Breakout Sessions
Fundraising has never been more important for Christian colleges and universities. At the same time, the prospect of building and leading a successful fundraising team seems more unattainable than ever. Where does one begin? In this session, you will learn what areas of fundraising capability are required for success, regardless of the size of your advancement team or the amount of experience you have in advancement.
Reed Sheard, Vice President for College Advancement and Chief Information Officer, Westmont College
Oklahoma Baptist University is launching a new program called Alumni College in fall 2024, which will provide alumni and friends the opportunity to engage in a classroom setting with current faculty and see firsthand some of the curriculum students experience. The program aims to provide new opportunities for engagement with alumni and to showcase faculty, curriculum and campus spaces. Come hear about the process and outcomes of launching this new program.
Lee Ann Quirk, Director of the OBU Alumni Association, Oklahoma Baptist University
In today’s competitive landscape, leveraging social media is essential for colleges to connect with students, alumni and the community. Social media is more than just content—it’s about sparking conversations between your publics. This session will explore the latest trends and practical hacks to help higher education institutions create a dynamic online presence. Learn how to develop strategic content calendars, use storyboarding to streamline creative processes and cultivate meaningful engagement. Whether you're new to social media or refining your approach, this session will provide actionable insights to elevate your college’s social media presence.
Brenda Velasco, Senior Director of University Communications, Biola University
The session will feature a panel from four different schools that experienced record enrollment despite the FAFSA meltdown this year. Dordt University, Calvin University, Houston Christian University, and Charleston Southern University and their respective VPs of Enrollment will serve as the panelists with a moderator. The panel will not only discuss what seemed to work well and the pivots that led to breaking records, but also provide practical insights that you can apply in your own institutions.
Tony Turner, Vice President for Enrollment & Financial Aid, Charleston Southern University, Brandon Huisman, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, Dordt University, James Steen, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Houston Christian University, and Lauren Jensen, Vice President for Enrollment Strategy, Calvin University
In today's dynamic higher education landscape, effective team building is essential for navigating the complexities of federal regulations, staffing shortages and enrollment demands. This session will explore the art of team building by examining how cohesive teams can tackle the unique stressors associated with the demand of administering financial aid. We will delve into the psychological impacts of stressors and highlight strategies to create a healthy team environment.
David Burney, Director of Financial Aid, John Brown University
Generative AI poses a unique set of questions and concerns in the higher education landscape, with most large universities integrating at least one policy statement or guideline regarding GenAI use in the classroom in the last two years. In this talk, we will discuss the process of developing university policy for faculty and students about using GenAI chatbots at a private Christian university and the role that Christian values of human dignity, honesty and Truth play in the development of this policy. We will also discuss the opportunities and challenges with managing educational technology on campus to align with the policy.
Kathryn Wozniak, Associate Vice President for Strategy & Innovation, Concordia University Chicago and Samuel Kwon, Professor of Educational Technology, Concordia University Chicago
Everywhere you turn, people are talking about artificial intelligence, or AI. As with many technological innovations that have emerged in the past, it is easy to see AI as either the next big thing or to simply ignore it. This session is designed to provide advancement leaders with an introduction to AI’s uses for advancement, including firsthand experience of AI in fundraising.
Reed Sheard, Vice President for College Advancement and Chief Information Officer, Westmont College and Adam Martel, CEO and Founder, Givzey
Join Jeff and Gerad as they share their story of moving their alumni association from passive to active, meeting their alumni community at a point of felt need through a leadership coaching program. By maximizing the skills and experience of the alumni board, they provide a service that creates and reinforces a deep appreciation for their alma mater. Through storytelling, teaching and discussion, this session will explore the benefits of leadership coaching within an alumni association.
Jeff Bope, Director of Alumni Relations, Moody Bible Institute and Gerad Hall, Director of External Relations, Moody Bible Institute
Hear from a panel of grizzled PR veterans about what goes on behind the scenes when a crisis happens. The panelists will walk through the details of various real-life events, including lawsuits, political strife, assault allegations and animal rights issues. Learn firsthand from the experience of other college and university professionals so you’ll feel even better prepared when a crisis comes to your campus.
Sarah Moss, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Dordt University and Julie Gumm, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, John Brown University and Rob Felton, Chief of Staff, George Fox University and Brandon Huisman, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, Dordt University
Graduate degree programs and offerings are becoming a greater source of enrollment strategies for higher education institutions across the country. How are Christian colleges and universities equipping their enrollment and marketing teams to capitalize on this valuable component that is beneficial to the future of our institutions? This panel discussion, featuring insights from Abilene Christian University, Asbury University, and Northwest Nazarene University, will also provide opportunities for open dialogue from all attendees as we seek to advance the value Christian college and university graduate degree programs offer to this growing market.
