CCCU Advance Spring 2010

SPRING2010

helping our neighbor CCCU Schools Respond to Haiti’s Crisis | 12

10,000 Students | 20

Critical Breakthroughs | 24

Advancing Women Leaders | 34

inadvance COVER: Helping our Neighbor CCCU schools respond to Haiti’s crisis.

12

By Kami L. Rice

The First 10,000

20

BestSemester celebrates a legacy of transformation in the lives of 10,000 students.

By Jocelyn Green

Critical Breakthroughs in Christian Higher Education

24 26

Highlights from the CCCU’s fourth International Forum on Christian Higher Education

By Kami L. Rice

Blue Carpet Event Highlights Peace-Builders The first Blue Carpet Event, held during the 2010 Forum, focused on “Raising a Generation of Peace-Builders through Christian Higher Education.”

By Jocelyn Green

Prestigious Awards Presented at Forum on Christian Higher Education

28

Four awards were presented by the CCCU at the Forum in Atlanta.

By Jocelyn Green

Distribution CCCU Advance is published each year in the fall and spring and is mailed to members, affiliates and friends of the CCCU. It is also available online at www.cccu.org/advance. Direct questions and letters to the editor to advance@cccu.org.

Advertising CCCU Advance is now accepting advertising from organizations that serve the students, faculty or administration of our campuses. For more information and/or to receive a Media Kit please email advertising@cccu.org

A performing arts showcase highlights the importance of arts programs at CCCU schools and BestSemester programs.

Paul R. Corts, Ph.D.

By Kami L. Rice

Nate Mouttet

President Vice President for Communications

Women Who Lead the Way

34

The mission of the CCCU is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help transform the lives of students by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.

People

In the Spotlight

30

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) is an international higher education association of intentionally Christian colleges and universities. Founded in 1976 with 38 members, the Council has grown to 109 members in North America and 75 affiliates in 24 countries.

The CCCU is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

While CCCU schools have made progress in advancing women’s leadership, much opportunity still exists for improvement.

By Kami L. Rice

Jocelyn Green

Editor Kevin Zwirble

Graphic Designer Jason Hohertz

Web Manager

Market Research Revealed

40

See what the findings have to do with your campus.

By Jocelyn Green

From the President . . . . . . 03 | By Paul R. Corts Editor’s Note. . . . . . . . . . . . 04 Around the Council. . . . . . 05 The news of the CCCU offices

R&D . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Spiritual formation research finding revealed. | By Kami L. Rice On the Hill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 CCCU hires new government relations staff. | By Jocelyn Green

Kendra Langdon Juskus

Copy Editor

from the President

by Paul R. Corts, Ph.D. CCCU President

CCCU Responds to Contemporary Challenges

O

ur 2010 International Forum

cannot offer any level of service to the

leaders. Mission trips, internships and

was a huge success as the

Lord that is less than our very best.

service learning are natural parts of

Lord showered our gathering with blessings! At the Forum

I told attendees that the need for our transformative education is great. These are times of huge challenges, but they really present wonderful opportunities.

I am extremely optimistic about the future of our Christ-centered movement here in North America and around the world.

My buoyant optimism is fueled by a belief that we are particularly well-positioned to respond to the contemporary challenges.

Here are ten specific reasons: 1. Unprecedented changes are coming.

We have a terrific track record of adapting to change, and I believe that comes from our deep spiritual commitment to serve.

2. Student demographics are changing.

We have a biblical mandate and Christ’s living example to serve all, and we have an established track record of responding well to change – for example, to the adult student market, and the racial, gender,

5. Employment opportunities will require new academic programs. We have had

our institutions.

a major transformation in offerings at our

8. Spirituality is on the rise. Newsweek

schools in the STEM areas, in sciences,

quotes Jay Harris, dean of Harvard’s

in health programs (like nursing and

general education program, as saying

pharmacy), and in engineering.

that Harvard students are increasingly

“We are driven to academic excellence because we know that we cannot offer any level of service to the Lord that is less than our very best.”

and age demographics of that market.

“churchgoing, Bible-studying, and believing. We have a very strong evangelical community,” and the “disinclination of the faculty to bring religion front and center puts teachers at risk of being radically out of step with their students.” Many other sources point to growing student interest in things spiritual, and our comprehensive faith integration throughout the totality of a student’s university experience gives us a major advantage.

9. Technological changes in communication and the rise of social networking should fit us well. Students want community – a great strength of our campuses along with intense studentfaculty interaction. We have an enormous starting advantage that we can wisely

3. We’ve been growing. Our growth has

6. Rapid changes will make an overly

prepared us to provide so much more in

specific “training” kind of education far

the way of programs and services, yet by

more rapidly obsolete, while our tradition

the broader higher education community

of an holistic education steeped in the

standards we are still small – which

arts and sciences provides students

means we can be quick, nimble and

with a foundational core well-suited for

responsive, and those will be winning

adaptability to innovation.

characteristics in the future.

the holistic approach to education at

enhance.

10. Traditional college-age students have a growing desire to have a positive impact on the world around them. The missions of our institutions – to transform lives to live like Christ and serve others – give us an incredible advantage.

7. Service learning is on the rise. Our

4. The public is demanding quality and

Christ-centered education stresses

accountability. We are driven to academic

connection with the real world as we

excellence because we know that we

seek to transform students to be servant spring2010 CCCUAdvance 3

Editor’s note

W

story was titled, “Choose thy neighbor,”

LETTERS

this spring 2010 cover story takes that a

Composite Financial Index just one indicator

hile the fall 2009 CCCU Advance cover

step further: “Helping our neighbor” draws attention to the plight of Haiti.

When an earthquake shook this tiny nation, two affiliate campuses were directly affected and many CCCU member campuses responded with wide-ranging efforts (see page 12).

Regarding the article “Measuring Up” on p. 35 of the fall issue: I view the Composite Financial Index (CFI) as but one indicator to gauge institutional stewardship and health. Individual institutions should consider it within a multi-year context and quantify the influences of non-operating activities on reported

Several other stories in this issue were born out of the 2010

results. As an example, losses in primary educational operations

International Forum on Christian Higher Education, the

can be masked by strong investment returns over an extended

culmination of years of momentum at the CCCU. If you were

period of time. Conversely, market losses can make an

in Atlanta with us, no doubt the people you met, the ideas

otherwise healthy institution’s CFI look pretty bad, particularly

you explored and the conversations you shared have all

during an extended slump. The same applies to the influence of

begun shaping the way you think and work on your campus

capital project contributions on CFI.

already. Under the theme of “Critical Breakthroughs,” several topics examined at the Forum warrant further attention within these pages: building a generation of peace-builders (p. 26); performing arts within Christian higher education (p. 30), women and leadership in the CCCU (p. 34); and market research findings that impact your campus (p. 38).

I join other colleagues in supporting voluntary adoption of an operating performance subtotal within the statement of activities, substantially extracting non-operating influences.

Over time, this will yield measurements beyond CFI that better measure missional stewardship. ~ Jeffrey B. Spear,

In this issue we also celebrate the major milestone of having

VP Finance & Treasurer,

10,000 students enrolled in BestSemester off-campus study

Mount Vernon Nazarene University (OH)

programs around the world. To commemorate the legacy of transformation, we let BestSemester alumni speak for themselves (p. 20).

The global aspect will be even more prominent in our next issue. The fall 2010 CCCU Advance will focus on the international direction that Christian higher education is going and will look at the interplay between the North American campuses and the campuses around the world.

Correction In the fall 2009 issue of CCCU Advance, Northwestern College (MN) was mistakenly left out of the story “CCCU Students, Faculty Awarded as Fulbright Scholars” (p. 14). Dr. Lisanne Winslow, professor of biology, and Dr. Sally Harris, professor of English, were the first Northwestern College faculty members

We hope you enjoy this issue of the CCCU Advance.

ever to be awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholar Awards

As always, we welcome your letters to the editor.

for Research and Lecturing overseas. Winslow and her family spent spring 2009 at the Misaki Marine Biological Station in the Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan. Harris and her husband are spending 10 months (beginning last Sept. 2009) at Tumaini University in Tanzania, Africa. Four Northwestern students have also received the Fulbright Scholarship: Ahna Boyum ’08, Jessica Peterson ’07, Julianna Scheumann ’05, and Katrina Custer ’04.

4 CCCUAdvance spring2010

around the council From the President’s Office Pilot Module Now Available for CCCU Trustee Development Curriculum The creation of new Trustee Development Curriculum has been initiated with a pilot module through grant funds from the Christ Is Our Salvation Foundation. If further funds are secured, the complete ten-unit curriculum will highlight a carefully identified group of best practice topics. The programs will be packaged for ease of use with the intent that individual institutions will be able to use the material in their regular board meetings providing a 30-minute segment for on-going continuing education for their board members. Each unit will include a brief four-page leaflet with the essential information about the best practice topic, a brief DVD presentation to provide further information on the governance topic and discussion suggestions for stimulating a Q & A session.

The curriculum has been structured to be presented in modules on the following eight topics representing core responsibilities of governing boards: •

Maintaining Fidelity to the Institution’s

Christ-centered Mission •

The Collegial Culture of Christ-centered Institutions

•

Shared Governance – a Different Kind of Business

Model •

Christian College Finance 101: Unique Aspects

•

Governing Boards and Fund-raising for

Christ-centered Campuses •

New Board Member Selection and Orientation:

Needs for Christ-centered Campuses •

Accreditation and Government Regulation of

Christ-centered Institutions •

Board Member Roles and Responsibilities Serving

Christ-centered Institutions The first module is available for purchase through the CCCU main offices in Washington, D.C. The first module is a “pilot” module, and we will be soliciting feedback from boards using the module to refine the structure, content and process before proceeding to publish the remaining modules. Positive feedback on the pilot module will be used to seek financial support for developing the remaining modules.

Module 1 of the CCCU Trustee Development Curriculum was introduced during the 2010 International Forum on Christian Higher Education.

CCCU Thanks Retiring Board Member and Welcomes a New Board Member The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) announces a change in board member make-up among the CCCU Board of Directors. After six years of service, Anderson University (IN) President Jim Edwards has fulfilled his maximum term and is stepping off the board.

“The Council is blessed with incredible service from selfless volunteers who give so much to help ensure the wise advancement of our Christ-centered mission, and outgoing board member Jim Edwards epitomizes that spirit,” says CCCU President Paul Corts. “With his long tenure of service at Anderson, Jim is a storehouse of wisdom and he often shared unique perspectives from that vantage point through very touching personal stories as well as light-hearted commentary.

