Colorado Christian University
| File:CCUWatermark.gif | |
| Motto | χαρις και αληθεια (Grace and Truth) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private , Evangelical |
| Established | 1914 |
| President | William L. Armstrong |
| Students | 2,200+ |
| Location | , , USA |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Navy Blue , Gold |
| Affiliations | Council for Christian Colleges and Universities |
| Mascot | Cougars |
| Website | http://www.ccu.edu |
Colorado Christian University (CCU) is an Interdenominational evangelical Christian liberal arts university. More than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled at CCU’s main campus in Lakewood, Colorado, at regional centers throughout Colorado, and around the world via the Internet. Former United States Senator William L. Armstrong currently serves as president.
Location
CCU is located at the edge of the Rocky Mountains in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb just 10 miles west of downtown Denver. In addition to the main campus, CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies (CAGS) has four regional learning centers in Colorado and various partner and satellite sites throughout the state. Many CAGS courses are also available online.
For over 40 years, CCU held classes on a 53 acres site in Morrison, Colorado. The Foothills Campus is no longer being used and plans have failed to rezone additional property at the site for future use.[1] The campus was also home to Christian radio station KWBI, later purchased by K-Love.
History
CCU’s heritage dates back to the formation of Denver Bible Institute in 1914. As the demand for Christian education grew, Denver Bible Institute was granted a state charter to become a four-year Bible college known in 1945 as Denver Bible College. As expansion continued with the formulation of three main academic schools: the College of Liberal Arts, the Theological School, and the Bible Institute, Denver Bible College became Rockmont College in 1949. During this period of time, a Denver Bible Institute alumnus founded Western Bible Institute whose mission was to “prepare students for the field of ministry”.
In 1981, Rockmont College was awarded accreditation by the North Central Association, and four years later merged with Western Bible Institute to become Colorado Christian College. Recognizing the benefits of combining resources in order to create an influential Christian university in Colorado, Colorado Christian College merged with Colorado Baptist University, in 1989, to become what is now Colorado Christian University.
Academics and Accreditation
CCU is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and is the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in an eight-state region. CCU is also a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the CCU School of Music has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the national governing body for schools of music in higher education.
CCU offers associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as certificate and licensing programs. The College of Undergraduate Studies offers 21 major and 22 minor programs of study, as well as, several pre-professional programs.
Majors (Emphasis)
- Accounting
- Biblical Studies
- Biology
- Business Administration (Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Finance, Management, and Marketing)
- Computer Information Systems
- Education, Elementary - Liberal Arts
- Education, Secondary - English
- Education, Secondary - History
- Education, Secondary - Math
- Education, Secondary - Science
- English (Creative Writing)
- Global Studies
- History (American, European, Non-Western)
- Human Communication
- Liberal Arts (General Studies, Literature, and Philosophy)
- Mathematics
- Music (Performance and Sound Recording Technology)
- Music Education (Choral, General Music, and Instrumental)
- Music Ministry
- Psychology
- Science
- Social Science (Global Studies, History, and Psychology)
- Theology
- Youth Ministry
Minors
- Accounting
- Biblical Studies
- Biology
- Business
- Computer Information Systems
- Chemistry
- Education
- English
- Finance
- Global Studies
- History
- Human Communication
- Leadership Studies
- Mathematics
- Music
- Music Ministry
- Outdoor Leadership
- Psychology
- Spanish
- Theology
- Young Life Leadership
- Youth Ministry
Pre-Professional Programs
- Pre-Law
- Pre-Medicine
Licensure Programs
- Elementary Education
- Music Education K-12
- Secondary Education: English, General Science, History, and Mathematics
Off-Campus Programs
- BestSemester (Study Abroad Program)
- Focus on the Family Institute
- Jerusalem University College
Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
The average student-faculty ratio at CCU is currently 20:1, with seventy-seven percent of that full-time faculty having acquired terminal degrees.
Financial Aid
The majority of students at CCU qualify to receive some level of financial assistance through either scholarships and grants, work-study programs, or loans. In order to be considered for financial aid, students must first complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Student Life
In direct correlation with CCU's mission to produce graduates who think critically, live faithfully, and impact effectively their spheres of influence, CCU offers its student body many opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom, as well as, around the globe.
