Undergraduate Student Services
Elements of Student Life
Weeks of Welcome
Weeks of Welcome (WOW) begins a few days before classes begin in the fall and continues through the first two weeks of school. WOW is designed to both welcome new students to the Concordia community as well as welcome returning students back to campus. Highlights of WOW include new information sessions about university services, Opening Service, Triangle Devotion, Welcome Back Festival, New Student Camp and the WOW Staff Skit Show.
Students who begin their studies at Concordia during the spring semester receive a personalized orientation to the services the University has to offer and the procedures that have been designed to facilitate their collegiate experience.
Living in the Residence Halls
All full-time freshmen, sophomore and junior students are required to live in Concordia residence halls. Degree-seeking students taking less than 12 semester hours in a 15-week semester (part-time students) are considered ineligible for campus housing but exceptions will be considered (subject to housing availability) on a case-by-case basis. Concordia, under its parietal rule (for bond revenue projects), reserves the right at any future date to require all students to live in University housing. Exceptions to the required housing rules are those students who are married, living with parents, and/or are independent per Federal Regulations. Generally, non-degree seeking students and married couples are expected to make arrangements for their own housing off campus.
Administration of the residence halls is under the direction of the Dean of Students, the Director of Residential Life, and the Residence Hall Directors. All residents of student housing operated by the University will be provided equipment and supplies as delineated in the Room Application and Agreement form. All residents are required to abide by the conditions of this agreement.
Worship Life
Concordia is an institution that places significant emphasis on providing a quality liberal arts education within the Lutheran theological tradition. Although a majority of the students are Lutheran, a wide variety of religious backgrounds, including Catholic and other Protestant faiths, are represented. Its educational philosophy is based on the Biblical principles of service to God and humankind.
In this light, chapel services are conducted daily for the Concordia community as well as guests and visitors, with special festival services scheduled from time to time. Attendance is voluntary and is open to all. A Lutheran Service of Holy Communion is celebrated regularly as well as Compline Services and Evening Prayer. Evening devotions are often conducted in the residence halls. Many area churches provide additional opportunities for worship.
Student Handbook
A Student Handbook containing information about student activities and policies relative to student services is provided online at http:\\intranet.cuchicago.edu.
Health Benefits
Concordia University offers a Sickness and Accident Plan to all students. However, all full-time undergraduates, excluding those in the CU*Succeed program, all students living in the residence halls, and all F-1 international students, are mandated to have major medical insurance. These students are charged the premium for the major medical coverage offered through the school. The University will only waive this premium for students who provide satisfactory evidence of comparable coverage by the deadline (the first Friday of the semester). In addition, students can enroll dependents in the plan for an additional premium. Information regarding this policy originates in the Student Services Office and is sent to all students before the beginning of the academic year. Any questions regarding this plan should be directed to the Student Services Office.
While the University does not have a health service on campus, students are advised to seek medical treatment from local health clinics covered by their own insurance. The University does refer resident students to two facilities associated with Resurrection Health Care. In an effort to assist resident students with costs not covered by their own insurance, Concordia has a group injury and sickness plan for such eligible students to use as needed. All students who are mandated by the University to major medical insurance are automatically enrolled in this plan. Information is distributed by the Student Services Office.
Concordia University also carries an accident plan for all intercollegiate athletes. The plan covers eligible expenses not already covered by the student's personal insurance or the group injury plan. Information on this plan can be obtained from the Athletic Director.
Personal Counseling
Residence directors and student resident assistants are the first direct line for advice and assistance to students in the residence halls. The Dean of Students and the Campus Pastor are also available for additional counseling. For situations warranting a more formal counseling setting, The Schmieding Counseling Center, located on the second floor of the West Annex, is staffed by licensed clinical social workers and is available to the entire campus community for professional personal consultation. In some cases students may also be referred to special services in the area.
Immunization Policy
Illinois state law and University policy require that all students who are newly enrolled at Concordia University provide written evidence of current immune status or evidence of exemption from this requirement with respect to the following communicable diseases:
- Measles (Rubeola)
- German Measles (Rubella)
- Mumps
- Tetanus/Diphtheria
- Tuberculosis (required as per University policy)
The state law, which applies to all public and private colleges and universities in Illinois, went into effect on July 1, 1989. Students who enrolled at Concordia in the fall 1989 quarter or later will be required to comply with the policy. Previously enrolled students and students born prior to January 1, 1957 are exempt from this requirement. Evidence of immunization should be provided no later then the beginning of the student's first term of enrollment at Concordia. The University requires that each student must also submit results of a chest x-ray or other test for tuberculosis administered within one year prior to entry. Failure to comply with the state law and University requirements before the end of the first term will result in the placing of encumbrances on the student's record, which will prevent further enrollment.
