Jump to content

Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota)

Coordinates: 46°51′55″N 96°46′12″W / 46.86528°N 96.77000°W / 46.86528; -96.77000
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Concordia University, St. Paul.
Concordia College
Former name
Concordia Academy (1891–1927)
MottoSoli Deo Gloria
Motto in English
"Glory to God Alone"
TypePrivate liberal arts college
EstablishedOctober 31, 1891; 132 years ago (1891-10-31)
Religious affiliation
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Academic affiliations
NAICU,[1] Space-grant
Endowment$156.6 million (2020)[2]
Budget$117.8 million (2016)[3]
PresidentColin Irvine
DeanSusan Larson
Academic staff
248[4]
Administrative staff
400+[5]
Students1,903 (1,827 undergraduate) (Fall 2023) [6]
Location
Moorhead, Minnesota
,
U.S.

46°51′55″N 96°46′12″W / 46.86528°N 96.77000°W / 46.86528; -96.77000
CampusUrban, 113 acres (46 ha)[7]
Colors   Maroon & Gold
NicknameCobbers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division III – MIAC
MascotKernel Cobb
Websitewww.cord.edu

Concordia College is a private liberal arts college in Moorhead, Minnesota. Founded by Norwegian settlers in 1891, the school is associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is unrelated to the Concordia University System operated by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Concordia is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has a total student enrollment of 1,800. It offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Education, and Master of Science, and Master of Music Education degrees.

Since Concordia was founded, it has articulated a Christian and global curriculum. Students are required to take courses in health, communication, religion, and culture. The college maintains athletic teams in 22 sports and carries 20 music ensembles, including The Concordia Orchestra, The Concordia Band, and The Concordia Choir.

History

[edit]
Old Main, constructed in 1906, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Concordia College was dedicated as a private academy on October 31, 1891, by a group of approximately one dozen Norwegian pastors and laymen[8] who had recently settled in the Red River Valley. The school was founded on the property of the former Episcopalian Bishop Whipple School, which had closed in 1887.[9] English professor Ingebrikt Grose of St. Olaf College was asked to preside over the academy,[10] which at that time offered mixed-sex education in English literature, natural sciences, mathematics, piano, and organ.[11] The school opened with three faculty and twelve students.[12]

In 1892, Rasmus Bogstad, a Norwegian pastor, raised funds to build a male dormitory on campus grounds. His efforts led to the construction of Academy Hall.[13] In 1893, Grose resigned and recently hired business professor Hans Aaker took his place.[14] Aaker became mayor of Moorhead in 1900 and left two years later when that job compromised his dedication to the school.[15] Bogstad was appointed Concordia's next president and established its liberal tradition.[16] Under Bogstad, Concordia constructed a new academic building, now called Old Main.[17]

Henry O. Shurson held the presidency after Bogstad resigned in 1910 until Johan A. Aasgaard was appointed in 1911.[10] Under Aasgaard, the nearby Park Region College and Bruflat Academy were merged with Concordia,[18] and a new library was built in what is now called Grose Hall.[19] In 1925, John N. Brown became president and oversaw Concordia's accreditation by the North Central Association in 1927.[20] Eleven years later, a female dormitory was built, named Fjelstad Hall,[21] and in 1947, a male dormitory was built, later called Brown Hall.[22]

Joseph "Prexy Joe" Knutson became president in 1951, and presided over the construction of 16 buildings and the increase in enrollment to 1592 students.[23] Under his leadership, the Concordia Annual Fund, which continues today, was established to raise money for the college's interests.[24] Paul J. Dovre took the presidency in 1975[10] and oversaw new college programs and articulated Concordia's Lutheran mission.[25] In 1991, Concordia's Speech Team placed 4th in the nation at the AFA-NIET, beating schools with twenty times their enrolment.[26]

In 1999, the college welcomed President Thomas W. Thomsen, who implemented the design for a new campus center; in 2004 Pamela M. Jolicoeur, who established plans for the college's Offutt School of Business, was appointed the first female President.[27] Construction on the Offutt School of Business was completed in late 2012, and hosted students in the fall semester of 2013.[10] William Craft began as president in 2011 and served until June 30, 2023. In 2018, the college's ministry became a member of Reconciling in Christ, affirming its support of LGBTQIA+ people.[28][29] Today, the college is led by President Colin Irvine.[30]

Academics

[edit]

Concordia is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.[31][32] It enrolls over 1,800 students[33] and offers 61 majors and 12 pre-professional programs.[34] Master of Education degrees are offered,[35] and the most popular majors are business, education, and communication.[7]

