Biola University

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Biola University
Image:Biola logo16.gif
Motto: Above All Give Glory to God
Established: February 25, 1908
Type: Private
Endowment: $43.7 million
President: Barry Corey
Provost: Gary Miller
Faculty: 900
Undergraduates: 3,924
Postgraduates: 1,775
Location: La Mirada, CA, USA
Campus: Suburban, 96 acres (384,000 m²)
Athletics: 17 varsity teams
Mascot: Eagle
Affiliations: Non-Denominational
Website: www.biola.edu

Biola University is a private, non-denominational, evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles, noted for its conservative theology. Biola's main campus is located in the city of La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California. In addition, the university has several satellite campuses located in Chino, Inglewood, Palm Desert, San Leandro, Thousand Oaks, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Laguna Hills. In addition, a Messianic Jewish Studies center in Manhattan, New York was recently created.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally located in downtown Los Angeles at the corner of Sixth St. and Hope St., the university moved south to its present location in suburban La Mirada, California, in 1959.

The University was founded on February 25, 1908 as the Bible Institute Of Los Angeles by Lyman Stewart, co-owner of the Union Oil Company of California (currently known as Unocal), and T.C. Horton, a renowned minister and Christian author.

Biola at its downtown Los Angeles structure: under construction in 1912 (top), complete in 1916 (bottom)
Biola at its downtown Los Angeles structure: under construction in 1912 (top), complete in 1916 (bottom)

In 1909, Lyman Stewart and his brother Milton, anonymously funded the publication of a twelve-volume series of articles called The Fundamentals, published between 1910 and 1915, and distributed free of charge to a wide range of Christian teachers and leaders, "Compliments of Two Christian Laymen." These volumes were intended as a restatement of conservative Christian theological teachings, primarily in response to the growing influence of modernist theology in the Church. In 1917 these articles were republished in a revised, four volume set by the Institute. The term "fundamentalism" is in part derived from these volumes, although it should be noted that the current ethos and self-identification of the University is evangelical, and no longer fundamentalist.

By 1912, the school had grown sufficiently in its outreach and constituency to call R.A. Torrey, a leader in the field of Christian education, as the second dean. (The first was William Blackstone, 1908-9). Between 1912 and 1928, Biola was an established leader in conservative Christianity in North America, publishing The King's Business (a magazine similar to Christianity Today), operating one of the largest Christian radio stations in the U.S. (KTBI), and running the Biola Press, which sold and distributed Christian literature worldwide, including material for the Los Angeles based pentecostal preacher, Amy Semple McPherson. After Stewart's death and Torrey and Horton's retirements, William P. White, a well-known Christian leader and speaker, became Biola's first president in 1929. Charles E. Fuller, a graduate of Biola, became chairman of the board. Fuller later founded Fuller Theological Seminary.

Biola fell into hard times during the Great Depression and was forced to sell its publishing company and radio station. The 13-story downtown building that housed the school was also under threat of loss. It was during this time that Louis T. Talbot became Biola's second president in 1932. Talbot also served as the pastor of the Church of the Open Door, which held services in the school's downtown building.

In 1935, well-known radio evangelist Paul W. Rood became Biola's third president to wage an intensive national fundraising effort to save the school. He was instrumental in establishing the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference, which is one of the longest standing Bible conferences today. He resigned in 1938 after raising sufficient funds to stabilize the school, saving it from financial ruin caused by the Great Depression.

Talbot entered a second term as Biola's president from 1938 to 1952. During this time, the Institute program became a four-year course, leading to degrees in theology, Christian education, and sacred music. The School of Missionary Medicine came into being in 1945, laying the foundation for Biola's current baccalaureate nursing program. In 1946, Talbot also established the Biola Institute Hour, a national radio program. It was later called the Biola Hour. The Institute was renamed Biola College in 1949.

Under the leadership of Samuel H. Sutherland, president from 1952 to 1970, Biola moved its campus to its current location La Mirada, California, in the summer of 1959. Sutherland and Russell Allder, Biola's business manager, were instrumental in purchasing and developing the new 75 acre campus, which was purchased from publishing magnate Andrew McNally, founder and president of Rand McNally. In those days, plans were still under way for the development of the soon-to-be city of La Mirada, which was mostly olive trees and rolling hills. La Mirada was incorporated as a city in 1960.