Facilitated by the CCCU's Commission for Enrollment and Admissions Marketing
Financial aid administrators have long had the authority to exercise professional judgment in a myriad of circumstances. In 24/25, however, we were presented with some new terminology and challenges. The FAFSA removed the number in college from their calculation but noted that schools could address it on an individual basis. Family circumstances became "special" and/or "unusual." Decisions on foreign income were delegated to the school. This session will examine different levels of guidance and some institutions’ approaches to addressing these issues.
Daniel Reed, Director of Financial Aid, Point Loma Nazarene University
In the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education, strategic data management has become a critical factor in driving institutional success. This session will explore the key components of effective data management practices that enable universities to harness the power of data for informed decision-making, improved student outcomes and enhanced operational efficiency. Participants will learn how to develop and implement a comprehensive data strategy that aligns with institutional goals and supports a culture of data-driven decision-making.
Ben Huffman, Vice President of Strategic Data Management, Jessup University
A major gift is an extraordinary gift that has a major impact, but a major gift might not always be the best gift for your institution. Join us as we examine how your team can implement an intentional approach to move prospects into more meaningful relationships with your institution and encourage them to truly consider giving their "best gift" to your institution. We will discuss strategies to invite your donors into the conversation through authentic inquiry, collaborative problem-solving, mission-centric engagement and patient persistence.
James Smith, Gonser Gerber
A university’s Day of Giving succeeds when faculty and staff are fully engaged, rallying together to inspire students, alumni and the entire campus community. In this session, we’ll dive into strategies for energizing your campus leaders—faculty, staff and department heads—to take ownership and champion your giving day efforts. Learn how to create a sense of shared purpose, foster excitement and empower every team member to make an impact. You’ll gain practical tips on how to mobilize your campus community to drive participation, increase donations and build a lasting culture of philanthropy.
Stephanie Carroll, AVP for Alumni/Parent Engagement & Annual Giving, Lipscomb University and Bethany Perala, Associate Director of Annual Giving, Lipscomb University
College parent Facebook groups can become landing pads for helicopter parents or launch pads for happy "customers" who rave about your school. Sure, research says that having parents involved in the higher ed experience helps students succeed, but let's be honest: building a drama-free, beneficial online parent community isn't easy. Learn how to create, market and maintain a parent Facebook group that's low on headaches and high on benefits for your enrollment, retention and development goals.
Julie Gumm, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, John Brown University
Parents and other family members are students' top supporters and guides throughout the college application process, and their influence is increasing. Institutions can leverage parent and family engagement to build affinity, encourage funnel movement and ultimately increase student enrollment and yield results. But what do today's parents want and expect? We asked 11,000+ parents as they navigated the college search and application journey with their students. Join us as we walk through the results of the 2024 Prospective Family Report, outlining their preferred channels, most requested content topics and biggest needs to understand the future of the admissions process as universities prepare for Generation Alpha.
Melissa Greiner, Vice President of Marketing, CampusESP
Institutions that administer federal student aid are required to have an audit of their federal assistance programs administered under Uniform Guidance—and these audits are technical and compliance-oriented. In this session, we’ll explain the audit process and the 10 most common findings, in addition to updating you on the latest developments and best practices to follow as your institution prepares for a Uniform Guidance audit.
Dan Campbell, Vice President, CapinCrouse LLP
In today’s fast-evolving digital landscape, well-structured contracts are critical to the success of IT projects and partnerships. This roundtable discussion will explore the essential contract terms and considerations that safeguard against common pitfalls, such as data security risks, scope of work, renewals and unclear deliverables. This session is designed to equip higher education administrators and IT professionals with strategies to mitigate risks and build resilient partnerships through effective contract review.
Gabriel Fornaresio, Director of Information Technology, CCCU and Adam Skiles, Assistant Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Huntington University and Alan Wolff, Chief Information Officer, Wheaton College and Ben Huffman, Chief Information & Revenue Officer, Jessup University and Randall Melton, Chief Information Officer, Spring Arbor University
Alumni awards celebrate achievements and strengthen alumni connections, but designing a meaningful program can be challenging. This session will guide an open discussion on best practices for selecting award categories, engaging the alumni community and honoring outstanding graduates. Whether you’re starting a new program or refining an existing one, you’ll leave with fresh ideas to elevate your alumni awards and make a lasting impact.