The college upholds a curriculum that centers on a Christian and global perspective.[36] Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Concordia practices the liberal arts from the Lutheran theological tradition.[37][38] Faculty are encouraged to retain Becoming Responsibly Engaged in the World (BREW) as a thematic focus in their instructions.[39] The college operates by a semester calendar[7] and first-year students are required to take courses in health, communication, religion, and culture.[40] An honors program is offered for motivated students.[41]

Concordia is included in the Open Doors survey of the top twenty baccalaureate institutions that send students abroad.[40] The college offers four global education programs[42] and offers instruction in nine languages.[43] Moreover, students are permitted to study at two neighboring universities, Minnesota State University Moorhead and North Dakota State University, for course credit to their degrees.[44]

In July 2023, Concordia opened the Heimarck Center, an experiential learning facility for the Sanford Heimarck School of Health Professions.[45]

Student life

[edit]
The Dovre Campanile (bell tower) is a campus landmark.

Music

[edit]

The college maintains three choirs, four bands, two orchestras, three jazz ensembles, two percussion ensembles, and two handbell choirs.[46] Music education began with the college's 1891 formation, when piano and organ lessons were taught by one instructor.[10] The college has since expanded to include a music department of 45 faculty that offers five Bachelor of Music degrees and two Bachelor of Arts degrees.[47]

The Concordia Choir is a 78-member mixed choir that travels internationally and has performed at major performance venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.[48] The choir was founded in 1919 by the college's voice instructor and began touring in 1923 under the direction of Herman Monson.[49] The choir grew to national prominence in the following decades when Paul J. Christiansen became the director.[50] Christiansen remained in the position for 49 years[51] until composer René Clausen took over in 1986.[52] Under Clausen, The Concordia Choir has released numerous recordings and has performed with the King's Singers.[48] He was succeeded in 2020 by Michael Culloton.

The college has put on an annual Christmas concert since 1927 that remains a tradition of the local community.[53] From its inception, it has featured the music department's choirs and orchestra.[53] In 1940, Christianson began working with painter Cyrus M. Running to incorporate murals with the concert to reflect the music's themes.[54] Running completed the designs until 1978, when their development was taken over by David J. Hetland,[53] whose murals have traditionally extended 56 by 20 feet (17.1 m × 6.1 m).[55] After Hetland's 2006 death, mural designs were taken over by artist Paul Johnson.[53] The concert is currently performed four times annually on Concordia's campus and twice annually at Orchestra Hall.[56] Over 450 students perform[57] for an audience of twenty thousand,[58] and the concert is broadcast on radio and television.[53] The 2009 concert, Journey to Bethlehem, was recorded by Twin Cities Public Television and won a regional Emmy.[59] It was broadcast nationally by members of the Public Broadcasting Service.[59]

Athletics

[edit]
Jake Christiansen Stadium.

Concordia–Moorhead athletic teams are the Cobbers. The college is a member of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) since the 1921–22 academic year.[60]

Concordia–Moorhead competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports, in which more than 800 students participate.[61] Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, tennis, track & field, and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

Origins

[edit]

Athletics began when a baseball club was organized in 1903[62] and a basketball team was formed after the construction of a gymnasium in 1907.[63] Football emerged in 1916 and Concordia joined the MIAC in 1920.[64] Soon after, teams for tennis, golf, wrestling, softball, volleyball, track, cross country running and others were formed.[65]

Athletics grew further when Jake Christiansen, brother of conductor Paul J. Christiansen, was appointed physical education director in 1941.[66] He coached the football team to five conference championships over his 28-year career.[67] In 1952, Christiansen designed a new athletic facility[63] that promoted the college's reputation in the region.[68] One of Christiansen's former students, Jim Christopherson, took over coaching in 1969 and led the team to nine conference titles and two national championships.[69] Both coaches have been inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame.[63]

The 1982 Concordia–Moorhead women's basketball team defeated Mount Mercy, 73–72, to capture the Cobbers' first AIAW Division III national championship. The Cobbers defeated St. John Fisher in the 1988 NCAA Division III championship game, 65–57, to claim the Cobbers' first NCAA national title.

