1960's

1961 – Luther alumnus Greg Brandt (HS’55, U’56) is given a Rhodes Scholarship, the first of six that will be awarded (so far) to Luther alumni.

1961 – A series of Lutheran Church mergers means Luther is now affiliated with “The American Lutheran Church.” The new church makes drastic cuts to the annual operating grants given to its schools. Luther begins a more serious development of its fundraising abilities, supporting annual operations, to compensate.

1961 – International students come from Trinidad. Luther’s first student from Hong Kong is Josephine Chang. There are now fewer Saskatchewan students in the dorms, and by the 1980’s a majority of students in the dorm are from Hong Kong.

1963 – Recognition is given to the 50th Anniversary of the founding of Luther Academy in Melville, Saskatchewan. Enrollment at Luther is now around 360 students with fifteen full-time faculty positions.

1964 – The Province of Saskatchewan decides to give private church schools an operating grant of about $85.00 for each Saskatchewan student registered.

1964 – Rex Schneider and Emilie Walter both retire from Luther College.

1964 – Morris Anderson is appointed President and Principal. He is the first President who is not a pastor and is not German.

1964 – Luther receives the offer to “federate” with the Regina Campus of the University of Saskatchewan and begins to study the matter. After serious deliberation, a major fundraising campaign begins. Pastor Don King of Weyburn, Saskatchewan is hired to assist with the fundraising. Rex Schneider is brought out of retirement to assist in the fundraising campaign. In 1968, the Federation agreement is finalized and soon construction begins on a building at the University Campus. This is the College’s largest fundraising campaign to date.

1964 – A new alumni magazine – Luther – is produced. It evolves into The Luther Story.

1967 – The Canadian District of The American Lutheran Church becomes an autonomous Canadian Church, known today as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). As of this writing in 2013, the Board of Luther is elected at the church’s national conventions.