Breakout Sessions
This session will provide an opportunity to engage in conversation with the plenary presenters in addition to other leaders of the CCCU Evangelism Commission on the best practices for spiritual and missional health across campus.
Facilitator: Andy Cook, Executive Director, Wheaton College Billy Graham Center; Panelists: Dr. John Plake, Chief Ministry Officer, American Bible Society, Andrea Summers, Dean of Spiritual Formation, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Rev. Dr. Angulus Wilson, University Chaplain, Wheaton College
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
The session begins with a presentation from Mark Hijleh who will introduce our session focusing on AI, Beauty, and Humanity: What is the human experience of Beauty, and what does it have to do with the work of AI? In this session we consider a Christian response to this intersection and what we might have to contribute to the dialogue as we teach and lead.
Attendees will then have an opportunity for conversation and Q and A session with our keynote speakers — Drs. Michael Paulus and Scott Hawley — in preparation for their main presentation for Friday’s Closing Plenary over lunch on Friday, March 1 at 12:15 pm – 1:45 pm. This breakout session will focus on key themes related to institutional and pedagogical strategies.
Mark Hijleh, Provost, Montreat College and Michael Paulus, Dean of the library, assistant provost for educational technology and associate professor of information studies at Seattle Pacific University and Scott Hawley, Professor of Physics, Belmont University
In order to accomplish great things on our campuses, we need to first consider who is going to do the work. Shared governance tells us that the work is usually best done by those closest to the issues, and for a lot of our campus issues, that means student leaders. This breakout session will examine different methods of developing student leaders through the Asset-Based Community Development lens first pioneered for international health development and grassroots community development.
Case Bell, Director of Multicultural Engagement, Friends University
This presentation will provide an overview of the development of the Taylor University Growth Analytics dashboard in 2023. In addition to the IT components of the project, the session will also discuss the vision required, buy-in from leadership, and partnership with colleagues. We will also demonstrate the value of a data warehouse and various ways to leverage the institution's BI investments.
Mark Lora, Senior Director, Strategic Analytics & Insights, Taylor University and Chris Jones, Chief Information Officer, Taylor University
Beginning with a case study of Pepperdine University as a means to understand one university's approach to diversity, fairness, inclusion, and belonging, this session will lead into a broader discussion of the issues and opportunities.
J. Goosby Smith, Vice President for Community Belonging and Chief Diversity Officer, Pepperdine University
One way that CCCU institutions across the United States have embodied their commitments to Christian spiritual formation is through chapel. These chapels are as diverse as their campuses, but most CCCU chapel programs share some form of compulsory structure. Required chapel programs may be sturdy fixtures for a university’s Christian heritage, yet they demand further theological inquiry to evaluate their influence and implementation. This session will introduce historical and theological arguments for and against required chapel, consider the relevance of required chapel programs in the face of changing institutional realities, and present alternative frameworks for describing university chapel programs beyond a required-optional divide.
Ben Snoek, Campus Pastor, Trinity Christian College
The Asbury University team stewarded a spontaneous movement of God, bringing at least 50,000 people to campus over 16 days. With over 56 million TikTok views at the time and "Asbury Revival" as the #1 Google search on Feb. 19, 2023, Wikipedia classifies this event as a phenomenon. What we know is God moved in the heart of Gen Z, and the world watched and showed up in person. A mix of crisis leadership and spiritual discernment unfolded to scaffold what Asbury calls "the Outpouring". While it is too big and too holy to distill into "leadership lessons", giving witness to what God did is shaping for Christian leaders in higher education. Lean into leadership reflections on stewarding a movement of God, crisis management in the midst of structure, and the role of relationship, trust and imagination as leaders.
Sarah Baldwin, Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students, Asbury University and Rev. Greg Haselhoff, University Pastor, Asbury University and Dr. Sherry Powers, Provost, Asbury UniversityThis presentation will discuss the growth of mapping applications at Taylor University. From Admissions to Advancement, students and staff use maps for decision support... and to find a way home for spring break. We will demonstrate some cool features and cast a vision for how your institution can exploit mapping technology.
