Concordia University, founded in 1905 as Evangelical Lutheran Concordia College of Portland, Oregon, began as a high school for boys preparing to enter the pastoral ministry of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod. The committee of the Oregon and Washington District that started the school became the first Board. As the governing board, the Board of Regents was first known as the Board of Supervision (in German, Aufsichts-Behörde) through 1922. From 1923 through 1980 the English name, Board of Control, was used. In 1981 the name was changed to Board of Regents. Until the 1940s, the Board made all major decisions, assuming most of the typical academic, business, public relations, fund-raising, and student life functions of the school.
In the early 1950’s, under the leadership of President Thomas Coates, the faculty began to assume more of the day-to-day responsibilities, leaving the board with its more current policy-making functions. A separate Board of Electors, composed of Board of Control members plus others, convened as needed to choose recommended candidates for permanent faculty positions. In 1941, the name of the school was changed to Concordia Academy with a separate Board of Trustees for the Concordia Academy Corporation. In a 1947 reorganization, the Trustees were elected from the Board of Control so that the two functions came under one Board. The school name was changed back to Concordia College in 1950. Because of the Board's small numbers, an Advisory Council was formed on January 20, 1959, to provide "qualified consultants in its various areas of operation." The Council members were appointed by the President with the approval of the Board. The Council met annually. In 1984 the name of the Council was changed to President’s Council "to more accurately reflect its function" with a new mission statement. In January, 1986, the Council was dissolved.
From the guide to the Concordia University Board of Regents Records, 1905-2003, (Concordia University Archives)
