a 5-acre plot in 
Northeast Portland and erected the first building of Evangelical 
Lutheran Concordia College.
  That spring of 1907 was a very special time in the life of 
Concordia--a new location, a new building, a recognizable presence. The 
year 1995 ushers in another new era for this college. On August 26, the 
board of regents, faculty, staff, students and friends of Concordia 
will gather to celebrate Concordia College's transition to its new 
status as Concordia University.
  From 1905 through 1995, this institution has experienced a wealth of 
significant, laudable accomplishments. I would mention 1946, when 
Concordia reached junior college status, 1977 when the college was 
granted 4-year status and 1987 when the Board of Regents adopted a 
successful planning strategy known as the Keller Plan, after education 
expert and consultant George Keller.
  When the college was made up of 17 young men and an $800 budget, in 
1905, it would have seemed implausible that 90 years later it would 
have 1,000 men and women students, a Health Care Administration program 
ranked among the top five in the country and the only baccalaureate 
degree program in Environmental Remediation and Hazardous Materials 
Management--an extremely important program, especially given the 
serious energy issues facing the Pacific Northwest.
  Today, Concordia College has five schools: arts and sciences, 
business, health and social services, teacher education, and 
theological studies. In the fall of 1996, these five schools will 
become five colleges designated under Concordia University. Throughout 
this transition, Concordia's mission of developing leaders for the 
church and leaders for society has remained constant. It has remained 
committed to the spiritual growth of its students and 

[[Page S 11798]]
the rigorous academic standards of its courses.
  I wish to congratulate all those who have had a partnership in the 
growth of Concordia College, its faculty, staff, and students. I would 
also like to mention the outstanding leadership of Concordia's 
president, Charles E. Schlimpert, its Board of Regents and the 
Concordia College Foundation Board of Directors. The direction they are 
providing will lead Concordia University into a bright future.
  Mr. President, I ask that Concordia University's formal mission 
statement be printed in the Record.
  The statement follows:

                           Mission Statement

       Concordia University, of the Lutheran Church-Missouri 
     Synod, is a center of higher learning that assists students 
     in their lifelong quests for full realization of spiritual, 
     intellectual, social, physical, relational and emotional 
     development. Professional education, grounded in the liberal 
     arts and enriched by relevant co-curricular activities, will 
     strengthen the Church and world community by encouraging the 
     development of Christian values, and an attitude of service 
     among Concordia University students.
     

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