CCCU News

Australia Studies Centre Announces Relocation

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:35:00 -0700

When the CCCU launched the Australia Studies Centre in 2004, only 19 students were sent to study at the Wesley Institute. Since that time, over 500 students have journeyed to and around Australia as part of the program.

CRAL Webinar to Feature UW-Green Bay Professor

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:20:00 -0700

The Center for Research in Adult Learning (CRAL) is hosting Dr. Regan Gurung as its next Webinar presenter Aug. 21, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. EST. His topic is “The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Within Adult Education.”

CRAL Update: Webinar Audio Now Available

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 07:13:00 -0700

The Center for Research in Adult Learning (CRAL) hosted in May Dr. Tanya Joosten discussing the topic, Social Media for Educators. CRAL is making that presentation available.

FAA’s Recognized for Community Service Project While at Conference

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:59:00 -0700

Financial aid administrators had no idea that what they intended as an opportunity to help an impoverished community would become a yearlong recognition of service.

Campus Ministry Directors Conference Focuses on Worship

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 11:55:00 -0700

Campus ministry directors from CCCU member institutions converged at the Billy Graham Center at The Cove to discuss the role of worship in campus life and in the development of the spiritual lives of students.

President and Mrs. Blews Labeled ‘Dynamic Duo’ of Christian Higher Education in Historic Occasion During Asbury University’s Commencement Exercises

Tue, 28 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700

Council for Christian Colleges & Universities President Edward O. Blews, Jr., and wife, Debra McKenna Blews, were part of a historic day in higher education as they were both awarded honorary doctorates as speakers in their respective commencement exercises at Asbury University, and were each recognized for their unique contributions to Christian higher education.

Premiere Night Features Films Made by BestSemester Students

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:58:00 -0700

Normally the stars shine brightly in Hollywood, but it was students of CCCU member institutions who had their opportunity to shine April 30 when the L.A. Film Studies Center held its festival-ready films “Premiere Night,” an end-of-semester tradition for students of the domestic BestSemester program.

BestSemester Photo Contest Winners Named

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:54:00 -0700

For the second consecutive year, BestSemester invited recent alumni to participate in the 2013 BestSemester Photo Contest. The contest attracted over 75 participants who submitted 325 total photographs.

CAP Webinar to Feature Leading Assessment Scholars

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:51:00 -0700

The CCCU Office of Professional Development & Research is pleased to announce an upcoming informational webinar for year two of the new Comprehensive Assessment Project (CAP) institutional research cycle.

C.R.A.L. Update: Upcoming Webinar on Social Media for Educators

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:37:00 -0700

The Center for Research in Adult Learning (CRAL) is hosting as its next webinar speaker Dr. Tanya Joosten, discussing the topic, Social Media for Educators. Her presentation is full of useful “how-to” knowledge on integrating social media into the learning setting to enhance student outcomes.

CCCU Responds to NPRM: Continues Constitutional Objection to HHS “Contraceptive Mandate”

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:14:00 -0700

Yesterday, CCCU President Edward O. Blews, Jr., submitted official comments to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius objecting to the lack of protection for the religious liberty of the CCCU’s Christian colleges and universities in the current proposed revision of the Obama Administration's so called "contraceptive mandate."

CCCU Members and Students Win National Recognition

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:29:00 -0700

Universities and students associated with the CCCU garnered recognition for excellence by two different national organizations.

Blogging Globally Connects BestSemester Opportunities

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:43:00 -0700

From professional development to program promotion, BestSemester programs engage current, former and prospective students where they’re already plugged in: the blogosphere.

BestSemester Uganda Study Leads to Unique Opportunity

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:46:00 -0700

Ruth Berta wasn’t thinking about Uganda when the Messiah College senior was researching ways to fulfill her social work degree requirements.

CAO/SSDO Joint Conference Explores Challenges of Educating ‘Emerging Adults’

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 08:51:00 -0700

Christian colleges and universities face significant challenges when it comes to educating today’s “emerging adults,” one researcher said, and those challenges threaten the value of a liberal arts education.

CIAOs Discuss New Ideas for Donor Engagement During 2013 Conference

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 08:05:00 -0700

Colleges and universities face significant financial challenges that require new models of engaging prospective donors because previous models are increasingly becoming ineffective.

