CCCU was formed in September 1976 by leaders of 38 colleges and universities who met in Washington, D.C. The primary objectives were to monitor legislation, public opinion and judicial activity affecting Christian colleges, and to establish a unified voice on issues of religious and educational freedom.
The stated mission of CCCU is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help institutions change lives by "faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth."
Colleges and universities that seek membership must be strongly committed to Christian education and be fully accredited. Christians must occupy the faculty and administrative positions, and the curriculum should be primarily four-years and broadly based in the arts and sciences. Colleges seeking membership must be financially sound. A listing of member colleges and universities and affiliate institutions is available from CCCU and is listed in the resources section.
Students at CCCU-member colleges and universities can take advantage of the Best Semester program that offers international study programs around the world and in North America. These include programs in China, Latin America, the Middle East, Russia and others. CCCU also sponsors two intensive Oxford study programs. A number of college planning resources also are available through CCCU.
Administrative staff and faculty of member colleges are eligible for CCCU-sponsored study tours, networking grants to foster collaborative scholarship and programs to increase effectiveness in teaching. Dependents of faculty and administrative staff can qualify for tuition waivers. Several annual conferences and workshops are designed for faculty of member schools, and CCCU provides sabbatical opportunities for faculty of member institutions. CCCU maintains a resource library for reference on best practices, informative studies and research on pertinent topics.
CCCU sponsors student summer programs on public policy in Washington, D.C. and operates a film studies center in Los Angeles. The organization is also involved in research on demographic, enrollment, racial and ethnic diversity among students. CCCU also publishes material concerning Christian higher education, such as "Peterson's Guide to Christian Colleges & Universities."