The longer you live, the more loss you may have to process. For me -
Closed: Childhood home congregation - Christ Memorial, Milwaukee
Closed: High School - Concordia Prep, Milwaukee
Moved: Junior College - Concordia Milwaukee - to Mequon
Closed: Senior College - Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne
Closed: First Congregation Served, Zion Lutheran, St. Louis
Closed: Office as District President, Concordia Bronxville
Closed: Member and Chair, Board of Regents, Concordia Bronxville
So it goes. Valpo is not closed. However, it's different, even way different. Bronxville is different for me from those who were students, but maybe not for those who were professors, because I was there for a quarter century on campus, taught classes and understood the internal workings of the college with its partner on the national level, including presidential selection. I was involved in a ton of tussles through the years to bring stability and growth. I have a point of view on why it closed that's based on those interactions. So it's pain, but a different kind of pain. Because I believe Bronxville didn't have to close.
Ann Arbor, to me, is the opposite case. They're open and fighting to stay open. There's evidence to suggest they can and should remain open. And there's evidence to suggest they're engaged to do so. The announcement by the Regents that the 4 year strategic plan would be the path forward, which includes two campuses, coupled with the announcement of the inclusion of the potential option for de-coupling, let's anyone know that C-AA is not preparing to close or be closed.
Dave Benke
Closed: Childhood home congregation - Christ Memorial, Milwaukee
Closed: High School - Concordia Prep, Milwaukee
Moved: Junior College - Concordia Milwaukee - to Mequon
Closed: Senior College - Concordia Senior College, Ft. Wayne
Closed: First Congregation Served, Zion Lutheran, St. Louis
Closed: Office as District President, Concordia Bronxville
Closed: Member and Chair, Board of Regents, Concordia Bronxville
So it goes. Valpo is not closed. However, it's different, even way different. Bronxville is different for me from those who were students, but maybe not for those who were professors, because I was there for a quarter century on campus, taught classes and understood the internal workings of the college with its partner on the national level, including presidential selection. I was involved in a ton of tussles through the years to bring stability and growth. I have a point of view on why it closed that's based on those interactions. So it's pain, but a different kind of pain. Because I believe Bronxville didn't have to close.
Ann Arbor, to me, is the opposite case. They're open and fighting to stay open. There's evidence to suggest they can and should remain open. And there's evidence to suggest they're engaged to do so. The announcement by the Regents that the 4 year strategic plan would be the path forward, which includes two campuses, coupled with the announcement of the inclusion of the potential option for de-coupling, let's anyone know that C-AA is not preparing to close or be closed.
Dave Benke
***
A note from LutherQueasy:
The Valpo announcement includes a list of 28 programs that are being considered for discontinuation. This would, of course, involve reductions in faculty and staff.
