Concordia University Portland was a private Lutheran Christian university located in the Concordia neighborhood of northeast Portland, Oregon until 2020.  Concordia opened in 1905 as a college prep high school and added college courses in 1950.   In 1968 it gained accreditation from the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.  In 1977 the college formally split from the high school and graduated its first baccalaureate students in 1980.

Programs in Education, Nursing, and Social Work became anchors for the institution while also deepening the university’s commitment to servant leadership. Concordia provided significant scholarships for students, reducing the high financial barrier to getting a top-quality university education.  A 17:1 student to faculty ratio meant that students worked closely with their professors.  This level of financial and personal support enabled many first-generation students to be the first in their family to graduate from college.

Concordia’s mission was to prepare leaders for the transformation of society. Its professional education, grounded in the liberal arts and enriched by relevant co-curricular activities, strengthened the church and world community by encouraging the development of Christian values and an attitude of service among Concordia University students.

This commitment to service and leadership was especially evident in Concordia’s partnership with Faubion School.  Faubion, a pre-K through 8th grade school in the Portland Public School system, is located on the edge of the Concordia campus.  This proximity was the spark that created a unique public-private partnership. The Faubion neighborhood is a largely African American community that has faced many challenges over many years.  The neighborhood benefited from the array of resources available at Concordia University, especially student interns and volunteers who enhanced the student experience at all grade levels. The College of Education benefited from pre-service teacher access to vibrant Faubion classroom experiences immediately and throughout their training.  

This blossomed into the “3 to PhD” (pursuing one’s highest dreams) program.  3 to PhD was a nationally recognized partnership between Concordia University, Portland Public Schools, and providers of food, mental, and physical health services to build educational pathways for under served students from preschool through high school.  It included a special emphasis on STEM / STEAM education.  

Every year, over 300 volunteers supported Faubion students’ reading, math, science and overall education success.  Concordia raised 15.5 million dollars to help Portland Public Schools build a state-of-the-art new school facility that replaced the rickety old Faubion buildings in 2017.  Concordia also moved its College of Education into the new building, creating a learning lab that brought Concordia’s education students and faculty directly to Faubion students.

In spring of 2020, after 115 years of service to students and the Concordia community,  CU Portland was forced to close its doors due to growing financial challenges and a changing educational landscape.  The campus is now home to the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health at the University of Oregon, continuing Concordia’s legacy of training the next generation of educators and serving others.

The Concordia Legacy Foundation carries on the dream of helping otherwise overlooked students achieve college success.  To honor the legacy of Concordia Portland, 3 to PhD, and the donors who supported them, the foundation launched its post-secondary scholarship and STEAM education funds.  This continues the Foundation’s commitment to education, community, and the next generation of leaders.