Concordia University Ann Arbor

University in Michigan

Concordia University Ann Arbor

Former names

| Concordia Lutheran Junior College (1963–1976)
Concordia College (1976–2001)
Motto| Christ First in Everything
Type| Private satellite campus
Established| 1963

Parent institution

| Concordia University Wisconsin

Religious affiliation

| Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
President| Erik Ankerberg
Students| 1,351 (2023-2024) 2023 Enrollment Record
Location|

Ann Arbor

Michigan

United States

42°16′26″N 83°40′59″W﻿ / ﻿42.274°N 83.683°W﻿ / 42.274; -83.683
Campus| 187 acres (76 ha)
Colors| Red, Black & White

Nickname| Cardinals

Sporting affiliations

| NAIA – WHAC
NAIA – MSFA
NCCAA Division I – Midwest
Mascot| Corky The Cardinal
Website| www.cuaa.edu

Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) is the Ann Arbor, Michigan, campus of Concordia University Wisconsin, a private Lutheran university in Mequon, Wisconsin. As part of Concordia University, it is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.[1]

Concordia University Ann Arbor's 187-acre (76 ha) campus sits on the banks of the Huron River, about ten minutes outside downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. Concordia is affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) and is a member of the Concordia University System. CUAA merged with Concordia University Wisconsin in 2013.

## History

[edit]

Earhart Manor on the Concordia campus

In the early 1960s, the LCMS purchased the Earhart Manor and surrounding estate in Ann Arbor and began construction of Concordia Lutheran Junior College. The campus was designed by architect Vincent Kling in a mid-century modern style.[2] Classes began in the fall of 1963 with 236 students and 24 instructors.[3] The school began offering four-year degree programs in 1976 and changed its name to Concordia College.[3] It assumed its current name in 2001.

In 1977, Concordia began performing the "Boars Head Festival", an annual Christmas celebration filled with song, music, and drama that is much beloved by current students, alumni, and community members.

In the 2000s, the university experienced "a number of financial, enrollment and administrative difficulties" that prompted it to enter into discussions with Concordia University Wisconsin about a possible merger.[4] The merger became effective on July 1, 2013, with Curt Gielow, former executive dean of CUW's School of Pharmacy and former mayor of Mequon, Wisconsin, becoming Vice President of Administration and Chief Campus Officer at CUAA.[5] He was replaced at the end of 2018 by Ryan Peterson.[6]

In 2015, the university purchased the former Ann Arbor campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.[7] That facility, two miles (3.2 km) north of the main campus, is now the home of CUAA's School of Nursing.[3]

In 2022, the university named Erik Ankerberg its next president. He began his duties in January 2023, prior to the spring semester.[8]

In mid-February 2024 local news sources reported that Ankerberg had alerted the students, faculty, and staff that the university's financial situation was forcing the Ann Arbor campus's mission to be "re-imagined", likely leading to significant reductions in the programs and the sale of some of the equipment and property.[9] John Berg, chairman of the board, released a video stating that the campus would remain at full operations for the 2024-2025 academic year. He also stated that a sub-committee was created to help develop a path forward, which was later revealed, to help the university separate from the Wisconsin campus.[10] The plan to become independent was later deemed to be unworkable and instead the institution's leaders decided to cut most academic programs. Beginning in June 2025, the institution will only offer 9 programs on campus, all focused on healthcare, and 7 programs online, mostly focused on education; this is a reduction from 53 programs previously offered on campus and 60 programs previously offered online.[11]

Undergraduate admissions statistics

2018 entering
class[12]

* * *

Admit rate| 50.0
(1,023 out of 2,049)
Yield rate| 22.9
(234 out of 1,023)
Test scores middle 50%
ACT Composite| 19-24
(among 99% of FTFs)

1. Among students who chose to submit

2. Among students whose school ranked

## Athletics

[edit]

The Concordia–Ann Arbor (CUAA) athletic teams were called the Cardinals. The school's mascot was named Corky the Cardinal. The university was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) for most of its sports since the 1992–93 academic year; while its football team competed in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA). They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Midwest Region of the Division I level.

