CCHE | Commission on Christ-Centered Higher Education

About the CCHE

The Commission on Christ-Centered Higher Education (CCHE) is a faith-based institutional authorization and quality-assurance body serving higher-education providers whose identity, governance, teaching, and community life are intentionally centered on the Christian faith.

The Commission maintains a public register of authorized institutions and applies a common review framework addressing Christian mission, institutional integrity, academic quality, student support, responsible stewardship, and continuing accountability. Registry entries are published through the Global Educational Registry for public verification.

Mission & Mandate

CCHE encourages trustworthy, academically responsible, and authentically Christ-centered higher education through institutional review, authorization decisions, continuing monitoring, public registry maintenance, and defined corrective-action and appeals processes.

Christian Identity

Mission, governance, and educational practice remain meaningfully Christ-centered.

Academic Integrity

Curriculum, faculty oversight, assessment, and awarded credentials meet stated standards.

Public Accountability

Authorization records are clear and material institutional changes are reported promptly.

Governance, Delegated Authority & Institutional Independence

CCHE governance separates standard-setting, institutional evaluation, authorization decisions, appeals oversight, registry administration, and routine secretariat functions. This distribution of responsibility supports consistent decisions while preserving an institution's legitimate autonomy in theology, tradition, educational model, governance form, and community expression.

The Commission evaluates each institution against its own publicly declared Christian identity as well as the common CCHE standards. Review does not require uniformity of denomination or ecclesial expression; it requires coherence between declared commitments, governing practice, academic provision, student experience, and public representation.

Governing Body

Commission Plenary

Approves standards, determines reserved authorization matters, adopts policy, and oversees institutional integrity.

Standards Function

Standards & Formation Committee

Maintains the framework for Christian mission, academic quality, formation, student care, and responsible stewardship.

Evaluation Function

Institutional Review Panel

Tests institutional evidence, conducts engagement, records findings, and makes a reasoned recommendation.

Integrity Function

Integrity & Appeals Panel

Provides procedurally separate consideration of eligible appeals, conflicts, and significant conduct matters.

Administrative Function

Commission Secretariat

Coordinates submissions, correspondence, schedules, controlled records, institutional reporting, and decision notices.

Publication Function

Registry & Public Information Office

Maintains authorized institution entries, status terminology, corrections, and public verification information.

Principles Governing Commission Action

Mission fidelity: the declared Christian identity is evaluated through evidence of lived institutional practice.

Academic seriousness: faith commitment and demonstrable higher-education quality are considered together.

Peer judgment: reviewers apply the standards with relevant academic, institutional, and faith-based competence.

Independence: conflicts are disclosed and decision roles are separated where procedural integrity requires it.

Proportionality: evidence and monitoring requirements reflect institutional scale, complexity, and risk.

Reasoned accountability: material findings and formal outcomes are recorded in a form capable of review.

Institutional Authorization Standards

Applicants must demonstrate substantial compliance with every core standard. Authorization remains subject to continuing review and timely reporting of material changes.

Standard 1: Mission & Christian Commitments

The institution publicly defines its Christ-centered mission, governing commitments, and educational philosophy.

Standard 2: Governance & Integrity

Responsible governance, conflict controls, truthful public information, and fair policies are maintained.

Standard 3: Academic Programs & Learning

Programs have coherent curricula, defined outcomes, appropriate assessment, and academic oversight.

Standard 4: Faculty & Resources

Faculty, learning resources, technology, and administration are appropriate to institutional scope.

Standard 5: Student Care & Transparency

Admissions, tuition, progress, complaints, records, and student support are clearly administered.

Standard 6: Stewardship & Improvement

Financial stewardship, data protection, planning, and evidence-based improvement support sustainability.

Authorization & Continuing Review

Stage 1

Application

Institutional evidence is submitted for eligibility screening.

Stage 2

Evidence Review

Reviewers assess documentation and request clarification where needed.

Stage 3

Decision

The Commission records its decision, conditions, and review schedule.

Stage 4

Monitoring

Authorized institutions report updates and material changes.

AUTHORIZED means current authorization; PROVISIONAL means time-limited authorization with conditions; and UNDER REVIEW means a continuing-review action is open; and SUSPENDED means authorization is currently suspended.