Residence Life
CCU's housing is set up in such a way as to help foster community between students. Every student is assigned a Resident Assistant who is responsible for coordinating physical, educational, and spiritual events for their residents in order to provide a catalyst for relational development. Some events that RA's have developed in the past are:
- Camping trips
- Caving expeditions
- Coffee shops
- Evenings of Worship
- Fondue Night
- Hiking Colorado's beautiful 14ers
- Ice skating in Evergreen, CO
- Not Prom
- Paintball
- Progressive Dinners
CCU2theWorld Mission Trips
Since 1999, CCU has been sending its students around the world in order to expand their global perspective and to actively serve those who are in need, while sharing God's love. Currently CCU students have served in 6 continents, 42 countries, and over 65 cities world-wide, including:
| Continent | Country | City | Organization | Mission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Morocco | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Helped rebuild homes that were destroyed in the 2004 earthquakes. |
| Africa | Mozambique | TBA | CCU2theWorld | |
| Africa | South Africa | TBA | CCU2theWorld | |
| Africa | Uganda | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Served in camp and VBS ministry, AIDS orphanage work and Hospice care, and rural outreach. |
| Africa | Zimbabwe | Harare | CCU2theWorld | Assisted with a building project and participated in evangelism and descipleship through one on one relationships in local high schools. |
| Asia | Bhutan | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Contributed to trail building and rural improvement projects. |
| Asia | India | Daragaon | CCU2theWorld/IDEAS | Supported two CCU alumns in their community development work among nationals through trail building. |
| Asia | Japan | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Volunteered in local orphanages and elderly homes. Conducted leadership trainings for local churches and missionary schools. |
| Asia | Nepal | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Trekked through the Himalayas distributing literature and taking the Word to those who would not otherwise have heard. |
| Asia | Thailand | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Ministered to children who had been saved from the life of prostitution. Shared the gospel in a Buddhist nation with Christian inhabitants totaling less than 1%. |
| Asia | The Middle East | TBA | CCU2theWorld | |
| Asia | Turkey | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Participated in relational evangelism, Bible distribution, and served full-time missionaries in the least evangelized nation in the world. Held leadership training sessions on displaying God's love to the Muslims. |
| Australia | Gold Coast | Brisbane | CCU2theWorld/Ann Street Church of Christ | Reached out to aboriginal populations in the inner city through sports outreach, Bible studies, and friendship evangelism. |
| Central America | Costa Rica | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Helped further develop La Montana Christian Camp by aiding in the building of new camp buildings, staffing the camp for a retreat of local schools, and evangelizing to the surrounding areas of the camp. |
| Central America | Guatemala | TBA | CCU2theWorld | |
| Central America | Honduras | TBA | CCU2theWorld/Home of Refuge | Provided food, shelter, clothing, and the Word of God to physically abused children. |
| Central America | Nicaragua | Managua | CCU2theWorld/Project Chacocente/Unidas Foundation | Assisted Project Chacocente in practical ways while helping relocate Nicaraguans from the city dump. Constructed a facility at a local school and witnessed through sports outreach. |
| Europe | Austria | Vienna | CCU2theWorld | Taught English, provided sports camps for children in local area schools, and assisted in restoration efforts for flood victims. |
| Europe | England | Birmingham | CCU2theWorld/Operation Mobilization | Trained students how to witness effectively to Muslim immigrants through the distribution of the "Jesus Film", hosting boys/girls clubs, and book table ministry in the city center. |
| Europe | Estonia | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Worked in a local orphanage and nursing home. Taught English in a local area high school. |
| Europe | France | Paris | CCU2theWorld/Dayspring Project | Joined in a church planting effort through building relationships and prayer walking. |
| Europe | Ireland | Dublin | CCU2theWorld | Built relationships with Irish youth and youth workers, worked with local youth groups to set up youth nights, provided seminars for volunteer youth leaders, and attended a youth conference. |
| Europe | Bulgaria | Kosovo | CCU2theWorld | |
| Europe | Netherlands | Amsterdam | CCU2theWorld | |
