History California Baptist University

1 history

1.1 1950s
1.2 1960s , 1970s
1.3 1980s , 1990s
1.4 2000s
1.5 2010s

history
1950s

founded in 1950 california baptist college in el monte, california, new college enrolled 120 students during first year under leadership of first president, p. boyd smith. in 1953, college moved under wing of california southern baptist convention, same year first edition of angelos, college yearbook, published. in 1954, college received charter state of california.

cbu james complex

soon, college outgrew facilities, and, in 1955, moved campus rural city of riverside.

the college moved more spacious 75.6 acre campus had constructed buildings used offices, classrooms, , living areas. known annie gabriel library, first built in 1921. in 1927, original administration building constructed whereas w.e. james building built in 1934. building houses ceramics studio , boiler constructed in 1938. in 1958, college named second president, dr. lloyd simmons.

1960s , 1970s

in 1961 cbu received full accreditation western association of schools , colleges. in 1964, college began expanding construction of lancer arms apartment complex , student population reached 500.

in 1968, smith , simmons residence halls built , named in honor of college s first 2 presidents. these new dorms allowed higher enrollment @ college.

in 1971, dr. james r. staples named third college president. 2 years later, wallace book of life theater built. in 1978, college s $800,000 note riverside campus paid , burned in college-wide celebration.

1980s , 1990s

dr. russell r. tuck became college s fourth president in 1984. same year, first graduate degree granted , accreditation received national association of schools of music.

in 1991, wanda s place established, on-campus cafe named in honor of popular long-time college employee. 3 years later, dr. ronald l. ellis installed fifth college president , next year school enrollment reached 1,000.

california baptist college became first college on west coast receive accreditation association of college business schools , programs in 1996. next year enrollment reached 2,000.

in september 1998, california baptist college officially became california baptist university.

2000s

cbu yeager center entrance

in 2000, school s 50th anniversary celebrated. campus again expanded in 2001 addition of university place apartments.

the school of music established in 2002 new dr. bonnie g. metcalf school of education following in 2003. same year, new university complex, known yeager center, opened housing classrooms, administration offices, cafeteria, computer labs, , professors offices.

in mid-2004, new housing complexes built, , later in year university enrolled first students in masters of music degree program.

the school of engineering established in 2006. inaugural class in fall of 2007 had 55 students.

2010s

cbu added college of allied health in fall of 2010 when enrollment exceeded 4,700 students. in september 2010, cbu opened third campus restaurant, brisco s village café.

on august 30, 2011, nursing student domaine javier expelled california baptist university being transgender woman. reason given javier s expulsion was accused of committing or attempting engage in fraud, or concealing identity having applied , being accepted woman school. private institution, laws restricting gender discrimination not apply california baptist university.

on august 22, 2012, cbu’s bachelor s degree programs in civil engineering (bsce), electrical , computer engineering (bsece) , mechanical engineering (bsme) accredited engineering accreditation commission of accreditation board engineering , technology (abet).

on august 23, 2012, cbu dedicated new building dr. robert k. jabs school of business.

undergraduate programs in applied statistics, architecture, aviation science, chemical engineering , software engineering added fall 2013. new mba concentrations in accounting, healthcare administration , construction management added, master of arts in education concentrations in science education , leadership.

on september 8, 2015, cbu offered first doctoral degree, doctorate of nursing practice (dnp) through school of nursing.

on wednesday, december 14, 2016, cbu broke ground on new engineering building.

the cbu events center opened in august 2017.