The Biola University Library
The Biola University Library

Under the leadership of Dr. J. Richard Chase, president from 1970 to 1982, the College was renamed Biola University on July 1, 1981. In 1977, the graduate programs of Rosemead Graduate School of Professional Psychology were acquired by the College and relocated on the La Mirada campus. The undergraduate programs in psychology were merged with Rosemead's graduate programs in the fall of 1981, forming the present Rosemead School of Psychology. Dr. Clyde Cook became president of the university on October 8, 1982.

The School of Intercultural Studies was instituted as part of the University in 1983. Talbot Theological Seminary became Talbot School of Theology in the fall of 1983 as a result of the merger between the appropriate undergraduate and graduate level programs.

Biola Centennial Logo
Biola Centennial Logo

In 1988 Biola acquired the adjacent McNally Elementary School ground adding an additional 25 acres to the main campus. In 1993, the Board of Trustees approved the establishment of the School of Business, and the School of Continuing Studies in 1994, now called the School of Professional Studies, and on May 14, 2007, the Board approved the establishment of its seventh school, The School of Education. [1]

President Cook announced his retirement a year ahead of time in order to give the University's Board of Trustees enough time to find a replacement. After an extensive search, Dr. Barry Corey was selected to become the eighth president of Biola University on May 11, 2007. Dr. Corey was formerly Vice President/Chief Academic Officer and Academic Dean at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He succeeded Clyde Cook as president on July 1, 2007 and was inaugurated on November 2, 2007.[1]

Biola is celebrating its centennial during the 2007-2008 school year. On February 25, 2008, Biola celebrated its 100th birthday. The internationally recognized band, Switchfoot, headlined a midnight celebration on campus launching the official centennary festivities. Lead singer, Jon Foreman, even assisted President Corey in blowing out Biola's birthday cake on stage.

[edit] Cook Presidency

On June 30, 2007, Dr. Clyde Cook retired, just prior to the official start of Biola's centennial anniversary. He was one of California's longest serving university presidents. [2] Dr. Cook was noted for his strong defense of Biblical doctrine, including the key doctrine of Biblical inerrancy. Under Dr. Cook's leadership, Biola grew tremendously from a struggling, small Christian college to one of the largest evangelical universities in the nation, with nearly 6,000 total students. Dr. Cook served as President Emeritus, until his death on April 11th, 2008.[3]

[edit] Theology

While officially non-denominational, the most represented denominations at the university are Baptist and Evangelical Free. Biola is well-known for its conservative evangelical doctrine, while many other evangelical schools identify as either moderate or liberal. The vast majority of students and faculty identify themselves as evangelical, but Biola students and faculty hold to a myriad of perspectives within the overall schema of Protestant orthodoxy. As the birthplace of fundamentalism, Biola remains one of the few evangelical institutions to still proudly hold to the key doctrine of Biblical inerrancy. Biola also officially holds to the teaching of premillenial dispensationalism.

[edit] B.I.O.L.A. Building

The BIOLA building on Hope Street, with the site of the first UCLA campus at the end of the street. The Central Library would later be built there.
The BIOLA building on Hope Street, with the site of the first UCLA campus at the end of the street. The Central Library would later be built there.
Current photo of the LA Central Library (lower left), US Bank Tower (middle), and California Bank & Trust building (right), where the former BIOLA building stood.
Current photo of the LA Central Library (lower left), US Bank Tower (middle), and California Bank & Trust building (right), where the former BIOLA building stood.

The stately, classical Italian-styled Bible Institute of Los Angeles building was located on 550 South Hope Street, at the intersection of Sixth Street in Downtown L.A., next to the central public library (completed in 1926), which still stands today. Though very expensive for the fledgling school to build, it was completed in 1914, largely financed by the oil fortune of founder Lyman Stewart. For many years, the 13 story building (it consisted of a large auditorium, flanked by twin-towers) was the tallest building in Southern California.

