Themes 

Suggested Topics

Leading Faithfully in a Shifting Landscape: Anchored in Christ with Courage, Clarity, and Conviction

Explore how Christian higher education leaders can remain rooted in biblical convictions while navigating rapid cultural, societal, and institutional change, leading with conviction, agility, and hope—anchored in Christ—so institutions can thrive and bear witness in a rapidly changing world.

• Governance models
• Faith-centered leadership
• Missional alignment
• Faithful response to crises
• The challenges of leadership in our time
• Cultivating emerging leaders

Shaping the Future: Advocacy and Policy for Christian Higher Education

Engage in meaningful policy and advocacy efforts that safeguard the mission of Christian higher education. This theme emphasizes the importance of strategic public engagement to influence legislation, protect religious liberty, and ensure a flourishing future for faith-based institutions.

• Legislative, judicial, regulatory, and administrative updates
• Institutional agility and resilience in response to a changing social-political-cultural environment
• Challenges and opportunities in Christian higher education

Fostering Student Flourishing: Cultivating Belonging, Growth, and Purpose through Christ-centered Formation 

Advance student success through research-based practices that support holistic development on CCCU campuses. This theme focuses on formation, spiritual growth, student care and well-being, while highlighting key drivers of retention—such as belonging, meaningful faculty-student relationships, and the integration of faith and learning.

• Spiritual development
• Student formation 
• Athletics
• Residence life
• Student life
• Counseling services
• Student wellness
• Faculty-student interactions
• Student retention
• Well-being 
• Student success

Building a Thriving Campus: Managing the Operations of Christian Higher Education

Examine the multifaceted nature of college administration and the essential functions that keep Christian colleges running with purpose and efficiency. This track will address key operational areas—including enrollment, athletics administration, financial aid, institutional development, campus operations, back-of-house shared services, auxiliary services, and information technology—focusing on how each contributes to building a thriving, mission-aligned campus. Sessions will offer practical strategies for navigating the complex challenges of today’s higher education environment while remaining rooted in Christian values.

• Enrollment
• Athletics administration
• Financial aid
• Institutional development
• Campus operations
• Back-of-house shared services
• Auxiliary services
• Information technology

Championing the Mission: Communicating Purpose, Impact, and Value

Elevate the role of strategic communication and advancement in Christian higher education by focusing on institutional reputation, issues management, media engagement, and donor and alumni relations. This theme highlights how communications and advancement professionals can faithfully represent the mission, articulate impact, craft unique messages, and inspire support for the institution’s short- and long-term goals. 

• Advancement
• Donor relations
• Communication (internal and external)
• Media relations
• Alumni relations
• Shaping compelling narratives
• Building trust
• Crisis case studies
• Communicating value of Christian education and the liberal arts

Guiding Academia and Supporting Human Flourishing: Navigating Technological Challenges and Shifting Market Demands

Identify strategies to guide your institution with clarity and conviction. In the face of dynamic changes—including the rise of artificial intelligence, evolving perceptions of higher education’s relevance, and growing demand for professional studies, focus on discovering and implementing best practices, preserving core values, and advancing institutional missions in a rapidly shifting landscape.

• Provost Leadership
• Faculty and student research
• AI, academic integrity, and student formation
• Managing operations
• Teaching, research, and curriculum development
• Teaching amid political and social divisions
• Institutional assessment
• Responding to shifting societal priorities

Equipping for the Integration of Faith, Learning, and Vocation: Inspiring Purpose, Cultivating Calling, and Transforming Lives   

Equip students to view their academic journey and future vocation through a theological lens, fostering a deeper sense of calling and purpose. This theme invites reflection on how academic disciplines intersect with spiritual formation and how the integration of faith and learning can lead to gospel-driven lives that impact communities and transform society.

• Innovative ways to integrate faith and learning within and outside of the classroom
• Integrating faith and learning through pedagogy
• Theoretical models of faith integration
• Applications of faith and learning to the classroom and co-curriculum