Concordia College (New York)

Early history

Concordia College New York was founded in 1881 in Manhattan as a part of the Lutheran Church of St. Matthew. It was established as a feeder school for the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Edmund Bohn (Director of the Lutheran Church of St. Matthew School) and J.H. Sieker (Pastor of the Lutheran Church of St. Matthew) established a Sexta and a Quinta (the equivalent to the first two years of high school) at St. Mathew Academy and thereby in effect began a Progymnasium.

Concordia had outgrown its modest beginning and by February 1893 land was purchased in Unionville, New York (now Hawthorne) for $9,000 donated by M.S. Becker. In modern terms that would be $250,000. A sub-committee was elected to locate land outside of New York City. Pastor Edmund Bohn, William Dick, and Henry Fischer took a train to the Unionville Station in Westchester County. Property was selected based on the persuasiveness of a real estate agent and a local farmer who claimed that oats, corn, vegetables, and hay could be harvested from the land and that the property contained enough stones to build a foundation.

After great consideration (and myriad maintenance issues) the college was moved once again to its current home in Bronxville. Fourteen acres were bought for $52,383 (equivalent to over 1 million dollars today) on April 23, 1908. The Bronxville property, like the Hawthorn campus, was chosen for its close proximity to Manhattan and for its bucolic backdrop. Three buildings—Feth Hall, Bohm Hall and the Commons—were designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton and constructed in 8 months for $160,000 ($3,793,486.87 in 2015 dollars), which included furnishings and landscaping. On January 4, 1910 the Bronxville campus opened with a student body of 100 young men.

The Scheele Memorial Library

The Scheele Memorial Library was dedicated on June 9, 1974 and honors the parents of Joan Scheele Mueller. Her father, business executive William Scheele, (1891-1924) and mother (1891-1957) were longtime members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York

College Archives

The Concordia College Archives preserves historical records of the college, which was started in St. Matthew's Lutheran Church New York City in 1881. The archives document the college, beginning at its first location in Hawthorne, NY as well as the purchase of the present site and all its additions in Bronxville, NY.

The collection includes documents, office files, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, photographs, college publications, musical recordings, audio visual materials and artifacts. Selected items are digitized and can be viewed online.

Programs of study

Concordia offers the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees.

The Concordia Experience engages students in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum combined with real-world experiential learning opportunities, encompassing dynamic programs— Biology, Business, Education, English, Health Studies, Liberal Studies, Nursing, Radiologic Technologies, Social Sciences, and Social Work.

Concordia College also offers (on campus and online) the Master of Science in Childhood Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Business Leadership, a post-baccalaureate Nursing program, an R.N. to B.S. program, and accelerated associate and bachelor's degree completion programs for adults.

Nursing program

Concordia College offers three nursing programs: the Traditional Undergraduate program, the Post-Baccalaureate program, and a RN to BS program.

The Traditional Undergraduate program is designed for first-year and transfer students and provides courses for traditional undergraduate students who seek a Bachelor of Science degree. The Post-Baccalaureate program is an accelerated, 15-month Bachelor of Science program for students with a bachelor's degree in another field. The RN to BS program is designed for Registered Nurses who seek a bachelor's degree to advance their careers.

In 2014, Concordia College's nursing students had an 87.8% pass rate for first-time RN NCLEX test-takers.

Students and faculty

Concordia's students come from 23 states and more than 37 countries worldwide. The student-to-professor ratio is 13 to 1. Total enrollment is 1,037 students. 93% of the College's students receive some form of financial aid, whether grants or loans, and approximately 60% of Concordia's students live on campus.

The College's Math Team regularly competes in the International Contest in Mathematical Modeling where students have consistently performed at or above the Ivy League and thousands of teams from China. In 2014 the team scored at the Successful Participant level, achieved by 58% of the world.

Professors at Concordia are the top in their fields and are graduates of such institutions as Yale, Columbia, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, Oxford University, and Eastman School of Music.

