WASHINGTON, D.C.—On Aug. 1, 2005, Dr. Ken Bussema began his role as vice president of student programs for the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU). Bussema holds a master of arts in degree guidance and counseling and a doctorate of education in counseling psychology, both from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Az.
Immediately prior to joining the CCCU staff, Bussema served Dordt College (IA) as director of off-campus and cross-cultural programs. Previously, he was a professor of psychology at Dordt for 25 years.
Bussema says three things really attracted him to the position of vice president for student programs: “CCCU’s commitment to providing high quality, challenging and life shaping learning experiences thoroughly grounded in a biblical worldview; the opportunity to assist member colleges and universities in responding to their education mission to prepare tomorrow’s leaders – in all walks of life- to cross borders, engage the global community and to be a positive, shaping influence on popular culture; and to be part of an outstanding team of highly qualified , creative, and dedicated directors and support staff committed to making each participant’s experience their ‘best semester’.”
In his new position, Bussema is responsible for operational oversight and curriculum development for the ten CCCU-owned and two partner programs. In addition, he manages a staff of nine program directors, two study-abroad advisors, a marketing manager, a programs manager for the partner programs and a student programs representative to campuses. He also serves as the chief enrollment officer for admission into the CCCU student programs and will serve within the CCCU Leadership Group.
“My primary goal,” says Bussema, “is to provide leadership and support to the entire student programs team so they can continue to provide meaningful and life shaping learning opportunities for as many students as we can serve, and to respond creatively and enthusiastically to God’s leading and command to go out into all of the world, claiming his Lordship and rule.”
The ten semester- or summer-long student programs offered by the CCCU are categorized as either culture-crossing programs or culture-shaping programs. Included in the culture-crossing programs are: China Studies Program; Latin American Studies Program; Middle East Studies Program; Programmes in Oxford; and Russian Studies Program. Culture-shaping programs are: American Studies Program (Washington, D.C.); Contemporary Music Center (Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.); Los Angeles Film Studies Center (L.A., Calif.); and Summer Institute of Journalism (Washington, D.C.).
The CCCU’s two International Partner Programs, the Australia Studies Centre and Uganda Studies Program, are different from CCCU-managed programs in that the Partner program’s day-to-day management and staffing is stewarded by the affiliate institution.
Outgoing director of student programs Kimberly Spragg became the director of the Australia Studies Centre on July 1, 2005.
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of more than 170 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are now 105 member campuses in North America and all are fully-accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 67 affiliate campuses from 24 countries are part of the CCCU. The Council’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.