Christ-Centered Formation & Academic Evidence Framework

CCHE considers Christ-centered identity to be an institution-wide responsibility rather than a statement confined to promotional language or a single academic department. Evidence is therefore examined across mission, governance, curriculum, faculty life, student formation, community relationships, stewardship, and institutional decision-making.

Reviewers consider both design and effectiveness: what the institution formally intends, how those intentions are translated into policies and educational practice, how members of the community experience them, what outcomes are observed, and how the institution responds when evidence identifies a gap between commitment and practice.

Review Domain	Institutional Evidence	Assurance Question
Mission & Christian identity	Mission statement, faith commitments, strategic priorities, public information, institutional narratives.	Is the declared identity clear, coherent, understood, and consequential for institutional action?
Governance & ethical leadership	Constitutive documents, board responsibilities, delegations, ethics policies, decision records.	Do governance arrangements protect mission, integrity, accountability, and responsible authority?
Curriculum & faith-learning integration	Program outcomes, course design, learning activities, assessment, curriculum review, student work.	Is integration academically credible, educationally intentional, and appropriate to the discipline?
Faculty vocation & development	Appointment criteria, qualifications, induction, workload, mentoring, scholarship, formation support.	Are faculty equipped and supported to fulfil academic responsibilities within the declared mission?
Student formation & community life	Formation programs, worship or community practices, mentoring, conduct expectations, participation data.	Does the student experience support intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and relational development?
Student care & fair treatment	Admissions, safeguarding, wellbeing, accessibility, complaints, discipline, advising, records practices.	Are dignity, transparency, pastoral responsibility, due process, and learner welfare evident in practice?
Stewardship & institutional sustainability	Budgets, audited information, facilities, technology, libraries, risk management, continuity planning.	Are resources governed prudently and aligned with mission, educational scope, and long-term obligations?
Outcomes, service & improvement	Learning results, graduate outcomes, community engagement, feedback, review findings, improvement plans.	Can the institution demonstrate educational effectiveness, faithful service, and evidence-led improvement?

Faith Commitment & Academic Responsibility

The Commission expects an institution to articulate how its Christian commitments inform scholarship and learning while maintaining transparent academic expectations, appropriate disciplinary methods, reliable assessment, honest inquiry, and fair treatment of students. Mission coherence is demonstrated most persuasively when faithfulness and academic responsibility reinforce one another in observable institutional practice.

Institutional Review Method & Continuing Assurance

The formal review method expands the four-stage authorization overview into a controlled evaluation sequence. The Commission may adapt the sequence to the scale and complexity of the institution, but each determination must remain traceable to the standards, evidence considered, reviewer findings, institutional response, and competent decision body.

Review 01
Scope Confirmation
Legal identity, mission, programs, locations, delivery modes, and intended authorization scope are defined.
Review 02
Self-Evaluation
The institution provides a candid standards-based analysis supported by an indexed evidence record.
Review 03
Desk Evaluation
Reviewers test completeness, internal consistency, performance evidence, and matters requiring clarification.
Review 04
Institutional Engagement
Interviews, observation, sampled records, and community perspectives are used to corroborate written claims.
Review 05
Findings & Response
Draft findings identify strengths, requirements, and evidence gaps; factual comments are formally considered.
Review 06
Recommendation
The panel records its standards-based conclusion, proposed status, conditions, and monitoring needs.
Review 07
Determination
The Commission confirms the outcome, effective record, follow-up requirements, and next review point.
Review 08
Publication & Assurance
The registry entry is published and continuing obligations are tracked through scheduled and risk-led controls.

Continuing Assurance Requirements

Institutional return: confirmation of current identity, governance, programs, students, resources, and significant developments.
Condition reporting: evidence demonstrating timely completion of requirements attached to an authorization decision.
Focused review: targeted evaluation of a material issue, risk indicator, complaint pattern, or incomplete improvement action.
Comprehensive renewal: periodic reconsideration of the complete standards framework and continuing mission coherence.

Material Change Notification

Change in legal identity, ownership, sponsoring body, governing authority, or senior leadership.
Substantial revision of mission, statement of faith, denominational relationship, or institutional purpose.
New award levels, major program expansion, additional locations, digital delivery, or academic partners.
Significant financial pressure, closure, teach-out, loss of resources, safeguarding event, or interruption of service.

