By connecting with national organizations, Concordia University Wisconsin students join hands with others to bring care, hope, and change to the world.
Concordia students can participate in a variety of clubs and organizations, offering opportunities that range from professional development to service and advocacy.
The process of forming a student chapter of a national organization on the campus of Concordia University Wisconsin begins with a student application. Each application for a student organization, chapter, or club to be nationally affiliated is reviewed by the Student Organization Review Committee. That committee’s consideration of the application can be lengthy, as committee members analyze all components of the student application, review the national organization itself for mission alignment, and complete their due diligence to ensure the university’s mission, values, and policies are not compromised. In the end, not all applications are approved. The committee continues to monitor the national organizations of the university’s existing student chapters to ensure Concordia’s affiliation can and should continue.
“At Concordia University Wisconsin, we are committed to nurturing students in mind, body, and spirit, with Christ at the center of all we do. Because this commitment shapes our mission, it is also a guiding factor when we review applications for student chapters of national organizations,” said Elizabeth Polzin, vice president for Student Success and associate professor of education.
All student groups at Concordia are expected to uphold the university’s policies and values—prioritizing the university’s mission through their work in the club, organization, or chapter. The goal is always to foster a Christ-centered environment where varied viewpoints can be expressed with wisdom, compassion, and peace.
Our newest student group—a campus chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA)—was recently approved by the Student Organization Review Committee. This decision was reached through the same review process used with all nationally affiliated clubs or organizations that wish to be officially chartered at Concordia. “We welcome this organization and believe it will provide students with new opportunities to engage in thoughtful dialogue, develop leadership skills, and explore their vocations in light of faith,” Polzin said.
CUW values the opportunities that national affiliation brings to our students and their academic, professional, and personal development. With the guidance of a faculty or staff advisor, students will not only develop as leaders but also gain valuable skills for life beyond the classroom. Collaborative projects will strengthen teamwork and build community, while opportunities for service will encourage students to use their gifts in meaningful ways. Altogether, these experiences help students discern their vocations and prepare to live out their God-given callings in the Church, workplace, and world.
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Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.