CUAA competed in 28 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports included baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor). Women's sports included basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, stunt, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. And co-ed sports included cheerleading, competitive dance and eSports.

### Accomplishments

[edit]

National Championships:

* 1998 - Softball - NCCAA
* 1999 - Softball - NCCAA
* 2018 - Stephanie Johnston - NAIA Marathon
* 2019 - Cheerleading - NAIA
* 2019 - Baseball - NCCAA
* 2022 - Baseball - NCCAA
* 2023 - Softball - NCCAA
* 2024 - Softball - NCCAA

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Jonathan Coddington – American football coach
* Magali Frezzotti – American softball coach[13]
* Kenneth Horn – American politician[14]
* Newton Howard – American cognitive scientist[15]
* Toby Jones – American basketball coach
* Elizabeth Birr Moje – American educator and University of Michigan administrator[16]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Accreditation & Approval". Concordia University Ann Arbor. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
2. ^ "The Earhart Mansion | Ann Arbor District Library". aadl.org. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
3. ^ a b c "History". Concordia University Ann Arbor. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
4. ^ LCMS, The (December 21, 2011). "Board encourages Ann Arbor, Mequon, merger discussions". Reporter. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
5. ^ "Concordia University System Chronicle - October 2013". Reporter. October 8, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
6. ^ "Curt Gielow retires from Concordia University". Concordia University Ann Arbor News. December 12, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
7. ^ Allen, Jeremy. "Ann Arbor's Concordia University launches new School of Nursing program". MLive Media Group. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
8. ^ Communications, Strategic (October 26, 2022). "Dr. Erik P. Ankerberg will be extended call to become CUWAA president". Concordia University Wisconsin News. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
9. ^ Jones, Bria. "Concordia facing financial crisis, Wisconsin campus impacted". Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
10. ^ "Board of Regents Update, March 1, 2024". cuw.wistia.com. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
11. ^ Unglesbee, Ben (June 25, 2024). "Concordia University Ann Arbor to cut most programs". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
12. ^ "Concordia University Ann Arbor Common Data Set 2018-2019" (PDF). Concordia University Ann Arbor. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
13. ^ "Magali Frezzotti - Softball Coach". University of Montana Athletics. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
14. ^ "Legislator Details - Kenneth B. Horn". Michigan Legislative Biography. Library of Michigan. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
15. ^ "About our Founder". Howard Industries. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
16. ^ "Elizabeth Birr Moje". University of Michigan Poverty Solutions. Retrieved April 20, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Concordia University Ann Arbor.

* Official website
* Official athletics website

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Ann Arbor, Michigan

Education|

| Basic|

* Ann Arbor Public Schools
* Huron HS
* Pioneer HS
* Skyline HS
* Community HS
* Clonlara School
* Greenhills School
* Rudolf Steiner School

|

Higher|

* University of Michigan
* Concordia University Ann Arbor
* Washtenaw Community College

Landmarks|

* Arborland Center
* The Ark
* Hands-On Museum
* Blind Pig
* Bookstore Mural
* Briarwood Mall
* Burton Memorial Tower
* Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor
* Michigan Theater
* Old West Side District
* Performance Network Theatre
* State Theatre
* St. Patrick's Parish Complex
* Tower Plaza
* University of Michigan Health System
* C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
* University Towers
* Veterans Memorial Arena

Culture|

* Art Fairs
* Film Festival
* Arborough Games
* Cannabis laws
* Hash Bash
* Jazz at Ann Arbor
* Shakespeare in the Arb

Media|

* Ann Arbor Argus
* The Ann Arbor News (AnnArbor.com
* Ann Arbor Business Review)
* Ann Arbor Observer
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* Automobile
* Car and Driver
* Found Magazine
* Midwestern Gothic
* Repast
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* Signal of Liberty