Student organizations

Concordia College's clubs and organizations are formed by students with common interests and objectives. The clubs and organizations are listed below.

Student Government: Executive Board, Student Senate, Inter-Greek Council; Committees on Issues and Voting, and Outreach

Publications: The Arcade (yearbook), The Prelude (Fellow’s journal), and The Clippings (electronic newspaper)

Culture/Fine Arts: Concordia Players, Tour Choir, Festival Choir, Gospel Choir, Chapel Choir, Chamber Ensembles, International, Jazz Ensembles, Music and Talent Club, Multicultural Club, and Praise Dance Team, and Spanish Dance Club Service/Spiritual Clubs: Alpha Sigma Chi, Delta Omega Pi, Theta Zeta Upsilon, Omega Psi Eta, Business Club, Education Club, Social Work Club, Praise Dance Team, Christian Campus Ministries

Social/Recreational: Commuter Council, International Club, Student Activities Committee, Cheerleading, and Intramurals

Academic Clubs: Biology Club, Psychology Club, Pre-Law Club, Alpha Mu Gamma Foreign Language Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Lambda Adult Education Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, Nursing National Honor Society, and the National Student Nursing Association

Athletics

Concordia College-New York is a long-time competitor in NCAA Division II, as a member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). Concordia will sponsor 10 varsity intercollegiate teams for the 2016-17 academic year: women’s cross country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and softball, and men’s cross country, soccer, basketball, baseball, and golf.

The Meyer Athletic Center’s 700-seat gymnasium is home to the Concordia College men’s and women’s basketball teams and volleyball team. It also houses the Department of Athletics offices, as well as the athletic training room, locker rooms for both men and women, and a fitness center. Also in the complex are the Clipper Baseball Field, Clipper Softball Field, and the Clipper Soccer Field.

The Jacobson Global Lecture Series

The Jacobson Global Lecture Series honors the late Dr. David C. Jacobson, former Provost and Professor of Philosophy at Concordia College, who died in December 2004. Dr. Jacobson had a keen interest in world ideologies, religions, history, and politics, which led him around the world to Russia, China, Korea, and throughout Europe. In 1989, he convened an advisory committee to coordinate the Global Speakers Series as a key component of the College’s Global Studies initiative, Concordia is proud continue the series in Dr. Jacobson's name, paying tribute to his profound legacy as a teacher, scholar, minister, and community activist.

This program complements the College’s ongoing effort to integrate global perspectives into its curricular and co-curricular programs. Since its inception, this program has featured a number of distinguished speakers from diverse international fields who have enlightened the community on timely global topics.

PREVIOUS GLOBAL LECTURERS

2014 Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress "The Boss Lottery: The Economics of America's Failing Work/Family Policy"

2014 His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York "Soul-Head-Heart; The Three Popes"

2013 Raymond W. Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner "Threats to New York City and the Modern World"

2012 Dr. John Entelis, Professor of Political Science and Director, Middle East Studies Program, Fordham University "The Arab Spring and the Rise of Political Islam: Causes, Catalysts, Consequences"

2010 Bobby Ghosh, Previously TIME Magazine's World Editor "Lessons of Two Wars"

Open to all students and the public, the evening lectures are held once or twice a year in the Sommer Center for Worship and the Performing Arts.

Location

Concordia’s 33-acre campus is set in the Village of Bronxville. The Village, only one square mile in size, is home to 7,000 inhabitants, including U.N. diplomats, corporate executives, attorneys, and a wide range of other professionals. While entertainment, shopping, and employment opportunities are available to students within the village of Bronxville, students also take advantage of the limitless experience offered in New York City. The 15-minute walk to the village train station takes students to the heart of Manhattan (within 25 minutes). Students frequently go into New York City for culture, internships, and, of course, entertainment.

