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cincinnati christian university
momentum 2013
Letter from the President
Something Old,
Something New
Academics at CCU
Dr. Tom Thatcher
Chief Academic Officer
tom.thatcher@CCUniversity.edu
Dr. David Faust
President@CCUniversity.edu
Cincinnati Christian University is in the midst of a dynamic period of change and growth. Reflecting
the long-time vision of President Faust, CCU’s new strategic plan calls for a significant expansion
of the scope and appeal of the university’s academic offerings, with a view to attracting more
students who seek a distinctly Christian educational experience. At the same time, the Bible remains
CCU’s chief textbook, and every course and degree program seeks to develop Christian leaders with
a sound biblical worldview and a mature relationship with Christ.
In sports they call momentum the “Big Mo”—
the inner drive to succeed that pushes a team
forward with increasing energy. Marathon
runners find it easier to keep going when they
hit their stride. Businesses and schools thrive
as momentum builds.
In his popular book Good to Great, Jim Collins
compares momentum to pushing a flywheel.
He writes:
“
pushing the flywheel
With persistent pushing in
a consistent direction over
a long period of time, the
flywheel builds momentum,
eventually hitting a point
of breakthrough.
Most of life’s worthwhile achievements,
including earning a college degree, come after
pushing the flywheel for a long time.
A lot of people have kept CCU moving forward
over the last 89 years, with plenty of victories
to celebrate along the way. A professor
smiles as she reads a final exam, realizing
that her student truly grasps the lesson.
Graduates receive their diplomas after years
of determined effort. A coach feels a sense of
satisfaction because the student-athlete he’s
mentoring has grown into a wise young man
as well as a talented player. A donor sees CCU
moving forward and feels the joy that comes
from helping to build God’s kingdom.
“
There are many indications of
positive momentum here at CCU.
• The Stepping Up Campaign initiated
last winter has yielded nearly half
a million dollars in extra financial
support.
• We have restructured our academic
programs—protecting our biblical
core, strengthening our professional
programs, expanding our mission, and
positioning the school for growth.
• We have solidified CCU’s financial
future through a 20-year refinancing
agreement with Central Bank.
• We have begun implementing a
new Strategic Plan that highlights
important growth opportunities such
as Distance Learning.
• We have closed the Rine Dorm to begin
needed renovations and upgrades
during the 2013-14 school year.
• We have kept our tuition rates flat this
school year to keep CCU affordable for
our students.
Thank you for standing alongside us,
helping to push the flywheel. Let’s keep
the momentum going.
All of these changes can be summarized in two simple statements: we want to offer better, more effective,
and more helpful degrees that prepare students both spiritually and professionally; we want
to serve Christian students who seek a wide range of careers in the church and the marketplace. Too
often in the past, prospective students interested in biblical higher education have chosen other universities
because CCU did not offer programs that fit their career goals. Our new initiatives reach out
to these students while maintaining vibrant programs for preparation for ministry.
NEW DIVISIONS: Last fall, the university was
restructured to create new academic divisions
reflecting specialized professional training, including
a School of Business, the Russell School of Ministry,
and a School of Education and Behavioral Sciences.
The College of Adult Learning (CAL) has been
converted from an academic program to a full
division of the university meeting the needs of adult
undergraduate students who wish to continue their
education in a convenient, accelerated format.
NEW DEGREES: CCU’s faculty completed a
substantial revision of the university catalogue,
revising most of our degree programs and many
individual courses. In the process, a number of new
programs and concentrations have been developed,
including Business Management, Accounting, Sports
Management, and Organizational Leadership. CCU’s
new college degrees differ from previous offerings in
two key respects. First, most undergraduate degrees
are now shorter (120 hours), allowing students to
SO WHAT’S NEW AT CCU? A LOT!
finish their programs more easily while maintaining
accreditation standards. Second, the Biblical/
Theological Studies core of CCU’s college degrees has
been updated to ensure that our biblical education is
relevant to personal life and readily applicable to the
church and the workplace.
NEW FACULTY: To reflect the changes in courses
and degree programs, CCU has added six new fulltime
faculty members, including new professors of
Education, Business, Counseling, English, and Biblical
Studies.
NEW VENUES: CCU is exploring new partnerships
and new venues that offer new opportunities
to attract students and friends. These include
discussions with a marketplace ministry group and
an inner-city mission, and plans for the development
of new extension campuses and online learning
opportunities.
While a lot is new at CCU, we remain committed to some “old” things as well. Our values have not
changed: CCU exists to prepare men and women to serve the church and shape the world, and we
do so by training them in Scripture and developing their professional skills. Whether our students
seek to work in a church, a not-for-profit, a family business, a major corporation, a public school, or
a counseling clinic, all of them are well-equipped to represent Christ to the world. These values will
not change, and they are reflected in the names of two of our new academic divisions: the Foster
School of Biblical Studies, Arts and Sciences, and the Russell School of Ministry. These names remind
us of CCU’s heritage of faith and commitment to the church, and they inspire us in our dreams
and plans for the future.
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