Newly Inaugurated CCCU President Edward O. Blews, Jr., Featured Today in "The Chronicle of Higher Education"

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:27:00 -0800

CCCU President Edward O. Blews, Jr., was featured today in an upbeat and excellent article published by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Blews was inaugurated as president of the CCCU on January 30. The article describes his expansive background in higher education as well as the qualities that made him successful in Michigan and will serve him and the cause for Christian higher education as he takes up the new mantle with the CCCU. The article also reveals the humorous anecdote that may have helped Blews decide to accept this new position: “Longtime Advocate of Private Institutions Takes Up the Cause of Christian Colleges.”

CCCU Journalism Professors Participate in Faith Track at College Media Conference

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:48:00 -0800

Can a believer be a first-class journalist? Don’t reporters have to get their hands dirty chasing the news? CCCU journalism professors will answer some variation of these questions March 10-12 when more than 1,500 students from across the nation converge on Times Square to study the craft of news gathering and reporting.

India Studies Program Wraps Up Third Semester with Travel Across Northern India

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 06:53:00 -0800

The students in BestSemester’s India Studies Program spend most of their semester living, working, and studying in Coimbatore, the “Manchester of the South,” or the textile capital of South India. Though one could easily spend a lifetime exploring just Coimbatore and the rest of Tamil Nadu, ISP Program Director Kirk McClelland insists that to understand India, you must also travel to the North. So that is what ISP students spend the last two weeks of their semester doing.

Alumni Maintain Close Relationship with BestSemester’s Contemporary Music Center

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 06:30:00 -0800

Clayton Thornton has been fascinated with lighting and set design since the age of 12, when he was put in charge of his first show at his school’s new multimillion-dollar theatre. That fascination became a career after Thornton spent a semester of his senior year of college at BestSemester’s Contemporary Music Center in Nashville, where CMC Director Warren Pettit spotted his talent and introduced Thornton to the owner of a local production company.

CRAL Update: Upcoming Conferences and Good Reads

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 13:19:00 -0800

News and updates from the CCCU Center for Research in Adult Learning.

Warner Pacific College Recognized for Commitment to Racial Harmony

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:37:00 -0800

CCCU President Edward O. Blews, Jr., named Warner Pacific College the recipients of the CCCU’s prestigious Robert and Susan Andringa Award for Advancing Racial Harmony, citing the college’s commitment to be a “community of diverse learners and a community of grace-centeredness that loves the city and all those drawn to the city.”

Chinese Dissident, Now Christian, Shares Hope at CCCU Presidents Conference

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:27:00 -0800

Chai Ling still remembers Tiananmen Square 24 years after the last freedom-seeking student was driven from the streets by the brute force of the Chinese army. In 1989, she organized thousands of students there in an attempt to force the government to grant people liberty. The movement failed. This time, she is bringing God.

‘Christians Should Never Be Pessimistic,’ Guinness Tells CCCU Presidents While Accepting Dellenback Award

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:08:00 -0800

According to social commentator Os Guinness, there is a growing pessimism in America that permeates every level of society, including churches, and there is a mentality that all is lost.

Rep. Tim Walberg Awarded CCCU Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:06:00 -0800

The CCCU named Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) the 2013 recipient of the Sen. Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award, the CCCU’s highest recognition extended to an individual who exemplifies Christian leadership and integrity in service to others.

Edward O. Blews, Jr., Inaugurated Today as Sixth CCCU President

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:58:00 -0800

In an inspiring and compelling ceremony marked by an extended standing ovation, Edward O. Blews, Jr., was inaugurated today as the new president of the CCCU.

Lee University Festival Choir Performs During Presidential Inauguration

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:13:00 -0800

On Monday, a Council for Christian Colleges & Universities member institution played a prominent role in the 57th Presidential Inauguration. The Lee University Festival Choir sang six songs, including “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” as part of the musical line-up during the inauguration.

CRAL Update: Upcoming Webinar on Curriculum Mapping

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 06:37:00 -0800

For many in adult education, regional and specialty accrediting bodies are part of the warp and woof of our academic life. Ensuring that curricula meet accreditation requirements can be daunting, and curriculum mapping has become a valued tool. In the first webinar of 2013 offered by the CCCU Center for Research in Adult Learning, Dr. Brad Oliver will present a practical approach to curriculum mapping, based on his own experience.

