CCCU News

Highlights Abound as India Studies Program Concludes First Year

Mon, 14 May 2012 12:39:00 -0700

BestSemester’s India Studies Program recently completed its inaugural year. Twenty-three students—12 students last fall and 11 this spring—from CCCU campuses experienced the richness and challenge of immersion in Indian culture.

International Affiliate Highlight: Uganda Christian University

Mon, 14 May 2012 08:41:00 -0700

Uganda Christian University was founded in 1997 when the historic Bishop Tucker Theological College, which trained clergy and educators for 84 years, was promoted to university status.

The Universal Language of Story

Mon, 14 May 2012 06:51:00 -0700

Story has a way of bypassing our brains and cutting straight through to our hearts; it’s a powerful way to communicate that can be inadvertently abused if entrusted to someone who doesn’t understand the language.

Upcoming Webinar to Discuss Results of Noel-Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory

Thu, 10 May 2012 06:48:00 -0700

On May 24 at 2 p.m. EDT, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and Noel-Levitz will present a webinar reviewing the CCCU composite results of the Student Satisfaction Inventory and offering campuses guidance for using these results.

CCCU Director of Research & Grants Initiatives Earns Dissertation Award

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:48:00 -0700

P. Jesse Rine, director of research and grants initiatives at the CCCU, has been awarded the 2012 Outstanding Dissertation Award by the Religion and Education Special Interest Group of the American Educational Research Association.

International Affiliate Highlight: Université Chrétienne du Nord d’Haïti (North Haiti Christian University)

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:35:00 -0700

Université Chrétienne du Nord d’Haïti (UCNH), or North Haiti Christian University, is situated in a lush, tropical valley in the town of Limbé, Haiti, which is about one hour outside Cap Haitian, a major city in North Haiti.

Shifting Faith Could Have Bearing on Future of Christian Higher Education, Speaker Tells CAOs

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:05:00 -0700

The challenges facing Christian higher education will continue to increase, one researcher told those attending the 2012 CCCU Chief Academic Officers Conference, held March 21-23 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, and some of those challenges are byproducts of challenges facing churches.

CCCU Releases Research Report on Christian Higher Education

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:04:00 -0700

The CCCU has published “Charting the Terrain of Christian Higher Education in America: A Profile of the Member Institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.”

LAFSC Director Gives Address on the Dark Side of Beauty, Studies in U.K. During Sabbatical

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:43:00 -0700

Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran, director of the CCCU’s BestSemester Los Angeles Film Studies Center, has been working with artists and churches in Los Angeles for decades. Over time, she said, she has seen a trend toward Christian art-making that she finds troubling.

Results of CCCU Survey on Governance Released

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:21:00 -0700

The CCCU has published a report on the results of the 2011 CCCU Survey of Governance in Member Institutions.

LAFSC Alumni Are Part of Crew for 'The Artist,' Winner of 2012’s Best Picture Oscar

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:51:00 -0700

The CCCU’s BestSemester Los Angeles Film Studies Center is proud to announce that two LAFSC alumni were part of the crew of 2012’s Best Picture Oscar winner, The Artist.

President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll Honors Numerous CCCU Campuses

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:42:00 -0700

When the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education announced the 2012 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll in March, numerous CCCU member and affiliate institutions received recognition for their commitment to bettering their communities through community service and service learning.

CCCU Releases New Narrative Monograph on Sabbaticals for Leaders

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:27:00 -0700

The CCCU has released a new title in its Monograph Series, which publishes monographs in both narrative and research formats. Sabbaticals for Leaders by CCCU President Paul R. Corts is the second title in the Monograph narrative series.

Senior Student Development Officers Discuss Challenging, Timely Topic at Annual Conference

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:52:00 -0700

This year’s Senior Student Development Officers Conference saw an increased attendance as representatives from CCCU institutions gathered March 7-9 at the Marriott Renaissance New Orleans Arts Hotel to address the challenging topic of student sexuality and sexual identity and the implications for student development practices at Christian colleges and universities.

CCCU Sends March 9th Letter to White House Regarding Contraceptive Mandate Accommodation

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:02:00 -0700

In a Friday, March 9 letter to the White House, the CCCU expressed its continued concern about the contraceptive mandate contained in the August 3, 2011, amendment to the Department of Health and Human Services regulations entitled Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventative Services Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (File Code CMS-9992-IFC2).

Rosenberg Visits Rome for Green Scholars Initiative Events

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:49:00 -0700

This week Stan Rosenberg, director of the CCCU’s centre for Scholarship and Christianity In Oxford, the home of BestSemester’s Oxford programs, will make his second trip to Rome in just over two weeks.

