Student Life in the Academic Community

Concordia provides many avenues for student learning and personal growth outside the classroom — residence hall living; religious life; involvement in forensics, music and athletics; and participation in student service and leadership activities. Part-time employment both on and off campus is also an important aspect of student life for many. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these many opportunities to explore their interests, exercise talents and develop leadership skills.

As a liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Concordia College is committed to fostering the spiritual, intellectual, social and emotional growth of all students, helping them to achieve their fullest potential as human beings. As members of the Concordia College community, all students possess those fundamental human rights necessary to the pursuit of truth and the freedom to learn. We expect that all members of this community will treat each other with dignity and respect.

Bookstore
The Cobber Bookstore, located in the lower level of the Normandy Center, is owned and operated by Concordia College to provide most of the learning materials students will need while at Concordia. In addition to course materials and textbooks, the Bookstore carries school and art supplies, commencement announcements and regalia, general books including reference books and best sellers, and a large selection of insignia clothing and gift items.

Textbooks: Before each semester begins, faculty members order textbooks for their courses through the Bookstore. When the books arrive, they are grouped by subject matter and course number. Used copies are available whenever possible at 25 percent less than the new price. The textbook return policy is posted in the store, on the Bookstore’s website, and in the Campus Planner. A book buyback is conducted at the end of each semester where students can receive as much as 50 percent of the new price for a book. Many variables factor into the buyback price including whether or not the book is being used on campus the following semester, the book is going out of print, or it is scheduled for a new edition.

The Bookstore accepts cash, checks, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), Cobber Cash debit cards and ID charges. ID charges at the Bookstore are included in the monthly tuition and fee statement from the Business Office. For more information, call (218) 299-3017 or visit www.CobberBookstore.com.

Business Office
The Business Office handles student accounts with the college. Students may cash checks ($150 limit per day) at the cashier’s window, as well as make payments on accounts. The cashier’s window is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For questions on student accounts and payment plans, students should see the student accounts clerk in the Business Office.

Campus Information
Campus Information is located in the Knutson Campus Center. In addition to providing directory assistance and assisting people in finding their way around campus, Campus Information also reserves campus facilities for meetings and events. Additionally, you can find information on MAT bus service, Doyle cab service, lost and found, cultural event tickets, equipment checkouts, graduation tickets and Knutson Campus Center poster/sign approvals. The Campus Information phone number is (218) 299-4000.

Career Center
Employers report a continual need for trainable, responsible and responsive employees willing to learn and motivated to contribute. They look for people with communication skills, integrity, analytical skills and flexibility. Students regularly report that part of the reason they attend college is to enhance and broaden their future employment opportunities. The Concordia Career Center is here specifically to assist students as they look toward their career-related futures.

The Career Center is available to help students explore options for their futures. It has services and resources geared for all students — whether they are beginning to explore majors or deciding where and how to apply for a job or a graduate program. The Career Center is located in Academy 101 and 110.

•Educational and Career Planning: Students should start exploring options with the knowledge of their interests, skills, personality and values. Career assessments and staff are available to help students. Academic advisers play a key role in helping students investigate academic options.

•Cooperative Education: Enrollment in an internship for academic credit provides students with career-related skills that can connect an academic major and the world of work (see Page 29). Employers have expectations that new graduates will have career-related experience upon graduation and Cooperative Education is an outstanding means to gain experience.

•The Job Shop: The Job Shop is a student-operated employment listing service for any current Concordia student looking for part-time or temporary employment either on or off campus. Acting as the “connecting link” between students and potential employers, the Job Shop posts job listings online and is located on the first floor of Academy Hall for individual assistance.

•Graduate School Search: The Career Center assists students with searching graduate and professional school programs and with the application process. Other materials are available in individual academic departments and in the college library.

•Career Search: Individual appointments are available for those looking for assistance with all aspects of the career search — résumé development, interview preparation or targeting employers. Many employers post job openings, schedule on-campus interviews and/or participate in Career Center-sponsored job and career fairs.