Authorized Institutions Directory

This directory lists current and historical CCHE authorization records. Verify any institution by name or authorization number in the GER Verification System, or browse every CCHE record in the full register index. Each institution below links to its permanent verification record.

Showing 64 institutions · Page 1 of 4

#	Institution	Authorization No.	Authorization	Recorded	Review	Status
1	Blockchain Christian University	CCHE-BCU-0001	Institutional Authorization	Current registry cycle	Annual monitoring	AUTHORIZED
2	Ashcombe Christian UniversityUnited States	CCHE-ACU-0002	Institutional Authorization (Long-Term)	September 9, 1993	Continuing monitoring	AUTHORIZED
3	Thornhaven Bible CollegeUnited States	CCHE-TBC-0003	Institutional Authorization (Ministry Formation Scope)	April 5, 2006	Annual monitoring	AUTHORIZED
4	Rivenwood Theological SeminaryUnited States	CCHE-RTS-0004	Institutional Authorization (Graduate Theological Scope)	January 18, 1999	Five-year comprehensive review	AUTHORIZED
5	Kingsmoor Christian UniversityUnited Kingdom	CCHE-KCU-0005	Institutional Authorization	July 27, 2010	Biennial monitoring	AUTHORIZED
6	Gracehaven UniversityUnited States	CCHE-GU-0006	Institutional Authorization (Renewed)	March 2, 1997	Six-year comprehensive review	AUTHORIZED
7	Bellcourt School of DivinityUnited States	CCHE-BSD-0007	Institutional Authorization (Graduate Theological Scope)	November 14, 2008	Annual monitoring	AUTHORIZED
8	Wexholm Theological CollegeUnited Kingdom	CCHE-WTC-0008	Institutional Authorization	June 21, 2004	Mission and formation review	AUTHORIZED
9	Marlbrook Christian CollegeCanada	CCHE-MCC-0009	Institutional Authorization	February 9, 2012	Biennial monitoring	AUTHORIZED
10	Everhart School of MinistryUnited States	CCHE-ESM-0010	Provisional Institutional Authorization	October 3, 2023	Semiannual monitoring	PROVISIONAL
11	Silverbrook Christian UniversityUnited States	CCHE-SCU-0011	Institutional Authorization	August 25, 2002	Five-year comprehensive review	AUTHORIZED
12	Fairholm Bible InstituteUnited States	CCHE-FBI-0012	Institutional Authorization (Ministry Formation Scope)	May 12, 2015	Annual monitoring	AUTHORIZED
13	Crestmoor University of Christian StudiesUnited States	CCHE-CUCS-0013	Institutional Authorization (Long-Term)	October 30, 1991	Continuing monitoring	AUTHORIZED
14	Aldwyn Theological SeminaryUnited Kingdom	CCHE-ATS-0014	Institutional Authorization (Graduate Theological Scope)	March 16, 2007	Thematic review	UNDER REVIEW
15	Brookvale Christian UniversityAustralia	CCHE-BCU-0015	Institutional Authorization	September 4, 2013	Annual monitoring	AUTHORIZED
16	Hollingbourne School of TheologyUnited Kingdom	CCHE-HST-0016	Institutional Authorization	January 23, 2001	Six-year comprehensive review	AUTHORIZED
17	Stonebrae Christian CollegeNew Zealand	CCHE-SCC-0017	Institutional Authorization	July 11, 2016	Biennial monitoring	AUTHORIZED
18	Winsloe Institute of Pastoral StudiesCanada	CCHE-WIPS-0018	Institutional Authorization (Ministry Formation Scope)	April 19, 2009	Mission and formation review	AUTHORIZED
19	Kelverton Christian UniversityUnited States	CCHE-KCU-0019	Institutional Authorization	December 1, 2005	Annual monitoring	AUTHORIZED
20	Harlowgate School of Christian LeadershipUnited Kingdom	CCHE-HSCL-0020	Institutional Authorization (Conditional)	February 27, 2022	Semiannual monitoring	PROVISIONAL

Records 1-20 of 64

Policies & Resources

Document	Reference
Institutional Authorization Standards	CCHE-IAS
Continuing Review & Material Change Guidelines	CCHE-CRG
Complaints, Corrective Action & Appeals Procedure	CCHE-CAP

Integrity, Complaints, Appeals & Public Accountability

CCHE expects review participants and authorized institutions to act with truthfulness, candour, respect, responsible confidentiality, and appropriate care for affected persons. Reviewers and decision participants disclose relationships or interests that could affect, or reasonably appear to affect, impartial judgment.

