Concordia University Ann Arbor (CUAA) is the

Ann Arbor, Michigan Ann Arbor is a city in Washtenaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851, making it the List of municipalities in Michigan, fifth-most populous cit ...

, campus of Concordia University Wisconsin, a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

Lutheran Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

university in

Mequon, Wisconsin Mequon () is the most populous city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 25,142 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located on Lake Michigan's western shore with significant commercial developments along Int ...

. As part of Concordia University, it is

accredited Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...

by the

Higher Learning Commission The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) is an institutional accreditor in the United States. It has historically accredited post-secondary education institutions in the central United States: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa ...

. Concordia University Ann Arbor's campus sits on the banks of the

Huron River The Huron River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed November 7, 2011 river in southeast Michigan, southeastern Michigan, rising out of the Huron Swamp in Springfie ...

, about ten minutes outside downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan. Concordia is affiliated with the

Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Lutheranism is a major branch of Protestantism that emerged under the work of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German friar and Protestant Reformers, reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church launched ...

(LCMS) and is a member of the Concordia University System. CUAA merged with Concordia University Wisconsin in 2013.

History

Earhart Manor historic site Ann Arbor Michigan

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 Mid-century modern (MCM) is a movement in interior design, product design, graphic design, architecture and urban development that was present in all the world, but more popular in North America, Brazil and Europe from roughly 1945 to 197 ...

style. Classes began in the fall of 1963 with 236 students and 24 instructors. The school began offering four-year degree programs in 1976 and changed its name to Concordia College. 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. The merger became effective on July 1, 2013, with Curt Gielow, former executive dean of CUW's School of Pharmacy and former mayor of

, becoming Vice President of Administration and Chief Campus Officer at CUAA. He was replaced at the end of 2018 by Ryan Peterson. In 2015, the university purchased the former Ann Arbor campus of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. That facility, north of the main campus, is now the home of CUAA's School of Nursing. In 2022, the university named Erik Ankerberg its next president. He began his duties in January 2023, prior to the spring semester. 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. 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. 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.

Athletics

The Concordia–Ann Arbor (CUAA) athletic teams are called the Cardinals. The school's mascot is named Corky the Cardinal. The university is a member of the

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for higher education, colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic schola ...

(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 competes in the Mideast League of the Mid-States Football Association (MSFA). They are also a member of the

National Christian College Athletic Association The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) is an association of Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada whose mission is "the promotion and enhancement of intercollegiate athletic c ...

(NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Midwest Region of the Division I level. CUAA competes in 28 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and track & field (indoor and outdoor). Women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, stunt, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, competitive dance and eSports.

Accomplishments

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

* Jonathan Coddington – American football coach * Magali Frezzotti – American

softball Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...

coach * Kenneth Horn – American politician * Newton Howard – American

cognitive scientist Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary, scientific study of the mind and its processes. It examines the nature, the tasks, and the functions of cognition (in a broad sense). Mental faculties of concern to cognitive scientists include percep ...

Toby Jones Toby Edward Heslewood Jones''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.''; at ancestry.com (born 7 September 1966) is an English actor. He is known for his extensive character actor roles on stage and screen. From 1989 ...

– American basketball coach * Elizabeth Birr Moje – American educator and

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

administrator

References

External links

*
Official athletics website
{{authority control Liberal arts colleges in Michigan Universities and colleges affiliated with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Universities and colleges established in 1963 Education in Ann Arbor, Michigan Universities and colleges in Washtenaw County, Michigan 1963 establishments in Michigan Private universities and colleges in Michigan Council for Christian Colleges and Universities