•Networking: The Career Center provides services and events that provide students with the opportunity to meet alumni and other professionals working in their area of interest. These activities with other campus departments and civic organizations allow students to gain firsthand information about the world of work and they are able to make critical connections helpful for future considerations.

Cobber Cash
Cobber Cash is an online declining balance account that is accepted instead of or in addition to cash at many locations on campus. Students use their ID cards essentially as debit cards for this account. Cobber Cash is fast, convenient and secure. All Dining Service facilities offer a discount with the use of Cobber Cash. Cobber Cash is accepted at all Dining Service operations, as well as the Cobber Bookstore, campus laundry rooms, Library photocopiers, Information Technology Services and several vending locations.

Addition of funds, balance information and transaction information are available through the Dining Services online card office. Deposits can also be made at Dining Service locations and at cash-to-card load stations across campus. Cobber Cash is secure because fund balances are managed on a secure server. If you lose your ID card, your balances are not lost with it.

Counseling Center
Personal Counseling: The goal of the center is to assist students in growing emotionally, socially and educationally through increased self-understanding. The Counseling Center provides personal counseling to individual students, couples and groups at no cost for enrolled students. Psychological assessment is also available (including the MMPI and MBTI). The counseling staff will facilitate on-campus referrals; for example, they might refer students to the Academic Enhancement and Writing Center for academic counseling, or to the Office of Ministry for spiritual and grief counseling. In addition, the counseling staff will facilitate off-campus referrals to other mental health professionals and agencies in the Fargo-Moorhead area that specialize in such areas as chemical dependency, eating disorders, and rape and abuse issues. The center also provides consultation to faculty and staff regarding student-related concerns. The college retains a consulting psychiatrist who provides assistance to the counseling staff with evaluations, referrals and ongoing therapy.

Alcohol/Drug Counseling: The Counseling Center provides alcohol/drug screening and referral. Formal evaluation, either recommended or required, is available only through off-campus agencies. The student is responsible for the cost of the formal evaluation and treatment.

Dining Services and Meal Plans
Concordia College Dining Services is college owned and operated. We have a tradition of providing high-quality food for the lowest possible price. Our meal rates are among the lowest of comparable and regional schools. We are committed to maintaining low rates, high-quality food, and service that is pleasant, courteous and efficient.

Meal Plans: All students who live in campus residence halls are required to participate in the meal plan program. Most students who live in campus apartments and in off-campus housing also choose to participate because of the convenience, quality and value campus meal plans offer. Students can use meal plans at the Anderson Commons residential dining facility. Campus meal plans are all priced knowing that students do not use all of the meals that are allowed by their meal plans; that is, the cost of the meal plan does not actually pay for the number of meals that are allowed. Prices are set based upon average participation rates.

The following meal plans are available:
• Unlimited Plan: Offers unlimited access to Anderson Commons. Includes $100 in Dining Dollars. Available to all students.
• Gold 255: Offers students up to 255 meals each semester; an average of 17 meals per week. Includes $125 in Dining Dollars. Available to all students.
• Maroon 205: Students on this plan can eat up to 205 meals each semester; an average of 13.6 meals a week. Includes $150 in Dining Dollars. Available to all students.
• Kernel 165: Dine up to 165 times each semester; an average of 11 meals per week. Includes $175 in Dining Dollars. Available to second-year students and upperclass students.
• Cobber 110: On this plan, students can enjoy up to 110 meals per semester; an average of 7.33 a week. Includes $200 in Dining Dollars. Available to upperclass students.
• Sweet Corn 85: Offers up to 85 meals per semester; an average of 5.66 a week. Available only to off-campus students and students in campus apartments.
• Niblet 45: Students on this plan can dine 45 times each semester; an average of three times per week.
Available only to off-campus students and students in campus apartments.
To make our meal plans more flexible, all plans come with an allocation of “Dining Dollars.” These funds are typically used at The Maize, the Coffee Stop or the Korn Krib to pick up a quick snack or to get a meal outside of residential dining hours. Dining Dollars ensure you can use your meal plan your way.

