| California Baptist University | |
|---|---|
| Motto | Live your purpose (r) |
| Established | 1950 |
| Type | Private |
| Religious affiliation | California Southern Baptist Convention |
| Endowment | $12 Million USD |
| President | Ronald L. Ellis, Ph.D. |
| Students | 4,715 (as of fall 2010) |
| Location | Riverside, California, United States |
| Campus | Suburban, 128 acres (52 ha) |
| Former names | California Baptist College |
| Colors | Navy Blue / Gold |
| Athletics | NCAA Division II |
| Sports | 19 |
| Nickname | Lancers |
| Affiliations | Pacific West Conference |
| Website | www.calbaptist.edu |
California Baptist University (Cal Baptist or CBU) is a private, Christian, liberal arts university located in Riverside, California, United States. Originally founded in 1950 as California Baptist College, it is controlled by the California Southern Baptist Convention, an organization affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. CBU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
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California Baptist University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In March 2011, WASC awarded a 10-year accreditation reaffirmation to the university, the maximum accreditation period granted by WASC.[1] It is the first time in CBU's more than 60-year history that the institution has received the maximum accreditation extension.
In addition, CBU's various schools and colleges hold accreditations from and memberships with organizations related to their specific disciplines. These accreditations and memberships currently include:
The University is a member of the American Association of Higher Education, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges.
California Baptist University is incorporated under the laws of the State of California as a university of arts and sciences authorized to grant the degrees of Bachelor of Applied Theology, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Music, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration.
Founded in 1950 as California Baptist College in El Monte, California, the new college enrolled 120 students during its first year under the leadership of the first president, P. Boyd Smith. In 1953, the college moved under the wing of the Southern Baptist Convention, the same year that the first edition of the Angelos, the college yearbook, was published.
In 1954, the college earned its charter from the state of California.
Soon, the college outgrew its facilities, and, in 1955, moved its campus to the then rural city of Riverside. The college moved to a more spacious 82 acres (33 ha)) campus which already had constructed buildings that could be used for offices, classrooms, and living areas. What is now known as the Annie Gabriel Library, was the first to be built in 1921. In 1927, the original administration building was constructed whereas the W.E. James Building was built in 1934. The building which now houses the ceramics studio and boiler was constructed in 1938.
In 1958, the college named its second president, Dr. Lloyd Simmons.
1961 saw the college earn full accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In 1964, the college began expanding with the construction of the Lancer Arms apartment complex and the student population reached 500.
In 1968, both residence halls, Smith and Simmons, were built and named in honor of the college's first two presidents. These new dorms allowed for higher enrollment at the college.
In 1971, Dr. James R. Staples was named as the third college president. Two years later, the Wallace Book of Life Theater was built. In 1978, the college's $800,000 note for the Riverside campus was finally paid and was burned in a college-wide celebration.
Dr. Russell R. Tuck became the college's fourth president in 1984. The same year, the first graduate degree was granted and accreditation was received by the National Association of Schools of Music.
In 1991, Wanda's Place was established, an on-campus cafe named in honor of a popular long-time college employee. Three years later, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis was installed as the fifth college president and the next year saw the school enrollment reach 1,000.
California Baptist College became the first college on the West Coast to receive accreditation by Association of College Business Schools and Programs in 1996. The next year saw the enrollment reach 2,000.
In September 1998, California Baptist College officially became California Baptist University, forty eight years after its founding.
In 2000, the school's 50th anniversary was celebrated. The campus once again expanded in 2001 with the addition of the University Place Apartments.
The School of Music was established in 2002 with the new Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education following in 2003. The same year, the new university complex, known as the Yeager Center, was opened and houses classrooms, administration offices, the cafeteria, computer labs, and professors' offices.[2]
The summer of 2004 saw new housing complexes built, and in the fall, the university enrolled its first students in the Masters of Music degree program. The fall of 2004 was a time of celebration in honor of President Ronald L. Ellis' ten years at the school.
The School of Engineering was established in 2006. The inaugural class in the fall of 2007 had 55 students.
CBU added its College of Allied Health in the fall of 2010 when enrollment exceeded 4,700 students.[3] Also in September 2010, CBU also opened its third campus restaurant, Brisco's Village Café.[4]
In October 2011, the school expelled a transgender student after he appeared on MTV's True Life. However, as he had lied on his forms stating that he was a woman, the university saw it as justifiable.[5][6][7]
The Annie Gabriel Library is named in honor of Miss Annie Gabriel, whose generous gift enabled the initial significant development of the collection.
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In addition to over 76,000 print volumes and 39,000 ERIC documents on microfiche, the library currently subscribes to over 500 journals, with a number of bound and microfilm titles dating back to the last century. The library also has a growing collection of over 1,600 videotapes. Networked research computers provide access to numerous CD-ROMs, the Internet, and other online databases.
California Baptist University is known in the city of Riverside for its Mission Revival style architecture. Many of the older structures on campus were built during the 1920s and 30's, a time when this particular style was popular. The Mission Inn in downtown Riverside is also built in the Mission Revival style. Buildings that have been built on campus have followed this architectural tradition.
In 2004, CBU was recognized in a November 2004 article from the American School and University magazine, which recognizes education design excellence, for the construction of the Yeager Center, by Kroh/Broeske Architects in Riverside. The university also won honors from the city of Riverside.
2005 saw the building and completion of the JoAnn Hawkins Music Building, which houses the Collinsworth School of Music.
CBU's Campus Activities office hosts a wide range of social and recreational events each year including Fortuna Bowl, an intramural flag football season with men's and women's teams that culminates in championship games on the campus front lawn in November, Yule, a formal dinner and night of entertainment at the Disneyland Hotel where the year’s Mr. & Ms. CBU are revealed and TWIRP (The Woman Is Required to Pay), a week-long event where female students invite male students to fun activities and events throughout the week. Highlights of the week include a Barn Dance, complete with a caller, square dancing, and costume contest, as well as a trip to Magic Mountain.
International Service Projects, or ISP, is the CBU-based program through which students can serve overseas for 3 weeks during the summer. An ISP team is generally made up of 8-10 students and is lead by a CBU faculty or staff member. Since being established in 1997, ISP teams have served in more than 40 countries on 6 continents. While overseas, the teams participate in a variety of ministries that may include music, drama, sports, ethnography, children's ministry, and teaching English. Student can also participate in United States Service Projects, or USPs, which are arranged similarly to ISPs but target U.S. destinations.
California Baptist University is a joint member of the NCAA at the Division II level, and a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA)[8] CBU competes in the Pacific West Conference and offers 19 sports for men and women:[9]
For men, California Baptist sponsors baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling. For women, California Baptist sponsors basketball, cheerleading, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, volleyball, and water polo.
On July 12, 2010, California Baptist University was accepted to the NCAA Division II. The university previously competed in the NAIA's Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). California Baptist had been a member of the NAIA since 1969 and has won won 26 GSAC championships and 19 NAIA National Championships.[10]
| Name | Class year | Notability | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin-Leigh Konzelman | 2005 | Miss California contestant in the 2006 Miss America Pageant. Also a contestant on season 10 and the All-Star edition of the CBS reality show The Amazing Race. | [3] |
| Rick Warren | 1976 | author of The Purpose Driven Life and founding and senior pastor of Saddleback Church | [4] |
| Drew Shirley | 1996 | guitarist of the Christian rock band Switchfoot. All Together Separate originated at the university and was made up of members of the student body, including Drew Shirley | [5] |
| Brent Kutzle | bassist and cellist for OneRepublic | ||
| Nathan Fletcher | 1997 | member of the California State Assembly (R-San Diego) | [6] |
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