Concordia College Corporation

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History

The history of Concordia College is really that of the Norwegian Lutheran immigrants to the Red River Valley. Concordia was dedicated on October 31, 1891 -- only about 10 years after the first settlers had made their home in the area.

The Norwegian settlers valued education and their religious heritage. Since schools were few in the area, especially at the secondary level, the establishment of quality schools was high on the settlers' list of priorities.

The Northwestern Lutheran College Association, composed of Red River Valley Lutherans, purchased the property of the Bishop Whipple School in Moorhead, which had been started by the Episcopalians a few years earlier and had closed for lack of students. Bishop Whipple Hall, the oldest building on the campus today, recalls those early years in the life of the college.

As the country and the Norwegian settlement matured, so did the college. The necessity for adding regular liberal arts courses on the college level to those offered on the academy level was soon apparent, and in 1913 a complete college department was organized. The first baccalaureate degrees were granted in 1917, and in 1927 the academy section of the institution was discontinued. Park Region College of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, became a part of Concordia College in 1917; one of Concordia's residence halls commemorates this addition.

The college observed its centennial with a series of events beginning August 28, 1991, and concluding May 3, 1992.

Concordia College has always maintained a strong relationship with Lutheran congregations in the Upper Plains area. It is owned and operated by the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in northern Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana. These congregations, through their conference organizations, send delegates to an annual corporate meeting in October of each year, at which time the regents of the college are elected. The ELCA Division for Education supervises the college and grants a yearly appropriation toward its support.

As a coeducational college of the arts, literature and sciences, Concordia is also supported by gifts and grants from foundations, corporations and individual friends of the college. Members of the nationally recognized C-400 Club actively solicit financial support for the college.

Of course Concordia's current student body is not limited to Norwegian Lutherans. In fact, students come from many backgrounds and places -- from about 40 states and nearly 30 countries, and representing around 30 different religions and denominations. The student enrollment is more than 2,900. There are about 185 full-time and 50 part-time faculty members. Faculty-student ratio is 1:15.

Presidents

Ingebrikt F. Grose-- 1891-1893
Hans H. Aaker -- 1893-1902
Rasmus R. Bogstad -- 1902-1909
Henry O. Shurson -- 1909-1911
Johan A.Aasgaard -- 1911-1925
John N. Brown -- 1925-1951
Joseph L. Knutson -- 1951-1975
Paul J. Dovre -- 1975-

Fargo-Moorhead

Location: Moorhead, Minnesota, and Fargo, North Dakota, separated by the Red River of the North, are full of places to go, things to do and people to meet. With a metropolitan-area population of nearly 160,000, the two cities offer the convenience of small-town living with many of the advantages of the big city. Minneapolis-St. Paul is only 250 miles southeast on Interstate 94; Winnipeg, Manitoba, is 250 miles to the north. Rich farmland, beautiful lake country and pine forests are just minutes away.
Universities: During the regular academic year, Concordia's resources are enhanced by two other universities within the cities' limits: North Dakota State University in Fargo and Moorhead State University. Together, these three schools form a consortium called the Tri-College University, a system that triples the number of courses available to area students and provides transportation by shuttle bus to the other two campuses. The colleges bring in noted concert artists, lecturers and art exhibits each year. Conventions, tournaments and athletic games add variety to life in Fargo-Moorhead.
Shopping centers: Both Moorhead and Fargo have many beautiful indoor shopping centers as well as downtown shopping malls. Moorhead's shopping areas are within walking distance of Concordia.
Medical facilities: Located only minutes from Concordia's campus are three hospitals and numerous clinics; roughly 375 physicians and surgeons practice in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
Cultural opportunities: The Fargo-Moorhead area is rich in cultural and recreational opportunities. The Heritage-Hjemkomst Interpretive Center expresses the history of the Red River Valley through exhibits, speakers and the display of the Hjemkomst Viking ship, which sailed to Norway in 1982. For music lovers, the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony presents classical and pops concerts during the school year; the Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera regularly brings in famous vocalists to star in leading roles; and the Fargo-Moorhead Master Chorale, composed of area musicians, presents a series of concerts. The Fargodome hosts athletic events and headline entertainment. Cobbers like to ice skate indoors at the Fargo Coliseum or Moorhead Sports Arena, cross-country ski at one of the nearby parks, attend theatrical productions at the F-M Community Theatre and watch dance recitals performed by F-M dance companies. At the Plains Art Museum and the Rourke Art Gallery regular shows and special classes are offered; at the Fargo and Moorhead public libraries, students may attend special film showings, hear live chamber music and jazz ensembles or listen to poetry readings.
Bicycle trails: Both Fargo and Moorhead offer miles of bicycle trails within the city; many of these trails follow the Red River and wind through parks. In the fall and spring, these grassy areas are great places to "get away from it all."
Other entertainment: Many movie theatres, roller- and ice-skating rinks, public and commercial radio and TV stations offer other possibilities for leisure-time activities. Concordia has an informational newsletter, Intercom, that provides weekly listings of events on campus. A free semiweekly publication, the Midweek, has short summaries of community events. The Forum is the daily newspaper.
Transportation: Daily bus transportation operates throughout Fargo-Moorhead. For information on Tri-College University bus service and free evening and Sunday-morning service to Concordia students, see the Student Services section of this catalog. In addition, 24-hour taxicab service is readily available. Hector International Airport in Fargo serves both Moorhead and Fargo citizens with its regularly scheduled Northwest, United Express and Mesaba airlines flights. The Greyhound Bus Lines, served by a terminal in Fargo, stops in downtown Moorhead and operates a charter-bus service for organizational trips. The Amtrak railway system operates a station at Broadway and Fifth Avenue in Fargo.