Breakout Sessions
In Fall 2022, the CCCU Collaborative Assessment Project assessed students’ thriving levels across both graduate and undergraduate programs. This session will feature the campus experiences that we found contributed significantly to students’ intellectual, interpersonal, and psychological engagement and well-being, highlighting differences across racial groups, along with lessons learned about the key institutional practices that support student learning, growth, and success.
Laurie Schreiner, Professor and Chair of Higher Education, Azusa Pacific University
There is a growing, two-pronged opportunity on our Christian college campuses to (1) equip students to share their faith and (2) offer clear and compelling spaces for students to step over the threshold of faith. There are more and more students each year that find themselves on our campuses who are not yet believers and/or that have been discipled by a secular culture. We can learn from a robust conversation from thought leaders and practitioners about research, best practices and Biblical moorings. These are the young people God is bringing to our doorsteps and there is a great opportunity to steward holy moments faithfully.
- Reframe our discipleship pathways to include, normalize and celebrate the spiritual work of exploring faith.
- Best practices for equipping students to share their faith right now and over a lifetime.
- Consider contextualized and intentional ways we can create space for students to make decisions for Christ that become part of the rhythm and culture of our campuses.
Andrea Summers, Campus Pastor & Dean of Spiritual Formation, Indiana Wesleyan University with panelists: Keith Jagger (John Brown University), Guy Chmieleski (Friends University), and Coba Canales (Azusa Pacific University)
*Though this session is listed on the Evangelism track, Campus Ministry Directors are also welcome to attend*
Today’s College and University students are returning to campus having dealt with the pandemic, its related stressors, adjustments to academic delivery, and the regular priorities of student life, young adulthood, and faith stewardship. Over the last two years, it has become evident that the on-campus residential experience still has profound relevance in student development. Students desire to return to their campus community, student housing, and fellow classmates as part of their learning and overall college experience. So, we are faced with a key question; how can today’s living and learning environments serve this next generation of students? We will walk through the process of the Residential Master Plan at Calvin University to address today’s student priorities for health, well-being, and resiliency along with a framework for community building at multiple scales.
Sarah Visser, Executive Vice President for Student Experience & Strategy, Calvin University; John Witte, Dean of Students, Calvin University; and Doug Campbell, Education Practice Leader, GMB Architecture + Engingeering
The topics of sexuality and gender are some of the most controversial of our day, especially on college campuses. Administrators and staff feel ill-equipped to speak on these topics and most young Christians are struggling to know what to believe. It has been argued that what the Church has to say on the topic can be one of the largest obstacles to whether the next generation keeps their Christian faith. We need to equip ourselves with the historic Christian Sexual Ethic. In this session, higher education professionals will be equipped with some of the resources and curriculum we have produced at The Center.
Lou Phillips, Director of Church Relations, The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender
In this session, Dr. Richard Detweiler of Higher Ed Impact will provide a follow up discussion on his plenary session.
Reclaim Today, a part of Our Daily Bread Ministries, specializes in understanding the spiritual and felt needs of those between the ages of 18 and 39. As a result, we are working with Christian colleges and universities to create a spiritual transformation journey for their campuses, with the goal of helping students connect with God outside of only chapels and classes. Come learn about the unique struggles and concerns that those between the ages of 18-35 are experiencing with the goal of more effectively understanding and ministering to your students.
Daniel Day, Director of Reclaim Today and Podcasting, Our Daily Bread Ministries
The best way to spread the good news of the gospel among students on our CCCU campuses is through other students: Christians who have been trained to share their faith in natural and effective ways. In this session, Mark Mittelberg will unpack proven approaches that have been field-tested in 20 languages around the world, with some two million people already trained. This session will be biblical, practical, and highly actionable – with the goal of equipping and unleashing every Christ-following student to spiritually influence the people around them. As Mark explains in his newly released book, every believer can develop a Contagious Faith.
Mark Mittelberg, Executive Director of The Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism & Applied Apologetics, Colorado Christian University
While significant disagreements have occurred among Christians over the centuries, we now observe the fragmentation of the faith tradition previously seen as uniform – evangelicalism. This session will explore the theological commitments of the evangelical movement, its sociological peculiarities in the US, and the potential impact of the evangelical fracture on the ethos and identity of the colleges, campus culture, and institutional missions.