Jay McClymont, Director of Alumni Engagement, Messiah University
Enrollment work is hard. Increasing costs, fewer students and more competition are only a few of the increasing challenges each year. Over the past few years, Calvin University has seen record enrollment growth at a time when many institutions are struggling. Why? Enrollment is only one piece of a larger strategy. The Calvin enrollment team has been investing in deeper partnerships across (and beyond) our campus, and the results speak for themselves. We'll share some strategies, key learnings and a few recommendations on how you can better engage and collaborate with key partners in your community.
Steve Dyer, Associate Director of Admissions, Calvin University
Direct admission is catching on rapidly. This begs the question: Is an application even necessary for admission? The short answer is no, at least for those willing to embrace a direct admit policy. Institutions are successfully using direct admission offers with prospects/inquiries who are admissible and/or who fit the right profile with some encouraging results. These campuses employing direct admit strategies are enrolling students who would have never applied and therefore never would have been admitted otherwise. This session will explore how enrollment managers are leveraging direct admissions to support students with competitive merit award offers that help institutions grow enrollment.
James Steen, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Houston Christian University
The CCCU Financial Aid commissioners will moderate an open-ended Q&A session, welcoming discussion on any topic related to financial aid that may be of interest to Christian colleges and universities. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences and best practices. This will also be a good time to check in with your CCCU colleagues on how another year of a delayed FAFSA is impacting fall ‘25 packaging.
Karen Belling, Chief Student Finance Officer, Wheaton College
In order to explore the transformative potential of AI at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU), a taskforce was formed comprising several functional area stakeholders—academic administration, admissions, advancement, athletics, finance, marketing and communications and student life. Through shared learning experiences, OBU discovered ways that AI could address current challenges and illuminate future aspirations. This session will share how OBU leveraged the power of AI to revolutionize problem-solving and drive positive change across our campus.
Josh Shoffner, Chief Information Officer, Oklahoma Baptist University, Larinee Dennis, Information Technology, Oklahoma Baptist University, and Allie Blevins, Oklahoma Baptist University
Studies show that alumni volunteers are among the most active, generous donors at higher education institutions. So how do you involve them in meaningful volunteer activities that deepens their engagement with their alma mater? CCCU Alumni Relations Commissioner Pete Brumbaugh will share best practices on how to develop an effective pipeline of alumni volunteers—whether you are just starting out, trying to restart your volunteer program or looking to take it to the next level.
Pete Brumbaugh, Executive Director of University Communications and Alumni Engagement
In this session, Bart Caylor will discuss how to embrace AI as a collaborator rather than a competitor. By recognizing the potential of generative AI (GenAI), you and your organization can stay ahead in the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education. You'll gain insights on leveraging AI-driven tools and best practices to enhance marketing and enrollment strategies, improve communication and effectively engage mission-fit students. Learn how to navigate the challenges ahead while positioning your institution for success.
Bart Caylor, President, Caylor Solutions
Every year, Bethel University provides their “Bethel Study” survey as a means of sharing patterns of pricing and discounting among participating schools, along with institutional policies, human resource issues and best practices in aid administration. Analyzing 26 years of results allows us to track trends in issues of broader interest to other university administrators. Analysis of changes in family wealth, discount rates, enrollment, tuition revenue and the average net price paid by students in traditional undergraduate programs provides insights into the characteristics of institutions that have exhibited financial health.
*This will be a joint session with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Peer Groups.
Jeff Olson, Chief Institutional Data and Research Officer, Bethel University (MN)
Every year, Bethel University provides their “Bethel Study” survey as a means of sharing patterns of pricing and discounting among participating schools, along with institutional policies, human resource issues and best practices in aid administration. Analyzing 26 years of results allows us to track trends in issues of broader interest to other university administrators. Analysis of changes in family wealth, discount rates, enrollment, tuition revenue and the average net price paid by students in traditional undergraduate programs provides insights into the characteristics of institutions that have exhibited financial health.
*This will be a joint session with the Enrollment and Financial Aid Peer Groups.
Jeff Olson, Chief Institutional Data and Research Officer, Bethel University (MN)
Christian higher education is at a critical juncture where institutions must harness the power of digital transformation (DX) and advanced data analytics to remain accessible, affordable and mission-driven. This session will explore how colleges and universities can reimagine their futures by integrating cutting-edge technologies with forward-thinking enterprise strategies aligned to the evolving needs of today’s learners. Participants will also be invited to join a monthly roundtable, where leaders can collaborate on new solutions that address both institutional priorities and the evolving demands of modern learners.
Justin Rose, Associate Vice President, Information Management & Digital Learning, Southeastern University