Transportation|

* Transportation Authority
* Blake Transit Center
* Amtrak station
* Municipal Airport

History|

* Ann Arbor automobile
* Ann Arbor Hospital murders
* Michigan Anti-Slavery Society
* Michigan Murders

* Category

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Concordia University System

Current|

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Defunct|

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Members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

Governing Members|

* Abilene Christian
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* Bethany
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* Bushnell
* California Baptist
* Calvin
* Campbellsville
* Central Baptist
* Central Christian
* Charleston Southern
* Colorado Christian
* Concordia-Ann Arbor
* Concordia–Chicago
* Concordia–Irvine
* Concordia–Nebraska
* Concordia-Wisconsin
* Corban
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* Covenant
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* Dallas Baptist
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Associate Members|

* Arizona Christian
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* Denver Seminary
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* Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
* Johnson
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* King's (New York)
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* Tyndale
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Colleges and universities of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

Concordia University System|

* Chicago (1864)
* Wisconsin (1881)
* Saint Paul (1893)
* Nebraska (1894)
* Ann Arbor (1963)
* Irvine (1976)

Seminaries|

* St. Louis (1839)
* Ft. Wayne (1846)

Former colleges|

* Concordia Oakland (CA) 1906–1973
* Concordia Selma (AL) 1922–2018†
* Concordia College Ft. Wayne (IN) 1839–1957
* Concordia College (New Orleans, LA) 1904–1917
* Concordia College (Conover, NC) 1878–1935‡
* Concordia Bronxville (NY) 1881–2021
* Concordia Senior College (IN) 1957–1977
* Concordia Portland (OR) 1905–2020
* Concordia Texas 1926–2022&
* Immanuel Lutheran College & Seminary (Greensboro, NC) 1903–1961†
* Luther College (New Orleans, LA) 1903–1925†
* St. John's College (KS) 1893–1986‡
* St. Paul's College (MO) 1883–1986

Institutions donated to the LCC (LCMS Founded)|

* Concordia Alberta (1921)#
* Edmonton Seminary (1984)
* Ontario Seminary (1976)

Hispanophone/Lusophone institutions (Founded)|

* Lutheran University of Brazil
* Seminario Concorida (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
* Seminario Concordia El Reformador (Dominican Republic)

†Founded by the Synodical Conference

‡Formerly under the English Synod &Extant as a Christian institution, but independent

#Now secularized

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Wolverine–Hoosier Athletic Conference

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Mid-States Football Association

Mideast League|

* Defiance Yellow Jackets
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* Lawrence Tech Blue Devils
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* Taylor Trojans

Midwest League|

* Judson Eagles
* Marian Knights
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* St. Francis Fighting Saints
* Saint Francis Cougars
* Saint Xavier Cougars

Related topics|

* Standings

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NCCAA Division I - Midwest

* Cairn Highlanders
* Cedarville Yellow Jackets
* Concordia–Ann Arbor Cardinals
* Geneva Golden Tornadoes
* Grace Lancers
* Houghton Highlanders
* Huntington Foresters
* Lancaster Bible Chargers
* Malone Pioneers
* Ohio Christian Trailblazers
* Redeemer Royals
* Roberts Wesleyan Redhawks

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Colleges and universities in Michigan

Public|

* Central
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Private|

* Adrian
* Albion
* Alma
* Andrews
* Aquinas
* Calvin
* Cleary
* Creative Studies
* Concordia
* Cornerstone
* Davenport
* Detroit Mercy
* Grace Christian
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* Hillsdale
* Hope
* Kalamazoo
* Kettering
* Kuyper
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* Rochester Christian
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Community|

* Alpena
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* Schoolcraft
* Southwestern Michigan
* Washtenaw
* West Shore

Defunct|

* Finlandia
* Marygrove
* Robert B. Miller
* William Tyndale

Authority control databases |

* ISNI

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