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