We are very grateful for his service and will miss him very much.”

Joining the board of directors is Biola University (CA) President Barry Corey.

“Biola has historically been a very active campus in the CCCU membership, both in student programs and in leadership in the Council,” says Corts. “So we are pleased to have its president, Barry Corey, join the board. Barry knows Christ-centered higher education personally from his Evangel University undergraduate continued on page 6>>

spring2010 CCCUAdvance 5

around the council from page 5>>

experience and he gained wide ranging administrative experience during years of service in several leadership positions at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.�

New

Programs & Services Guide Now Available

Corey will serve a three-year term, which is renewable once, if he is willing and able to serve an addition three years, for a maximum of six years total.

Distinguished Volunteer Corps Created The creation of a Distinguished Volunteer Corps (DVC) within the CCCU will provide a pool of volunteers who can serve as advisors/consultants, primarily to international institutions of Christian higher education affiliated with the CCCU. The consultants, otherwise known as the DVC, will be shared with CCCU international affiliates through a Web-based platform on the CCCU Web site to facilitate connecting international affiliates seeking assistance with North American experts offering voluntary service. The CCCU is inviting former presidents of CCCU North American institutions to serve in the DVC.

The new CCCU Programs and Services Guide is now available both in print and online.

Visit http://www.cccu.org/about/programs_and_services to see what each department within the Council offers to its constituencies.

around the council

CCCU Minority Retention and Graduation Rates – A Five-Year Comparison First-time full-time CCCU freshmen

First-time full-time African-American Students 100

75 50 25 0

56%

1998-2004

56%

Percentage

Percentage

100

25

37%

41%

1998-2004

2002-2008

First-time full-time CCCU freshmen who entered in Fall of 2002 & had graduated by 1998.

100

75 50

47%

49%

1998-2004

2002-2008

Percentage

Percentage

50

First-time full-time Asian Students

100

0

75

0

2002-2008

First-time full-time Hispanic Students

25

First-time full-time CCCU freshmen who entered in Fall of 1998 & had graduated by 2004.

Total Minority Ret/ Grad Rts

75

1998/2004 2002/2008

50

58%

25 0

1998-2004

53%

2002-2008

47% 48%

1999/2005 Rates CCCU Minority Ret/Grad CCCU Mean National Retention/Grad* National Mean*

45% 55% 45% 57%

*As reported in the Washington Post, (Friday, December 4, 2009)

Student Programs

•

Indian Society & Social Work Intervention

India Studies Programme Slated to Launch Fall 2011

•

Indian Foods and Cultural Traditions

•

Indian Writing in English and English Translation

Pending approval by the CCCU Board

•

Critical Study on Indian Arts & Paintings

•

Traditional Indian Costumes and Textiles

•

Current Perspective of Business in India

of Directors during its summer 2010 meeting, a new BestSemester offcampus study program is scheduled to begin during the fall 2011 semester.

The ISP will be the third “partner program” on the BestSemester

If approved, the India Studies Programme (ISP) will be offered

roster. The Australia Studies Centre is offered in partnership with

to CCCU students in partnership with the CCCU’s international

the Wesley Institute in Sydney, and the Uganda Studies Program

affiliate, the CSI Bishop Appasamy College of Arts and Sciences.

is offered in partnership with Uganda Christian University in

Bishop Appasamy is located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, one of

Mukono. Other BestSemester programs include: American Studies

the major states of India and is affiliated with Bharathiar University.

Program, China Studies Program, Contemporary Music Center,

The program is structured to provide students with both immersion in a local community and broad exposure to a variety of peoples, places and customs in India. Students will participate in two core courses: Contemporary India, and India’s Religious Landscape: A Christian Response. The tentative list of elective courses includes:

Latin American Studies Program, Los Angeles Film Studies Center, Middle East Studies Program, Oxford Summer Programme, Russian Studies Program (which will end in fall 2010), Scholars’ Semester in Oxford, and Washington Journalism Center. continued on page 8>>

spring2010 CCCUAdvance 7

around the council from page 7>>

founding partner with the Association for the Advancement of

PDR

Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) for the development

Surveys Provide Student Outcomes Data This spring, an estimated 30 campuses will participate in the College Senior Survey (CSS) which is administered to graduating students, ideally the same students who completed the incoming student survey, CIRP, to allow for a longitudinal comparison between incoming and outgoing student attitudes.

The CSS helps institutions respond to the need for assessment and accountability data by providing information on a broad range of student outcomes. Participating campuses will also receive CCCU norms and longitudinal results.

CIRP will be administered to incoming students in August for the 2010-2011 year. To participate, register at www.cccu.org/cap.

New Tool Offers Measurement for Sustainability LEXINGTON, KY. — Campuses who have invested in sustainability measures now have a way to measure their success. Released in late September 2009, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) is a voluntary, self-reporting framework for gauging relative progress toward sustainability for colleges and universities. The CCCU is a

Presidential Changes The following institutions have experienced presidential transitions in the last year. The new presidents are listed with their start dates for each campus.

Trinity International University (IL): Craig Williford, June 2009 (was acting president since April 2009) Hardin-Simmons University (TX): Lanny Hall, June 2009 Moody Bible Institute (IL): Paul Nyquist, June 2009 Greenville College (IL): Larry Linamen, July 2009 Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL): Lu Hardin, July 2009 Howard Payne University (TX): Bill Ellis, August 2009 Ambrose University College (Canada): Howard G. Wilson, August 2009

8 CCCUAdvance spring2010

and support of this tool.

“The CCCU is proud to partner with AASHE to promote the STARS tool,” says CCCU President Paul Corts. “STARS provides a common standard of measurement by which our campuses may track their sustainability efforts. As we desire to be good stewards of the environment by following God’s commandment in Genesis this effort allows us to measure our positive impact. AASHE has provided a wonderful resource to facilitate information and best practices regarding creation care.”

STARS is designed to: • Provide a guide for advancing sustainability in all sectors of higher education.

• Enable meaningful comparisons over time and across

institutions by establishing a common standard of measurement for sustainability in higher education.

• Create incentives for continual improvement toward

sustainability.

• Facilitate information-sharing about higher education

sustainability practices and performance.

• Build a stronger, more diverse campus sustainability

community.

For more information, and to register, visit: http://stars.aashe.org/

LCC International University (Lithuania): Kyle Usrey, August 2009 Wesley Institute (Australia): Greg J. Rough, August 2009 Kentucky Christian University (KY): Jeffrey Metcalf, September 2009

Institutional Name Changes Corban College and Graduate School (OR) will change their name to Corban University effective May 1, 2010.

Russian-American Christian University (Russia) is now Russian-American Institute.

Lincoln Christian College & Seminary (IL) is now Lincoln Christian University.

Belhaven College (MS) is now Belhaven University.

Asbury College (KY) is now Asbury University.

around the council

22,000 19.000 16,000 13,000 10,000 7,000 09-10

08-09

07-08

06-07

05-06

04-05

03-04

02-03

cccu

Private 4-Yr

Templeton Seminar Participants Release New Book Heidi A. Campbell and Heather Looy

09-10

08-09

07-08

06-07

05-06

04-05

03-04

02-03

01-02

00-01

99-00

98-99

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93-94

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90-91

89-90

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87-88

86-87

10.0 9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0

85-86

% Change

Percent Change in tuition - 1985-2009

01-02

00-01

99-00

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4,000 84-85

Tuition in Dollars

Mean tuition, cccu - 1984-2009

knowledge proved to be difficult. What was needed was a quick guide into this world, something one could carry in a briefcase and consult during a lecture or while reading books about SDR.”

recently released a new book, A Science and

Campbell and Looy fulfilled that need with the release of A

Religion Primer, which was born out of their

Science and Religion Primer (Baker Academic, 2009). The

experiences during three summers (2003-

book is an encyclopedia, an annotated bibliography, and a

2005) in the CCCU’s John Templeton Oxford

survey. The book’s advisory board consists of: Celia Deane-

Seminars on Science and Christianity.

Drummond, University of Chester; Nancey Murphy, Fuller

As stated on page 12 of the book, “During the first seminar session in 2003 it quickly became apparent that, due to the interdisciplinary nature of the conversation, some key concepts and contributors in the science/religion dialogue (SRD) were not

Theological Seminary; George F. R. Ellis, University of Cape Town; Peter Harrison, University of Oxford; Holmes Rolston III, Colorado State University; and Craig A. Boyd, Azusa Pacific University.

widely known or understood by all the participants. Scientists

Four substantive introductory essays set the book’s background.

needed to become more familiar with basic philosophical

The second, and primary, section of the book provides an

concepts and historical figures, while philosophers were often

A-Z listing of almost 100 entries dealing with a variety of

unfamiliar with basic scientific terms and issues . . . Collectively,

philosophical, historical, scientific and theological concepts,

the participants had all the needed knowledge, so through

individuals or events related to the science/religion dialogue.

networking, library interactions, and intense conversations around the dinner table during the seminars they were able to

Heidi Campbell teaches communication at Texas A&M

seek out the necessary information with relative ease. However,

University, and Heather Looy teaches psychology at

outside of the seminar context access to this important pool of

The King’s University College in Edmonton, Alberta. spring2010 CCCUAdvance 9

R&D

around THE AROUND the COUNCIL council

Spiritual Formation Research Findings Released

by Kami L. Rice

S

upporting the CCCU’s work to identify and

celebrate and much room for improving both assessment and

assess best practices for guiding students in

practice at Christian colleges and universities.

their respective spiritual journeys, the CCCU Research Series released results in January of a review of spiritual formation research. The CCCU

and Spiritual Development of Their Students was prepared

by Charles E. Stokes and Mark D. Regnerus and serves as an important building block in the CCCU’s ongoing research agenda on spiritual formation.

Though it appears that Christian institutions do the best job of supporting students’ moral and spiritual growth, the evidence is not conclusive. It is possible that students at Christian universities outperform their peers at public and nonreligious private schools in moral and spiritual measures because students who are already inclined to pursue spiritual growth and follow religiously prescribed behaviors are attracted to Christian

In 2009, the CCCU received a multi-year grant from the

schools. More research is needed to determine the actual impact

M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust for the creation of a Leadership

of Christian college contexts on these students. The researchers

Development and Spiritual Formation Program. Toward this

recommend that future studies “pay careful attention to issues of

end the CCCU has identified a research agenda strategy with

selection by measuring students’ precollege characteristics and

three phases: (1) develop a core definition of spiritual formation;

comparing students enrolled in Christian colleges with similar

(2) use the core definition to identify member campuses,

students in secular universities.”

representing different theological traditions, with mature spiritual formation programs and make descriptions of their approaches available to other schools; and (3) create instruments to assess the core definition, which will ultimately give campuses annual benchmarking comparative data as well as longitudinal data on any assessment elements they add to the core definition.

