California Baptist University
Encyclopedia
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.
. In March 2011, WASC awarded a 10-year accreditation reaffirmation to the university, the maximum accreditation period granted by WASC. 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
.
, 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 (33.2 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.
. 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.
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.
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.
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 it's College of Allied Health in the fall of 2010 when enrollment exceeded 4,700 students. Also in September 2010, CBU also opened its third campus restaurant, Brisco's Village Café.
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.
Holdings
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.
Special Collections:
. 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.
at the Division II level, and a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association
(NCCAA) CBU competes in the Pacific West Conference
and offers 19 sports for men and women:
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.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
university located in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, United States. Originally founded in 1950 as California Baptist College, it is controlled by the California Southern Baptist Convention
California Southern Baptist Convention
The California Southern Baptist Convention is an autonomous Baptist association of churches in the state of California. CSBC includes 1,800 associated churches which in turn have 450,000 members. CSBC is one of the state conventions associated with the Southern Baptist Convention...
, an organization affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. CBU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Schools
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Department of Communication & Visual Arts
- Department of History, Political Science & Criminal Justice
- Department of Modern Languages & Literature
- Department of Natural & Mathematical Sciences
- College of Allied Health
- Department of Kinesiology
- Department of Health Science
- Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education
- Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business
- School of Behavioral Sciences
- School of Christian Ministries
- College of Engineering
- Department of Civil Engineering
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- School of Nursing
- Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music
Accreditations
California Baptist University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and CollegesWestern Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
. In March 2011, WASC awarded a 10-year accreditation reaffirmation to the university, the maximum accreditation period granted by WASC. 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:
- CBU's Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business is nationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and ProgramsAssociation of Collegiate Business Schools and ProgramsThe Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs , formerly the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, is a U.S. organization offering accreditation services to business programs focused on teaching and learning....
(ACBSP). - CBU's Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of MusicNational Association of Schools of MusicThe National Association of Schools of Music is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in music...
(NASM). - Teacher education programs offered by CBU's Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Educations are approved by the California Commission on Teacher CredentialingCalifornia Commission on Teacher CredentialingCalifornia Commission on Teacher Credentialing is an independent agency created in 1970 by the Ryan Act and is the oldest of the autonomous state standards boards in the nation. The mission of the CCTC is to facilitate the credentialing of California's teachers. The commission issues and renews...
(CTC). Approval has been given for both multiple-subject and single-subject credential programs. - The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) program offered by CBU's Department of Kinesiology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
- CBU's nursing program offered by CBU's School of Nursing is approved by the Board of Registered Nurses (BRN) and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing EducationCommission on Collegiate Nursing EducationThe Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education is an autonomous nursing education accrediting agency that contributes to the improvement of the public's health. The CCNE is recognized by the U.S...
(CCNE).
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
Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities is an organization designed to help primarily Protestant and evangelical Christian institutions of higher education cooperate and communicate with one another...
, 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 Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
, Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
, Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
and Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
.
1950s
Founded in 1950 as California Baptist College in El Monte, CaliforniaEl Monte, California
El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,...
, the new college enrolled 120 students during its first year under the leadership of the first president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, 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
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
, was published.
In 1954, the college earned its charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
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 (33.2 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.
1960s and 1970s
1961 saw the college earn full accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and CollegesWestern Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
. In 1964, the college began expanding with the construction of the Lancer Arms apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
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.
1980s and 1990s
Dr. Russell R. Tuck became the college's fourth president in 1984. The same year, the first graduate degreeAcademic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
was granted and accreditation was received by the National Association of Schools of Music
National Association of Schools of Music
The National Association of Schools of Music is an association of post-secondary music schools in the United States and the principal U.S. accreditor for higher education in 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.
2000s
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.
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 it's College of Allied Health in the fall of 2010 when enrollment exceeded 4,700 students. Also in September 2010, CBU also opened its third campus restaurant, Brisco's Village Café.
In October 2011, the school expelled a transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
student after he appeared on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's True Life
True Life
True Life is a documentary series running on MTV since 1998. Each episode follows a particular topic, such as heroin addiction as in the first episode, "Fatal Dose." The show is created by following a series of subjects by a camera crew through a certain part of their lives.-Topics covered:True...
. However, as he had lied on his forms stating that he was a woman, the university saw it as justifiable.
Annie Gabriel Library
The Annie Gabriel Library is named in honor of Miss Annie Gabriel, whose generous gift enabled the initial significant development of the collection.Holdings
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.
Special Collections:
- The Virginia Hyatt Memorial Alcove for Baptist Studies offers books, journals, convention annuals, state newspapers, Sunday school curriculum materials and other Baptist publications.
- The P. Boyd Smith Hymnology Collection contains 3,000 volumes spanning three centuries and representing more than twenty languages. It is a valuable resource for hymnologists and musicologists, as well as historians of church music. These items are currently being cataloged and added to the library's online catalog.
- The Wallace Collection of 2,600 volumes comprises a personal collection of evangelism materials given to the institution in remembrance of Dr. D. E. Wallace, former faculty member. These items are currently being cataloged and added to the library's online catalog.
- The Nie Wieder! Collection, a recent addition to the library, is a growing collection that provides resources for students searching for understanding of the Holocaust and its implications on Jewish-Christian interaction.
School architecture
California Baptist University is known in the city of Riverside for its Mission Revival style architectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. 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
Mission Inn
The Mission Inn, now known as The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, is a historic landmark hotel in downtown Riverside, California. Although a composite of many architectural styles, it is generally considered the largest Mission Revival Style building in the United States.-History:The property began as a...
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.
Annual Campus Traditions
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
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.Athletics
California Baptist University is a joint member of the NCAANational Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
at the Division II level, and a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association
National Christian College Athletic Association
The National Christian College Athletic Association is an association of approximately 100 Christian universities, colleges, and Bible colleges in the United States and Canada which see collegiate sports primarily as an opportunity for Christian fellowship and ministry. The national headquarters...
(NCCAA) CBU competes in the Pacific West Conference
Pacific West Conference
The Pacific West Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with NCAA Division II...
and offers 19 sports for men and women:
For men, California Baptist sponsors baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and diving
Diving
Diving is the sport of jumping or falling into water from a platform or springboard, sometimes while performing acrobatics. Diving is an internationally-recognized sport that is part of the Olympic Games. In addition, unstructured and non-competitive diving is a recreational pastime.Diving is one...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
, and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
. For women, California Baptist sponsors basketball, cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, golf, soccer, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
, 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
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
's Golden State Athletic Conference
Golden State Athletic Conference
The Golden State Athletic Conference is a college athletics conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics . The conference commissioner is Cliff Hamlow of Azusa Pacific University. Conference leadership is shared among the member institutions. The conference was formed in...
(GSAC). California Baptist had been a member of the NAIA since 1969 and has won won 26 GSAC championships and 19 NAIA National Championships.