$100,000 Grant From Christian Credit Union

WASHINGTON – The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is pleased to announce a robust and strategic new partnership with America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU) through a $100,000 grant that will underwrite research on the economic impact that Christian colleges and universities have in the United States.

“If we want to be effective communicators of the full value of Christian higher education, we must know the vital statistics of how and why Christian colleges impact their locality, their state, and the nation,” said CCCU President Shirley V. Hoogstra. “We are grateful for the leaders at America’s Christian Credit Union, who recognize both the value of Christian colleges and universities and the need for this research at this time.”

The grant will allow the CCCU to recruit the services of the Philadelphia-based Econsult Solutions, which provides insights into economic problems, policy questions, and strategic thinking. The group will provide a national impact analysis of CCCU institutions that incorporates quantitative and qualitative information from each institution into a narrative of the aggregate economic impact of members in the U.S.

“At America’s Christian Credit Union, we strive to reach, serve, and teach our members and staff through biblical principles,” said ACCU President and CEO Mendell Thompson. “Our goal is to be a life-transforming financial institution to those we serve. We are honored to partner with such a strategic organization as CCCU, whose vision and strength continue to shape the future of Christian higher education.”

In addition to the nationwide study, the ACCU grant will also enable Econsult to take a closer look at CCCU institutions’ impact on a state, as well as how a single institution impacts a local community. California will be the first state it focuses on, with Azusa Pacific University selected as the individual institution.

“Christian universities generate significant economic benefits for communities that may not be well understood by our neighbors, government officials, and other stakeholders, which makes this initiative so necessary,” said Jon R. Wallace, president of Azusa Pacific University. “Our university is appreciative of these efforts by the CCCU and America’s Christian Credit Union and is honored to be the first selected for this institutional study.”

Going forward, other states and universities will also be able to commission similar research studies. A Canadian concept for this type of research will be explored as well. Data for the national survey is already being collected, and the results of the research are anticipated to be released later this year.

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of 180 Christian institutions around the world. With campuses across the globe, including 152 in the U.S. and Canada and 28 more from an additional 18 countries, CCCU institutions are regionally accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities whose missions are Christ-centered and rooted in the historic Christian faith. Most also have curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. The CCCU’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth. Visit www.cccu.org.