The researchers also determined that “the mechanisms by which Christian colleges may actually stimulate moral and spiritual development are woefully underspecified.” Some tentative evidence suggests that spiritual struggle is important to faith development, but future research should work to further specify these mechanisms and to determine whether attendance at

As CCCU President Paul Corts has noted, the current research

Christian universities encourages religiously prescribed behavior.

report was intended to be a quantitative meta-analysis of

Also needed are studies of alumni in order to investigate how

quantitative articles. However, Regnerus and Stokes did

college experiences establish long-term trajectories.

not identify sufficient comparable findings across studies to obtain meta-estimates. Therefore, they focused on a literature review and analysis, highlighting opportunities for extending current research and for developing particular studies that will investigate the numerous elements of spiritual and moral development research that have received little attention thus far.

Based on research that reveals the positive impact of church attendance and family formation on moral behaviors, the researchers recommend that Christian colleges consider “how they can support the future church and family lives of their students, in addition to encouraging their future vocational efforts.” Results further indicate that the level of connection

Overall, an evaluation of research from the past 20 years gives

between alumni and their local churches, combined with how

“consistent evidence that students from Christian liberal arts

well alumni raise their families, can have a direct impact on the

schools exhibit higher levels of moral and spiritual development

health and survival of Christian universities.

and more faithful attendance at religious services than do students from other institutions.” However, the standard

The entire spiritual formation research report may be viewed online at www.cccu.org/advance.

for these behaviors is low, leaving little for CCCU schools to

10 CCCUAdvance spring2010

Kami Rice (www.kamirice.com), a 1997 graduate of Asbury College (KY) and an alumna of the American Studies Program, is based in Nashville and loves working as a freelance writer.

on the hill CCCU Hires New Government Relations Staff

by Jocelyn Green

M

arch 3, 2010, marked Shapri LoMaglio’s

• Preparing supporting

first official day as the CCCU’s new

material on policies

government relations and executive

and issues for the

programs director. In this position,

Council generally and

LoMaglio is responsible for tracking

the CCCU president specifically.

federal and state legislation, regulations and court cases relative to higher education in general but primarily as they relate to

• Working with

Christian higher education and the mission and work of the

member schools to

Council and its member and affiliate institutions. She also

establish and maintain

provides assistance to CCCU President Paul Corts with various

contacts with relevant

professional development programs for member and affiliate

campus-based

presidents and board members.

LoMaglio earned a bachelor of arts in psychology from Gordon College (MA) and a juris doctor from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law (2007). LoMaglio is licensed to practice law in Arizona. Prior to coming to the CCCU, she worked in government contract litigation in Washington, D.C. Her previous experience also includes employment with

leaders on government relations and subject specific issues.

• Preparing and delivering presentations and speeches

to promote the position of the Council to members and affiliates, government and NGO entities as appropriate to the issues.

Rusing & Lopez, PLLC, Tucson, Ariz.; with the United States

• Maintaining relationships with Congressional offices, agency

Attorney’s Office – District of Arizona, Tucson office; and in

staff members, and others positioned to assist with public

the U.S. Senate, where she was a Legal Fellow for Senator Jon

policy education and advocacy on topics important to our

Kyl’s Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and

movement.

Homeland Security.

“Filling this position greatly strengthens the Council’s ability

LoMaglio’s main functions for the government relations arm

to serve our member campuses through enhanced public

of the CCCU include:

policy work and an expansion in executive programs for

• Monitoring relevant regulatory, political and judicial

developments and representing or supporting the organization in responding to them.

• Participating in relevant policy debates and development;

positioning the Council as a thought leader; developing relations with relevant Congressional and Executive

presidents, board members and senior executives – specific goals in our strategic Blueprint for the Future,” said CCCU President Paul Corts.

To learn more about Shapri LoMaglio or the rest of the CCCU Staff, please visit www.cccu.org/about

Departments of government as well as NGO’s, educational organizations, and other stakeholders interested in similar policy issues.

spring2010 CCCUAdvance 11

helping

our neighbor CCCU Schools Respond to Haiti’s Crisis

By Kami L. Rice

In the opening keynote address of the CCCU’s recent International Forum on Higher Education, Richard E. Stearns, president of World Vision Inc., exhorted attendees that “we are compelled by the gospel to enter the world’s pain, not retreat from it.”

12 CCCUAdvance spring2010

helping our neighbor

I

n myriad ways, this is just what CCCU campus

Port-au-Prince and

communities have sought to do as they have

telecommunications

responded to the needs of people in Haiti following the

personnel who helped

devastation resulting from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake

establish and restore

that struck the Caribbean nation on January 12, 2010.

vital communications

From prayer services to donations of money and relief supplies, from supporting alumni in Haiti to caring for Haitian staff and students awaiting word from family members, from planning for short-term teams to

capabilities to hospitals and aid organizations in the capital.

“We are compelled by the gospel to enter the world’s pain, not retreat from it.”

committing to long-term partnerships, CCCU schools have

Using oral exams to

logged a range of official and student-led responses.

reconstruct transcripts lost in the rubble,

Richard E. Stearns, President, World Vision Inc.

UCNH is admitting students from Port-au-

Affiliates in Haiti

Prince whose universities were destroyed. Faculty members from collapsed higher education institutions have also contacted UCNH looking for work

The CCCU has two affiliate institutions in Haiti. Both

and places to live. UCNH hopes to expand its programs and enrollment to

buildings housing Queensland University (UQ), located in

accommodate some of these displaced students and faculty.

Port-au-Prince, were destroyed, as was the building used

by UQ’s partner institution, Grace Evangelical Theological Seminary (STEG). News from UQ has been limited as the university deals with the immediate needs created by the crisis, but reports indicate that all of the UQ faculty and personnel, including Jean-Claude Dorsainvil, president of UQ, and his wife Izelle Dubuisson Dorsainvil, UQ provost,

Azusa Pacific University (CA) has a long and deep relationship with UCNH. Nursing faculty member Pam Cone was born and raised in Haiti by her missionary parents, who founded the theological seminary that evolved into UCNH. Cone, a member of UCNH’s board of trustees, has helped facilitate the partnership between Azusa Pacific University and UCNH. When APU determined that financial gifts were the best initial response,

survived. However, UQ reported that at least five UQ

they decided to direct funds to UCNH. “Because we have a good

and STEG students did not survive, though it is unclear

relationship with UCNH and trust the administration there, I thought it

based on information from the university whether those students perished in UQ’s damaged buildings or elsewhere.

Because North Haiti Christian University (UCNH), the CCCU’s other affiliate school in Haiti, is located in the north outside Cap Haitian, the country’s second largest city, its facilities did not sustain earthquake damage. However, the campus population has swelled as family members of UCNH faculty, staff and students have evacuated from Haiti’s damaged south.

Jules Casseus, president of UCNH, lost a niece and grand-niece because of the earthquake, and at least one student lost a daughter.

The school provided fuel and funds to assist in evacuating victims as well as food and water to survivors. UCNH also supported medical staff who traveled to spring2010 CCCUAdvance 13

helping our neighbor

This Page: Queensland University after the earthquake: Courtesy of Izclaude Dordub.

Some of the damage seen Minotrie: Courtesy of Claude Gillot.

Courtesy Matt Browning.

Opposite Page: Queensland University after the earthquake: Courtesy of Izclaude Dordub.

Port-Au-Prince: Courtesy of Claude Gillot.

14 CCCUAdvance spring2010

helping our neighbor into the Dominican Republic and traveled by road to Minotrie, where Gillot found his family to be OK. “I think at this time the people in my hometown, they really need my presence,” he said. “The people realized that I didn’t forget about them and that I really loved them. Most of them believe I am the one that can help with rebuilding the town.”

Gillot is doing his best to live up to his townspeople’s hope.

During their 24 hours in Haiti, he and the pastor provided food for villagers and transported victims to hospitals. Since returning to Dordt, Gillot has been raising funds for Minotrie. He and the family sponsoring him for school designed a t-shirt that’s being sold as a fundraiser.

He and fellow students are hosting benefit concerts. Gillot’s Dordt peers have also coordinated various prayer services. He and his host family are planning to return to Haiti this summer with a team of medical volunteers and others to help his village.

“I am just thankful to God because while made the most sense to get them some money and let them

such a devastation

decide how to best use it,” said Matt Browning, APU’s associate

happened in Haiti,

vice president for internationalization. “They live there, have

I am here in the

families and students from all over Haiti and Port-au-Prince and

States,” Gillot said.

know how to get things done.” APU will also send previously

“Because I am here,

scheduled medical teams to Haiti in May and August as well

I can help my people

as a global relief team in early summer. All of these teams will

out. I am thankful to

coordinate their service through UCNH.

God for that.”

Waiting to hear

Gillot’s presence

On the first day of his second semester at Dordt College (IA), freshman Claude Gillot tried to absorb the horrific news of the earthquake from his home country. Attempts to contact his family failed. Then the Google earth picture arrived, the one that showed images of his devastated village, Minotrie. Even more disturbing, Minotrie’s flour factory, a key provider of jobs for people in his poor village, was destroyed. It was located only five minutes from his mother’s house.

at Dordt has made Haiti’s crisis much more personal for the campus community, said Michael Ten Haken, marketing and public relations coordinator. “It’s one thing for students

A little more than 24 hours after the earthquake struck, Gillot

and all of us to see

began a two-day journey to Haiti. He and a pastor friend flew

the images on TV

“I am just thankful to God because while such a devastation happened in Haiti, I am here in the States.

Because I am here, I can help my people out. I am thankful to God for that.”

- Claude Gillot, Dordt College (IA) Freshman

spring2010 CCCUAdvance 15

helping our neighbor and hear the stories,” he said. “It’s quite another when you’re watching it sitting next to someone who says, ‘That’s my home and those are my people, my family.’”

Tickets already in hand Nearly two weeks after Haiti’s earthquake the first of two groups of Union University (TN) nursing graduate students flew to the

Other CCCU campuses have community members from Haiti,

Dominican Republic. For the fourth year they were partnering

too. At Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL), President Lu

with SCORE International, planning to do their usual work in

Hardin and Campus Pastor Bernie Cueto met with Jimmy Jean-

Dominican villages. But SCORE asked them instead to help staff

Baptiste soon after the earthquake. A native of Haiti who works

a hospital treating earthquake victims at the Dominican border

in the university’s mailroom, Baptiste had no information about

with Haiti.

his family and no means for traveling to Haiti to check on them.