Olga Dietlin, Assistant Professor of Higher Education & Student Development, Wheaton College and Kevin Villegas,  Assistant Dean of Intercultural Engagement & Division Initiatives, Baylor University
Faculty play one of the most significant roles in carrying out the mission of a Christian higher education institution. This presentation will cover how to help ensure your faculty are committed to your institution’s core beliefs and values while fostering an environment of diverse ideas and dialogue. Higher education attorney, Kathryn Nash will discuss the legal parameters around hiring, retaining, and developing faculty based on institutional beliefs and standards. Senior academic administrators at three CCCU member schools will share their experiences and advice for forming and leading a faculty that will carry out the institution’s mission in the classroom, on campus, and in the community.
Kathryn Nash, Attorney, Lathrop GPM & TrainED; Chris W. Mathews, Vice President of Academic Affairs, Crown College; Robin Rylaarsdam, University Provost, Bethel University; and Janet Sommers, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Northwestern—St. Paul
Jesus told us to go into our world to spread the good news of the gospel and, through his power and influence, to make new disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). In this session, veteran evangelism author and leader Mark Mittelberg will draw from lessons in his book Becoming a Contagious Church, unpacking a proven 6-Stage Process for elevating evangelistic values, training, and outreach efforts. This process is biblical, practical, and highly applicable to your efforts to make Christ known among students and, through them, to their family and friends.
Mark Mittelberg, Executive Director of The Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism & Applied Apologetics, Colorado Christian University
The world is a better place when Christian women embrace their unique identity and are empowered to be their true selves. Woman is a rite of passage program that creates clarity amidst the confusing messages about the meaning of Christian womanhood. It has transformed women at Alliance University for ten years and we want to make it more widely available. This session will detail our core values: (1) Discover Identity, (2) Engage Body and Spirit, and (3) Empower Voice. This program will equip women to uncover their unique identity, to understand and appreciate both their body and spirit, and to use their voice.
Amy Davis Abdallah, Professor of Theology and Bible, Alliance University
The academic enterprise at CCCU institutions is led by a leadership team of academic and administrative leaders. Building this team takes hard work and intentionality. In 2021, Southeastern University made significant changes to its academic leadership team based on culture and mindset shifts. This session will outline changes made and how a new leadership culture was established. Participants will: (1) Discover the importance of defining your leadership culture, (2) Identify the personal, professional, and leadership skills critical to a high-functioning team (3) Learn how to cultivate an environment of transparency and mutual growth, and (4) Hear from members of the new academic leadership team.
Meghan Griffin, Provost and CAO, Southeastern University and Panel: Aimee Franklin, Dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, Southeastern University; Nathaniel Pearson, Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Southeastern University; Jeffrey Paul, Dean of the Jannetides College of Business, Communication, and Leadership, Southeastern University; Amy Beatty, Dean of the Steelman Library and Honors College, Southeastern University; and Shawn Stewart, Dean and Chief Operations Officer of the SEU Network, Southeastern University
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Many streams of Christian culture can make students think that they shouldn’t feel anxious, or that they are just supposed to “pray it away.” Secular culture also views anxiety primarily as a problematic condition to manage or medicate away.
This session presents a surprising Gospel truth: that anxiety is a powerful opportunity to grow as followers of Jesus. We show how to reframe anxiety for your students as a natural and expected part of growing in Christ.
Curtis Chang, Executive Director, Redeeming Babel
*Though this session is listed on the Campus Ministry track, Chief Student Development Officers are welcome to attend*
This session will provide an overview of the issues most relevant to higher education and religious liberty within the three branches of government.
Joy Mosley, Associate VP for Government & Strategic Relations, CCCU and Jacob Dunlap, Director of Government & External Relations, CCCU
In fall of 2022 a group of 11 Christian universities began a CCCU Pilot program to assess and develop campus-wide wellness programming for their campuses. The goal was to evaluate and build wellness, wellbeing, and resilience programing that is institution sensitive and sustainable. This session will review what they have learned and what may be transferable to the other CCCU institutions.