Concordia Conservatory

Concordia Conservatory is a center for music education in Westchester County. The Conservatory attempts to integrate music into the cultural life of the lower Westchester community. In addition to grassroots programs in schools, libraries, assisted living, and day care centers, the Conservatory offers performances. More than 150 performances are given each year including: Music-on-Parade for Scholarship, the Hoch Chamber Music Series, the Chamber Music Festival, and Faculty concerts.

The Donald A. Krenz Academic Center

Donald Krenz was chairman of Concordia College's 13-member Board of regents, a New York City lawyer, and businessman. The 12,000 square foot Krenz Center addition to the Scheele Memorial Library's second floor was completed in August 2006. It contains classrooms, including the 82-seat Pietruski Auditorium, a 20-station computer teaching room, the Darlene Hedin Krenz Center for New Media and Digital Production, The Yeager Collection, and the OSilas Art Gallery. The Donald A Krenz Academic Center was selected for the 2009 American School and University Magazine Education Interiors Showcase. The project was chosen "for its ability to integrate current and future technology, innovative use of materials, life-cycle cost versus first cost, timelessness, safety and security, clarity of design concept, and accommodation of an enhanced educational mission."

The Yeager Collection

The Yeager Collection (underwritten by George and Barbara Yeager) features autographs of American Businessmen, Financiers and Wealth Creators. "The collection represents a broad spectrum of names identified with the entrepreneurial spirit of America from the early eighteenth century to the present. Before moving to Concordia College, the collection was displayed in the Rockefeller Center offices of Yeager, Wood, and Marshall for several decades."

The OSilas Gallery

The OSilas Gallery (underwritten by Si and Vicki Ford) opened on September 14, 2006. The gallery provides exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and art tours featuring a variety of art genres and styles, such as historic, contemporary, and new media. Many of these events are integrated with art and other academic programs at the college; an exhibition of Concordia student art is held annually.

StART 2015: The Regional High School Art Exhibition invited "student artists from 30 schools — from Rockland, Westchester, Fairfield and the Bronx" to display their art.

The Schoenfeld Building

In 1926, the college’s Board of Control unsuccessfully petitioned the Lutheran Church: Missouri Synod to build a campus gym. Subsequently, the Schoenfeld Memorial Campaign committee was formed and set out to raise one hundred thousand dollars for construction costs. The Schoenfeld Gymnasium was ultimately erected by the efforts of both the church congregation and The Lutheran Education Society. The gym opened on October 1, 1928. The final cost for the construction project was one hundred forty thousand dollars.

The gym was dedicated to Rev. William F. Schoenfeld, “one of the foremost Lutheran ministers in New York.” Among many accomplishments associated with the Lutheran Church, William F. Schoenfeld was pastor for 21 years of the Immanuel Church in Manhattan and one of the founders of the Lutheran Education Society. Rev. William F. Schoenfeld “died suddenly July 30 [1919], on Buck Mountain, near Lake George, N.Y.”

The Schoenfeld Gymnasium was originally designed by American architect: James Gamble Rogers.

In 1994 there was a campaign to raise three million dollars to convert the Schoenfeld building into a drama facility and center for student life. On September 30, 1995 the building was re-opened to the college community.

On October 30, 2015 the new Schoenfeld Campus Center opened. The new modifications included a food court, expanded seating area, an enhanced game room, a redesigned campus store, new study lounges, and a redesigned garden in the outdoor courtyard.

Accreditation

Concordia College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The Social Work program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

The Teacher Education Program at Concordia College-New York is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP). This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs at Concordia College-New York. However, the accreditation does not include individual education courses that the institution offers to P-12 educators for professional development, relic ensure, or other purposes.

The Nursing Program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

The Business Program is a candidate for accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

The college is registered by the New York State Education Department and the College’s International Center for English as a Second Language is a member of the American Association of Intensive English Programs.

Notable alumni

Mike Aviles: MLB Cleveland Indians

Shephard Hill: President Boeing International

Dieter Weinand: President & CEO Bayer Pharma AG

Otto Paul (O. P.) Kretzmann: Lutheran pastor, professor, author, and long-tenured president of Valparaiso University.