The elaborate 3,500 seat auditorium boasted such amenities as a large skylight and innovative, dual-stacked balconies. In addition, it was the largest auditorium on the West Coast for several decades. It was even larger than the famous Kodak Theatre in Hollywood (current home of the Academy Awards). Not until the Nokia Theatre (which seats 7,000) opened in 2007, would an auditorium in downtown L.A. rival its capacity. The building also had such marvels (for the time) as elevators and roof gardens. Two large, neon signs on top of the building proclaiming "Jesus Saves" were a prominent part of the city's skyline. Christian hymns echoed daily throughout downtown from the chimes atop the building (which were the largest on the West Coast), giving Biola a prominent influence on the city for half a century. Several of the bells are currently on display at the La Mirada campus, near the library.

When Biola relocated to La Mirada in 1959, the building was sold to the Church of the Open Door. When the church left downtown L.A. in 1985 to move to suburban Glendora, it sold the historic building to the the late and controversial televangelist, Dr. Gene Scott, whose ministry occupied the building from 1986-1987. However, the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake caused significant damage to the building and it was condemned. Scott was forced to sell to the highest bidder - a developer who planned to raze the building, even though it was listed as a California historical monument. Despite attempts to save the building by Scott, the building was eventually demolished in 1988. Scott purchased the historic "Jesus Saves" signs though, and they presently sits atop his downtown Los Angeles University Cathedral. The current occupant of 550 South Hope Street is the regional headquarters for California Bank & Trust, and the famous U.S. Bank Tower stands nearby. There is a small memorial room and plaque near the entrance of the California Bank & Trust building listing all the senior pastors of the Church of the Open Door (along with Scott), but strangely, there is no mention of Biola.

[edit] Chapel

Undergraduate students are required to attend chapel 30 times per semester. Many influential Christian speakers, pastors, and notable figures have spoken at Biola's chapels. Notable speakers have included: Michael Chang, Elisabeth Elliot, Luis Palau, J.I. Packer, John Thune, Albert Mohler[4], Rick Warren, Alistair Begg, Joni Eareckson Tada, Greg Koukl, and Jill Briscoe, among others.

For students who, due to off-campus work requirements or other major time conflicts, are unable to physically attend the total number of required chapels, credits may be "made up" by submitting a brief written report on a chapel audio recording. Effective Fall 2008 the total number of chapel "make-ups" a student may submit will be limited to 15. Seniors in their final semester are excluded from chapel or conference attendance requirements.


[edit] Conferences

Biola holds two annual student conferences, the Missions Conference during the Spring semester and the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference during the Fall semester. Both graduates and undergraduates are required to attend.

The Missions Conference is the second largest annual missions conference in the world, second only to the tri-annual Urbana Missions Conference. It is a three-day student-run event that educates, equips, and inspires students to embrace their role in completing the Great Commission. Classes are cancelled Wednesday-Friday mid-spring semester so that Biola's students and faculty can learn and see what God is doing on the mission field. The conference offers ethnic meals, cultural awareness field trips, on-campus cultural experiences, and interaction with missionaries. [5]

The Torrey Memorial Bible Conference is also a three day conference dedicated for student's spiritual growth. Every year a specific topic is chosen that is geared towards the typical college students spiritual needs.

The Biola Media Conference seeks to advance the integration of faith and the arts. It brings together media leaders with men and women who benefit from their collective, Christian wisdom, for a day of education, inspiration and networking. [6]

On November 16, 1996, the University hosted the first national conference on Intelligent design. Later, Intervarsity Press published Mere Creation (ISBN 0-8308-1515-5) which was a collection of the papers presented at the conference. Subsequent Intelligent Design conferences were held at the University in 2002 and 2004.

[edit] Messianic Jewish Studies

Biola opened the Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies on October 8, 2007, in Manhattan. The Center offers a Masters in Divinity in Messianic Jewish Studies. The program, which is in cooperation with Chosen People Ministries, focuses on the education and training of leaders in the Messianic Jewish Community. [7].