The Commission maintains distinct channels for factual corrections, administrative complaints, institutional compliance information, reconsideration, and eligible appeals. Each submission is classified according to its substance so that it is considered by the appropriate function and against the correct evidentiary and procedural standard.

Route	Appropriate Use	Commission Response
Registry correction	An objectively inaccurate institution name, identifier, reference, date, status field, or publication detail.	Source validation, record-owner confirmation, controlled amendment, or reasoned closure.
Administrative complaint	Communication, accessibility, timeliness, service handling, reviewer conduct, or procedural administration.	Acknowledgement, classification, independent assignment where needed, and recorded disposition.
Compliance concern	Credible information relevant to Christian identity, academic integrity, learner care, governance, or continuing authorization.	Threshold review, corroboration, institutional response, monitoring, or formal compliance action.
Reconsideration	A permitted request that the original decision body consider a material clarification or qualifying new evidence.	Eligibility screening followed by confirmation, variation, or replacement of the original outcome.
Appeal	A qualifying claim of material procedural error, undisclosed conflict, or unreasonable application of the approved standard.	Procedurally separate review and a written decision within the authority granted to the appeals function.

Notice

Material concerns and applicable response requirements are communicated in an identifiable form.

Opportunity to Respond

The institution may address relevant facts and evidence before a final adverse determination.

Role Separation

Appeal or integrity functions are separated from the original review where the procedure requires independence.

Recorded Reasons

Formal outcomes identify the relevant framework, determination, and resulting institutional obligation.

Authorized Institution Responsibilities

Represent CCHE authorization using the current registered name, authorization number, and status.
Ensure websites, catalogs, recruitment materials, and formal communications remain accurate and current.
Maintain evidence of continuing compliance and complete scheduled reports in a candid and timely manner.
Notify material changes before implementation where prior consideration is required or otherwise without avoidable delay.
Protect students and preserve reliable academic records during restructuring, interruption, teach-out, or closure.

Public Verification Practice

Consult the live CCHE directory or GER verification system rather than relying on an undated reproduction.
Match the institution name and authorization number as a single verification pair.
Read AUTHORIZED, PROVISIONAL, UNDER REVIEW, or SUSPENDED in the context of the complete entry.
Record the date of consultation when authorization information is used in formal due diligence.
Direct a suspected discrepancy through the registry correction route with supporting evidence.

Controlled Policy Register & Official Terminology

Controlled Instrument	Reference	Administrative Owner
Governance, Delegations & Reserved Matters	CCHE-GOV-01	Commission Plenary
Institutional Review & Evidence Manual	CCHE-REV-02	Review Panel
Material Change & Continuing Assurance Protocol	CCHE-MCA-03	Secretariat
Reviewer Ethics, Confidentiality & Conflict Code	CCHE-ETH-04	Integrity Panel
Public Registry & Institutional Representation Policy	CCHE-PUB-05	Registry Office
Complaints, Reconsideration & Appeals Rules	CCHE-APL-06	Integrity & Appeals Panel

Authorization: A formal institutional status recorded by CCHE following application of the Commission's standards and decision process.
Condition: A required action, evidence submission, or performance expectation attached to a decision and subject to follow-up.
Material Change: A development significant enough to affect mission coherence, educational quality, resources, students, governance, or authorization scope.
Self-Evaluation: The institution's evidence-based analysis of its own compliance, effectiveness, risks, and priorities for improvement.
Continuing Assurance: The reporting, monitoring, review, and notification activity that supports confidence between comprehensive decisions.
Public Registry Entry: The controlled public record identifying the institution, authorization number, status, and related verification information.

Verification & Contact

Institution Verification

Search by institution name or CCHE authorization number.

Open GER Verification

Registry Corrections

Correction requests should identify the institution, authorization number, requested amendment, and supporting documentation. Authorized institutions receive official contact details through their registry correspondence channel.