Christ at the Center
For over 160 years, Concordia University Chicago has been preparing the next generation of leaders with the knowledge, faith and values to make an impact in the world. To share the gifts God gave them and answer the call to a life fulfilled by purpose and truth. To be living examples of what it means to serve a cause greater than themselves.
Rooted in Faith
Founded in 1864 as Addison Lutheran Teachers Seminary, Concordia University Chicago has grown from a small, single-discipline institution to a globally focused liberal arts university. Since its humble beginnings, Concordia-Chicago has experienced decades’ worth of growth and expansion, paving the way for not only exceptional teacher education programs, but also an ever-widening curriculum addressing the needs of the church and world. Today CUC is home to more than 5,000 full-time students enrolled in baccalaureate, master's and doctoral study. Alongside the growth and changes experienced by the University, there has been one constant: Christ has always been held at the center of everything it does.
Standing Tall for the Gospel
At Concordia University Chicago, we don’t shrink from our faith—we lead with it. We educate all our students by placing Christ at the center of all we do. We’re true to the entire witness of the inspired Word of God and the age-old confessions of our Lutheran faith, as well as to the classical heritage of robust academic inquiry and formation through the liberal arts.
As Lutheran university that embodies Christian teaching and virtue, nurturing students’ spiritual lives is an essential piece of the college experience. Faith matters at CUC. It is woven into nearly every aspect of student life, both inside the classroom and out. Through campus ministries, activities and relationships with faculty, staff and classmates, our students experience countless opportunities to grow in their faith and as they live out the Word of God.
An institution of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Concordia-Chicago is one of six independent colleges and universities that are part of a nationwide Concordia University System. The doctrine and beliefs of the church guide both our academic teaching and our practice of the faith.
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Our Community
The CUC community treats all people as precious individuals. As human beings made in the image of God. Here, students are inspired, challenged and appreciated for their contributions. We stand tall for achievement, empowering our students to determine their own futures. Our programs place a primary emphasis on nurturing a deep sense of vocation—God’s calling to each of us to serve one another and the common good.
CUC students, faculty, staff and visitors enjoy the historic, suburban villages of River Forest and Oak Park that immediately surround campus. With easy access to public transportation, having Chicago just 10 miles from campus means there’s a world of unforgettable experiences waiting to be explored. As the third largest city in the U.S., Chicago’s strength as an international business hub—including 35 Fortune 500 company headquarters—provides ideal opportunities for students to gain experience through internships and pursue countless career opportunities.
Concordia-Chicago students take part in an engaging academic community that helps them reach their full potential, inspired to improve the lives of others—to meet the needs of the world in which they live, serve and work. Our alumni are teachers, caregivers and musicians; counselors, pastors and business leaders—unshakeable pillars of strength and integrity who serve God’s will by serving others. Join us and learn what it means to Stand Tall.
A Bright Future
Focusing Our Future 2025 is our strategic plan that has laid the critical groundwork to position the University for a thriving future. The plan contains 30 specific, measurable initiatives within four broader themes: providing a formative student experience; prioritizing fiscal agility and strength; establishing partnerships for mission and excellence; and developing a vibrant, unified community. As we approach 2025, we look forward to sharing an updated version of the plan that builds upon the success of Focusing Our Future, and sets even more ambitious planning for the next five years and beyond.
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Mission and Identity as an HSI
As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Concordia University Chicago supports Hispanic Americans in their desire for higher education as they live out their vocations at home, in the church and across the world. As a Christ-centered HSI, the University believes, teaches and confesses that Jesus has come, that all may have life and that Christians and Christian institutions are to provide for and care for all people through mission, service, hospitality and education.
The broader Concordia-Chicago community is enriched by the presence of Hispanic students and the unique gifts and perspectives they bring to campus classrooms and life. It is the University’s mission as a God-given ministry and extension of the Gospel to provide all people with the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive, serving to provide opportunities for Hispanics to receive a robust education that prepares them to be successful in the various vocations wherein the Lord places them.
Definition
According to the Higher Education Opportunity Act (Title V, 2008), a Hispanic-Serving Institution is an accredited, degree-granting, public or private nonprofit institution of higher education that has at least 25 percent Hispanic full-time equivalent undergraduate students. At a national level, HSIs make up 17 percent of colleges (Brownlee, 2021). Concordia University Chicago is one of 20 schools (NCES, 2021) in Illinois that is designated an HSI.
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