Food Service
Concordia’s food service, provided by Sodexho, includes a wide variety of flexibility and options for students. A meal plan is automatically included in the Residential Package for students living on campus. Our default meal plan for that package is the Gold Meal Plan which consists of 160 meals per semester and $50 of Cougar Cash per semester. Cougar Cash is a declining balance that can be used for a la carte purchases in one of two a la carte locations: the Library Café or Charlie T’s. The meals are used in the Crossroads Dining Room for the purchase of lunch or dinner. All breakfast meals are a la carte.
Additional meal plans include the following.
Maroon Meal Plan – 120 meals per semester + $250 Cougar Cash per semester
Cougar Meal Plan (additional $250 charge/semester) – 160 meals per semester + $400 Cougar Cash per semester
CU Every Meal Plan (additional $250 charge/semester) – 14 meals per week + $400 Cougar Cash per semester; allotment of meals expire weekly; no lunch meal exchange
The Gold, Maroon, and Cougar Plan allow students to exchange any number of meals for $5 per meal in Cougar Cash. In addition, with these plans, students are allowed to utilize an unlimited number of allotted meals at any given mealtime in the Crossroads Dining Room. Meal exchanges are available at each campus food service outlet during all hours of operation. A meal exchange can be for up to $6.00 in product or one of the pre-determined meal replacements offered. Any unused meals and Cougar Cash on the Gold, Maroon, and Cougar plan carry over between fall and spring semester, but not between any other semesters.
Students involved in full-time, off-site student teaching or internships are able to receive a reduced rate meal option. Approval must be given by the Director of Residential Life.
Vacations
The University suspends all activities during recess periods of seven calendar days or more such as Spring Break and Christmas Break. It is the policy of the school at these times to close the residence halls and dining facilities. Students will not be excused to leave early or return late in order to extend vacations.
Vehicles
All students operating motorized vehicles while attending Concordia University are required to register their vehicle and obtain a parking permit from the Campus Security Office (Addison 140). There is no fee for Commuter permits, or for those who will not be parking vehicles on campus overnight. All vehicular traffic on the campus is subject to the requirements of the current edition of the “Comprehensive Campus Traffic and Parking Policy and Procedures” document, available through the Campus Security Office. Failure to receive a permit or to follow the guidelines of the campus parking policy will result in ticketing and fines which will be applied to the student’s account.
Street parking is strongly discouraged and is subject to local ordinances, which are enforced by the local police department.
Bookstore
The campus bookstore is located on the lower level of the Koehneke Community Center. Available are all textbooks for courses, school supplies, gift items, greeting cards and University clothing.
Post Office
The campus post office is located in the Koehneke Community Center and handles all on-campus mail, federal mail and international mail as well as making stamps and other postal needs available.
Student Activities
Concordia University strives to provide students with education, social, and spiritual opportunities for growth outside of the classroom. The Office of Student Activities assists in this endeavor by offering a multitude of on-campus events, off-campus events, and leadership opportunities.
Co-Curricular Activities
Fine Arts
The University perpetuates its rich musical heritage by offering students opportunities to participate in a variety of music ensembles. Under the leadership of the Music Department, these groups are arranged to meet a wide variety of student talent and interest. Performances, on campus and off, add an important dimension to student life. Off campus performances allow students to share with the neighboring community the rich musical heritage of Concordia as well as providing enjoyment and personal growth to the participants. The outreach to the community increases as both the Concordia Wind Symphony and the Kapelle take extended tours during the Spring Break each year.
The Artists of Concordia Theatre provide a full program of dramatic activities throughout the year ranging from children's theatre to full-scale musicals and student-directed one-act plays. These are performed regularly, giving students a variety of learning opportunities both on and off stage. Students are encouraged to use their skills in whatever capacity possible, whether it be helping clean up after construction work, applying makeup and doing hair, or delivering lines on stage. Students are given the opportunity to act as leaders and teachers throughout the year, sharing the task of creating each successful production. An outgrowth of the Artists of Concordia Theatre is the drama ministry team, "Fish out of Water." This team is an excellent way to make use of students' dramatic and ministry talents. "Fish out of Water" performs regularly in campus chapel services and takes their ministry to area churches and schools. They have also become 'regulars' at several youth gatherings in neighboring states.
The Elizabeth Ferguson Gallery offers art students the opportunity to view and study the works of current artists as well as offering the art majors the experience of exhibiting their work in the Senior Art Show. A wide range of artwork in a variety of media is displayed throughout the year. The art gallery is open to the public for viewing both the works of local arts, nationally knows artisans and the excellent work of Concordia's own art students.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Special Interest Groups
A number of clubs and special interest groups are available for student participation. Clubs may be organized around departmental interests or related to special talents. Some currently active groups on camps include Student-Led Campus Ministries, Student Government Association, Campus Activities board, Black Student Union/Latin Student Union, Psi Chi (psychology honor society), Kappa Delta Pi (education honor society), small group bible studies, and Concordia Youth Ministry (CYM) teams.
