WASHINGTON, DC—Of the 677 students who studied in a BestSemester program during the 2005-2006 school year, nine had already experienced their BestSemester once before. When the opportunity came to study again with one of the CCCU’s 12 off-campus study programs, these nine students took it. Since the 1999-2000 academic year, 75 students have attended more than one BestSemester program during their college careers.

Emily Aaston of The Master’s College & Seminary (CA) is currently in the Uganda Studies Program after spending fall 2005 with The Scholars’ Semester in Oxford. "There is nothing like living and studying in another country," she says. "Studying in Oxford was an amazing experience and the opportunity to travel around Europe was awesome. Also, it is helping to give me a better global perspective and worldview. Some things cannot be learned in books. Study abroad really is ‘life-changing’ and one cannot really explain the things learned unless one experiences it. It will be hard, different, shocking, stretching, but priceless."

Anthony Campau of Southeastern University (FL) studied first with the American Studies Program and then with The Scholars’ Semester in Oxford. "I was so moved by the CCCU's approach to learning and to God that I knew another ‘Best Semester’ was in order," he says. "My two semesters in Council programs have challenged me academically and spiritually more than I ever could have imagined. Not only do I know much more about the broader world, but also about God and about myself."

After studying in both Oxford and at the Australia Studies Centre (ASC), Charity Edwards, a graduate of George Fox University (OR), is now a program intern with ASC. She says, "The CCCU programs, combined with other travel opportunities with my school, taught me balance, the joy of living in a community and the value of art as a tool for Christians to redeem culture. Studying abroad expands your worldview and challenges you to approach culture from more than one perspective."

Danara Schurch from Taylor University (IN), a graduate of both the Contemporary Music Center and the Middle East Studies Program, is currently working at Epic records in New York and manages, among other things, the international account for world-renowned music artist Shakira. Shakira's newest record combines both English and Arabic words in parts of the lyrics. Since Danara has a background in Middle-Eastern studies (MESP) and her graduate level work is Middle-Eastern Affairs, the label has consulted with her to make sure that marketing the record is done with sensitivity to all cultures.

BestSemester alumni Michael Greer, a graduate of Grace College & Seminary (IN), and Andrew Platt of Kentucky Christian University (KY), were roommates at both the Middle East Studies Program (MESP) and at the China Studies Program (CSP). Greer is now in the Peace Corps in Jordan and Platt is the program assistant at with the China Studies Program. Krystal Wubben of Nyack College (NY) was a student of the Latin American Studies Program (LASP) and of MESP; she has been on staff at LASP since 2004.

Jerry Herbert, director of the American Studies Program, notes that students who have studied off-campus tend to be even more open to learning from the unexpected. "ASP (and off-campus programs generally) provide students opportunities to learn how to navigate the tension and surprise involved in achieving new perspectives on life, learning and the wider world," says Herbert. "Having some previous experience in doing so typically motivates the student to take greater responsibility for their own learning. This, in turn, opens the way for gaining richer insights from the experiential learning opportunities made available through off-campus programs."

CCCU Vice President for Student Programs Ken Bussema acknowledges that not every student or campus can realistically expect to be involved in two programs. "We are well aware of the academic program complications and financial burden that participating in more than one semester away from campus often entails," says Bussema. "However when students are able to participate in a second BestSemester program, they not only experience the benefits for their own learning, they also make two important contributions. Since they are familiar with the unique features of experience-based learning, they often emerge early on as student leaders encouraging others to get fully involved. Secondly, they bring the added dimension of a adding a broader global point of view to the mix of ideas and experiences the other students bring to a program."

The 12 semester- or summer-long student programs offered by the CCCU are categorized as either culture-shaping programs or culture-crossing programs. 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 Washington Journalism Center (Washington, D.C.), which is scheduled to launch in Fall 2006. Included in the culture-crossing programs are: Australia Studies Centre; China Studies Program; Latin American Studies Program; Middle East Studies Program; Programmes in Oxford; Russian Studies Program; and Uganda Studies Program. All programs undergo regular site visit evaluations by the Student Academic Programs Commission (SAPC).

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, 71 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.