Institutes

Overview

We offer a number of professional development opportunities for faculty and staff on CCCU campuses, including a variety of leadership development programs, the New Faculty Institute, New Presidents Institute, Board Governance Institute, and Council for Collaboration in Doctoral Education.

Leadership Development Institutes

We have offered Leadership Development Institutes every June since 1998 with the goal of equipping and encouraging individuals identified as having potential for future senior-level administrative leadership in Christian higher education—especially women and leaders of color. Each institute includes a personalized year-long development and mentoring program for every participant. Of the nearly 500 leaders who have participated in these institutes, more than 50 have moved into cabinet-level positions, including 32 provosts and 12 presidents.

Upcoming Institute:

  • Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) | This institute is designed for senior leaders from CCCU institutions including provosts, vice presidents, deans, and other cabinet-level administrators who are already serving in significant leadership roles and are discerning or preparing for the next level of executive leadership, such as a college or university presidency, provost, or cabinet level leader. This institute will take place at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina from June 4-8, 2026.
  • Leadership Development Institute (LDI) | This mixed-gender institute provides training for emerging leaders from all CCCU campuses will take place at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina from June 8-12, 2026.

Previous Institutes:

  • Multi-Ethnic Leadership Development Institute (M-E LDI) | This institute offers training for emerging leaders of color from all CCCU campuses. This most recent M-E LDI was offered in June 2024. More information from the event can be found here. Information regarding the next M-E LDI gathering will be shared here when it becomes available.
  • Women’s Leadership Development Institute (WLDI) | This institute offers development to women leaders from all CCCU campuses. The most recent WLDI was offered in June of 2023. More information from the event can be found here. Information regarding the next WLDI gathering will be shared here when it becomes available.
  • Executive Women Leaders Institute (EWL) | This institute is designed to provide a group of Executive Women Leaders from across Christian higher education with an environment of reflection, shared learning, and restoration in the midst of this season of multi-level disruption. The most recent EWL was offered June 5-9, 2025.
  • Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI) | This institute provides training to both women and men who have completed a previous leadership institute or who are in an advanced leadership role within their institution.
  • Women’s Advanced Leadership Institute (WALI) | This institute provides training to women who have completed a previous leadership institute or who are in an advanced leadership role within their institution.

Advancing Women in Leadership

Over the decades and across most sectors of societies worldwide, women continue to be significantly underrepresented in senior-level leadership roles. Recognizing the ongoing need to support the professional advancement of more women into leadership, the CCCU appointed a designated task force to oversee the Advancing Women in Leadership conference, which was first hosted in 2016 and is now held annually each March.

Learn More

Position Specific Institutes

  • New Faculty Institute | Held periodically, our New Faculty Institute offers new professors on our campuses the opportunity to grow as Christian teachers and scholars and to introduce them to the broader community of Christian higher education professionals.  Dates for the next NFI are being determined.
  • New Presidents Institute (NPI) | This three-day program provides an excellent orientation to newly elected presidents or those serving in interim presidential roles. The most recent NPI was offered from July 14 – 17, 2025 in Vail, Colorado. Details from this gathering can be found here.
  • Board Governance Institute (BGI) | This program provides an opportunity for CCCU presidents and their board chairs to learn together, alongside peers from a number of other institutions, about best practices in governance specifically for Christian colleges and universities. The program allows the president and board chair to learn good governance principles, understand the unique yet complimentary roles each plays in the continued health of their home campus, deepen their personal relationship so they can work together well, and develop specific ideas for follow-up when they return to their home campus. The next BGI will be held as a full day, pre-forum session prior to the 2026 CCCU International Forum in Dallas, Texas on January 29, 2026. More details and the schedule of the gathering can be found here.
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