On Feb. 14, ASCUI hosted an open forum with Concordia’s president, Dr. Michael A. Thomas at Denault Auditorium from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. This forum allowed an opportunity for students to ask questions as well as for Thomas to address student concerns. 

Mrs. Megan Bouslaugh, Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Chief Title IX Coordinator, and Mr. Tim Odle, Vice President of University Operations and Athletics, were also in attendance.

The main topic of concern addressed by Thomas was the increases in tuition and boarding mentioned in the letter sent to all students and families. “This is the hardest letter I write,” Thomas said, “We spend a lot of time on how to talk to you in a fair way.”

He went into detail, explaining the decisions made by the university. “Concordia is a small city,” Thomas said, “We run a hotel – residential halls. We run a school. We run a restaurant. We run a coffee shop. We run a police station, a health care, and a mental health care clinic. We run a sports facility. We run a bookstore and a library. We run a church. We run a post office, a performance hall, and a recording studio. We run a budget of [approximately] $85 million a year as a nonprofit organization.”

Thomas explained that Concordia is shouldering the increased costs of all goods and services by 27% due to the inflation in California since 2019. This required a shift in the budget that was funded mainly by raising revenue either with tuition or philanthropic giving. In addition, the minimum wage increases in California impacted the budget, as Concordia has over 1,000 employees on payroll to cover, including student workers. 

“We really try to provide stability for faculty and staff and YOU,” said Thomas. “We are really trying hard to pay our faculty and staff a good wage to not only recruit them but to keep them.”

A question asked during the forum included potential raises in scholarships or financial aid. Thomas encouraged students to talk to the financial aid office if their family situation has changed and there needs to be an adjustment made to their financial aid package. 

Thomas also addressed the new cost of parking. He explained that all the roads on campus are maintained and paid for by Concordia. This includes paying for gatehouses and gatehouse security staff. The cost of parking per semester is still significantly lower than other universities, such as the University of California Irvine, which charges $135 a month for parking for residents. 

For those concerned about getting a parking spot, especially with the new cost, Odle reassured students that at least 148 additional spots are open that are not used every day. Concordia also plans to release 10 spots in the parking behind Rho for students and leave six for faculty. 

Thomas also emphasized that “not a single dollar” from a student’s tuition will go into the new buildings being built. The CU Center renovations are expected to begin in May, and they hope to be complete by fall of 2026, in time for Concordia’s 50th anniversary. The two athletic buildings are expected to begin construction by late summer or early fall, which will include a state-of-the-art weight room and fitness center. These buildings are funded by donors.

A question was asked about donor money earmarked for the buildings and if it could be allocated to fill the student budget. Thomas explained that these donations are funded specifically for the buildings, and much of the endowment money that goes into scholarships comes from estates. However, the speakers noted that they look for opportunities to be more flexible with donations when possible so funds can be directed to the areas in most need.

The forum also included a discussion regarding diversity, and Thomas was asked about his idea of getting more diversity on campus. Thomas noted that increasing diversity in the student body can be inspired by having a more diverse faculty. He added that gender equality and representation is also in his sights. “We have to work on that. I want to work on that,” Thomas said. 

Along with Thomas, Bouslaugh also valued the opportunity to get students' ideas on increasing diversity and encouraged attendees to reach out about it. “You have the best perspective of your stage of life and age," she said. 

Tags: community

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