Concordia's two major student publications, Pillars (yearbook) and Spectator (newspaper), provide opportunities for the development of a variety of talents and are a great way for students to gain practical publication and design knowledge.
Athletics
Concordia University offers 14 intercollegiate sports to its student-athletes. Men’s teams compete in football, soccer, cross country, basketball, baseball, track and field, and tennis. Women’s teams compete in volleyball, soccer, cross-country, basketball, softball, track and field, and tennis.
The mission of Concordia University Athletic Department is to provide a positive athletic experience to all individuals. Every experience should support and encourage the student-athletes academic development and personal growth in a program dedicated to quality and excellence at the NCAA Division III level.
Our goal is to prepare student-athletes for productive careers, active and responsible lives. It is our responsibility to help student athlete’s graduate and be productive as Christian adults in the world. We wish to emphasize honesty, personal integrity and independent thinking.
Intercollegiate athletics is intended to provide students with opportunities to enhance their educational experience. It is a privilege to represent Concordia University and student-athletes need to consider it as such. Participation in the program, however, is secondary to the academic obligation of students.
The welfare, health and safety of student-athletes are primary concerns of the athletic department. Every student-athlete, in all sports, will receive fair and equitable treatment. Student-athletes will have no unique privileges in admissions, grading, or living accommodations that a non athlete would receive as a student of Concordia University.
We participate in the Northern Athletic Conference (NAC), which includes 13 private colleges and universities from Wisconsin and Illinois.
Elements of Academic Life
Academic Advising
Academic advisors are available to assist all students in planning their program of study according to their individual interests, the university's program requirements and the standards set by any certifying agency. Academic questions or concerns can be addressed to a student's academic advisor as needed. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to consult their academic advisor in setting up course schedules and clarifying programs. Students at junior or senior status are assigned a faculty advisor but can continue consultation with an academic advisor if necessary. The Advising Office is located in the lower level of Addision Hall 155.
Transfer Alert! The Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI)
Concordia University is a participant in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI) , a statewide agreement that allows the transfer of the completed Illinois General Education Core Curriculum between participating institutions. Completion of the transferable General Education Core Curriculum at any participating college or university in Illinois assures transferring students that lower division general education requirement for an associate or bachelor's degree have been satisfied, excluding graduation and mission-related requirements. This agreement is in effect for students entering an associate or baccalaureate degree-granting institution as a first time freshman in summer 1998 and thereafter.
The following codes identify qualifying general education courses:
- IAI C: Communication
- IAI F: Fine Arts
- IAI H: Humanities
- IAI L: Life Sciences
- IAI M: Mathematics
- IAI P: Physical Sciences
- IAI S: Social/Behavioral Sciences
If a student has completed only part of the Core Curriculum, or is transferring from a non-IAI participating institution, transfer credit for completed course work will be awarded the same as if the Core had been completed. However, the remaining course work necessary to complete the bachelor's degree will be determined according to Concordia's current practices and policies. Concordia recognizes proficiency and CLEP credit and will apply it toward IAI General Education Core Curriculum as appropriate.
See an academic advisor for additional information and read about the IAI on the World Wide Web at www.itransfer.org.
Learning Assistance
The Learning Assistance Center provides academic support to all Concordia students. Our Goal is to help students to be successful in their classes. Free peer tutoring is provided for students experiencing difficulty in a class. The Peer Tutoring Line is (708) 209-3462.
A one-credit course or individual advising is also available to review or sharpen study strategies. The Learning Assistance Center is located on the second floor of Krauss Hall.
Career Counseling
All students are encouraged to meet with the Director of Career Services to prepare for decisions regarding their future career plans. The Career Center has resources with information on occupations, trends, projections and preparation. Services are directed toward preparing students to successfully assess themselves, research center options, and use effective tools in their job search. Career Services offers a wide range of programs to help students broaden the perspective of their career choices and to understand the value of their education in relation to the world or work. In addition, the Focus II (a computerized program) is available and is useful in matching students’ interests, values and activities with possible career paths. Career Counseling and the Center are available to all students during regular business hours.
Commuter Services
The University is committed to providing quality services and opportunities for participation in co- and extra-curricular activities to all students, including those who commute to the campus from their homes in the community. The members of this group constitute nearly one-half of all Concordia University undergraduates and make invaluable contributions in the classrooms, on athletic teams, and in student organizations. Commuting students are strongly encouraged to taken full advantage of all the resources the University has to offer, as well as suggesting ways the University could strengthen its ties with the commuting population.
Disabled Students
Students with disabilities should contact the Learning Assistance Center, located on the second floor of Krauss Hall for information concerning accomodations in the classroom. A diagnosis and documentation of testing by a licensed professional must be sumbitted to the Learning Assistance Center before services may be received. Students may
Library Services
The Klinck Memorial Library provides print and electronic resources to support the university curriculum. The collection is complemented by many academic, special, and public libraries in the Chicagoland area.