Palm Beach Atlantic responded by collecting donations to help Haitian and Haitian-American employees and students return to Haiti to help their families and volunteer in relief efforts.

During two one-week trips, 62 Union staff and faculty cared for recovering patients, many of whom were put under anesthesia every day just to make the painful changes of their wound dressings endurable. “We were there to revise the amputations, clean up lacerations—people had a lot of head wounds—and

In it for the long haul In their response to Haiti’s needs, Asbury University’s (KY) administrators followed the model they adopted in response to Hurricane Katrina: patiently seeking a measured response that

close a lot of orthopedic situations, like broken bones,” explained Tim Smith, dean of Union’s nursing school. Prior to the Union team’s arrival the volunteer medical personnel staffing the hospital had only one nurse per 30 patients.

allows for long-term impact. This model helps students build

The hospital ran smoothly despite constant staff changes,

relationships with the people they’re supporting, live out their

but medical records consisted of tape, listing names and

faith and see different stages of the recovery process, explained

conditions, placed on patients’ foreheads or chests listing their

Mark Troyer, vice president for student development.

name and condition. The Union team created a patient record

“It helps to educate students about the long-term process and to focus on the real needs that last, not just the immediate needs that are covered in the first month on CNN,” said Troyer.

Similar to their on-going partnership with the town of Pass Christian, Miss., Asbury selected Quisqueya Christian School as their partner in Haiti. The school’s director and three other staff members are Asbury alumni. Since Quisqueya’s facilities were not destroyed, the school’s grounds have become home

system that reestablished communication between health care providers and gave patients important records of medications and treatment to aid their future physicians.

Joel Brunson, a nurse practitioner student, said the most memorable patients “were the ones who had family members who had died trying to save them. Many children had lost parents who let the falling buildings crush them in order to save their children.”

for employees and students without other shelter. Quisqueya

Shelley Neblett, another masters in nursing student, told the story

has also served as a staging ground for various medical relief

of Jeffrey, an orphaned three- or four-year-old boy who had been

workers and for a contingent of U.S. Marines.

trapped in rubble and often awoke with nightmares and night

The school is well-connected to the local community and is invested in helping families restart lost businesses and get back on their feet, with an eye toward long-term development.

As Troyer noted, “This helps us frame it for students,” helping students consider the best ways to help for the long-run. Asbury may eventually send student teams to Haiti, but only once

terrors. One of her last nights in Haiti, she took care of Jeffrey, singing “Jesus Loves Me” to calm him. “To leave someone like that, that you don’t know what’s going to happen to him, it’s heartbreaking,” she said.

Quisqueya has determined that teams will really be helpful. In the

Brunson noted that

meantime, the university has focused on prayer and donations to

medical needs will

support Quisqueya’s immediate needs.

continue after the acute phase of the tragedy is over. “There is going to be a great need for

From top Left: Joy Thomason, Assistant Professor of Nursing at Union University (TN): Courtesy Mark Kahler. Benefit concert for Minotrie in Canton, SD: Courtesy of Claude Gillot.

T-Shirts sold to benefit the Haitian town of Minotrie: Courtesy of Claude Gillot.

HPU fundraiser for Haiti: Courtesy of Howard Payne University.

Union University (TN) Nurse Anesthesia Student Virginia Carlisle Rhodes: Courtesy Mark Kahler.

Courtesy of Matt Browning.

16 CCCUAdvance spring2010

helping our neighbor

spring2010 CCCUAdvance 17

helping our neighbor

“It helps to educate students about the longer term process and to focus on the real needs that last, not just the immediate needs that are covered in the first month on CNN.” Mark Troyer, vice president for student development, Asbury University (KY)

but many other needs can be better covered by Haitians. This arrangement ultimately helps the local economy function more effectively. How can we help Haitians start businesses? How can we, for example, help a local cement maker rebuild or expand his business? How are we helping people get themselves back on their feet?

“We don’t need Americans to rush down there and build houses,” said Corbett. “We need to find ways to pay Haitians to build houses. Why would I go do something that would take away work from a local Haitian?”

He explained that poverty is not simply a lack of material things.

Instead, it is a set of broken relationships, which means we all experience poverty. Effectively helping the poor must be about healing these broken relationships.

Looking for ways to stand with Haitians, rather than doing things for them, is key since it honors their dignity as fellow bearers of God’s image. Corbett acknowledges that this approach is slower and doesn’t produce visible results as quickly as rushed “help.”

It’s “hard to take a picture of a process of empowerment.” But ultimately it’s a more loving, honoring, long-term approach toward helping the people of Haiti.

care providers throughout the recovery process. As the tragedy fades from memory, we must be sure not to forget the individuals affected by it.”

Considering what’s really most helpful

Brian Fikkert, professors from Covenant’s Chalmers Center for

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor …and Yourself

Economic Development and authors of When Helping Hurts:

By Steve Corbett

In support of relief efforts, Covenant College (GA) offered a free three-part webinar series in February and March entitled, “Haiti: Helping Without Hurting,” led by Steve Corbett and

How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself.

and Brian Fikkert

The webinars, intended for anyone interested in effectively

(Moody Publishers,

helping and empowering the Haitian people, apply the book’s basic principles to Haiti’s crisis.

2009).

Billed as “a paradigm-shifting book on the causes

Corbett recognizes that many people will want to travel to Haiti

of and solutions to the problem of poverty,”

to help, but he stresses questions that need to be considered

Corbett and Fikkert’s When Helping Hurts is an

before people do that. “For the most part, we need to go less

important contribution to ongoing conversations

and give more,” he said, pointing, for one thing, to stewardship:

about how the church and others can best help the

you could hire many, many Haitians to work for a week for the

downtrodden, which includes empowering the poor

same amount of money as one American’s travel expenses.

to help themselves instead vof teaching them to be

People should ask, “What value will I add that equates that?”

perpetual receivers.

Corbett says medical relief needs will be prolonged in Haiti,

18 CCCUAdvance spring2010

Celebrating a LEGACY of

TRANSFORMATION in the lives of 10,000 BESTSEMESTER STUDENTS i l l u s t r a t i o n

b y

D a r r e n

B o o t h

In the fall of 2009, BestSemester celebrated enrolling 10,000 students in its 11 life-changing programs around the globe. In honor of this monumental milestone, the spring 2010 BestSemester magazine takes readers on a journey from the halls of power in Washington, D.C., to the pyramids of Egypt—and points between—as we honor the legacy each program has had both in the lives of those students and in the world around them. For the full experience, check out the BestSemester magazine online at www.BestSemester.com. Here are just some of the people you’ll meet in the transformational stories inside BestSemester’s current issue.

20 CCCUAdvance spring2010

James M cC am e n t, a spring 1996 alumnus of the American Studies Program (ASP), is now Chief of Office of Congressional Relations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “ASP was a critical gateway in my professional development and opened the way to future career opportunities,” he said. “Most importantly, ASP indelibly molded and continually validates how I evaluate, and wrestle with, my personal and career decisions—from mundane to life changing—with a Kingdom-focused perspective.”

Since t h e A u st ral i a S t u d i e s C e n t r e (ASC ) began in 2004, more students have taken photography classes than any other class offered at Wesley Institute in Sydney. Experienced photographers and beginners alike develop their technical knowledge and skills in order that they might be able to use photography as a visual language, one that communicates personal and cultural stories. In the spring 2010 BestSemester issue, you’ll catch just a few glimpses of ASC students’ “views from the Harbour,” encompassing the skyline, the landscape and the people themselves.

Jo shu a Barn ard, spring 2004 alumnus of the China Studies Program (CSP), is back in China working in Southern Sichuan with a humanitarian organization called IDEAS. “The CSP was an amazing experience that equipped me to do the work I am doing now,” he said. “The cultural lessons I learned during the CSP have helped me in my business negotiations and have also helped me to build stronger friendships. The CSP gave me a deep appreciation for China, through helping me understand its history, culture, arts and language. With that well-founded appreciation I have been able to come back to China with a servant’s attitude.”

To m W i l l e t t, assistant director for the Contemporary Music Center (CMC), introduces readers to a sampling of original music composed and recorded by more than 35 artists at CMC. “Most college music courses focus on the theory and practice of classical, choral and church music. Students who are interested in rock, pop, folk and hip-hop also

have the option of spending a semester at the Contemporary Music Center on Martha’s Vineyard,” he said. “Since the fall of 2001, more than 600 students from 90 different colleges and universities have been awarded four-month-long residencies at the nation’s only artists’ colony for musicians, engineer/producers and music industry entrepreneurs.”

As a fal l 1996 al umnus of the Latin American Studies Program (LASP), Richard Potts said: “The linchpin experience for me was our 10-day tour of Nicaragua. The poverty there was so stark and pervasive. The lack of opportunity was palpable and suffocating . . . The whole experience started a lifelong, existential wrestling match that directly affected my professional and personal choices.

LASP is an important reason why I now work with college students and journalists from around the world and why I’m working on my third language. A lot of important, if not magical, processes started in my life [during LASP].” Richard is currently the associate director of The Media Project, a global network of Christians in journalism. He also teaches government at Concordia University Texas. He holds an M.A. in political science from George Mason University (VA), and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in political science.

Tabi tha (Fol kerts) Bl anski, a fall 2006 alumna of the Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC), is a production associate at the Acton Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich., through which she has worked on a documentary on poverty in Rwanda, among other projects. “My LAFSC semester was a Hollywood reality check—the film-making business is first and foremost a business!” she said. “Not only did my productions skills grow in ways my college campus couldn’t have prepared me for, but I gained so much tacit knowledge about what it takes to be a successful filmmaker.”

Micah Schuurman, a Middle East Studies Program (MESP) fall 2006 alumnus, spent a year in Egypt, after graduating in 2006 in order to teach English. “Our program director continually reminded us that MESP is about looking into the mirror,” Micah explained. “Sure, we

“As a student with OSP, I had the privilege of studying at the Bodleian Library, one of the best (and oldest) research libraries in the world.”

— ASHLEY WALKER, OSP ALUMnA spring2010 CCCUAdvance 21

“TO TRULY appreciate Russia, one must experience her people.

And over the years, the qualities of warmth and hospitality, with the genuineness and the flaws of our generous Russian hosts, have most impressed RSP students.”