| Europe | Poland | TBA | CCU2theWorld | |
| Europe | Romania | Arad | CCU2theWorld/Global Hope | Served in government run orphanage, recoup center, and in Global Hope's House of Hope. Also participated in ministering to street children. |
| Europe | Russia | Caucasus | CCU2theWorld | |
| Europe | Russia | Moscow | CCU2theWorld | |
| Europe | Russia | St. Petersberg | CCU2theWorld | |
| Europe | Scotland | Lenzie | CCU2theWorld/Lenzie Parish Union Church | Participated in the weekly ministry of a local parish with children and youth, organized special outreach for unbelievers, and visited with the elderly. |
| Europe | Spain | TBA | CCU2theWorld | |
| Europe | Ukraine | TBA | CCU2theWorld | |
| Middle America | Mexico | Chihuahua | CCU2theWorld | Worked alongside a local body of believers helping them take the gospel to surrounding towns while helping meet practical needs of the people there. |
| Middle America | Mexico | Delicias | CCU2theWorld | |
| Middle America | Mexico | Jaurez | CCU2theWorld | Continued CCU's relationship with the church of Juarez through leadership training seminars, Vacation Bible Schools, and various forms of evangelism. |
| Middle America | Mexico | Tijuana | CCU2theWorld | Served by helping with community projects and shared the gospel to over 42 different ethnic groups. |
| Middle America | Mexico | Yucatan | CCU2theWorld | Worked with Mayan and Mexican locals to construct a church building, including church pews and a roof. At night ministered to Spring Breakers at the beach. |
| North America | USA | Alaska | CCU2theWorld | |
| North America | USA | Boston, Massachusettes | CCU2theWorld | Worked alongside existing inner city ministries helping them put on weekly events and complete work projects. |
| North America | USA | Chicago, Illinois | CCU2theWorld | |
| North America | USA | Dearborn, Michigan | CCU2theWorld | Built relationships and experienced Muslim thought and culture in hopes of aiding the long-range plan of displaying the love of Christ and power of the Holy Spirit. |
| North America | USA | Los Angeles, California | CCU2theWorld/World Impact Ministries | Participated in hands-on ministry in the inner city and experienced god's movement in LA/Watts. |
| North America | USA | Montana | CCU2theWorld/Forward Edge | Served and ministered on the Crow Reservation. |
| North America | USA | New Mexico | CCU2theWorld/Navajo and Arapahoe Reservations | Aided Native American believers in practical matters such as chopping wood for the winter months in a place where there is no electricity and witnessing through the distribution of Thanksgiving turkeys. Helped build a new church, assisted pastors, and worked with church youth. |
| North America | USA | New Orleans, Louisiana | CCU2theWorld/Samaritan's Purse | Assisted workers in the continued relief and recovery efforts of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast. |
| North America | USA | New York City, New York | CCU2theWorld | Ministered to children dying of AIDS in a group home while completing outreach service projects. |
| North America | USA | Salt Lake City, Utah | CCU2theWorld | Encouraged believers in their faith and enhanced student knowledge of Mormon practices and teaching. |
| North America | USA | San Diego, California | CCU2theWorld | |
| South America | Boliva | TBA | CCU2theWorld | Ministered in rural villages while sharing the Good News of Christ. |
| South America | Ecuador | El Carmen | CCU2theWorld | Assisted in evangelism, teaching English, and community building projects including a hospital and farm. |
| South America | Peru | Lima | CCU2theWorld/AMG International | Ministered to impoverished children and orphans through Vacation Bible School and compassion outreach. |
Athletics
CCU is an NCAA Division II institution that offers 12 intercollegiate sports including:
- Baseball (Men)
- Basketball (Men and Women)
- Cross Country (Men and Women)
- Golf (Men and Women)
- Soccer(Men and Women)
- Tennis (Men and Women)
- Volleyball (Women)
The CCU Cougars compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Notable alumni
- Bert Banzhaf, Campus for Christ in South Africa [2]
- Danny Ee, Youth for Christ[3]
- Thomas Graham, past director of California State Universities[4]
- Ivan Olson, Founder - Bercan Fundamentalist Fellowship[5]
- Leanor Ortega, saxophonist for Five Iron Frenzy and now is on staff with Scum of the Earth Church
- Alex Strauch, Author[6]
- Duncan Wilkie, Founder FCFFI[7]
External links
- Colorado Christian University Webpage
- Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Webpage
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Webpage
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities Webpage
- National Association of Schools of Music Webpage
- National Collegiate Athletic Association Webpage
- Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Webpage
