Concordia’s Academic Communities
Story: Amy Crawford
Photos: Courtesy Concordia Marketing
Concordia’s academic communities are a place for students to belong, flourish and grow.
Concordia Nebraska has a rich and inspiring history of providing Christ-centered academic excellence through more than 70 academic programs. Each one is focused upon equipping students for faithful service in their families, churches, communities, workplaces, and beyond. Dedicated faculty work closely with students, embracing the call to teach and mentor, striving to help each student prepare for a life of learning, service, and leadership. All of this happens in the context of a distinctly Lutheran community, one where students are known and valued, where they are guided in achieving goals for their future, and where they are encouraged and inspired by classmates with shared passions and interests. Given such a legacy, today Concordia continues to lean into what it does best: nurturing deep, authentic and Christ-centered academic communities that inspire and equip students for what God has in store for them.
With this in mind, Concordia is investing in strengthening existing communities and launching new ones. This includes strengthening the Luke Scholars honors program, expanding the Uzziah Scholars agricultural program, launching the Paul Scholars work study program, and also creating a new Micah Scholars pre-healthcare community. This will be done in concert with a strong focus upon supporting and expanding the university’s renowned music program and firm commitment to being the premiere and preferred Lutheran university for church work careers.
“Concordia Nebraska has a Christ-centered focus and an outstanding, supportive community,” said university president Dr. Bernard Bull. “Those two features are well known and respected. But we also have truly world-class academics, which is less known to some people beyond our campus.”
Seeking to offer outstanding academics partnered with scholarship opportunities, unique experiences and matchless peer fellowship, Concordia has created a variety of programs and cultivated focused academic communities on campus which generate an additional layer of learning, engagement, mentoring and camaraderie for participating students. Many of these special programs are funded by alumni financial support, private donations and gifts to the university endowment.
“At Concordia, we want our students to be able to say ‘yes’ to four questions: Have I found my people? Do I feel valued and sought after by someone I respect? Can Concordia Nebraska help me accomplish or discover goals for my future? Has Concordia removed financial barriers that would keep me from attending, flourishing, and graduating? We are thinking carefully about how to create more and intentional communities that allow students to say ‘yes’ to all of these questions,” said Bull. “Every one of our academic communities and special programs has unique features and benefits dedicated to fostering deep and world-class learning combined with a strong sense of Christian community.”
Luke Scholars
Now in its fourth year, Luke Scholars is Concordia Nebraska’s honors program, and it is open to all students with any educational background. Participating students are selected via application, with only 15 to 20 new students admitted annually. Interest in the program is incredibly strong, with more student demand than the university has capacity to support. In addition to enjoying unique classes that are paired with students’ other courses, program participants receive access to the Luke Scholars library, benefit from tuition waivers for course overloads, have access to research funds, receive travel stipends, and more.
“These are students who are interested in cultivating the mind in a Christian sense, with a Christian worldview,” said Concordia Nebraska associate professor of history and director of Luke Scholars Dr. John Hink. “This is not about students that are all the same. However, despite their disparate majors and backgrounds, all Luke Scholars commit to push themselves academically in order to unlock their intellectual potential.”
Paul Scholars
This new, in-development program is named for the apostle Paul, who often supported his missionary service by working as a tentmaker. This work study offering is the first of its kind at the university, one of only a handful of such programs in the world, and will allow for a completely tuition-free experience for students who are accepted. The program—which will be partially funded by generous donors and partially funded by community partners—is expected to launch in fall 2024 with room for our first 10 students. Paul Scholars is still seeking financial support to launch and expand this program for the years ahead.
“Paul Scholars is a dedicated academic community that aims to cultivate students’ competence, character, and conviction through a blend of Christ-centered academic studies and meaningful-rich work,” said Concordia Nebraska professor of accounting Todd Johnson. “Students pursue a major of choice, engage in 15 hours of work per week in designated jobs, and complete an interdisciplinary minor focused upon a biblical understanding of work, vocation, followership and leadership. In return, the student’s tuition is covered in full for up to four years of full-time study.”
Continued membership in this community and the associated scholarship requires that students maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA, demonstrate befitting character and continue to faithfully work in a designated position. The program is open to students in any major focus of study and includes an exclusive Paul Scholar minor focused on developing character and competence to learn, serve and lead in the workplace, community, church and world.
Micah Scholars
This program is inspired by Micah 6:8 which states “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Like the university’s other scholar programs, Micah Scholars has a dedicated space on campus for students to meet, study and collaborate. The program is for students who are interested in pursuing careers in medicine such as veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry and dental hygiene.
“These students have a heart for service and a head for science,” said Bull. “Not only are scholarships available, but the key benefit is that these students will be a part of a distinct community of like-minded people. Under the guidance of a program director, they will enjoy outstanding education, meaningful fellowship, mentoring, and so much more.”
The prophet Micah was sent to a nation that needed to hear the call to serve those most in need with God’s love and mercy. Micah Scholars join an academic community of students who prepare for and practice service together.
