What do the numbers 12, 40 and 550+ have to do with each other?  For Amber Palmer, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities’ Student Programs Representative & Marketing Specialist, these numbers signify the 12 programs available for students to study off-campus with the CCCU, the 40 schools Palmer visits each year to promote off-campus study and the 550+ highly qualified and interested students she seeks for participation in CCCU programs.

The CCCU offers off-campus study opportunities in three categories:  culture-crossing, culture-shaping and international partner.  The culture-shaping programs provide students with hands-on, resume-building experience in film in Hollywood, contemporary music on Martha’s Vineyard and public life and journalism in Washington, D.C.   Culture-crossing programs introduce students to the government, business and cultural aspects of China, Russia, Latin America, the Middle East and Oxford.  And in the new international partner programs, students join local university students studying at the Wesley Institute for Ministry and the Arts in Australia and at Uganda Christian University in Uganda, Africa.

While visiting a CCCU campus, Palmer seeks to promote the school’s policies for off-campus study by displaying information about the CCCU’s off-campus opportunities; speaking with classes, faculty members and staff about unique ways to explore God’s world as a student; and assisting campuses in formulating on-campus systems to facilitate an easy transition between on-campus and off-campus study.  Additionally, Palmer works to creatively market study abroad through coffee houses, alumni panels, discussion groups and question and answer sessions.

“I love my job,” Palmer said.  “Each time I am on a campus, I meet the outstanding students and faculty that populate CCCU schools.  These students are well-equipped to engage God’s world, and I tell them about opportunities to try out the things have learned on-campus in culture-crossing and culture-shaping locations around the world.”

Currently, Palmer is organizing her travel schedule for the 2004-2005 school year.  Due to other job responsibilities, Palmer is able to visit only 40 CCCU schools each year.  To learn more about having Amber Palmer include your school in her travels next year, email her at apalmer@cccu.org.