— HARLEY WAGLER, RSP DIRECTOR

learned about Egyptian culture, history and language. But, far more than that, we learned to begin to see ourselves and our beliefs more clearly. I was forced to prune away presuppositions that did not fit the facts that routinely confronted me.” Now, he’s back in the States in seminary. “But even here, I am finding innumerable ways in which to apply my experience in the Middle East. MESP truly changed my life.”

Ashle y Wal ke r, a 2007 alumna of the Oxford Summer Programme (OSP), is currently working on a master’s degree in English, focusing on eighteenth- and nineteenth-century British literature. “As a student with OSP, I had the privilege of studying at the Bodleian Library, one of the best (and oldest) research libraries in the world,” she said. “I found real excitement simply by sitting quietly in a space that represents both current and past scholarship. Knowing that I was a participant in the production of knowledge, insight and analysis was exciting, and a special experience I will cherish long into the future.”

Ha rle y Wagl e r has been director of the Russian Studies Program (RSP) for 16 years. “To truly appreciate Russia, one must experience her people. And over the years, the qualities of warmth and hospitality, with the genuineness and the flaws of our generous Russian hosts, have most impressed RSP students,” he said. “The program came to a city that had suffered half a century of its own Iron Curtain within the Soviet Union; even today her inhabitants show a fresh enthusiasm and interest in American guests.” Fall 2010 will be RSP’s last semester.

Kately n Be at y spent her fall of 2006 at the Scholars’ Semester in Oxford, and is now associate editor at Christianity Today magazine. “I came home from the Scholars’ Semester in Oxford . . . realizing that the semester had crystallized my budding theological interests into part of my22 vocation,” she said.

“Academic boot camp can reveal what you are CCCUAdvance spring2010 made of. It revealed to me what I was made to be.” spring2010 CCCUAdvance 22

Annie Christensen Bol l inger, a fall 2006 alumna of the Uganda Studies Program, now works with World Relief near Atlanta, Ga., where she and her husband live and work among refugees who have been resettled from various countries. “The longer I am away from Uganda, from being immersed in this other rhythm of life, the more my eye is drawn to the clock and my mind to the task,” she said.

“But whenever I choose to engage in the practice of being present, I find that just showing up remains the key to meaningful ministry and relationship here.”

JoEl l en WErking Weedman, a 1998 alumna of the Summer Institute of Journalism (predecessor of the Washington Journalism Center), is now a journalism professor at Trevecca Nazarene University in Tennessee. She said: “My experience with a CCCU program makes me a better professor now. I actually know exactly how my students feel when they call me in tears or send me the link to their first clip.”

When one student spends a summer or semester in an off–campus program, the result is transformation. When 10,000 students do, it’s called a legacy. As we celebrate the first 10,000 students who have been through their BestSemester, we anticipate that the 10,000 to follow in their footsteps will also experience the kind of transformation that spills over into the lives of others.

critical

breakthroughs in Christian higher education

T

he CCCU’s fourth International Forum on Christian Higher Education attracted 1,123 attendees from 123 campuses and 25 countries. They converged at Atlanta’s Hyatt Regency hotel from February 23-26 to grapple together with issues facing Christian higher education, share ideas and best practices, connect with

old and new friends and be challenged by thoughtful keynote speakers and special guests. Held every four years since 1998, the Forum combines the CCCU’s annual peer group conferences

CCCU Forum on Christian Higher Education held in Atlanta

by Kami L. Rice

in one all-encompassing event, allowing practitioners from across the campus community to converse together.

This year’s theme, Critical Breakthroughs, became even

24 CCCUAdvance spring2010

“You go back to campus on fire for the purposes and goals of our Christ-centered education.”

Dr. Betty Overton-Adkins, vice-president, Spring Arbor University (MI)

International Forum Additionally, 2010 award winners were honored during the Forum plenary events. Robert and Alice Evans were selected as recipients of the John R. Dellenback Global Leadership Award. The Robert and Susan Andringa Award for Advancing Racial Harmony was bestowed on North Park University (IL). John M. Perkins was honored with the Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award and the Christ Is Our Salvation Foundation (CIOS)/Piper Family Foundation accepted the Philanthropy Award.

The CCCU also welcomed 83 exhibitors to the conference exhibit hall and expressed thanks to the 31 sponsors who underwrote various aspects of the Forum.

From Left: Francis S. Collins’ keynote address during General Plenary Session II. Paul Corts, president of the CCCU, devotional speaker Lauren F. Winner and Dr. Mimi Barnard, vp of professional research and development, CCCU. John M. Perkins gives the keynote address during the closing banquet.

Herma Barclay Williams speaking during the panel session of the Blue Carpet Event. | All photography by Bob butler, Public Image Photography.

Irene Neller, senior director of integrated marketing more apropos than

communications and senior communications advisor to the

organizers expected

president at Biola University (CA), said attending the Forum

when they selected it

“reminds me again of the core values of why we as CCCU

two years ago. “Critical

schools exist. Too often

Breakthroughs was

we get caught up in the

chosen because it’s

competitive nature of

the kind of name that

hitting our enrollment

says, ‘Where are we in this point of history?’” explained Dr. Carl

goals and everything

Zylstra, chair of the CCCU Board of Directors and president of

that entails, and we

Dordt College (IA). “What we didn’t know was going to take place

forget that we exist as

was this huge economic crisis that swept over the world, which

a Council and we exist

is causing people to rethink fundamental values, fundamental

as individual institutions

commitments, fundamental possibilities. We don’t want people to

to really further the

retrench. We want people to move forward and to break through

kingdom of God.”

into the new opportunities that God is laying out for us. So Critical Breakthroughs has taken up a whole new dimension we never

Participation in the

could have even dreamed when the name was chosen.”

Forum translates into

Speakers for the Forum included Richard Stearns, president

added Dr. Betty

of World Vision Inc.; Dr. Francis Collins, the current director

Overton-Adkins, vice

of the National Institutes of Health, who is known for his

president for academic

ground-breaking work on the Human Genome Project; Wendy

affairs at Spring Arbor

Kopp, founder of Teach for America; and John M. Perkins,

University (MI). “You

known for his critical work in racial reconciliation and Christian

go back to campus on

community development.

fire for the purposes

Zylstra noted that these speakers represent ways to make a real

and goals of our Christ-

difference at a ground level. They haven’t simply talked about ways to transform society, they have done it, which, Zylstra said,

renewed commitment,

“We want people to move forward and to break through into the new opportunities that God is laying out for us.”

Dr. Carl Zylstra, president, Dordt College (IA), CCCU board chair

centered education. You go back with some very concrete kinds of ideas and some names that you can call to get some

is exactly what Christian colleges are about.

information or connect and some possibilities of partnerships

Other key Forum events included the first Blue Carpet Event,

strong sense that God has put us here for a purpose and that

held at the Georgia Aquarium and celebrating the diverse

it is being lived out and acted out and we’re not alone.”

and other kinds of things. But I think you go back with a real

experiences offered by the CCCU’s off-campus student and faculty programs; a performing arts showcase; the Advancing Women’s Leadership Luncheon; and a session unveiling the

For Post-Forum resources, please visit www.cccu.org/forum/advance

results of the third large-scale Market Research Project. spring2010 CCCUAdvance 25

Bluecarpet

international forum

Blue carpet event highlights peace-builders

by Jocelyn Green

The Blue Carpet event was held Feb. 25 at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta during the CCCU’s International Forum on Christian Higher Education in Atlanta. Designed to highlight and support a critical area of interest within the CCCU community, the 2010 inaugural Blue Carpet focused on the programs and persons involved in “Raising a Generation of Peace-Builders through Christian Higher Education.”

BestSemester’s 11 student programs are based in Australia, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, England, Russia, Uganda and the USA. In partnership with the Calvin College Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity, the CCCU has offered faculty development trips to Indonesia and South Africa. More faculty tours are being planned for China and Brazil.

“What a wonderful way to bring together those of us deeply committed to global education and Christian concern,” remarked Dr. R. Judson Carlberg, president of Gordon College (MA), about the event. “My wife Jan and I were especially moved by the stories of Christians in Africa who were moved to act in faith to ‘rescue the perishing and care for the dying’ even at great risk to themselves.”

Following the dining experience, attendees heard from a panel of leaders who have been forerunners in advocating for peace and the means to accomplishing it: Bob and Alice Evans of the Plowshares Institute, which has been thrice-nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize; Piet Meiring, advisor to the South African as well as the Rwandan Truth and Reconciliation Commissions; Herma Williams, who has led 24 trips to South Africa; and student and faculty representatives from our BestSemester and international development programs.

“The Blue Carpet Dinner was an absolute treat!” said Doris Gomez, associate professor at Regent University (VA). “I am still not sure what my favorite part about it was - the location, the food, the table company or the presentation and discussion.

All in all, I had a wonderful time.”

Evie Telfer, associate college pastor at Messiah College (PA), noted, “I felt privileged to be able to attend the Blue Carpet dinner at this year’s Forum and to support programs that make such a significant impact on our students’ lives. I have watched again and again as students return from their ‘BestSemester’ inspired, challenged, connected and empowered with a new sense of calling to help transform the world. I enjoyed hearing from legendary educators like Bob and Alice Miller, Piet Miering and Herma Williams, and was especially thankful for the opportunity to interact with them in the talkback session later that evening.”

A portion of ticket proceeds will go toward establishing a Global Initiatives Fund to provide BestSemester student grants and support faculty development in international contexts.

“So many have emailed to share their enthusiasm for and encouragement of the Blue Carpet initiative, particularly because of its international focus,” said Lisa-Jo Baker, CCCU director of development & research. “With $17,000 raised to make BestSemester student programs and international faculty development opportunities more accessible to those who might not otherwise be able to participate, we consider the evening a great step towards raising a generation of peace-builders through

26 CCCUAdvance spring2010

Christian higher education.”

International Forum

From Top Left: Lisa-Jo Baker, director of development and research at the CCCU, introduces the panel discussion portion of the Blue Carpet event. Bob Evans of the Plowshares Institute presenting during the panel discussion on peace-building in South Africa.

Attendees immersed in an evening of global engagement at the Georgia Aquarium. | All photography by Bob butler, Public Image Photography.