A LASP Case Study: Chitwood 3.0, the Alumnus Years

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 06:33:00 -0800

There's nothing like a 30th birthday to make you get introspective. As I hit the big 3-0 last month, the dreaded question actually came to mind: “What if my best days are behind me?” Suddenly, a panic of processing hit me, and it was BestSemester’s Latin American Studies Program all over again. Telos this. Praxis that. Trust the process. Change the world.

ASC Students Are Treated Like Family During New Trip to Booderee National Park

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 06:14:00 -0800

At first glance, Australia’s Booderee National Park is just one of many pristinely beautiful South Coast destinations on tourists’ must-see lists. Visitors can camp at three different beaches, explore the exotic flora of the botanic gardens, and even go whale-watching. But for last fall’s BestSemester Australia Studies Centre students, who spent three days living with the aboriginal tribe that has called this land home for centuries, the park’s lush beaches and rainforests became the backdrop to a cultural immersion experience unlike any other.

Conference Is Annual Highlight for CCCU Chief Enrollment Officers

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:17:00 -0800

Chief enrollment officers from CCCU campuses kicked off the new year learning and growing together. January 3-5 they convened at the Ritz Carlton Hotel nestled in the heart of Phoenix for their annual peer group conference. “The CEOs conference has always been one of the highlights of my year because it provides a chance to be with colleagues who are walking in my shoes,” said Matt Osborne, vice president for enrollment services at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Mich. “This year's conference was even better because of the expanded times within sessions and outside of them to discuss the challenges which face us. In many ways, it provided some of the least expensive consulting one can hope to receive.”

Faculty Essay Winners Announced at 2012 Free Market Forum

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 12:22:00 -0800

Featuring the theme “Markets, Government, and the Common Good,” the 2012 Free Market Forum took place October 4-6 in Houston. Over 150 faculty members and state economic policymakers attended presentations from speakers such as the Rev. Robert Sirico from the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty; Theodore Malloch from Yale University; and Shikha Dalmia of the Reason Foundation. All those who incorporate free enterprise in their courses or research were encouraged to partake in this sixth Free Market Forum, which featured discussions on the international debt crisis, economics, immigration, America’s spiritual capital, and the gold standard.

Classroom Expands for ASP and WJC Students in D.C. During Presidential Election Year

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:51:00 -0800

Each semester, approximately 40 students from a variety of CCCU campuses venture to Washington, D.C., to participate in BestSemester’s American Studies Program and Washington Journalism Center. Whether studying public policy, global development, or journalism, the students relish the opportunity to make the capital city their classroom for one exciting semester. However, once every four years, the city offers a little something extra to these students: the chance to experience the historic event that is a presidential election.

C.R.A.L. Update: Midwest Scholars Conference March 14-15, 2013

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:46:00 -0800

The CCCU Center for Research in Adult Learning at Indiana Wesleyan University is partnering with the Midwest Scholars Conference for their spring 2013 offering in Indianapolis. The conference theme is Shifting Sands: Re-Imagining Scholarship, Theory, and Practice, and the keynote speaker will be Dr. Regan Gurung, professor of human development and psychology and chair of human development at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. In addition, Dr. Marilyn Johnston-Parsons will do an Invited Talk. Johnston-Parsons is a professor of curriculum and instruction at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Phipps and Mullen Featured in Christianity Today’s ‘50 Women to Watch’

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:50:00 -0700

This month two CCCU leaders received the honor of being included in Christianity Today’s “50 Women to Watch: Those most shaping the church and culture.” The list and accompanying profiles were featured as the cover story package in the October issue of Christianity Today. Included among the 50 were Kim Phipps, chair of the CCCU Board of Directors and president of Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., and Shirley Mullen, president of Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y.

Christian Higher Education Month: What Does Christian higher education mean to you?

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 07:49:00 -0700

Each October the CCCU and its member and affiliate institutions celebrate the role of Christ-centered colleges in America’s history and in students’ lives. As declared by House Resolution 300 in June 2003, October is Christian Higher Education Month. To recognize CHEM this year we asked CCCU institutions to voice the significance of Christian higher education by responding to the following question: What does Christian higher education mean to you? Each week in this month we will hear the response to this question from a different sector within Christian higher education: alumni, staff, faculty, students, and administration.

BestSemester Alumni Ambassador Program Gives Alumni a Forum for Sharing Their BestSemester Experiences

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:52:00 -0700

For the past five years, BestSemester has offered a platform for program alumni returning to their campuses to share their stories and encourage other students to consider studying abroad or off-campus.