Disability Services
Students with temporary or permanent disabilities are typically eligible for accommodations that enable them to more easily access their educational programs. Students with any conditions that might actually or potentially limit their ability to achieve their educational goals should contact the Counseling Center for program information. Examples of conditions that might be considered permanent include learning disabilities; serious chronic health problems; seizure disorders and other neurological conditions; and vision, hearing and speech impairments. Students who become pregnant, undergo surgery, break a leg or an arm, or develop cancer or any other serious physical or emotional illness may be eligible for accommodations for the duration of their temporary disability. Services are dependent upon the needs of the individual student. Faculty, campus employers and other staff are asked to cooperate in implementing the accommodations for students verified through the special services program. For more detailed information about academic policies related to students with disabilities, see “Policy for the Accommodation of Students with Disabilities,”

Health Services
Location: The Kjos Health Center is located in the north wing of Hoyum Hall.

Services: The Health Center is committed to providing students with professional health care and thoughtful information that promotes wellness in their lifestyle decisions. The Health Center provides service on an outpatient appointment or walk-in basis throughout the academic year. During the regular weekday office hours, students may make appointments for outpatient diagnosis and treatment of respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, skin, neuromuscular and orthopedic conditions; physical examinations for varsity athletics, graduate school application and premarital requests; mental health counseling and referrals; gynecological services including Pap tests, pregnancy testing and prenatal care; diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases; laboratory tests; immunizations; tuberculosis screening; X-rays; allergy injections; and first aid.

If the campus health care providers believe a student cannot be safely or reasonably treated as an outpatient at the college, they will arrange for hospitalization or referral to a specialist. After-hours emergency service is available at local hospitals and clinics. All medical records are considered confidential and privileged information and can be released only with the signed consent of the student.

Costs: Charges for services, including office visits, laboratory tests, Pap tests, allergy injections, X-rays and some medications are submitted to students’ insurance companies. All charges not covered by insurance will be the responsibility of students and their parents.

Insurance: Students not covered by their parents’ insurance policy should participate in a low-cost group plan available to Concordia students. This policy is an annual policy and requires yearly enrollment. Please check with the Business Office or Office of Student Affairs for more information.

Housing Options
On-Campus Housing: Concordia is primarily a residential college with approximately 65 percent of the student body living on campus. There are two traditional residence halls for women, five for men and women; two apartment buildings for upperclass men and women; a 17-unit efficiency apartment building for upperclass women; and two townhouse apartment buildings for junior and senior men and women. There is also a complex of world language apartments available to selected upperclass students. Each hall is administered by a professional staff person and trained upperclass student assistants who are committed to making the on-campus living environment an important part of the educational experience of the college. Professional residence hall staff members are available for assistance with any problem that might arise and to refer students to other campus offices whenever appropriate.

Off-Campus Living: For a very practical education in living, students should consider living off campus in an apartment during their junior or senior year. The majority of our juniors and seniors do so. Not only will students have the responsibility of budgeting their housing, food and utility expenses, but they will also experience relating to a landlord. The Office of Student Affairs maintains an apartment listing, which may aid students in finding a place to live off campus. The list gives the names of landlords who rent apartments approved by the city of Moorhead; these landlords have signed statements that they will not discriminate in renting their apartments.

ID Card Services
Your Concordia College ID card is your official identification on campus. This card must be presented for access to the Anderson Commons residential dining facility, to check out or reserve materials in the Library, and for access to Athletic events. Your first card is free. Replacement cards are available in the Dining Services Office. The current fee for a replacement ID is $10.