Stephen Beers, Vice President of Student Development, John Brown University and Connie Horton, Vice President for Student Affairs, Pepperdine University
In this session, campus ministry leaders will take time to slow down and connect with colleagues in campus ministry. The Campus Ministry Director’s Commission will guide this time to create space for connection, reflection, and sharing best practices.
Coba Canales, Dean of Spiritual Life, Azusa Pacific University; Guy Chmieleski, Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Campus Ministries, Friends University; Gerald Coleman, Campus Pastor, Roberts Wesleyan University
This panel will focus on ways to prepare CCCU students for a lifetime of Gospel witness through research on evangelism at CCCU schools and case studies on the integration of evangelism into chapel, extra-curricular activities, and classrooms. The Rev. Dr. Angulus Wilson will share insights as a change agent with the "Life with God Together" Initiative. Dr. Greg Anderson will show how Wheaton's undergraduate evangelism course has addressed cultural, racial, and generational issues. A third panel member will focus on building evangelism into activities and trips outside the classroom. Together we will leave better equipped to obey the Great Commission in our unique contexts.
Greg Anderson, Graduate School Chaplain, Wheaton College; Angulus Wilson, Chaplain, Wheaton College and Jared Falkanger, Assistant Director of Volunteer Programs, Wheaton College
While higher education institutions await final amendments to the Title IX regulations from the Biden Administration, many are wrestling with how best to implement current regulations. Kathryn Nash will discuss trends and best practices for complying with the complex requirements of Title IX regulations. The presentation will include advice for handling challenges that have arisen following the 2020 amendments. If the Biden Administration’s final rule is not released, this presentation will provide a high-level overview of the proposed regulations, highlighting the biggest expected changes. If the final rule is released, the presenter will provide an in-depth review of the new regulations and guidance for implementation.
Kathryn Nash, Attorney, Lathrop GPM and TrainED
Christian higher education institutions care deeply about preventing sexual misconduct in their communities. Yet, in training students on issues related to sexual assault and consent, these institutions often struggle with how to educate their student body on these topics while upholding their commitment to Biblical and community values. Higher education attorney Kathryn Nash will lead a panel discussion with senior student development administrators from three CCCU member schools. The panelists will share their experiences in training students on these sensitive issues from a Biblical perspective.
Kathryn Nash, Attorney, Lathrop GPM and TrainED; Kristy Morgan, Vice President for Student Affairs, LeTourneau University; Miranda Powers, Vice President of Student Experience, Bethel University; Sarah Visser, Executive Vice President for Student Experience & Strategy, Calvin University
This session will be a time for CAOs and Provosts to connect and reflect on conference material, facilitated by the CAO CommissionÂ
In the wake of the George Floyd tragedy, NCU was honored to host the Minneapolis memorial for Floyd. After this, leadership was needed to care for our campus and community and to set the table of healing in a tumultuous time. This session will explore our successes and failures in leading students, faculty, and staff to dialogue, pray, and grow in racial reconciliation during a polarizing time in our nation and will include attention to our response during the tense time of the Chauvin trial three blocks from our campus.Â
Desiree Libengood, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, North Central University; Jeremy Williamson, Associate Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students, North Central University; and Joshua Edmon, Associate Vice President of Spiritual Life and Dean of Multicultural Engagement, North Central University
*Though this session is listed on the Student Development track, CAOs, Provosts, and Campus Ministry Directors are welcome to attend*
The CCCU has developed a strong working partnership with Interfaith America through institutional participation in a variety of programs. This session will bring together four participants to share their experiences in initiatives that build capacity for engaging in conversations across religion, culture, politics, and other areas of diversity. First, presenters will share about initiatives and the institutions involved, while addressing hesitancy to engage in interfaith conversations. Then, a panel of institutional participants (faculty and administrators) will discuss these initiatives. Session attendees will have time to ask questions, pose challenges, and consider commitments to interfaith work for their colleagues and students in the future.
Linda Samek, Administrator Emeritus, George Fox University and Carolyn Dirksen, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English, Lee University