Chief Institutional Advancement Officers Learn from Experts During CCCU Conference

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:18:00 -0700

In February, chief institutional advancement officers from CCCU campuses convened at the stunning Loews Ventana Canyon, located high above Tucson’s Catalina Mountains, to discuss best practices, to be renewed in the vision for their role in carrying out their colleges’ mission, and to enjoy fellowship with other CCCU advancement professionals.

Campus Ministry Leaders Encouraged in Spiritual Formation

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 07:06:00 -0700

The Asilomar Conference Grounds were the site of the February 16-18 CCCU conference for campus ministry directors. Located on California’s Monterey Peninsula and surrounded by Asilomar State Beach, the setting provided the perfect spot for those working in campus ministry positions to gather for three days of connection and conversation on the issues that shape, challenge, and inform their work with college students.

Students from Six CCCU Campuses Sweep Creation Care Video Contest Awards

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:04:00 -0800

Last week winners were announced for the National Association of Evangelicals’ Creation Care Video Contest. All eight winning videos were created by students from CCCU’s member institutions.

MESP Resumes Student Home-Stays in Israel

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:25:00 -0800

Last year when the events of the Arab Spring made Cairo, Egypt, an uncertain base for the CCCU’s BestSemester Middle East Studies Program, MESP relocated to Jerusalem, Israel. This month MESP is already resuming the one-week home-stays that were an important part of the MESP curriculum in Egypt.

CCCU Joins Higher Education Community in Support of Bill to Repeal State Authorization and Credit Hour Regulations

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 07:39:00 -0800

The CCCU has signed on to a letter delivered today to House members urging them to vote for H.R. 2117, the “Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act.”

Representatives of Four CCCU Member Institutions Testify Before House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Regarding Religious Freedom

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:01:00 -0800

Four representatives of CCCU member institutions testified on Thursday, February 16 before the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

International Affiliate Highlight: Central University College, Ghana

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:07:00 -0800

Central University College, an educational initiative of the International Central Gospel Church and the largest private university in Ghana, is committed to the fulfillment of the Great Commission set forth by Jesus Christ in the Gospels. CUC aims to provide “an integrated and biblically-based tertiary education with particular reference to the needs of the African continent.”

Plenary Speakers Inspire Presidents Conference Attendees

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:56:00 -0800

As the opening plenary address for the CCCU's 36th annual Presidents Conference, held February 1-3 at the Capitol Hilton Hotel, concluded, the scene that summarizes the conference most succinctly took center stage.

CCCU Honors Recipients of Philanthropy Award and Andringa Award for Advancing Racial Harmony

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:08:00 -0800

During the CCCU's 36th annual Presidents Conference February 1-3 in Washington, DC, the CCCU announced the recipients of the 2012 Robert and Susan Andringa Award for Advancing Racial Harmony and the CCCU Philanthropy Award.

Response from CCCU President Paul R. Corts to White House Announcement of Expanded Religious Accommodation in the Health and Human Services Contraceptive Mandate

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

We appreciate the efforts of the Administration to attempt to resolve the religious freedom issues created by the HHS contraceptive mandate. Without seeing the final rule it is impossible to tell from the President's general statement if our specific religious liberty issues have been addressed.

CCCU Presidents Equipped to Advocate on the Hill

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:54:00 -0800

The Supreme Court’s January decision in Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. EEOC & Cheryl Perich and the Department of Health and Human Services’ recently renewed decision not to budge on their mandate that faith-based employers’ health insurance plans cover contraceptive services, including some abortifacients, provided a timely backdrop for the Congressional Advocacy Pre-conference that preceded the CCCU’s annual Presidents Conference.

New Testament Scholar N.T. Wright Honored by the CCCU with Prestigious Leadership Award

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:38:00 -0800

On February 3, the CCCU honored N.T. Wright, the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world’s leading biblical scholars, with the 2012 Sen. Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award.

CCCU Announces New Member and International Affiliate

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

The CCCU is pleased to announce the inclusion of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., as a member and Newbold College in the United Kingdom, as an international affiliate.

Aid Worker Rescued from Somalia Is CCCU Affiliate Alumna

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:48:00 -0800

Jessica Buchanan, one of two aid workers rescued from Somali pirates by U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6 early Wednesday morning East Africa Time, is a 2007 graduate of Valley Forge Christian College. The school, located in Phoenixville, Pa., is one of the CCCU affiliate campuses.

