Pre-Forum Gatherings

The pre-conference pricing is the same for both members and non-members. Those selecting the pre-conference-only option will pay a $55 base fee in addition to the selected pre-conference fee. 

  • The Advancing Women In Leadership (AWIL) Conference prepares women to influence and impact Christian higher education. It brings women together to share insights, exchange wisdom, and cultivate the confidence needed to secure leadership roles.

    Thursday, January 29
    1 PM - 5 PM
    $75 registration fee

    SCHEDULE & AGENDA

    • Welcome

    • Theme Introduction and Leadership Stats

    • Speaker followed by Group Discussions

    • Break

    • Panel Discussion

    • Group Discussions & Engagement

    • Break

    • Speaker followed by Group Discussions

    • Break

    • Keynote Address

    • Reflection and Communion

    • Thanks and Recognition 

  • Board Leadership for Kingdom Impact
    In today’s rapidly shifting higher ed environment, it’s more important than ever for trustees of Christian colleges to lead with clarity, courage, and a deep commitment to mission. This one-day Governance Workshop is tailored specifically for board members of Christ-centered institutions, offering practical tools and fresh insight on issues that matter most: protecting religious liberty, upholding academic integrity, stewarding financial health, and—most critically—guarding the God-given distinctives of Christian higher education. With experienced facilitators and interactive sessions, this is a unique opportunity to strengthen your board’s leadership and sharpen your institution’s witness. This one-day workshop takes place in Dallas, Texas just before the CCCU International Forum—a perfect opportunity for board members to stay and engage with the broader conversation on Christian higher education.

    Thursday, January 29
    9 AM - 4:45 PM
    (lunch provided)
    $95 registration

    Full schedule

  • Designed exclusively for Chief Financial Officers and Business Office leaders, this session will offer practical insights, proven strategies, and invaluable networking to strengthen your institution’s financial leadership.

    Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and lead with confidence!

    Thursday, January 29
    9 AM - 12 PM
    $75 registration fee

    The Financial Viability of the CCCU – Dan Campbell

    Prognosticators predict the demise of small, private Christian liberal arts colleges. In this session, Dan Campbell, Director of Higher Education Services for CapinCrouse, LLC will explore the financial stability and viability of CCCU institutions using a member institution as case study. We will benchmark our member institution against CCCU peers using publicly available data including audit reports, form 990, and IPEDS.

    Your New Teammate: Practical Generative AI for the CFOSuite – Bart Caylor
    While the headlines around GenAI often focus on content creation, the true power for CFOs lies in data synthesis and decision support. In this session, Bart Caylor (Caylor Solutions) offers a pragmatic look at the tools helping C-suite leaders sift through "mountains of data" to find the signal in the noise. He will demonstrate how to integrate AI into your workflow to enhance financial clarity, ask better questions, and empower you to focus on high-level, mission-fit strategy.

    Special thanks to Cornerstone Management and National Management Resources for sponsoring this pre-forum session.

  • The Faith and Learning pre-conference workshop will focus on Formative Practices for Faithful Service. We will take a comprehensive look at our current culture and identify practices offered at CCCU institutions formulated to help students experience personal and vocational lives of faithful service. We will also explore how CCCU institutions can stay true to their missions while supporting their efforts to effectively lead conversations around faith and learning with faculty and staff.

    Thursday, January 29
    9 AM - 4:30 PM
    (lunch provided)
    $95 registration

    Full schedule

    Special thanks to Samford University's Mann Institute for Christian Faith and Learning for sponsoring this pre-forum session.

  • The Strategic Messaging Workshop is designed to equip you with strategies, messaging tools, and integrating AI into your messaging to elevate internal and external communications, no matter your department or experience level.

    This hands-on, interactive session will include:

    • Crafting compelling and authentic messaging that resonate with your audience with the correct channels

    • Explore the nuances of generational differences and the hidden signals of digital communication styles

    • A crisis communication roundtable

    • An opportunity to workshop your campus communications issues with participants

    • Utilizing AI in messaging: How to write ethical, compelling messages in customized styles that work for your campus

    Thursday, January 29
    9 AM - 12 PM
    $75 registration fee

    Special thanks to Powered By Text for sponsoring this pre-forum session.

  • This workshop will provide CCCU presidents and senior leaders with a confidential, peer-based environment to confront the “hard truths” of institutional sustainability, explore pathways for scale (shared services, system affiliation, or M&A), and clarify the board-level decisions, timelines, and next steps required to act faithfully and responsibly in the current higher education landscape.

    Thursday, January 29th
    1:00-5:00 PM