Mark Lora, Senior Director, Strategic Analytics & Insights, Taylor University
- Accommodating Pregnant and Parenting Students
- Institutions must provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant and parenting students under Title IX and, in some cases, under disability laws. In this session, higher education attorney Kathryn Nash will discuss the legal requirements institutions must follow in providing accommodations for pregnant and parenting students, including any changes released by the Biden administration under the Title IX final rule prior to the conference. If the final rule has not yet been released at this time, this presentation will provide a high-level update on the status of the regulatory timeline. The presentation will also cover the practical steps in the interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations, with Northwest Nazarene University Title IX Coordinator Sheila Bryant sharing her experience working with students, faculty, and administrators to identify and implement accommodations for pregnant and parenting students.
- Kathryn Nash, Partner, Lathrop GPM & trainED and Sheila Bryant, Title IX Coordinator, Northwest Nazarene University
Many institutions are currently or will soon be preparing for a Student Information System replacement. Spring Arbor University is an early adopter of Oracle’s Student Management cloud application and has begun implementing the new application with a planned go-live for the Fall 2025 registration. In this session, join Spring Arbor University, Sierra-Cedar, and Oracle as we discuss Spring Arbor’s experiences, reflect on lessons learned, and share several actionable activities that can help your team jumpstart your future Cloud journey.
Randall Melton, Chief Information Officer, Spring Arbor University and Christopher Cameron, Associate Vice President, Sierra-Cedar
Combining a campus case study (Taylor University) with a more global view from the standpoint of a consulting firm, the session provides overview of the development of the Taylor University Growth Analytics dashboard in 2023 and demonstrate the value of a data warehouse and various ways to leverage the institution's BI investments. The Pharos presentation will address three take away items: 1 How to assess your student intervention efforts and identify areas that need improvement; 2. Innovative and proven ideas for high-impact student success strategies and interventions; and 3. How to build relationships with key campus partners for holistic student support.
Rick Engstrom, Vice President for Student Development, Northwest University and Rachel Phillips-Buck, Vice President for Student Success, Pharos Resources and Mark Lora, Senior Director of Strategic Analytics & Insights and Chris Jones, Chief Information Officer, Taylor University
Spiritual formation is foundational to the purpose of Christian colleges and universities. Christian higher education must continue to provide a unique learning experience, and spiritual formation is the strategic difference that sets our institutions apart from their secular counterparts. This session will highlight a holistic pedagogical model of spiritual formation that focuses on the development of students' head, heart, and hands. The model presented in this session was derived from a grounded theory study completed in 2023 that aimed to identify the conditions of spiritual formation in Christian higher education.
Michael Osadchuk, Director of the University Tutoring Center, California Baptist University
This time will be set aside for those in campus ministry to connect with each other and discuss content, topics and interests.
Facilitated by the CCCU Campus Ministry Commission
In 2021, Wheaton College began exploring options to further minimize the chance of becoming another cybercrime statistic. Technology controls were generally sound and reasonable based on resources, but culture and process barriers were a hindrance to the College growing and changing to keep up with the evolving threat landscape. Come to this session to discuss our collective efforts to climb the mountain and share your own experiences and challenges with like-minded security professionals.
Billy Keller, Director of Infrastructure and Security, Wheaton College and Jeff Beaird, Manager of Infrastructure and Security, Wheaton College
- Navigating Through Mental Health Issues That Impact Broader Campus Safety
- As the number of students reporting mental health issues has increased in recent years, colleges and universities are navigating how best to support students and promote a safe and healthy community. In this session, higher education attorney Kathryn Nash will discuss legal requirements relating to students’ mental health issues, including prohibitions on disability discrimination, requirements to provide accommodations, and obligations relating to safety. Student development administrators will share their experience working with students, faculty, and administrators to support students experiencing mental health issues. The presenters will also discuss how the approach to mental health issues is unique at a Christian institution, including unique challenges that may arise and unique responses that may be employed.
