In today’s News:
Concordia Wisconsin ranked among top tier of national universities
U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 “America’s Best Colleges Guide” has ranked Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., among the top tier of national universities. CUW rose 23 places this year, even after moving into the more competitive “national universities” category due to a growing portfolio of doctoral programs. The ranking considers a total of 17 indicators, including test scores, retention rates, mission allegiance and alumni engagement.
Concordia Ann Arbor has a new program
In a related story, the Academic Resource Center of Concordia University, Ann Arbor (CUAA), Mich., has launched Destination Cardinal, a summer “bridge” program geared primarily toward first-generation or low-income students. Students will begin the program the summer before they officially start at CUAA in order to ease the transition from high school to college. The program is also open to students who are already enrolled at CUAA and has proven useful for many this year as they navigate academics during COVID-19.
LGBT advocacy group lobbying against Christian schools
The nation’s largest LGBT advocacy group is urging the future Biden administration to help pull the accreditation of Christian colleges and schools if they don’t have a policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Human Rights Campaign posted its goals for the Biden administration in a Nov. 11 document, “Blueprint for Positive Change.” The 22-page brief includes dozens of objectives for the Biden White House, but its targeting of Christian institutions would have a major impact on religious schools. Under a current law known as the Higher Education Opportunity Act, accrediting agencies are told to ensure their standards “respect the stated mission of the institution of higher education,” including a school’s “religious” mission.
Forcing abortion coverage again goes to court
Attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom go to court today in San Francisco representing three California churches seeking exemption from a Golden State rule mandating they pay for abortions. The case originated in a suit filed by the Foothill Church in Glendora, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino and Shepherd of The Hills Church In Porter Ranch. The three congregations are challenging the department’s mandate on appeal in Foothill Church v. Rouillard.
Pro-life activists are arrested
Pro-life activists were arrested Tuesday outside of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where first and second-trimester abortions are committed, and the bodies of aborted children are used for research at the University of California San Francisco. Terrisa Bukovinac, executive director of Pro-Life San Francisco, Lauren Handy of Red Rose Rescue, and other pro-lifers including Cheryl Conrad of Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust, were protesting outside of the hospital when they were arrested. The activists were charged with trespassing, but claim they were on public property. Pro-Life San Francisco announced it will be pursuing legal action regarding the arrest and are confident it will win in court.