Notable faculty

[edit]

Notable faculty include:

  • Basit Bilal Koshul, Pakistani researcher writer and editor
  • Chris Coste, head coach, baseball
  • Hiram Drache, historian-in-residence
  • Rich Glas, athletic director and men's basketball head coach
  • Terry Horan, Minnesota Football Coach Association Hall of Fame inductee and Concordia College football coach.[70]
  • Marcus J. Borg, (1942–2015) American New Testament scholar and theologian who was among the most widely known and influential voices in progressive Christianity
  • René Clausen, Grammy award-winning composer and conductor emeritus of The Concordia Choir

Notable alumni

[edit]

Academia

[edit]

Business

[edit]

Entertainment

[edit]

Government

[edit]

Journalism

[edit]

Military

[edit]

Music

[edit]

Science

[edit]

Sports

[edit]

Theology

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ NAICU – Member Directory Archived November 9, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Kennedy, Patrick. "Minnesota Nonprofit 100". StarTribune News. Minneapolis StarTribune. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  4. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Concordia at a Glance". Cord.edu. September 29, 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  5. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Employment at Concordia". Cord.edu. August 9, 2011. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  6. ^ "College Navigator - Concordia College at Moorhead".
  7. ^ a b c "Concordia College | Concordia College-Moorhead | Best College | US News". Colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  8. ^ Engelhardt, 16.
  9. ^ Engelhardt, 22.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Presidential History". Cord.edu. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  11. ^ Rolfsrud, 19-20.
  12. ^ Engelhardt, 25.
  13. ^ Engelhardt, 28.
  14. ^ Engelhardt, 32.
  15. ^ Rolfsrud, 42-43.
  16. ^ Engelhardt, 43.
  17. ^ Engelhardt, 52.
  18. ^ Engelhardt, 60-61.
  19. ^ Engelhardt, 75.
  20. ^ Engelhardt, 104.
  21. ^ Engelhardt, 128.
  22. ^ Rolfsrud, 115-116.
  23. ^ Engelhardt, 288.
  24. ^ "C-400 History". Cord.edu. Archived from the original on January 8, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  25. ^ Engelhardt, 300.
  26. ^ "AFA-NST - 1991". sites.google.com. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  27. ^ "Concordia Presidents". CONCORDIA COLLEGE ARCHIVES. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  28. ^ Cramer, Ashlei (April 27, 2018). "A New RIC Community: Concordia College Campus Ministry Commission & Office of Ministry (Moorhead, MN)". Reconciling Works. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  29. ^ "5 Signs Concordia is for You". Concordia College. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  30. ^ "President William J. Craft". Cord.edu. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  31. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Accreditation". Cord.edu. June 2, 2011. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  32. ^ "Concordia College". NCAHLC.org. The Higher Learning Commission. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  33. ^ "Concordia College -- Moorhead". U.S. News. July 24, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  34. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Majors and Minors". Cord.edu. August 25, 2011. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  35. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Degree and Graduation Requirements". Cord.edu. June 2, 2011. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  36. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Intellect and Faith". Cord.edu. August 11, 2011. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  37. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Concordia College's Mission". Cord.edu. June 2, 2011. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  38. ^ "Concordia College". ELCA.org. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
  39. ^ Dawn Duncan & Gregg Muilenburg, ed. (2010). Making BREW Matter. Moorhead: Concordia College. pp. iii.
  40. ^ a b "BECOMING RESPONSIBLY ENGAGED IN THE WORLD — The Concordia College Core Curriculum" (PDF). Concordia College. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  41. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Credo Honors Program". Cord.edu. June 2, 2011. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  42. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Office of Global Education". Cord.edu. October 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  43. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Global Engagement at Concordia". Cord.edu. August 11, 2011. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  44. ^ "Tri-College University: About TCU". Tri-college.org. February 15, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  45. ^ "Construction Completed on the Heimarck Center: Transforming Health Professions Education". Concordia College. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  46. ^ Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. - Department Courses Archived August 4, 2012, at archive.today
  47. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn". Cord.edu. October 10, 2011. Archived from the original on May 20, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  48. ^ a b "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn". Cord.edu. September 11, 2011. Archived from the original on June 13, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  49. ^ Engelhardt, 86.
  50. ^ Englehardt, 127.
