Council for Christian Colleges and Universities facts for kids
The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities headquarters in Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
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| Abbreviation | CCCU |
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| Formation | 1976 |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C., United States |
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Region served
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21 countries |
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Membership
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185 |
| Affiliations | Wesleyan Holiness Connection |
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) is an international group of Christian colleges and universities. Its main office is in Washington, D.C., in the United States. This organization helps these schools work together and supports their shared goals.
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History
The CCCU started in 1976. Leaders from Christian colleges met in Washington, D.C. They wanted to create a group that could speak for Christian colleges. This new group would share their ideas with government leaders and the public.
About 38 colleges joined the first meeting. The group was first called the Coalition for Christian Colleges. In 1995, its name changed to the Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities. Then, in 1999, it became the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. By 2023, the CCCU had 185 member schools in 21 different countries.
Leadership
Since September 2014, Shirley V. Hoogstra has been the president of the CCCU. She is the first woman to lead the Council. Before this role, she worked at Calvin University in Michigan. She helped with student life and planning at the university.
The Council is guided by a board of 17 directors. Most of these directors are presidents of the colleges that are part of the CCCU. The current chair of the board is Dan Boone.
Programs
Speaking Up for Colleges
The CCCU works to be a strong voice for Christian colleges. They talk to government leaders about rules and policies that affect these schools. They also help their member colleges speak up for themselves.
Some of the important topics they care about include:
- Making sure people have religious freedom.
- Allowing colleges to make their own choices.
- Helping students get money for college.
- Supporting programs for education in prisons.
- Looking after the environment.
Services for Members
The CCCU offers many programs and services. These are for college presidents, teachers, and students. They help people learn new skills and connect with others.
Some of these services include:
- Yearly meetings for college leaders.
- Conferences for different staff members, like those who handle money or student sign-ups.
- Online training sessions.
- Chances to get grants for research.
- A program where students can swap tuition with other member schools.
- An online job center.
Members also get a magazine called CCCU ADVANCE. They receive news updates and information about Christian higher education. In 2019, the Council started an online group. This allows schools to share online courses with each other.
Global Study Programs
The CCCU also runs study programs for students around the world. These are called CCCU GlobalEd programs. The first program, the American Studies Program, started in Washington, D.C., in the 1970s.
Over the years, they added many other programs. Students could study music in Nashville or film in Los Angeles. They could also study abroad in places like Australia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Uganda. These programs help students learn in new ways and experience different cultures. For almost 50 years, over 14,500 students have joined these programs.
Membership
CCCU member schools are accredited colleges and universities. This means they meet high standards for education. Their main focus is on Christian faith. Most of them also offer a wide range of subjects in arts and sciences.
The CCCU has different types of members. These types depend on the kind of school it is and how much it agrees with the Council's main ideas. In 2016, the organization updated its membership rules. These rules include a statement about its commitment to traditional Christian marriage.
Changes in Membership
Sometimes, colleges have different ideas about important topics. In 2015, some colleges decided to leave the CCCU. This happened because some member schools changed their policies on certain issues. For example, Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University withdrew from the Council.
Other colleges, like The Master's College, also left. They had different views on topics like the story of creation and other Christian teachings. Cedarville University and Shorter University also withdrew. The CCCU then created new membership rules in 2016 to help guide its future.
Governing Member Institutions
Governing members are schools that can vote in the CCCU. They must meet six main requirements:
- They must have a Christian mission.
- They must be accredited and offer a wide range of undergraduate subjects.
- They must cooperate with the CCCU and pay dues.
- They must have good financial practices.
- Their full-time teachers and leaders must be professing Christians.
- They must support the CCCU's goals, including its views on marriage and caring for others.
Associate Member Institutions
Associate members meet almost all the same rules as governing members. However, they might not offer a full undergraduate program. This category includes schools like Bible colleges or seminaries.
Collaborative Partner Institutions
Collaborative partners meet some of the main rules, like having a Christian mission and good financial practices. But they might have different rules about who they hire. They also might not agree with all of the CCCU's advocacy goals. These schools still want to be part of the Council's programs and partnerships.
International Affiliates
The CCCU also has more than 30 colleges and universities outside the U.S. and Canada. These schools are called International Affiliates. They are located in many different countries around the world.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo de Colegios y Universidades Cristianas para niños