C.R.A.L. Update: Research and Recommended Reading

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:16:00 -0700

The CCCU Center for Research in Adult Learning at Indiana Wesleyan University is in the brainstorming process to design new initiatives and research agendas. Look for more news on those in future eAdvance updates.

CCCU Center for Research in Adult Learning at Indiana Wesleyan University Gains New Executive Director

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:19:00 -0700

In collaboration with Indiana Wesleyan University, the CCCU is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Pamela Giles as the new executive director for the CCCU Center for Research in Adult Learning at IWU in Marion, Ind.

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Marks Opening of New MESP Center in Jerusalem

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 14:02:00 -0700

While walking along the southern rim of Tantur Ecumenical Institute last year, BestSemester’s Middle East Studies Program Director Dr. David Holt stumbled upon a run-down building on Tantur’s property that had been abandoned since 1997. This Jerusalem diamond-in-the-rough overlooked the historically-Christian communities of Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala.

Nine BestSemester Students Awarded Prizes for Exceptional Performance at Oxford

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:08:00 -0700

BestSemester’s Scholars’ Semester in Oxford has awarded nine spring 2012 students with deJager prizes for exceptional academic performance.

Two New Member Institutions Added to the CCCU

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:50:00 -0700

The CCCU is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to the Council.

CCCU Member Alumna Vaults Over All Others to Claim Olympic Gold

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 09:00:00 -0700

On August 6, Jenn Suhr, a 2004 graduate of CCCU member Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, N.Y., won the gold medal in women’s pole vault at the Olympic Games. She bested bronze-medalist Russian Elena Isinbaeva, the two-time Olympic champion in women’s pole vault and 28-time world record breaker who was a favorite for a three-peat gold, and Cuba's Yarisley Silva, who was awarded silver.

CCCU Researchers Contribute to New Volume on Spirituality in College Students’ Lives

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:55:00 -0700

Spirituality in College Students’ Lives: Translating Research into Practice, released July 26 by Routledge and edited by Alyssa Bryant Rockenbach and Matthew J. Mayhew, includes chapters written by authors affiliated with the CCCU. Among these authors is P. Jesse Rine, the CCCU’s director of research and grants initiatives.

New Presidents Meet Mentors, Prepare for New Role

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 06:02:00 -0700

Mountain Thunder Lodge in Breckenridge was once again the location for the CCCU annual New Presidents Institute. Eight new presidents joined eight mentor presidents July 7-10 for the Institute, which is designed for presidents in the first or second year of their presidency at a CCCU institution.

Board Chairs and Presidents Focus on Good Governance

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:51:00 -0700

The presidents and board chairs of several CCCU institutions gathered in Breckenridge July 10-13 for the annual Governance Institute. Many of their spouses also attended. For several years, stressing strong and good institutional governance has been a theme for CCCU initiatives. Additionally, CCCU President-elect Edward O. Blews, Jr., making his first official public appearance after being named the previous day by the CCCU board as the CCCU's sixth president, delivered an opening address at the Governance Institute.

New Faculty Gain Insight and Skill in Fulfilling Role at Christian Universities

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:04:00 -0700

During the 2012 New Faculty Institute, held June 5-8, new faculty at CCCU institutions gained a leg up in settling into new academic responsibilities in the unique context of Christian higher education.

CCCU Hosts Genesis Colloquium on Teaching Origins of Life from a Christ-Centered and Biblically-Integrative Perspective

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:04:00 -0700

In a cultural epoch so often marred by polarizing dialogue that is anything but gracious toward people who express dissenting views, the Genesis Colloquium organized by the CCCU set out to offer a better path for discussing varied views on a potentially divisive topic among Christians. The question posed for the colloquium was: "How do our institutions teach origins of life from a Christ-centered and biblically-integrative perspective?"

CFOs and HR Professionals Dig into Compliance Issues at Annual Conference

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:03:00 -0700

Senior financial officers and human resource professionals from CCCU institutions gathered during a joint conference June 6-8 at CCCU member campus University of the Southwest in Hobbs, N.M.

CCCU Faculty Learn Through Experience During LASP Study Tour

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 11:58:00 -0700

As Craig Cook describes it, the last night of this summer’s BestSemester Latin American Studies Program faculty study tour was idyllic. With a bright moon overhead, the seven faculty members enjoyed a spontaneous debriefing session on the beach in Varadero, Cuba, sharing what they had learned over the past 10 days and discussing how the trip had impacted them.