Greetings from Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE) where we continue our joyful work of equipping men and women for lives of learning, service, and leadership in the church and world. In the spirit of the 2026 Synod convention theme, Christ Is Risen Indeed (1 Cor. 15:20–22), we give thanks that hope in the resurrected Christ continues to shape our students, strengthen our mission, and sustain our shared service to families and churches of the Synod and their neighbors who are sympathetic to our confession.
A. Enrollment CUNE continues to experience significant enrollment growth, reflecting a strong interest in Christ-centered higher education. Last fall, the university welcomed 1,281 undergraduate students, along with 422 graduate students pursuing advanced degrees. The university also celebrated substantial growth in its dual credit program, which now serves 2,038 high school students across 43 schools in the United States and internationally.
Retention remains strong, supported by faculty mentorship, comprehensive student services, and a vibrant, Christ-centered community, reflecting CUNE’s distinctive mission and enduring appeal. This vibrant community life is especially evident in the growing participation in daily chapel among students, faculty, and staff. As CUNE’s worship life continues to flourish at the heart of campus, the steady increase in attendance suggests that the university may need to consider how to provide worship space that can fully support a growing campus family and a shared life of Word and worship through a stand-alone chapel. Strategically, the university remains focused on recruiting mission-fit students seeking a Lutheran higher education. Recruitment pipelines have been strengthened through partnerships with Lutheran schools, districts, and ministries, while marketing outreach highlights CUNE’s Christ-centered academic excellence, academic communities, and pathways into church work vocations.
A.1. Academic Communities and Christ-Centered Excellence CUNE continues to focus on mission-driven student support, as well as disciplinary catechesis and vocational discipleship. A key thread of the strategic plan is strengthening our commitment to Christ-centered academic excellence through the development of distinct, inspiring, and holistic academic communities, including: • Luke Scholars Honors Program—a rigorous, Christ-centered honors community emphasizing academic excellence, leadership, and service.
- Micah Pre-Health Scholars Program—supporting students pursuing medical and health-related careers through mentoring, advising, and service-learning grounded in Christian compassion.
- Paul Scholars Work Education Program—supporting students through meaningful classroom experience integrated with vocational exploration.
- Uzziah Ag Scholars Program—equipping the next generation of agricultural leaders through hands-on experiences, industry engagement, and a theology of stewardship.
A.2. Church Work Recruitment and Support CUNE continues its commitment to raising up faithful church workers for the LCMS. The university’s current undergraduate enrollment includes more than 300 students majoring in church work with a goal to recruit 100 new church work students each year. Recruitment initiatives include collaboration with districts and Lutheran high schools, revitalized visit days for church work recruitment, digital storytelling highlighting current church work students and alumni, and a dedicated church work admissions recruiter. CUNE’s Church Work Scholarships, together with church and outside scholarships and federal aid, mean that church work students pay, on average, less than $3,500 in tuition per year, helping students pursue their callings in ministry without undue financial burden. As the number of students preparing for service in Christ’s church continues to grow, additional gifts and ongoing support will be essential to sustain and enhance the financial aid packages that help make this formative preparation possible.
B. Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning CUNE continues to expand professional learning opportunities for Christian educators, ministry leaders, and other professionals through a growing menu of new Studia Vitae continuing education units which include short-form online modules, workshops, and micro-credentials designed for immediate application in schools and congregations. Single course graduate offerings, certificates, and full degree programs are similarly tailored to Lutherans serving in ministry and Christians seeking faith-grounded professional preparation, to help prepare leaders who embody faith, learning, and service. Guided by the conviction that God’s Word is the lamp and light that guides study across every discipline, these professional development experiences apply the unchanging truth of God’s Word to shed light on the shifting sands of modern life, thought, and cultural trends. Studia Vitae reflects CUNE’s commitment to lifelong vocational discipleship, equipping Christians to grow continually in wisdom and to serve with clarity and confidence anchored in God’s Word.
B.1. Preferred Partnerships CUNE’s newly launched preferred partnership program extends the reach of our mission in Christ-centered education. These collaborations, which include tuition discounts on Studia Vitae courses and graduate offerings, allow CUNE to make high-quality, Christ-centered education accessible to more students while enhancing the value these organizations provide to members, empowering Christians to grow in knowledge, strengthen their vocations, and serve others with excellence.
C. Outreach and Institutes CUNE’s institutes provide outreach, service, and educational efforts that enhance the university’s mission and vision by engaging audiences beyond campus while serving as a resource to the church at large. Active institutes include: • Center for Liturgical Art
- Initiative for Early Childhood Education
- Institute for Ethical Leadership
- Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Institute for Literacy
- Institute for Religious Education
- Institute for Rural and Small-Town Ministries
- Trinity Academy
Through resources, workshops, and conferences, these institutes equip Christian leaders and provide resources that serve congregations, districts, and Lutheran organizations.
D. Looking Ahead As CUNE looks to the future, the university remains steadfast in its commitment to equipping students for faithful service in Christ’s church and the world. Enrollment initiatives will continue to focus on recruiting mission-fit students and strengthening partnerships with Lutheran schools, districts, and congregations.
New academic communities will continue to develop innovative approaches to formation, mentorship, and vocational preparation, ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge, faith, and skills to serve in schools, congregations, or wherever God leads them. A defining emphasis for the years ahead is the vision of a higher education community whose first loyalty is to the Scriptures—an increasingly rare but urgently needed orientation in modern higher education. This commitment will continue to shape every discipline and professional field, guiding how CUNE forms students for thoughtful, faithful engagement in the church and world. This scriptural foundation also in forms CUNE’s long-term aspiration to be a year-round, lifelong learning Lutheran university that supports Christians not only during their undergraduate years but throughout every stage of life and vocation. Through academic programs, continuing education, and emerging initiatives, CUNE seeks to extend learning, formation, and discipleship across the full span of a Christian’s service in home, congregation, and community. The university’s outreach through institutes and centers will likewise continue to grow, offering research, resources, and training that strengthen Lutheran identity, support congregational vitality, and equip leaders for service in both local and global contexts. Finally, CUNE remains committed to raising up the next generation of church workers, responding faithfully to the Synod’s call to support Lutheran ministries through robust recruitment, formation, and scholarship programs. Guided by the principle of Christ-centered education in service to the church, the university looks forward to continuing to partner with the Synod in forming leaders who will impact congregations, schools, and communities for years to come.