Philosophy of Education

Board Approved, January 2018

The essence statement of CCU is a philosophical description of the institution and its people — students, staff, faculty, administration, trustees and alumni.  While acknowledging that, as individuals we are at different points along the way, we are all nevertheless journeying toward the ideals described in the Core Values that follow: Simply Jesus, Superior Academics, Servant Leadership.

Core Values

1. Simply Jesus
   1. We acknowledge that God is the origin of all things and the source of the values made known to us in His creation, in human experience, and finally and fully, in Jesus Christ.
   2. We confess Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives, our university, our world, and as the final authority for our faith and life.
   3. We recognize that redemption by Jesus Christ and personal acceptance of His forgiveness are necessary for human wholeness.
   4. Authority of the Bible: We hold the Bible as the Word of God, the basis of our faith, and the primary record by which these values are made known.
   5. The Leading of the Holy Spirit: We rely on the Holy Spirit to help us discover these values. Thereby we call into question the values of the world. 
2. Superior Academics
   1. We believe all truth is of God. Therefore, we recognize the importance of each field of study both for its own significance and for its interrelationship with other areas of knowledge.
   2. We believe that God desires that we pursue excellence according to the standard of His will for us.
   3. Knowledge: We value a thorough command of the primary resources, methodology, and major issues in academic fields of study.
   4. Understanding: We value intellectual curiosity, flexibility, and critical open-mindedness in learning. We value the ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity, and to consider evidence in godly decision-making. We value a Christian understanding of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. We are students of their roles in biblical Creation, Fall and Redemption.
   5. Skills: We value the acquisition and development of skills related to academic fields of study, and an understanding how field-specific skills may be adapted to other fields.
   6. Practical Application: We value the practical application of academic content to expand the Kingdom of God and for the edification of the body of Christ. 
3. Servant Leadership
   1. We show love toward God and love toward each other.
   2. We engage in community as members of one body of Christ and maintain a nonsectarian openness toward all Christians.
   3. We honor our commitments and take responsibility for our personal behavior, decisions, and continuing growth.
   4. We know from experience that self-discipline, struggle, risk, and confrontation are necessary for growth, and recognize that because of the grace of God, we grow even through our failures.
   5. We have experiences in self-assessment in every dimension of our lives, including values clarification based on biblical truths. We plan for continuous individual growth and renewal.
   6. We understand the capabilities of our physical bodies and are committed to the lifelong nurturing of our physical selves so that we can be of service to the Lord and others.
   7. We are servants who:
      1. Are able to joyfully follow Jesus’ example of service in the world and to pour out our individual and corporate lives for others because of God’s love in Christ for us.
      2. Share our faith unashamedly, disciple other Christians, participate in missionary endeavors, and minister to the needs of all persons, regardless of their agreement with our beliefs. We affirm the unique worth of every individual. We regard each individual as having God-given gifts and talents to be discovered, developed, and directed toward service.
      3. Are faithful stewards of our time, talents, and resources. We welcome and seek opportunities for service as a means to clarify and practice our faith and knowledge.
   8. We value truth and humility.
   9. We value a spiritually surrendered life in both our work and our walk with the Lord.
   10. We value infectious, optimistic, and enthusiastic attitudes that have the best interests of the team at heart.
   11. We value a teachable heart and growth in our lives and ministries.
   12. We are committed to personal sacrifice in meeting the spiritual and practical needs of students and one another.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13

To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, CCU seeks to accomplish the following Expected Learning Outcomes.

Calvary Chapel University graduates:

Simply Jesus

• • Exhibit knowledge, understanding and skills in light of scriptural truth.
  • Exhibit Christian character.
  • Impact their families, workplaces, and communities for Christ.
  • Interact in truth and love with a world in need of personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Superior Academics

• • Think critically.
  • Think creatively.
  • Communicate effectively.
  • Use technology effectively.

Servant Leadership

• • Exhibit Christian leadership.
  • Live a life of obedience by faith and glorify God.
  • Practice an enduring commitment to use God-given gifts and talents to serve God and others, and to live out God’s plan.
  • Enjoy healthy interpersonal relationships.