  51. ^ "Christmas at Concordia from American Public Media". Americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  52. ^ "Rene Clausen Biography". Reneclausen.com. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  53. ^ a b c d e "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn". Cord.edu. September 19, 2011. Archived from the original on November 1, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  54. ^ Hetland, David J. (1999). On Our Way Rejoicing. Moorhead, Minn.: Concordia College. pp. 19–20.
  55. ^ "David Hetland, liturgical artist, dies". The Lutheran. January 1, 1980. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  56. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Christmas Concert dates and ticket information". Cord.edu. October 10, 2011. Archived from the original on May 20, 2008. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  57. ^ "Christmas at Concordia from American Public Media". Americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org. Archived from the original on October 15, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  58. ^ Story by Erin Hemme Froslie (January 1, 1980). "Joy and wonder: David Hetland's murals color Concordia's Christmas concerts with hope and healing". The Lutheran. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  59. ^ a b Laura Kaslow / November 27, 2010 (November 27, 2010). "2010 Concordia College Christmas Concert honors former president, celebrates Clausen's 25th year as director". Metro Lutheran. Retrieved October 17, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  60. ^ "Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference – The MIAC Story: Collegiate Athletics at its Best". Miac-online.org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  61. ^ "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – About". Cord.edu. October 12, 2010. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  62. ^ Engelhardt, 47.
  63. ^ a b c "Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. – Athletic History". Cord.edu. October 12, 2010. Archived from the original on March 18, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  64. ^ Engelhardt, 87.
  65. ^ Engelhardt, 143.
  66. ^ Rolfsrud, 210.
  67. ^ Engelhardt, 261.
  68. ^ Engelhardt, 195-196.
  69. ^ Engelhardt, 353.
  70. ^ a b "Willmar graduate is now Hall of Fame coach - West Central Tribune | News, weather, sports from Willmar Minnesota". May 24, 2024. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  71. ^ HAROLD BRACKMAN, Jerusalem Post, May 16, 2013, https://www.jpost.com/magazine/opinion/black-jewish-relations-at-a-crossroads-313374
  72. ^ "Education: Black Studies: A Painful Birth". Time. January 26, 1970.
  73. ^ "President of Montana State Dies of Apparent Heart Attack." Associated Press. June 19, 1969.
  74. ^ "Biden awards medal to Concordia College grad at White House ceremony". InForum. March 24, 2023. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  75. ^ Casey Selix, Kaiser CEO George Halvorson unearths an unusual past in Concordia College commencement speech, MNPOST, June 1, 2010/
  76. ^ IMDb, Kam Heskin Biography
  77. ^ Marc Myers, ‘White House Plumbers’ Co-Star Rich Sommer Found Fame on Local TV, The Wall Street Journal, May 9, 2023
  78. ^ "Cynthia L. Bauerly Official Biography". Federal Election Commission. Archived from the original on May 13, 2009. Retrieved May 5, 2009.
  79. ^ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/H000071
  80. ^ "Gabriel Hauge, Banker, dies; was an Adviser to Presidents". The New York Times. July 25, 1981.
  81. ^ Concordia College, Clint Hill to Receive North Dakota Rough Rider Award, October 5, 2018
  82. ^ Federal Judicial Center, Hovland, Daniel L., https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391666
  83. ^ "Guests from Two Continents". The Gettysburg Times. September 5, 1970. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  84. ^ Coya Knutson at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  85. ^ State Historical Society of North Dakota
  86. ^ Wolfgang Saxon, Sidney Rand, 87, President Of College and Ambassador, The New York Times, December 24, 2003
  87. ^ Nicole M. Moen, THE FEDERAL LAWYER December 2015, p. 35
  88. ^ Georgetown University Directory
  89. ^ CBS News, Roxana Saberi, January 16, 2018
  90. ^ Eriksmoen, Curt (October 19, 2014). "WWII ace hailed from North Dakota". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  91. ^ Naval Hospital Long Beach Decommissioning Ceremony ,https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Naval_Hospital_Long_Beach_Decommissioning_Ceremony_%28IA_NavalHospitalLongBeachDecommissioiningCeremony%29.pdf
  92. ^ Francisco Salazar, Obituary: Soprano Karan Armstrong Dies at 79, Opera Wire, October 5, 2021/
  93. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) A Brief History of Wolf Research, Steve Grooms, International Wolf, Summer, 2002, Volume 21, No. 2, p. 9
  94. ^ Johnson, L. R. "Ernest Omar Wollan". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture.
  95. ^ Kevin Schnepf, Where are they now?: Bennett set to make return to Concordia, INFORUM, October 07, 2010
  96. ^ Multi-Language Publications Newsletter Bringing the Written Word to the World. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. March 2003 p. 2-3 Reu Beck "The Life and Work of Dr. William F. Beck" pdf Archived 2010-12-29 at the Wayback Machine
  97. ^ Star Tribune, Obituary: Marcus Borg, Christian scholar, January 27, 2015

Bibliography

[edit]


[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Concordia College (Moorhead).
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Concordia_College_(Moorhead,_Minnesota)&oldid=1244617685"