[edit] Organization

[edit] Colleges and Schools

Biola offers 36 majors, 145 professional fields of study, as well as master's, doctoral and professional degrees. Degrees include B.A., B.S., B.M., M.A., M.B.A., M.Div., Th.M., D.Min., D.Miss., Psy.D., Ed.D., Ph.D. All are regionally and professionally accredited and are integrated with evangelical Christian doctrine.

The schools are:

All undergraduate students are required to take 30 units of Bible classes, regardless of their major, resulting in a minor in theological and biblical studies. The mission of Biola University is "biblically centered education, scholarship, and service — equipping men and women in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ".

Biola is recognized as a "National University" by US News & World Report - one of 229 out of the 3,300 institutions of higher learning in the United States that are considered to be the "major leagues" of higher education. Specifically, Biola is classified as a "Third Tier, National University" by US News.

[edit] Accreditation

Biola University holds institutional accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and certain programs are accredited by:

  • 1960 California Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing
  • 1961 Western Association of Schools and Colleges
  • 1966 State of California Board of Registered Nursing
  • 1970 National Association of Schools of Music
  • 1972 National League for Nursing
  • 1977 Association of Theological Schools
  • 1977 Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs
  • 1980 American Psychological Association
  • 1998 The National Association of Schools of Art and Design
  • 2006 Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs
  • 2006 Western Association of Schools and Colleges

[edit] Affiliation

Biola University is authorized to train students under the Veteran's Bill of Rights. In addition, the University is affiliated with a number of professional organizations, of which the following are representative:

[edit] Founders and Presidents

  • Lyman Stewart and T.C. Horton, Founders (1908-1929)
  • William P. White, 1st President (1929-1932)
  • Dr. Louis T. Talbot, 2nd and 4th President (1932-1935, 1938-1952)
  • Dr. Paul W. Rood, 3rd President (1935-1938)
  • Dr. Samuel H. Sutherland, 5th President (1952-1970)
  • Dr. J Richard Chase, 6th President (1970-1982)
  • Dr. Clyde Cook, 7th President (1982-2007)
  • Dr. Barry Corey, 8th President (2007 - Present)

[edit] Athletics

Biola Eagles Athletic Logo
Biola Eagles Athletic Logo

A member of the NAIA Division I, Biola competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference in the following 17 intercollegiate sports:

  • Baseball (Men)
  • Basketball (Men & Women)
  • Cross Country (Men & Women)
  • Golf (Men & Women)
  • Soccer (Men & Women)
  • Softball (Women)
  • Swimming (Men & Women)
  • Tennis (Men & Women)
  • Track (Men & Women)
  • Volleyball (Women)

Biola University also has a club Men's Lacrosse team which competes as part of the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL). In 2005, the University soccer pitch, Barbour Field, was completely rebuilt, incorporating a cutting-edge FieldTurf synthetic grass surface, state-of-the-art lighting, and a parking garage beneath the field. Barbour Field is now noted as one of the L.A. area's finest soccer venues.

[edit] Publications

The university is involved in the publication of the following magazines and academic journals:

  • The King's Business was a monthly publication of Biola from 1910 to 1970. In the first decades of its publication, it was the leading journal for conservative Christianity and the early fundamentalist movement. In fact, The Fundamentals and The King's Business shared the same chief editor (R. A. Torrey) and were supported by the same "concerned laymen" (Lyman and Milton Stewart).
  • Philosophia Christi is a peer reviewed journal published twice a year by the Evangelical Philosophical Society with the support of Biola University as a vehicle for the scholarly discussion of philosophy and philosophical issues in the fields of ethics, theology, and religion. The journal is indexed by The Philosopher's Index and Religious & Theological Abstracts.
  • Journal of Psychology and Theology The purpose of the Journal of Psychology and Theology is to communicate recent scholarly thinking on the interrelationships of psychological and theological concepts, and to consider the application of these concepts to a variety of professional settings. The major intent of the editor is to place before the evangelical community articles that have bearing on the nature of humankind from a biblical perspective.
  • Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care The purpose of the journal is advancing the discussion of the theory and practice of Christian formation and soul care for the sake of the educational ministries of the church, Christian education and other para-church organizations through scholarly publications that are rooted in biblical exegesis, systematic theology, the history of Christian spirituality, philosophical analysis, psychological theory/research, spiritual theology, and Christian experience.
  • Christian Education Journal The purpose of the journal is to strengthen the conception and practice of Christian education in church and parachurch settings.
  • Biola Magazine is the official magazine of Biola University.
  • Sundoulos is the official magazine of Talbot School of Theology.
  • The Chimes, Biola's student newspaper.
  • The Point, a magazine produced by Biola's journalism program.[14]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Religion