- Kathryn Nash, Partner, Lathrop GPM & trainED and Miranda Powers, Vice President of Student Experience, Bethel University
Providing the annual report back on the findings from CAP, Drs. Laurie Schreiner (APU) and Jeff Clawson (CCCU), will provide cogent assessment of the substantial findings covering more than 30 CCCU institutions which provide a substantial cross-section for understanding the state of the students’ and their situation. This year’s surveys are the Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI) and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) The analysis enables more cogent assessment of institutional effectiveness over time through longitudinal data analysis.
Laurie Schreiner, Chair, Doctoral Programs in Higher Education, Azusa Pacific University and Jeff Clawson, Director of Membership, Grants, and Research, CCCU
Using the Encounter-Formation-Expression process of change, this workshop with walk through the training and mobilization of short-term national and international service trips for undergraduate students.
Karen Rouggly, Director and Campus Pastor, Azusa Pacific University and Julie Ploehn, Global Engagement Coordinator, Azusa Pacific University
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, higher education institutions face the pressing challenge of fostering an inclusive environment for constructive dialogue across ideological divides. Students from all points on the political spectrum express growing anxiety about navigating complex conversations—liberal students worry about marginalization or offense, while conservative students often feel the need to self-censor. These dynamics impede individual development and threaten democratic education and open discourse, essential for a thriving academic community. Informed by the theological concept of "Imago Dei," which posits that humans are created in the image of God with the capacity for reason and relationship, The Constructive Dialogue Institute provides empirically supported tools grounded in psychology research. Our programming equips students with the requisite skills for conversations that span ideological divides and offers faculty and staff tools to facilitate such dialogues. Through this work, we contribute to both individual and community growth, aligning with the belief that the ability to dialogue effectively is not merely elective but an essential facet of our shared human dignity. In this session, we present three case studies showcasing scalable strategies for integrating dialogue-centered practices and sustaining them throughout the academic year.
Kourtney Bradshaw-Clay, Director of Program Implementation, The Constructive Dialogue InstitutePublic reports commonly note the new and expanding challenges campuses face with regard to student needs. This is only one dimension of the challenges we face, however, with substantial impact on both academic leaders and faculty, we discover a larger range of needs in facing wellness. This session will take up the well-being of two key groups shaping the campus climate. For the CAO’s, reflecting upon their mental wellness and discussing ways to improve and sustain the leaders’ mental wellness. For the faculty cultivating understanding among broader staff about why professors are the way they are, and how to foster better understanding and collaboration with faculty including understanding faculty perspectives on shared governance and constructively engaging with faculty in their oversight of curriculum.
Lynn Eaton, Director of Faculty Development, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Jerome Lockett, Assistant Professor, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Karen Lee, Provost, Wheaton College and David Davies, Provost, Houghton University and Dr. Alison Noble, Provost, Messiah University and Dr. Robin Rylaarsdam, Provost, Bethel University (MN)
In 2021 Wheaton College was looking to move from a homegrown/on-premises online student evaluation of teaching system to a cloud-based, subscription, SaaS model with Qualtrics. The existing process required paper forms that took up significant administrative time and introduced additional questions about equity. However, the new system would have to handle “boutique” questions schools and departments required for accreditation purposes without additional staffing. The implementation was paused for the arrival of a new learning management system (LMS) so it could be integrated using learning tools interoperability (LTI) 1.3. Come to this session to discuss the technical and cultural shifts necessary to implement this new procedure and tool.
Steven Park, Director of Academic and Scholarly Technology, Wheaton College
This session explores the balance between programming focused on reaching the lost and programming focused on strengthening Christian faith. The ministry model implemented at California Baptist University integrates these two approaches instead of seeing them as opposite ends of a ministry spectrum. By prioritizing the gospel and creating opportunities to explore faith, a ministry will strengthen the Christian faith of its participants by focusing on reaching the lost.
Brian Zunigha, Director of Discipleship, California Baptist University and Jacob Ravenscraft, Dean of Spiritual Life, California Baptist University
This session explores the balance between programming focused on reaching the lost and programming focused on strengthening Christian faith. The ministry model implemented at California Baptist University integrates these two approaches instead of seeing them as opposite ends of a ministry spectrum. By prioritizing the gospel and creating opportunities to explore faith, a ministry will strengthen the Christian faith of its participants by focusing on reaching the lost.