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international forum

Prestigious presented at Forum awardson Christian Higher Education ATLANTA—Four awards were presented by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities during the Forum on Christian Higher Education, held in Atlanta Feb. 23-26, 2010:

• The Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award was given to

John M. Perkins

• The John R. Dellenback Global Leadership Award

was presented to Robert and Alice Evans

• The Robert and Susan Andringa Award for Advancing

Racial Harmony was awarded to North Park University (IL)

• The Philanthropy Award was given to CIOS Foundation /

Piper Family Foundation Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award: John M. Perkins The Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated uncommon leadership that reflects the values of Christian higher education. The award was established in 1997 in honor of Senator Hatfield, a longtime supporter of the Council.

John M. Perkins is a sharecropper’s son who grew up in New Hebron, Miss., amidst dire poverty. He fled to California at age 17 after his older brother’s murder at the hands of a town marshal. After converting to Christianity in 1960 he returned to Mendenhall, Miss., to share the gospel of Christ. In Mendenhall, Perkins and his wife, Vera Mae, founded Voice of Calvary Ministries.

In 1982, the Perkins family returned to California and lived in the city of Pasadena. Perkins and his wife founded Harambee Christian Family Center in Northwest Pasadena, a neighborhood that had one of the highest daytime crime rates in California. In 1983, while yet in California, Perkins and his wife, along with a few friends and other major supporters, established the John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation & Development, Inc., for the sole purpose of supporting their mission of advancing the principles of Christian community development and racial reconciliation throughout the world. In 1989,

28 CCCUAdvance spring2010

Top Left: Dr. David Parkyn and Dr. Joesph Jones, North Park University (IL); Bob Andringa and Susan Andringa Bottom Left: Paul Corts, President, CCCU; Paul Piper Jr; Shirley Piper; Carl Zylstra, Chair CCCU Board of Directors, President, Dordt College (IA) Top Right: John M. Perkins accepts the Mark O. Hatfield Leadership Award from Paul R. Corts. Bottom Right: Joel Carpenter, Nagel Institute, Calvin College (MI); Alice Evans and Robert Evans of the Plowshares Institute and winners of the John R. Dellenback Global Leadership Award; Mimi Barnard, Vice President for Professional Development & Research, CCCU.

International Forum universities around the world, served as a pastor and authored a dozen books.

Alice Evans is the director of Writing and Research at the Plowshares Institute. She was the co-director of the Association for Case Teaching for more than 20 years and is the author and/ or editor of a number of casebooks on global issues. She studied at Agnes Scott College, Edinburgh University and the University of Wisconsin and was recently awarded an honorary doctorate in human rights from Makassar State University, Indonesia.

Robert and Susan Andringa Award for Advancing Racial Harmony: North Park University The Robert and Susan Andringa Award for Advancing Racial Harmony celebrates the achievements of CCCU campuses in making progress in the areas of diversity, racial harmony and reconciliation.

North Park University is a distinctively Christian, intentionally urban and purposefully multicultural institution committed to reaching across boundaries of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, age and status in the cultivation of communities of life and service.

Located in one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Chicago, North Park enrolls nearly 3,200 students from 40 states and Perkins, alongside other Christian leaders, formed the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). CCDA has grown to 6,800 individuals and 600 churches, ministries, institutions and businesses across the country.

The John R. Dellenback Global Leadership Award: Robert and Alice Evans The John R. Dellenback Global Leadership Award is presented to an individual or individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Christian higher education through public influence, service or scholarship. Bob and Alice Evans, Nobel Peace Prize Nominees, co-founded the Plowshares Institute nearly 25 years ago, working tirelessly for conflict transformation

33 countries. To increase the diversity of the student body, the University has established partnerships and strengthened existing relationships with community- and faith-based organizations serving traditionally underrepresented minority students. Overall underrepresented minority students’ composition is 26 percent, which does not include multi-racial and international students.

Philanthropy Award: CIOS Foundation / Piper Family Foundation The CCCU Philanthropy Award is presented to individuals who have made significant philanthropic contributions to the work of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and its membership.

around the globe; they have led CCCU international faculty

The Christ Is Our Salvation Foundation (CIOS) is the foundation

development initiatives to Indonesia and South Africa. Plans are

through which the late Paul Piper and his wife Katy Piper have

underway for a China initiative in 2011.

supported a large number of CCCU colleges and universities.

Bob Evans, executive director of the Plowshares Institute, studied at the Universities of Yale, Edinburgh, Berlin and Basel, and

They have also given the CCCU several large grants totaling more than $440,000.

received his doctorate from Union Seminary and Columbia

Through the years, the Pipers have supported numerous

University in New York. He and Alice were senior fellows in the

ministries and mission projects, student scholarships, housing for

Centre for Conflict Resolution at the University of Cape Town,

low-income families, day care centers, a Christian camp, medical

South Africa, and senior trainers for Empowering for Reconciliation

facilities, colleges and universities, and theological seminaries,

and Peace, Indonesia. Bob was special researcher for the

and partnered with state Baptist conventions to start and build

Academy of Social Sciences, Nanjing, China, and has taught in

hundreds of new churches. spring2010 CCCUAdvance 29

inthespotlight

international forum

By Kami L. Rice

A performing arts showcase highlights the importance of arts programs at CCCU schools and BestSemester programs, where the art skills and heart content of student artists are honed.

30 CCCUAdvance spring2010

For the first time the CCCU’s International Forum on Christian Higher Education included a Performing Arts Showcase. The event highlighted the musical, dance and cinematic talents of CCCU students and alumni from two BestSemester programs, the Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC) and the Contemporary Music Center (CMC), and from Belhaven University’s (MS) dance department.

First to the stage at Georgia Tech University’s Ferst Center for the Arts was Gretel, a band composed of CMC alumni Reva Williams, Melissa Myers Harper and Phil DuPertuis. Warren Pettit, CMC director, said the group embodies what CMC faculty hope for students as they live out faith and music together. Featuring Williams’ warm yet haunting lead vocals, Gretel offered forth their smart, musically-textured, lyricallythoughtful folk stylings with “No Forwarding Address,” showcasing the band’s rich harmonies, and “Salt,” a reflection on the book of Jonah. Later, they closed out the showcase with “Hush,” a self-described “lullaby about death.”

Cynthia Newland, chair of the dance department at Belhaven University, set the stage for Belhaven’s dancers by reading Romans 12:1: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” Belhaven is one of a small company of CCCU schools offering majors in dance. Thus, the major currently boasts students from 45 states and eight countries. Other CCCU members with dance majors include Anderson University (IN), Eastern University (PA) and Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL).

The darkened stage was soon lit by a red background against which eight dancers, clad in mostly brown and black attire, were silhouetted as they performed a high energy number called “Chosen,” depicting the coming together of the body of Christ. The group’s later number, “May It Be So,” featured nine dancers in a gentler, more reverent performance.

As she introduced the short film “Death and Money,” Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran, LAFSC director, noted that the BestSemester program’s goal for students is excellence in visual storytelling. Directed and written respectively by LAFSC students Daniel Bryant and Andrew Peters, the somber yet ultimately

“Art made to share a pointed message usually isn’t good art, which is why what’s in artists’ hearts is so critical.”

- Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparran, director, LAFSC

redemptive “Death and Money” opened with the sound of a single gunshot, police sirens and the voiced-over words, “I swore to never be like my father.

I swore to be different.” A second LAFSC alumnus film, the fun, animated “Chalk,” by From Top Left: Rebecca Ver Straten-McSparra, director of the Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC) introduces the short film “Death and Money”. Members of Belhaven University’s dance program perform during the CCCU Arts Showcase. Gretel, a band composed of Reva Williams, Melissa Myers Harper, and Phil DuPertuis perform with the director of the Contemporary Music Center (CMC), Warren Pettit.

International Forum

All photography by Bob butler, Public Image Photography.

spring2010 CCCUAdvance 31

international forum

From Top: Students from Belhaven University performed a high energy number called “Chosen,” depicting dancers coming together as the body of Christ. The group’s later number, “May It Be So,” featured nine dancers in a gentler, more reverent performance. Gretel closes out the showcase with the song “Hush,” a self-described “lullaby about death.” | All photography by Bob butler, Public Image Photography.

32 CCCUAdvance spring2010

International Forum Taylor University (IN) student Jonathan Friday, featured

Rather

an imaginative boy who was chased by one of his

than using

chalk-drawn creations.

adjectives like “Christian” or

Womb-like places

“not Christian,”

Ver Straten-McSparran said that Christian higher education’s

Kent prefers to

emphasis on community affords the opportunity to create

think in terms

womb-like places that can provide healthy critique to arts

of art that tells

students, who are then launched out having been tutored and

the truth and

mentored by experienced practitioners.

reflects a biblical

Rooting an arts program in Christ, said Newland, allows for focusing and directing students toward dancing as a calling, as a way to serve and use their gifts. “When our students holistically understand who they are, that they’re first Christ’s and that they’ve been created for a purpose and a reason, then they have a reason to dance, and it’s not so self-centered and not so self-serving as art can be sometimes.”

worldview versus art that does not. This understanding of art is important for bands like Gretel that perform

The quality of Belhaven’s dance program and its Christian

in bars and

context attracted both senior Tiffany Schrepferman and junior

theaters rather

DeMarcus Suggs to the school. The program is “very God-

than churches.

centered,” Schrepferman said, “and we’re allowed creative

“The majority of

freedom in our artistry. It’s not strictly Christian—you know,

our work takes

only Christian songs and things like that—and I really appreciate

place outside of

that freedom to be an artist and explore but

the church, and

be in a safe environment, a very nurturing environment.”

that’s where I

It’s this safe environment that strengthens and prepares students for post-college arts communities that challenge their values. Australian filmmaker and Wesley Institute professor, Rev. Dr. Grenville Kent, who teaches Australia Studies Centre (ASC) students, described a student who was relieved to exchange theatre studies at a secular institution for studies at Wesley where her values were affirmed.

think our work is actually best received, and that’s where we feel really

“When our students holistically understand who they are, that they’re first Christ’s and that they’ve been created for a purpose and a reason, then they have a reason to dance...”

- Cynthia Newland, chair of the dance department at Belhaven University

comfortable,” explained Williams. Myers

“Then,” he noted, “she can go out strengthened, to work in an

Harper said

industry that has very different values from her own, with higher

studying at the CMC helped her discard a sense of church as a

confidence and a supportive network of praying friends.” Ver

separate place from the world. She’s learned to view music as a

Straten-McSparran also stressed the importance of community

medium where the two can dialogue together.

for LAFSC alumni: “I believe that our job just begins when they leave LAFSC. If we really want them to get out there, we need to be there to hold their hands and be a resource for them.”