[edit] Cinema and Media Arts

[edit] Business

[edit] Education

[edit] Politics

[edit] Sports

[edit] Notable faculty

[edit] Theology & philosophy

  • J. Vernon McGee, Professor of Bible and Department Chair
  • Clinton Arnold, Professor of New Testament Language and Literature [17]
  • Craig J. Hazen, Director of the M.A. Christian Apologetics Program
  • J.P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy [18]
  • Timothy Muehlhoff, speaker for Campus Crusade and Family Life conferences, Professor of Communication Studies
  • Scott Rae, Professor of Biblical Studies and Christian Ethics [19]
  • John Mark Reynolds, Founder and Director of the Torrey Honors Institute,
  • Walt Russell, Professor of Bible Exposition [20]
  • Robert Saucy, Professor of Systematic Theology [21]
  • Michael Wilkins, Professor of New Testament [22]
  • William Lane Craig, Research Professor of Philosophy [23]
  • R. Douglas Geivett, Professor of Philosophy [24]

[edit] Business

  • Jim Canning, former Vice President/CFO World Vision, Professor of Finance
  • David Kuykendall, former CFO of Freedom Communications, former Partner at Deloitte, Professor of Accounting

[edit] Cinema and Media Arts

  • Peggy Medberry, Associate Professor [25]
  • John Schmidt, Associate Professor [26]
  • Lisa Swain, Interim Chair of Cinema and Media Arts [27], [28]

Adjunct Professor

  • Nick Bogardus, Music Management, Band Manager for Thrice [29]
  • Scott Derickson, Directing [30]
  • Craig Detweiler, Media Ethics
  • Jim Hirsen, Mass Media Law [31]
  • Joshua Rose, VFX, 70's Cinema, and Directing [32]

[edit] English

  • Paul Buchanan, Children's author, Professor of Creative Writing
  • Christopher Davidson, poet, Professor of Creative Writing
  • Aaron Kleist, Cambridge ASNC alumnus, Associate Professor of English, Aelfric of Eynsham Project Director and Editor

[edit] Music

  • Li-shan Hung, Assistant Professor, Head of Piano Department, world-wide performer

[edit] Psychology

  • Bruce Narramore, Distinguished Professor of Psychology [33]
  • William Worden, Professor of Psychology [34]

[edit] Sports

  • Dave Holmquist, Head Basketball Coach, youngest college basketball coach to win 700 games
  • John C. Verhoeven, Head Baseball Coach, former major league pitcher

[edit] Trivia

  • When the first-ever commercial radio station hit the airwaves in 1920, the institute recognized the potential of radio and founded KJS in 1922. KJS was the first radio station devoted to religious programming in Los Angeles and the second in the nation. Biola College later produced a show called "The Biola Hour", which was listened to by millions of people nationwide. The show was heard as far west as Hawaii, as far east as Maryland, as far north as Edmonton Canada, and as far south as the country of Ecuador.
  • Biola, California, a small rural town in Fresno County, was named after the university.
  • Biola senior communications major, Candice Hansard, was voted Miss LA Galaxy 2007 (club of English superstar David Beckham) and served as the Major League Soccer club's official representative to the Southern California community.
  • Current Talbot School of Theology student, Dustin Seltzer, was crowned Miss California 2005 and appeared on the television series The Amazing Race 10 (4th place) and The Amazing Race: All-Stars (2nd place).
  • Biola alum and current graduate student, Lauren Maltby, is an actress who has appeared in several Disney Channel Original Movies.
  • In the 2003 movie, S.W.A.T., actor Colin Farrell states that a target is at "Hope and Sixth" in downtown L.A. - the site of the former BIOLA building.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Office of the President | Inauguration « Biola University

[edit] External links

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Golden State Athletic Conference