Brian Zunigha, Director of Discipleship, California Baptist University and Jacob Ravenscraft, Dean of Spiritual Life, California Baptist University
Join us for an engaging and collaborative roundtable discussion led by CCCU Commissioners, addressing the pivotal themes of the 2024 Multi-Academic Conference 2: digital transformation, institutional analytics, and cybersecurity. This unique session offers participants the opportunity to delve into these critical topics, sharing experiences, challenges, and innovative solutions within the context of Christian higher education. Commissioners will facilitate dynamic conversations, fostering a collective exploration of best practices, successful strategies, and emerging trends in technology. Whether you're an academic affairs professional, campus ministry leader, evangelist, student development expert, or an information technology specialist, this roundtable provides a platform for cross-disciplinary dialogue, networking, and idea exchange. Don't miss this chance to contribute to the collective wisdom of our CCCU community as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of Christian higher education in the digital age.
CCCU Technology Commissioners
The CAO commission will lead an open forum discussion of current concerns and opportunities facing academic leaders.
Facilitated by the CAO Commission
Following the open forum period, a discussion of institutional management and means of advancing the formation (Christian integration, pedagogical techniques, etc.) of adjunct faculty will be held. The adjunct formation project is part of a new grant to the CCCU from the MJ Murdock Charitable Trust.
Stan Rosenberg, Vice President for Research and Scholarship, CCCU and Mark Sargent, Project Director and Jeff Clawson, Director of Membership, Grants, and Research, CCCU
It can be easy to slip into "silo mode" in our respective roles, trying to avoid red tape, divergent needs, or ways of thinking about issues that impact our schools and students. This workshop will take a look at the process of collaboration across the academy where Student Life, Athletics, and Academics worked together to accomplish new initiatives in support of student success.
William "Bill" Burrichter, Vice President for Student Life, Houghton University and David Davies, Provost, Houghton University
This time will provide an opportunity to troubleshoot, brainstorm, and ideate ways in which the CCCU's Campus Ministry Commission can support individuals and teams working in Campus Ministry.
Facilitated by the CCCU Campus Ministry Commission- Born Again Systems: Lessons Learned From New Implementations
- In 2023, Wheaton College embarked on an ambitious journey, launching four pivotal systems encompassing HR, Finance, Admissions, and Learning Management. Drawing parallels to the transformative sanctification journey following a “born again” experience, our institution confronted distinct challenges inherent to the adoption of comprehensive administrative solutions. This presentation aims to impart our insights from this journey, highlighting pivotal areas such as change management, staff realignment and upskilling, continuity strategies during the transition phase, community training, and the seamless integration of these new systems with pre-existing processes. We also highlight the indispensable role of prayer and the unwavering support of our dedicated staff throughout this transformation process.
- Alan Wolf, Chief Information Officer, Wheaton College
- How to Accelerate Digital Transformation
- Digital transformation is a buzz phrase, but how do you effectively and practically make it happen? This session will explore a framework with practical best practices for true digital transformation. This is focused primarily on IT leadership or those driving digital transformation across their campus.
- Neal Dyer, Chief Technology Officer, Southeastern University and Cody Lloyd, Vice President for Institutional Research and Effectiveness and Chief Information Officer, Southeastern University
On April 19, 2023, a tornado struck the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Every facility on campus sustained significant damage. Through planning, prayer, and perseverance, students were able to return to campus safely for in-person instruction just over one week after the storm decimated the campus. Leaders from OBU in the areas of Student Life, Academics, and Technology will share their experiences from this natural disaster and demonstrate ways that a traumatic event can be a lesson for students, staff, and the community on how to shape the future.
Dr. Larinee Dennis, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Oklahoma Baptist University and Brandon Petersen, Dean of Students, Oklahoma Baptist University and Josh Shoffner, Chief Technology Officer, Oklahoma Baptist University