Long-Standing LASP Study Trip to Cuba Now Part of All LASP Students’ Curriculum

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

For more than 10 years, students and faculty of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities’ BestSemester Latin American Studies Program, based in San José, have found Cuba to be a vibrant classroom.

Unanimous Supreme Court Decision Is Good News for Religious Freedom

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Wednesday in an important religious liberty case has significant implications for church-affiliated colleges, including the 138 American member and affiliate schools of the CCCU.

For CCCU Financial Aid Administrators, What Happened in Vegas, Doesn’t Need to Stay in Vegas

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

While Las Vegas’ well-known tourism marketing phrase advocates to the contrary, financial aid administrators from CCCU campuses convened at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel December 1-3 to do anything but leave behind what they learned while in Vegas.

CCCU Public Relations and Enrollment Officers Rub Shoulders with Cows in Tucson

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Public relations/communications officers and chief enrollment officers from CCCU campuses rang in the first work week of the year with such memorable fare as photo ops with large stuffed cows, beautiful Southwestern weather, a particularly lively dinner show in Old Tucson, and learning strategies for how to best tell each college’s unique story to prospective students and other constituents.

Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Sends Letter to White House Opposing Unconstitutional Contraceptive Mandate

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Today the CCCU sent a letter to the White House expressing its continued concern about the contraceptive mandate, including coverage of some abortifacients, contained in the August 3, 2011, amendment to the Department of Health and Human Services regulations entitled Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventative Services Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

CCCU Announces New Members

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

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

CMC Students Enjoy Longest Tour Yet

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Featuring concerts in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, students of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities’ BestSemester Contemporary Music Center took their show on the road November 15-20.

CCCU Member President Testifies Before U.S. House Higher Education Subcommittee Regarding Reducing College Costs

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

On November 30, Dr. Ronald E. Manahan, president of Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind., testified before the House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

Three CCCU Institutions Lose Students in Crash

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

The CCCU is deeply saddened by the loss of three students and the father of two of the students in a small-plane crash Saturday near Crystal Lake, Ill.

Research Roundtable Works to Form CCCU Research Agenda

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:21:00 -0800

Desiring to assess the needs for future research projects, the CCCU brought together a team of 22 individuals who believe in the power of data and who can strategize research priorities that would strengthen and serve Christ-centered higher education at the 2011 CCCU Research Roundtable.

Free Market Forum Provides Development Opportunities for CCCU Faculty

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Recognizing the need for a multi-disciplinary conversation on free enterprise, the CCCU continues to co-sponsor the Free Market Forum with Hillsdale College and the Acton Institute.

SSO Curriculum Recognized as Model of Best Practice

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

A monograph to be published by the National Collegiate Honors Council has recognized the Scholars’ Semester in Oxford’s curriculum as a model of best practice in honors and international education.

Prayer for ACU Campus

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

The CCCU joins our member and affiliate institutions in praying for the Abilene Christian University community.

CCCU Publishes Research Monograph on Finance and Economics in Postwar Liberia

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

The CCCU announces the release of the second research publication in the CCCU Monograph Series, Nature and Consequences of Weak Financial Markets in Reconstructing Postwar Economies: The Liberian Case by former CCCU professors John Gorlorwulu and Jonathan Warner.

Christian Higher Education Month: Furthering the Mission in Challenging Times

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Every October the CCCU and its member and affiliate institutions mark Christian Higher Education Month. As declared by House Resolution 300 in June 2003, CHEM celebrates the role of Christ-centered colleges in America’s history and in students’ lives.

International Affiliate Highlight: Alphacrucis College

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

“Alphacrucis College is entering an exciting new era,” said Alphacrucis College Principal and CEO Stephen Fogarty in September as the college opened its new main campus in Parramatta, the geographical heart of Sydney, Australia.

CCCU Conference Discusses Expanding Cultural Competencies

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

To address the Christian imperative for flourishing diverse communities, the CCCU desires to improve its understanding of the opportunities and barriers to increasing diversity, witness reconciliation between different groups, and foster the development of cultural competencies.

Nobel Peace Prize Winner Is CCCU Member Alumna

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Leymah Gbowee, one of three women jointly awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize this month, earned a master’s degree in conflict transformation in 2007 from Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., one of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities’ 113 North American member campuses.

The CCCU Submits September 30th Comments to the Department of Health and Human Services Opposing Contraceptive Mandate

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

On September 30, the CCCU submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services on the August 3, 2011, amendment to the regulations entitled Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventative Services Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Pam Jones Joins CCCU Staff as Interim Vice President for Communications

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) announces Pamela K. Jones as the interim vice president for communications.