“Too often artists have spoken from a place of brokenness and pain, and have lived in an imbalanced way that deprives the world of their talent,” said Kent. “Ideally [artists] should

Schrepferman said she’s being prepared to speak truth and

work from fullness rather than emptiness.” Artists of faith who

be a light in the secular dance world after graduation, through

are nourished by a Christian context are better equipped to

having a presence there and sharing who she is, a person rooted

work from that place of fullness. Art made to share a pointed

in Christ, while relating to other dancers. “It’s not necessarily

message usually isn’t good art, Ver Straten-McSparran added,

beating people with the Christian message through our dances,

which is why what’s in artists’ hearts is so critical. The things

but simply living the Christian faith as a dance artist.”

that fill their hearts spill out and become their good art’s natural message. As Suggs said, “We try to hone our gifts so that we can share.” spring2010 CCCUAdvance 33

international forum

Women Who Lead

the Way

By Kami L. Rice

L

ively conversation buzzed around tables in the Hyatt Regency banquet room where 235 women and men from CCCU campuses across the nation gathered for the soldout Advancing Women’s Leadership luncheon during the International Forum on Christian Higher Education.

All photography by Bob butler, Public Image Photography.

While CCCU schools have made progress in advancing women’s leadership, much opportunity still exists for improvement.

International Forum

While the wait staff served attendees dessert, a roster of experts delivered insightful research on gender and leadership in the CCCU. Panelists were: Karen Longman, professor of higher education at Azusa Pacific University (CA) and former vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty at Greenville College (IL); Shirley Hoogstra, vice president for student life at Calvin College (MI); Henry Smith, president of Indiana Wesleyan University (IN); and Carol Taylor, president of Vanguard University (CA). Longman, who said afterwards that she was encouraged by the tone of the room during the luncheon, began the presentation portion of the event.

Well-respected for making great strides at Greenville and Azusa after her 19 years of service as the vice president for professional development and research at the CCCU, Longman said CCCU schools have made much progress in preparing women for and placing them in positions of leadership, yet research also clearly shows much progress is yet needed.

“I’m encouraged but concerned,” she added, noting that CCCU schools still have a long way to go, and the composition of boards and senior leadership teams matter.

Space for everyone According to a recent white paper entitled “Looking Back and Looking Ahead: A Review of the History and Impact of the CCCU Women’s Leadership Development Institute,”* the CCCU member campuses serve a collective student body that is 60 percent female, while only 5 percent of 111 CCCU presidents are female.

From Left: Presentations at the Advancing Women’s Leadership Luncheon included Karen Longman, professor of higher education at Azusa Pacific University and Dr. Mimi Barnard, VP for Professional Research & Development at the CCCU.

The labyrinth image used on page 34 is a fitting symbol for women’s paths to leadership, a picture of many obstacles along the way. The metaphor is thoroughly explored in Through the Labyrinth: The Truth About How Women Become Leaders (Harvard Business School Press, 2007)

by Northwestern University professor Alice H. Eagly and Wellesley College associate professor Linda L. Carli. As the authors explain in the book, which was also featured as the cover story in the Sept. 2007 issue of Harvard Business Review, “Passage through a labyrinth is not simple or direct, but requires persistence, awareness of one’s progress, and a careful analysis of the puzzles that lie ahead.”

*Prepared by Karen Longman and Shawna L. Lafreniere spring2010 CCCUAdvance 35

international forum

This percentage compares unfavorably to the 23 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with female presidents. In addition, a 2008 study revealed that 84 percent of the 108 CCCU member institutions had no women or only one woman in “chief” or “vice president” leadership roles.

Steven Timmermans, president of Trinity Christian College (IL) and chair of the CCCU’s Commission for Advancing Intercultural Competencies, said, “I don’t think we reflect the core message of the gospel unless we’re all gathered around the table, male and female and all races included.”

“God makes space for everyone he calls and gifts. It is a huge world with huge needs, and we’re all needed.”

Hoogstra affirmed that working toward increased numbers of women

- Carol Taylor, president

in senior leadership roles is about the gospel, not about being

Vanguard University (CA)

politically correct. God has called us to it, so we need women in leadership, said Smith.

The panelists stressed that equipping women for leadership is important not only for current female leaders but also for modeling leadership for students, encouraging them to pursue and prepare themselves for future leadership roles.

Equal treatment?

According to the white paper presented at the luncheon, one of the enduring challenges to

Taylor described standing beside Vanguard’s female student body

women’s leadership in evangelical higher education

president to lead community meetings during a time of crisis for

is “theological conservatism that limits access to

the university. Through the mentoring relationship that emerged,

top leadership positions.” The paper quotes from

she encouraged the student to pursue her law school interests. The

research, funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts,

student was accepted to multiple schools and described the joy she

which concludes that the “vision of a hierarchically

experienced at being pursued by these schools.

ordered universe has been drawn on with great

“It’s not just about us, it’s about the students we serve,” Taylor explained. “It’s about encouraging them toward the work God has already prepared for them to do. That’s why we need to continue

success historically and continues as the orienting gender story among the majority of conservative Protestants today.”

the work we are doing,” she added. “It’s not about threatening men

Moreover, a 2007 survey of more than 1900 CCCU

or preventing them from using their gifts and callings. It’s about

faculty highlighted persistent gender inequities in

recognizing that there is space. God makes space for everyone he

Christian higher education. For example, only 24

calls and gifts. It is a huge world with huge needs, and we’re all

percent of female respondents agreed that female

needed.”

36 CCCUAdvance spring2010

Leadership Development in the CCCU

All photography by Bob butler, Public Image Photography.

faculty on their campus are treated equally to male faculty. By contrast, 47 percent of male respondents agreed.

“In most places, a female candidate for any key leadership position has to significantly outperform the male candidates to be seriously considered,” Taylor said, explaining that after ten years in Christian higher education she still observes the double-standard that women have to do more than men in the same position.

“We are disproportionately still with male leadership,” said Hoogstra.

“They have done an excellent job, but for the future our students are going to expect mixed gender teams, mixed gender leadership, and they’re going to ask, ‘Why haven’t I been prepared to do that kind of leadership?’ So we need to be intentional. We need to make sure that our hiring pools are really representative of men, women and persons of color.

We need to get people ready to be the best people in those positions.”

“In terms of equipping and preparing the next generation to use their gifts, it’s important for all students, including women, to have models for leadership on our boards and in senior leadership,” explained Longman.

“I happen to work for a president who sees a person’s qualities first and their gender somewhere down the line,” Hoogstra said, noting that she has not personally experienced professional hurdles just because she’s a woman. “And I used to work in a very male-dominated field of the legal profession. It really is your attitude: Are you looking for obstacles because you’re female? There are obstacles for everyone. So figure out what the obstacles are and overcome them.”

Hoogstra added that she has always had a tremendous set of mentors who are both male and female. “The male mentors I’ve had are always real interested in making me successful, and I’m interested in making them successful, so it’s always this sort of circle. I would call it a circle of affection and love and responsibility where, if you’re interested in making the people who you work for really do well at what they’re called to do,

In 1996 the CCCU began offering Executive Leadership Development Institutes (ELDI) with the goal of identifying and equipping future leaders for higher education leadership across CCCU member institutions. At the time very few women and almost no ethnic minorities were in CCCU senior leadership roles, so it was clear that the CCCU’s commitment to expanding the presence of women and persons of color in Christian higher education leadership required diversifying the candidates in the usual pipelines to senior leadership.

Toward this end, an additional LDI, referred to as Women’s LDI (WLDI), was hosted in 1998 with participation limited to women with identified leadership potential. For the “mixed” LDI, which included both male and female participants, also held in 1998, qualified ethnic minority applicants were given priority in the selection process.

The four-day LDIs have been held every two years since then and typically include 15-22 Fellows plus a Resource Team of senior leaders.

The entire ELDI initiative has served more than 350 participants through an array of Presidents’ Institutes, Chief Academic Officers’ Institutes and Leadership Development Institutes. The WLDIs have served 106 female participants since 1998, and the mixed LDIs have served 55 women and 40 men.

Research from 2009 revealed that more than 50 percent of the female participants in LDI/ WLDI between 1998 and 2008 had moved into a more advanced position on their campus or elsewhere. Advancements by female LDI participants include three provosts, five vice presidents, eight deans, three directors and six faculty rank advancements. WLDI advancements include two presidents, seven provosts, 11 vice presidents, 14 deans, nine directors and 11 faculty rank advancements.

Further evidence of the impact of WLDI and LDI participation was visible at the 2009 meeting of CCCU Chief Academic Officers (CAOs), where 11 of 42 CAOs in attendance were women. All 11 of these women had been involved in WLDI/ LDI in some capacity and sometimes in multiple capacities over the years.

they’re often interested in helping you.”

spring2010 CCCUAdvance 37

international forum

“I wish the world of higher education would look at Christian colleges as being models of what God intended for the world and for higher education.”

- Karen Longman, professor of higher education

Azusa Pacific University (CA)

All photography by Bob butler, Public Image Photography.

was not always practicing what these programs and the school’s WesleyanArminian theological roots preached.

“It’s not enough for us to offer courses in leadership,” he said. “We go out and tell corporations that we can develop leaders who are already working. But what are we doing for our people who are already at IWU?” It was important, he said, to find a way to demonstrate to IWU’s 1000 employees that the university is really serious about developing leaders.

Smith says his participation in the leadership development offered by the CCCU prompted him to offer something similar on his own campus.

“If it was good for me as a white male who had been told all my life that I could be a leader, so would it be good for women,” he said. And Leadership Development for Women (LDW) was born.

Initiated in 2007 with a $5000 budget, LDW is “designed to equip women who aspire to grow as leaders,” providing networking opportunities, mentoring by seasoned academic leaders, and strategies for building university cultures that draw out and use diverse talents at all levels. A new cohort is recruited every other year and includes

Intentional leadership development To his knowledge, prior to Smith’s induction as

a maximum of 20 women and mentors from three institutions: Taylor University, Ohio Christian University and IWU.

president of Indiana Wesleyan University in 2006,

Longman dreams of seeing Christian higher education lead the way in

neither a woman nor a person of color had ever

women’s leadership. “The time is now for Christian colleges to be very

served on the school’s President’s Cabinet.

proactive and intentional about this,” she stressed, because the change

Today, three women and one person of color are

is coming.

members of this 13-member leadership body.