“The community gathers throughout the week for chapel, seminars, journal clubs, study halls, field trips, and social events. Micah Scholars participate in both short- and long-term volunteer activities culminating in a medical missions trip, typically in the third year of their undergraduate studies,” explained professor of chemistry Dr. John Jurchen “In their senior year, Micah Scholars conduct original research in the biomedical sciences presenting their results at a local symposium or conference. They prepare for competitive admissions in a broad range of healthcare vocations through exam preparation, practice interviews, personal-statement seminars, and other means, all undergirded by prayer.”
Uzziah Scholars
This challenging program was developed for students who have a deep love for agricultural science. Participating students enjoy unique learning experiences and special internship opportunities. Uzziah Scholars receive a yearly scholarship and typically major in agricultural sciences, agricultural education or business administration with agribusiness concentration, though in some instances, those minoring in an ag-related programs participate in the community.
“Concordia’s Uzziah Scholars are devoted to becoming Christian leaders, solving problems in agriculture in their local and global communities and serving as stewards of all agriculture and agricultural resources through their chosen vocations,” said Concordia professor of agriculture Dennis Brink.
Church Work Careers
Unique from other opportunities at the university, becoming a church worker begins with an openness to explore the possibility of a future call to serve Christ in his church. Concordia prepares students to serve in churches and schools as directors of Christian education, directors of parish music, Lutheran school teachers, deaconesses and pastors. Study focus areas include pre-seminary, pre-deaconess, teacher, director of Christian education and director of parish music. Program leaders are actively collaborating to develop this important student community across various church work programs.
We want students to find meaning and connection with other people.
“The Christ-centered education students receive at Concordia prepares them to grow in faith and become a servant leader in our Lutheran churches and schools,” said the university’s LCMS and church work admissions counselor Olivia Johnson. “By becoming a church worker, students can fulfill their calling to teach, lead and minister to other Christians in our church body.” Since team ministry and partnership is such a critical part of service in the church today, being a church work student at Concordia also involves learning in community and developing the mindset and skills needed to thrive as a servant and leader in the body of Christ.
Johnson said most church workers indicate that the decision to prepare for service in church work was influenced by factors including having family members who are church workers, having a church worker make a significant impact on their life, or having church members who told them they would make a great church worker. Concordia Nebraska has placed more Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod church workers than any other Concordia University, she said. In addition, church work students make up a larger percentage of the student body than at any other Lutheran university in the country; even as Concordia’s faculty and staff consist of a higher percentage of church workers than any other university. At Concordia, future church workers are consistently mentored by current church workers.
Music Program
Concordia Nebraska is well known for its music program, offering three majors and four minors. The university offers a bachelor of arts in music with concentrations in performance, church music, composition, conducting, and general studies that can be combined with a major outside music or a pre-professional program like pre-medicine, pre-law, pre-seminary, or pre-deaconess. The university also offers a B.Mus. in music education, which leads to state certification as a PK–12 music teacher and a B.Mus. in church music, which leads to certification as a director of parish music in the LCMS. Ensembles include five choirs, three bands, two handbell choirs and an orchestra.
“We attract students from all over the United States. In fact, we are in the odd position of being better known nationally than locally,” said professor of music Dr. Joseph Herl. “In the past five years, five students have won national competitions or scholarships, and a graduate was a 2023 winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, the most prestigious competition in the U.S. for opera singers. This fall we move into our renovated and enlarged music building, which contains, among other things, 22 practice rooms, 11 teaching studios that double as practice rooms, a recital hall and a soundproof recording studio.”
Scholarships are available for music majors and non-majors, including a full-tuition scholarship for music majors.
“Ask any student or alumni from the music program, and they will likely explain that being part of music at Concordia is also being part of a challenging, inspiring, and enriching community that results in lifelong memories and friendships,” added Bull.
A Community of Scholars
Concordia’s honors program, scholars programs and academic communities are some of many ways to be challenged, equipped, inspired, and involved on campus. Whether students participate in a scholars program, specially-focused academic community, athletics, or other opportunity at the university, there are ample chances to connect, grow in faith, expand knowledge and skill, and prepare for future callings.
“We are a deeply personal community. We are distinctly Lutheran and Christian. We are humbled and shaped by our identity in Christ. It forms what we do and how we do it,” said Bull. “It is beautifully expressed in our music program, in our church work program, and in the many campus communities. All of our faculty embrace our Christian mission, and we have a critical mass of students who choose to be here because of that mission; even as we invite people from varied backgrounds to join the Concordia community.”
Bull said Concordia invites students to find communities that challenge and inspire them, and where they are surrounded by others with shared passions and interests.
“For some it’s athletics. For others it’s a scholars program. Still for others it is our organic academic communities or extracurricular programs,” said Bull. “When students come to Concordia, we want to look them in the eye and tell them, with confidence, that Concordia and these discrete communities are places for them to belong, flourish and grow. We want students to find meaning and connection with other people. Our goal is to offer a true and inspiring culture and community of learning.”