CCCU International Forum Exceeds Expectations
Nearly 1,300 individuals experienced an exhilarating weekend March 30-April 1, 2006, by attending the CCCU International Forum on Christian Higher Education. The three-day event, held in Dallas, Texas, was the largest known world-wide gathering of professionals in Christian higher education. The 2006 FORUM coincided with the celebration of the Council’s 30th anniversary, as well.
While the vast majority of attendees were administrators, faculty and staff from U.S. member campuses, 79 guests hailed from international affiliate campuses from 19 different countries. More than 30 students from CCCU campuses were also guests and participants of the FORUM, comprising the largest student contingency so far at CCCU FORUMs.
“For months we had prayed that all those who attend the Forum would be informed, inspired and encouraged,” says CCCU President Bob Andringa. “From all the feedback so far, this was an ‘over the top’ experience for most. There were significant conversations and I could not feel better about our 30th anniversary. The tributes from our board which Sue and I received were simply overwhelming.”
The theme for the FORUM was “Significant Conversations.” Through several plenary and breakout sessions, many of these significant conversations had to do with intercultural competencies regarding: race/ethnicity, world religions, internationalization, gender, human sexuality and the disenfranchised. Before the FORUM officially began, a Presidential Symposium on Advancing Intercultural Competencies took place, involving presidents and administrators from 14 CCCU campuses. During the FORUM, a variety of breakout sessions on intercultural topics were well-attended.
“The International Forum exceeded our expectations in both spirit and content,” says CCCU Executive Vice President Rich Gathro. “A number of participants expressed to me that we were indeed having ‘Significant Conversations’ that took us beyond the norm for conferences of this scope.”
“The 2006 Forum will long be remembered as a high water mark for advancing the cause of Christ-centered higher education--and not only in this country, but around the world as well,” says David Dockery, president of Union University (TN) and chair of the CCCU Board of Directors. “The sessions were uplifting, informative, challenging, and inspiring--and some even a bit provocative. It was a wonderful gathering.”
The following special awards and honors were also presented during the FORUM:
“This FORUM has been a great reminder of why we do what we do,” says Michael Fox of Geneva College (PA). “It’s refreshing to see educators from around the world; the broadening of academia is excellent. I greatly appreciate of what the CCCU has done.”
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