Intercultural Affairs
The Office of Intercultural Affairs is a center of communication and understanding that celebrates individual differences. In order to create a more inclusive environment for all people, the office works in partnership with other members of the campus community to weave diversity into the educational, spiritual, academic, cultural and social fabric of the college. The office is a resource for all constituencies and especially encourages students of color and students with international backgrounds to participate in its support services, educational programming and leadership development opportunities. The Intercultural Affairs Office is located in the Knutson Campus Center. For more information call (218) 299-3640.

International Student Advisement
International students are an integral part of the student body and utilize any and all of the services available to students at Concordia College. In addition, special services are available to assist international students:
• An international student adviser provides support and assistance to international students by maintaining their SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) record and assisting with the various issues affecting F-1 students studying in the United States.
• A special orientation is held at the beginning of each fall and spring semester to help international students make a successful transition to college life in the United States.
• The International Student Organization provides a forum where students can meet, share experiences and organize activities. Each year the International Festival highlights the culture, music, dance and fashion of the countries our international students represent.
• IEL 112 — American English Language and Culture is available for students whose native language is not English.

Job Shop
See Career Center

Media and Entertainment
See Student Media

Media Services
Office of Communications and Marketing: The Office of Communications and Marketing includes Media Relations, Publications (writing and graphic design), the Print Shop, Sports Information, Online Communications and the Photo Studio. Media Relations and Publications are located in the Aasgaard House; the Print Shop, Photo Studio and Online Communications are in the lower level of the Mugaas Plant Operations Center; and Sports Information is in Memorial Auditorium.

•Media Relations: Media Relations is the college’s official liaison with the media. Media Relations sends releases of upcoming events and college news to local, regional and national media, depending on the nature of the information. Releases about student achievements (e.g., dean’s list, honors and awards, theatre cast members) are sent to the student’s hometown newspaper, provided the student supplied information to Media Relations during registration. (Note: Newspapers require first and last names of both parents, if living.) Students are encouraged to keep Media Relations informed of organizational news, achievements and ideas for feature stories.

•Publications: Publications produces most of the print material for the college (e.g., the catalog, the college directory, Concordia Magazine, Admissions material, stationery and programs). As time permits, the office also provides design, layout, writing, editing, typesetting and printing services for student organizations. Consultation is free, but there is a charge for all other services.

•Print Shop: The Print Shop prints many campus publications and supervises the photocopier in the lower level of the Mugaas Plant Operations Center, which is available to Concordia students, faculty and staff. The Print Shop also provides binding, paper punching, cutting and perforating services as time allows. There is a charge for Print Shop services. Anyone wishing to have college-related material printed in the Print Shop should contact the Office of Communications and Marketing at (218) 299-3147.

•Sports Information: In addition to maintaining the Cobber Athletics website, the Sports Information director writes game and meet recaps, creates game programs, writes and sends hometown news releases, posts stats and schedules, and writes athletes’ profiles.

•Online Communications: Online Communications manages the content and design of a majority of the external pages on the college’s Web servers (including Concordia Language Villages). In addition, the office assists members of the campus community with individual and departmental page creation and maintenance. The office is also responsible for all html electronic mail communication, including C-News and eNews, the college’s electronic newsletters. All work done by Online Communications is billed through the college charge-back system.

•Photo Studio: The primary responsibilities of the Photo Studio are to photograph major college events, produce photographs for college publications, and provide photo services for such campus programs as Athletics and music. As time permits, the Photo Studio provides consultative and photographic services to student organizations. There is a charge for services.

Office of Ministry
The Campus Ministry team, along with the student leaders of Campus Ministry, plans and organizes worship and religious activities for students and staff. They are available for conversation with students around personal and spiritual issues and vocational discernment. They seek to provide opportunities for students to grow in faith and to use their gifts to serve in the community and the world. They respond to student requests for information in areas related to faith, and are resources in many academic and cocurricular areas of the college that seek to hold faith and learning together to support Concordia’s mission.