Klinck Memorial Library is home to more than 160,000 books and audio/visual materials, 237 print periodical subscriptions, 480,000 ERIC microfiche documents, and 50 electronic databases with remote access. A special collection of musical scores, long-playing vinyl albums, and CDs is also available for use by library patrons. There are 38 public computers and wireless Internet access is provided. A group study and rare book room, as well as the audio/visual listening and viewing center, are part of the library.
Christopher Resource Center, located in the Christopher Center Building on the west end of campus, is an integral part of the Klinck Memorial Library. The Resource Center contains a large collection of both fiction and non fiction materials from PreK-young adult, as well as an extensive curriculum collection, representing textbooks and teaching materials from different publishers in all levels and subject areas. It houses a production room which includes a laminator, die cut machines with various die cuts, a binding machine, and construction paper. The Siebert Technology/Portfolio Lab is also located in the Resource Center. This lab is used by the Teacher Education Department along with the Department of Leadership for creating electronic portfolios.
The Klinck Memorial Library is a member of the Metropolitan Library System, LIBRAS, and CARLI. LIBRAS membership consists of 17 private college and university libraries located in the Chicago metropolitan area focusing on promoting cooperation, continuing education and networking among its members. CARLI member libraries share resources, including the I-Share online catalog, among 71 academic and research libraries. In addition,Concordia University Chicago is a member of the University Center of Lake County University Center of Lake County which provides bachelor completion, graduate, and advanced professional development programs to those who work and reside in Lake County.
CougarNet
CougarNet provides all information and technology services for Concordia students, faculty, and staff, including computer support services, AV resources and set-up, and assistance with BannerWeb, Concordia's administrative software. CougarNet plays an essential role in providing the information resources students, faculty, and staff need to achieve academic excellence.
Media Production
Media Production operates the campus video network, an interactive video conferencing classroom, a television production studio, an audio production studio, and a student-run radio station. Three satellite dishes are used to downlink a broad variety of academic and entertainment programming for the campus. Cable television outlets are provided at over 700 locations throughout the campus, including every residence hall room and classroom.
Information Technology Services
Information Technology Services (ITS) provides and supports the campus data network. ITS provides network services on the campus for computing devices by managing a 1000Mbps fiber optic backbone connecting Ethernet data jacks in all residence halls, classrooms, offices, libraries, and other campus buildings. Wireless connectivity is also available in several buildings around campus for students to access the network with laptop computers. A high speed, dedicated Internet link provides the campus network with full access to the Internet.
ITS provides and supports a full range of server resources including usernames/passwords, email and web hosting, network disk space, and print queue management. ITS also maintains over 200 email lists for sending messages to various campus populations. ITS conducts regular training sessions on various application software packages used across campus and provides audio and visual listening and viewing stations, personal computers, and graphic, photographic, and multimedia resources for classes and special events. ITS can serve as a resource for students who wish to purchase their own computer, laptop, or software and also operates the CougarNet Help Desk which provides technical assistance to campus technology users.
Computer Labs
ITS also supports two well-equipped, general-use computer labs for student use. One lab is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Computers are updated frequently and provide the student with excellent access to the latest in computer hardware and applications. There is also a dedicated music computer lab and a science computer lab for class use. Workstations are also available for use in both campus libraries as well as in select locations across campus.
Administrative Information System Services
Administrative Information Systems (AIS) supports and coordinates Concordia's administrative software package (SCT Banner). Banner provides students and faculty with secure web access to administrative data. Students have access to course schedules, personal class schedules, accounts, financial aid awards, grade reports, telephone bills, and transcripts.
Concordia Connect Portal
Managed by AIS, the Concordia Connect web portal – accessible at http://connect.cuchicago.edu – is a secure and personalized website designed to provide you a single location to access many of the online resources you commonly use at Concordia. The portal offers direct links into BannerWeb for common tasks such as registering for classes, viewing your grades, requesting a transcript, viewing your bills, and making online payments. Others services accessible through the portal include your Concordia Webmail, Blackboard, group communication tools, a calendar client, and much more.
Web Services
Web Services provides technical support for University web pages to faculty and staff.
Telecom Services
Telecom Services provides and supports the campus telephone/voice mail network. This network includes "dial tone" telephone instruments, local calling, long distance calling, voice mail services as well as their own direct dial number to resident students, faculty members, and staff members. Off-campus callers can directly dial the person they wish to speak with and conveniently leave a message for that person if they are unavailable.
Print Services
Print Services provides and supports the campus printing devices including centrally located high-speed printers, copy machines, folding and sorting machines, and color copying, as well as distributed laser printers and digital copiers throughout the campus.
