Organization:California Baptist University

Short description: American religious university

California Baptist University

Former names	California Baptist College (1950–1998)
Motto	Live Your Purpose
Type	Private university
Established	1950 (1950)
Religious affiliation	California Southern Baptist Convention
Endowment	$119.1 million (2022)
President	Ronald L. Ellis
Students	11,491 (Fall 2021)
Location	Riverside , California , United States
Campus	Suburban, 160 acres (65 ha)
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Nickname	Lancers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I, Western Athletic Conference Western Water Polo Association (men's water polo) Golden Coast Conference (women's water polo)
Website	www.calbaptist.edu

California Baptist University (Cal Baptist or CBU) is a private Baptist Christian university in Riverside, California. Founded in 1950 as California Baptist College, it is affiliated with the California Southern Baptist Convention, an organization affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. CBU is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

History

1950s through 1990s

Founded in 1950 as California Baptist College in El Monte, California by the Los Angeles Southern Baptist Association, 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 California Southern Baptist Convention, the same year that the first edition of the Angelos, the college yearbook, was published. In 1954, the college received 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, California. The school's new 75.6-acre campus was already equipped with 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, Lloyd Simmons.

In September 1998, California Baptist College officially became California Baptist University.

2000s through present day

The School of Music was established in 2002, and the Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education following in 2003. The same year, the university complex, known as the Yeager Center, was opened housing classrooms, administration offices, the cafeteria, computer labs, and professors' offices.

Student body composition as of May 2, 2022

Race and ethnicity	Total
Hispanic	38%	38
White	37%	37
Other	10%	10
Black	6%	6
Asian	6%	6
Foreign national	2%	2
Native American	1%	1
Pacific Islander	1%	1
Economic diversity
Low-income	43%	43
Affluent	57%	57

In the fall of 2010, CBU added a College of Health Science and enrollment exceeded 4,700 students.

On September 8, 2015, CBU offered its first doctoral degree, a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) through the School of Nursing.

The CBU Events Center opened in November 2017. The following year, the CBU Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building was opened.

Controversy

On August 30, 2011, nursing student Domaine Javier was expelled from California Baptist University for being a transgender woman. The reason given for Javier's expulsion was that she was accused of "committing or attempting to engage in fraud, or concealing identity" by having applied and being accepted as a woman to the school. In a 2011 interview with CBS News, Javier defended her decision to register as a female saying, "They asked for my gender and I see myself as female. I put female in there. If they asked for sex, I probably would have put male. So I didn't commit any fraud or anything. It's just the way I understood the application form." As part of the university's application process, Javier was required to complete and sign a form that included an agreement for single students that she would "not engage in homosexual behavior or live with someone of the opposite sex".

Javier's acceptance to CBU's nursing program included an academic scholarship and a music scholarship that was based on her audition for the school's women's chorus. Before she started to attend the university, Javier appeared on an April 2011 episode of MTV's True Life. In the episode, she revealed she was transgender. After her expulsion from CBU, Javier filed a lawsuit in February 2013 against the school with the claims she was discriminated against according to California's Unruh Civil Rights Act. She also sued for breach of contract.

On July 11, 2014, a Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gloria Connor Trask ruled that California Baptist was within its rights to expel Javier. The judge stated that Javier being transgender was a violation of the school's moral code, however, she also ruled that the university should not have prohibited her from entering university businesses and services that are open to the public. Following the ruling, Javier stated, "It's such a huge victory for me personally and for other transgender people like me. While the monetary award is small, it's never been about the money for me. It's about being treated fairly and standing up for what's right." CBU's attorney, James McDonald felt the ruling was legally appropriate because, "California Baptist University is a private Christian university and is not a business establishment under the Unruh Act." McDonald further stated he was pleased with the judge's ruling that Javier "did not have a valid breach-of-contract claim".

For discrimination by barring Javier from CSU-run businesses, Judge Trask ordered California Baptist University to pay Javier $4,000 in statutory damages plus attorney fees.

Campus

• Campus
• 

  Events Center

• 

  John C. Funk Stadium

• 

  Van Dyne Gym

Annie Gabriel Library

The Annie Gabriel Library is named in honor of Miss Annie Gabriel, whose gifts enabled the initial development of the collection.

Architecture

In 2004, CBU was recognized in a November 2004 article in 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.

Athletics

The California Baptist (Cal Baptist) athletic teams are called the Lancers. The university is a member of the Division I level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) for most of its sports since the 2018–19 academic year; while the men's water polo team competes in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA); and the women's water polo team competes in the Golden Coast Conference (GCC). The Lancers previously competed in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) of the NCAA Division II ranks from 2011–12 to 2017–18; and in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1987–88 to 2010–11.

Cal Baptist competes in 21 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, track (distance), water polo and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, stunt, swimming & diving, track (distance), volleyball and water polo; and co-ed sports include cheerleading and dance.

Academics

Schools

• College of Health Science
  • Department of Kinesiology
  • Department of Physician Assistant Studies
  • Department of Public Health Sciences
  • Department of Allied Health Professions
  • Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• College of Architecture, Visual Art and Design
  • Department of Architecture
  • Department of Graphic Design
  • Department of Photography
  • Department of Film
  • Department of Visual Arts
• College of Arts and Sciences
  • Department of Aviation Science
  • Department of Biological Sciences
  • Department of Chemical Sciences
  • Department of Communication Arts
  • Department of History and Government
  • Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • Department of Modern Languages & Literature
• Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering
  • Department of Aerospace, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering
  • Department of Chemical Engineering
  • Department of Civil Engineering and Construction Management
  • Department of Computing, Software and Data Sciences
  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education
• Robert K. Jabs School of Business
• College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
• School of Christian Ministries
• College of Nursing
• Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music

Incorporation, accreditations and memberships

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.

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 Robert K. Jabs School of Business is nationally accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
• CBU's Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
• Teacher education programs offered by CBU's Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Educations are approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (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 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 Education (CCNE).
• CBU's bachelor's degree programs in biomedical engineering (BSBME), chemical engineering (BS), civil engineering (BSCE), electrical and computer engineering (BSECE) and mechanical engineering (BSME) are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
• CBU's Master of Public Health (MPH) program is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

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.

CBU is affiliated with LECOM, the largest medical school in the United States, offering qualified students early acceptance to their medical, dental, and pharmacy schools.

Notable alumni

• Rick Warren (1976) Author of The Purpose Driven Life and founding and pastor emeritus of Saddleback Church
• Drew Shirley (1996) Guitarist of the Christian rock band Switchfoot. His first band, All Together Separate, originated at the university and was made up of members of the student body.
• Nathan Fletcher (1997) Member of the California State Assembly (R-San Diego)
• 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.
• Fraser Kershaw (2006) Activist, host of the film, Behind the Water
• Brent Kutzle (2007) Bassist and cellist for the pop rock band OneRepublic.

External links

• CBU athletics website