Post Office
The Concordia Post Office is located on the mezzanine level of the Knutson Campus Center. Students are assigned boxes during registration or at the beginning of the fall semester; the number of this box should be registered on all incoming mail. Students will be notified of any packages and other large mailings they receive. These packages may be picked up during normal window hours Monday through Friday. Postage stamps and envelopes of various sizes are available for purchase. Other postal services such as CODs, money orders, and registered and insured mail may be obtained at the Moorhead Post Office.

Recreational Facilities
•Olson Forum: The Olson Forum is a state-of-the-art fitness and sports facility. The Forum has 27 cardio and 10 weight stations in the fitness balcony. A synthetic sports surface includes a six-lane indoor track for walking and jogging, and four regulation courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, and other sports.
•Memorial Auditorium: Memorial Auditorium houses basketball courts, a weight room, and the college swimming pool and sauna.
•Outdoors: Six outdoor tennis courts are available for recreational use east of Grant Center. Other outdoor areas there include intramural fields, a track, and softball, baseball and soccer fields.

Security Services
Concordia’s Office of Public Safety employs a professional staff of public safety officers who protect property, enforce laws and regulations and, most importantly, help protect personal safety throughout the college campus. Public Safety officers are available at all times to respond to students, faculty and staff.

A security escort service is provided on campus. If students would like an escort, they should notify Public Safety at (218) 299-3123.

The Office of Public Safety also employs a number of students. They monitor the dispatch center from Campus Information during evening hours. The Office of Public Safety and Campus Information are located in the Knutson Campus Center.

In compliance with the federal Student Right-To-Know and Campus Security Act, the Public Safety Office is required annually to provide to current students and employees, as well as prospective students upon request, statistics about the incidence of specifically identified crimes committed on campus. The table of crime statistics is also available in information prospective students receive from the Admissions Office, and is also distributed to students, faculty and staff at the beginning of the academic year.

Student Affairs
The Office of Student Affairs, located in Lorentzsen Hall, coordinates and directs the administrative units of Orientation and First-Year Involvement, Academic Enhancement and Writing Center, Campus Information, Career Center, Counseling Center, Health Center, Post Office, Public Safety, Residence Life, Student Leadership and Service and Student Programming. The services, programs and activities provided by these offices are intended to help meet the personal and academic needs of students and to enhance the total student-learning experience at Concordia. Students with any problems, concerns or questions are encouraged to visit or call the Office of Student Affairs for assistance at (218) 299-3455.

Student Programming
The Parke Student Leadership Center is a programming and leadership development resource center for students. The mission of the center is to encourage students to develop life skills through involvement in cocurricular activities. The center provides resources and staff to assist students in the implementation of campuswide or small-group programming and in the exploration of leadership and management issues as they relate to campus groups, organizations and/or personal growth. Some of the resources include computers, photocopier, laminating machine, art supplies, die-cut machine and a button-maker. In addition to these resources, an inviting workspace encourages individuals and small groups to use the resources to work creatively.

Campus Entertainment Commission: A branch of Student Government Association, this commission is responsible for enhancing campus life by providing entertainment for the students on campus. Some events the commission regularly organizes are dances, campus movies, concerts, guest comedians and novelty acts.

Transportation
Excellent transportation services are available in Fargo-Moorhead; therefore, having a car is not a necessity. Concordia is located within walking distance of shopping centers, restaurants, downtown Moorhead and several churches. Additionally, there are several free or inexpensive transportation options including:

•MAT Bus Service: Concordia students, faculty and staff can ride the Metro Area Transit buses free of charge all day by showing their college ID. Additionally, a designated evening college route running between the four colleges and shopping and entertainment areas is popular among students. This route runs from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
•Doyle Cab Service: Evening and weekend cab service is provided at a discount price for students with their college ID. Students can ride throughout the city for as little as $3.
•Car and Van Rental: For college-related activities, individuals and groups may rent cars and vans from the college through Transportation Services.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students