New generations entering college will not be going to schools where the

Though IWU boasts an undergraduate major in

cabinet is all white men. Longman says “The question is: Will [Christian]

leadership, a doctoral program in organizational

colleges provide prophetic leadership to move into it, or will they overtly

leadership, leadership training for corporations and

or subtly resist what will come because of where the world is heading

a mission statement that articulates a commitment

and because of the giftedness of women and people of color. I wish

to develop students in “character, scholarship and

the world of higher education would look at Christian colleges as being

leadership,” Smith recognized that the university

models of what God intended for the world and for higher education.”

To read “Looking Back and Looking Ahead: A Review of the History and Impact of the CCCU Women’s Leadership Development Institute”, please visit www.cccu.org/advance

38 CCCUAdvance spring2010

Join us to discuss the problems, progress and possibilities in addressing gender issues in Christian Higher Education.

CHANGINGFACES: changing opportunities & campus climates for women & men This conference is co-sponsored by Abilene Christian University, Bethel University, Calvin College, Point Loma Nazarene University, Trinity Western University, and the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.

Hosted By: Abilene Christian University

|

Abilene, TX

|

Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2010

For more information, please visit:

www.cccu.org/conferences_events

Market Research Revealed What the findings have to do with your campus

By Jocelyn Green

I

n 1986 and 2000, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) conducted market research

to assess its member schools’ positions in the marketplace and the accompanying opportunities and challenges related to student recruitment. These research topics were revisited – and new areas explored – in a comprehensive market study conducted during 2009 by Noel-Levitz, a market research and enrollment management firm.

“ These prospective students are eager for our institutions to make the case as to why their institution -- and Christian higher ed in general --is a good, or the best, option for them.”

- Thomas E. McWhertor, CCCU Senior Fellow and Project Coordinator On these pages we highlight a sampling of findings from the 2009 Market Research Study. For the entire Market Research Executive Summary and PowerPoint presentation,

40 CCCUAdvance spring2010

visit www.cccu.org/advance.

market research

Decision-making factors Regardless of the funnel stage, the research showed that four

Which statement most closely reflects your beliefs?

Matriculants Non-matriculants

decision-making factors dominate students’ thought processes in

• The quality of the academic program or major

a student is interested in

• Preparation for future careers

• Faculty who are excellent teachers

• Faculty who are well-qualified in their fields of study

Christian factors increase in importance as students move through the funnel stages:

• Christian life and community

• Integration of the Christian faith and learning

• Christian faculty

• faith commitment of fellow students

“Given that students’ decision-making has strong connection to academic quality and outcome measures, and since the study also found that the dominant inquirer to CCCU institutions is considering a broad array of college options, institutions must make the case for quality in faculty and programs that can compete with both public and secular private institutions, as well as other Christ-centered colleges,” notes Scott Shoemaker,

Most Christian colleges and universities offer the same quality of academic instruction as state universities.

91%

88%

9%

12%

Christian colleges and universities tend to have weaker academics than state universities.

Matriculants Top 5 college choices in order of importance ra nk

the current environment:

2000

2009

1

Integration of the Christian Faith and learning

2

Christian atmosphere

3

Value of education

member of the CCCU market research team and associate

4

Fellowship with other Christians

vice president for enrollment at Point Loma Nazarene

5

Christian faculty

1

Preparation for future careers

2

Quality of the academic program you are interested in

3

Faculty who are well-qualified in their fields of study

4

Faculty who are excellent teachers

5

Availability of financial aid/scholarships

Priorities of matriculants and non-matriculants There has been a significant shift in the priorities of CCCU matriculants since 2000, as noted in the following chart of ranked items.

In 2000, items related to the Christian environment dominated the choice factors; in 2009 the choice factors revolve around educational outcomes, academics and faculty. This shift reflects a trend toward practicality in college choice by CCCU students.

It also suggests that marketing materials will need to lead with messages on academic quality and career preparation and be followed by benefits of the Christian environment.

The non-matriculant priorities for 2000 look quite similar to the matriculants’ 2009 top values, with four of the same items appearing in the top five.

An analysis of the Christian environment preferences showed that non-matriculants were more likely to be seeking institutions that did not have explicit behavioral expectations such as chapel

Non-Matriculants Top 5 college choices in order of importance ra nk

University (CA).

2000

2009

1

Value of education

2

Preparation for future careers

3

Availability of financial aid/scholarships

4

Quality of faculty

5

Quality of major

1

Quality of the academic program you are interested in

2

Preparation for future careers

3

Faculty who are excellent teachers

4

Faculty who are well-qualified in their fields of study

5

General academic reputation of the college/university

attendance and required religion courses. spring2010 CCCUAdvance 41

market research

CCCU Inquiries: Familiarity with Christian colleges

Powerful Synergy!

Highly rated by CCCU students 1

Quality of the academic program you are interested in

2

Faculty who are excellent teachers

22% 43%

3 Faculty who are well-qualified in their fields of study Of top importance to CCCU inquiries 1

The content of the courses within my major is valuable

2

The instruction in my major field is excellent

3

Nearly all of the faculty are knowledgeable in their field

Not at all/ slightly familiar Moderately familiar Very/Totally familiar

35%

CCCU strengths The top three strengths in CCCU schools as rated by students are:

• CCCU demonstrates significant strengths in terms of

the educational product it delivers. For example, CCCU students are pleased with the content of courses and

guidance councelors Familiarity with cccu schools

instruction in their field. They believe they are experiencing intellectual growth and that there is a

7%

commitment to academic excellence at CCCU. These strengths should be promoted heavily in print communications and on the Web.

22%

Not at all/ slightly familiar 71%

• Students appreciate that their faculty members are

Moderately familiar Very/Totally familiar

experts– “nearly all of the faculty are knowledgeable in their fields.” Faculty members also provide excellent instruction and are available to students. Students also report that faculty know and care about them individually.

• Campus safety is rated highly and is an important

message to share with parents of prospective students.

Areas for improvement Three key audiences showed a lack of familiarity with CCCU institutions. These audiences are significant because of their direct relevance to the communication and marketing

church leaders Familiarity with Christian colleges

success of campus enrollment efforts. In the case of the inquiries the percentage of students that are “very/totally familiar” has dropped since the market research project was in 2000 from 27 percent to 22 percent. In the examples of

42%

the guidance counselors and church leaders the research reveals a low percentage of awareness, but there is not a benchmark from the 2000 research to compare. These are

Somewhat familiar

52%

Very familiar

all areas of important focus for both individual institutions and the CCCU as an association.

42 CCCUAdvance spring2010

Not at all/ slightly familiar

7%

The 3 Big “Take-Aways” 1

Top college choice factors are tightening to focus even more heavily on academics

2

CCCU members’ documented strengths align well with marketplace demand

3

There is significant market potential for those who consistently invest in extended outreach

The bottom line The clear mandate for CCCU schools that emerges from the 2009 market research is the need to articulate and document excellence in these four areas:

• The quality of the academic program or major a student is

interested in

• Preparation for future careers

• Faculty who are excellent teachers

• Faculty who are well qualified in their fields of study

“This research, its findings and the recommendations from our consultants at Noel-Levitz present our member institutions with a tremendous resource to ground public relations and enrollment efforts,” says Thomas E. McWhertor, CCCU Senior Fellow and Project Coordinator. “One particular finding that stands out is the openness that so many prospects and inquirers have to exploring the suitability

The 2009 CCCU Market Research Project The CCCU initiated and organized this market research project as an ongoing part of developing longitudinal data for our campuses. Participation in the 2009 project was completely dependent on individual member institutions choosing to pay the participation fee, so we are thankful to the 56 institutions that chose to provide data and resources to continue this project. We see this as an extraordinary benefit of membership, and it helps all of our member institutions.

The process for the Market Research Project:

2008 January –Commission for Chief Enrollment Officers initiated request to CCCU Board of Directors January – CCCU Board of Directors approved project Summer – Steering committee from Commission for Chief Enrollment Officers was formed and Tom McWhertor was designated CCCU Senior Fellow and Project Director November – RFP was developed and submitted to Market Research firms

2009 January – Complete scope of project and costs were presented to Chief Enrollment Officers at annual “Critical Concerns Conference”

prospective students are eager for our institutions to make the case as

February – Steering Committee chose Noel-Levitz as Market Research Firm

to why their institution --and Christian higher ed in general --is a good,

February – May – Participants committed to project

of CCCU member institutions for their higher educational needs. These

or the best, option for them. I would encourage all member institutions to use this research to help shape how we communicate our academic strengths and Christ-centered educational perspective in compelling ways to attract new segments of those exploring college and university options.”

McWhertor is a CCCU Senior Fellow and Project Director and currently serves as director of constituency relations for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.

May – November – Data collection November – February (2010) - Analysis and report writing

2010 February – Presentation of Findings & Recommendations at International Forum March – Webinar on research-participating CCCU institutions April – Webinar on research for all CCCU member institutions

The CCCU thanks the Commission for Chief Enrollment Officers for their leadership of this project:

Commission for Chief Enrollment Officers Tom McWhertor, CCCU Senior Fellow and Project Director; John Chopka, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Messiah University (PA); Eric Fulcomer, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Life, Bluffton University (OH); Rich Grimm, Vice President for Enrollment Services, Union University (TN); Dave Layton, Dean of Undergraduate Enrollment, Geneva College (PA); Rose Smith, Associate Vice President Enrollment Services, Northwest University (WA); and Scott Shoemaker, Associate Vice President for Enrollment, Point Loma University (CA).

July 20 – Presentation at Noel-Levitz National Conference

* As with the 2000 market research, there a number of campuses that have indicated a desire to host regional meetings and/or participate in webinars to continue to understand and utilize the market research. Any campuses interested in further work with the market research are encouraged to contact Nate Mouttet, vice president for communications at the CCCU.

spring2010 CCCUAdvance 43

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MERRIFIELD, VA PERMIT #6418

321 Eighth Street, NE | Washington, DC 20002

Address Service Requested

New Faculty

Development

Workshop

June 1-4 :: West Palm Beach, FL For more information, visit: www.cccu.org/conferences_events

2010 cccu Conference schedule 2010 Conferences being hosted or supported by the CCCU: Commission on Technology June 2-4 :: St. Paul, MN New Faculty Development Workshop June 1-4 :: West Palm Beach, FL Leadership Development Institute June 13-17 :: Sumas, WA Women’s Advanced Leadership Institute June 17-21 :: Sumas, WA Women’s Leadership Development Institute June 21-25 :: Sumas, WA Governance Institute July 14-17 :: Breckenridge, CO New Presidents Institute July 10-13 :: Breckenridge, CO Changing Faces: Changing Opportunities & Campus Climates for Women & Men Sept. 29-Oct. 1 :: Abilene, TX