History
A Heritage of Excellence in Christian Higher Education
On September 18, 1950, the Los Angeles Southern Baptist Association opened the doors of California Baptist College in El Monte. The college began operations with 42 students in Fall 1950; 120 were enrolled during the 1950–51 academic year. In 1955, after four years of continued growth, the college relocated to larger facilities in Riverside.
Today, the Spanish-style buildings, which include classrooms, campus housing, a library, offices, maintenance and athletic facilities, are located on the 160-acre campus. In the midst of dynamic growth, California Baptist University continues the tradition of liberal arts education in a Christian environment.
To read about CBU's athletics history, please refer to our Lancers Athletics Legacy page.
Historical Events and Milestones
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1920s
1921 Building that currently houses the Annie Gabriel Library is constructed
1927 Administration Building is constructed
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1930s
1934 W. E. James Building is constructed
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1950s
1950 P. Boyd Smith is named first president
1950 On September 18, classes begin for 42 students at First Southern Baptist Church in El Monte, CA
1951 Olie T. Brown is named first dean of students
1953 California Baptist Convention assumes full responsibility for California Baptist College
1953 First Angelos yearbook is published
1954 College is chartered by the State of California
1954 Eight students become first to earn undergraduate degrees from CBC
1954 "CBC We'll Love You," composed by Dr. S.E. Smith, is adopted as the official alma mater
1955 CBC moves to Riverside campus
1955 Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church is organized by faculty, staff and students
1955 Lancer mascot is named
1956 Dewey H. Jones organizes the first competitive basketball team
1958 Dr. Loyed Simmons is named second president
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1960s
1960 Annie Gabriel Library is dedicated
1960 The Roundtable becomes the official campus publication for alumni
1961 CBC receives full regional accreditation granted by the Western College Association
1964 First candle lighting ceremony takes place
1964 Lancer Arms Apartment buildings are constructed
1964 CBU enrollment reaches 500
1968 Simmons Hall and Smith Hall are constructed and dedicated
1968 Van Dyne Field House is constructed and dedicated
1968 Dewey H. Jones is appointed first academic dean
1969 California Chapter of Beta Alpha Chi is installed
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1970s
1971 Dr. James R. Staples is named third president
1971 Annie Gabriel Library adds 100,000th volume
1973 The Wallace Book of Life Building is dedicated
1975 Physical Plant/Maintenance Building is constructed
1979 $800,000 note for the Riverside campus is paid
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1980s
1984 Dr. Russell R. Tuck is named fourth president
1984 First graduate degree is granted
1984 Accreditation is granted by National Association of Schools of Music
1986 Board of Trustees votes to create the California Baptist College Development Foundation
1987 S.E. Boyd Smith contributes P. Boyd Smith Hymnology Collection to the Annie Gabriel Library
1989 Bob and Dorothy Pentz Tennis Center is constructed
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1990s
1990 First Evening College classes offered in High Desert
1994 Dr. Ronald L. Ellis is named fifth president with enrollment at 808
1995 First students enroll in Master of Education degree program
1995 Enrollment reaches 1,000
1996 California Baptist University becomes first college on West Coast to receive accreditation by Association of College Business Schools and Programs
1996 Metcalf Art Gallery opens
1996 Enrollment reaches 1,500
1997 Mission Hall, Fitness Center, Training Room and Athletic Offices are constructed
1997 Enrollment reaches 2,000
1998 Lambeth House is purchased
1998 Willow Wood Apartments, Pine Creek Villas are purchased
1998 California Baptist College officially becomes California Baptist University
1998 The U.S. News & World Report listed California Baptist University among the top five regional liberal arts colleges for student-faculty ratio
1998 Aquatic Center is constructed
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2000s
2000 50th anniversary celebrated
2001 Willow Wood Apartments and Pine Creek Villas officially become University Place Apartments
2003 Eugene and Billie Yeager University Center is completed
2003 Graduate students participate in inaugural graduate commencement (separate from undergraduate exercises)
2004 Phase I of The Cottages is completed
2004 First "Spirit of Excellence" gala is held
2005 Woodman of the World Building is purchased
2005 Royal Rose and Rose Garden Apartments are purchased
2005 Evening College Program officially becomes Adult Degree Completion Program
2005 First Adult Degree Completion Program classes are offered in Beaumont
2005 School of Nursing is established
2005 Van Dyne Gym renovation is completed
2005 Adams Villas Apartments are purchased
2005 Phase II of The Cottages is completed
2005 James Complex North Wing/Garrett Room renovations are completed
2005 JoAnn Hawkins Music Building is completed
2005 CBU is named "Business of the Year" by Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
2006 Magnolia Hacienda Apartments is purchased
2006 Lutheran Church of the Cross is purchased
2006 Adams Plaza is purchased
2007 Lancers Outdoor Sports Complex is completed
2007 School of Engineering is established
2007 Organic chemistry lab renovation is completed
2007 Army ROTC program is added
2008 Lambeth House (School of Nursing) renovation is completed
2009 Bourns Engineering Lab is established
2009 1,000 students graduate in a single year for the first time in school's history
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2010s
2010 CBU celebrates 60th anniversary
2010 International Service Projects surpasses sending out 400th participant and 200th team since the 1997 founding of the program
2010 College of Allied Health is established
2010 Division of Online and Professional Studies is established
2010 Enrollment reaches 4,715
2010 CBU is named as a top-ranked university for the fifth straight year and is listed as a 2011 "Best Regional University" by U.S. News & World Report
2010 Membership is approved in NCAA Division II, Pacific West Conference
2010 Inaugural "Block Party" is added to homecoming
2011 Wellness Center opens
2011 Adams Plaza is renamed “Lancer Plaza”
2011 First-ever 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation is received from Western Association of Schools and Colleges
2011 Parkside Village Apartments is renamed "The Colony @ CBU"
2011 College View Apartments is renamed "Lancer Palms Apartments"
2011 Groundbreaking for School of Business Building takes place
2011 Enrollment reaches 5,413
2011 CBU is named as a top-ranked university for the sixth straight year and is listed as a "Best Regional University" by U.S. News & World Report
2011 First certificate program (Autism Spectrum Disorder) is offered
2011 ISP celebrates 15th anniversary
2011 CBU becomes inaugural collegiate division of the CSBC disaster relief program
2011 Microbiology and general chemistry lab renovations are completed
2011 New classrooms are added to the Village, Mission Hall and the School of Engineering
2011 Discovery U summer academic camp program is introduced
2011 Campus expands to 128 acres
2011 1000 parking spaces are added
2011 100 undergraduate majors and concentrations are now offered
2011 College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Design is established
2011 School of Engineering becomes College of Engineering
2011 Fall and spring commencements combined yield 1,147 graduates—the largest number of graduates in a single year
2011 CBU is approved for second year candidacy in NCAA Division II
2012 The class of 2012 numbers 1,365, the largest in the 62-year history of CBU
2012 CBU sends out 300th ISP team
2012 CBU is approved for 3rd year candidacy in NCAA Division II
2012 School of Business Building is dedicated
2013 Recreation Center is dedicated
2013 FedEx donates Boeing 727 to aviation science program
2013 CBU is listed as one of the "Best Regional Universities" by U.S. News & World Report for the eighth straight year
2013 CBU honors 1,117 graduates at spring commencement
2013 Online and Professional Studies ranks #25 in the nation for "Best Online Bachelor’s Programs" and #10 in "Best Online Programs for Veterans" by U.S. News & World Report
2013 CBU is granted full membership in NCAA Division II
2013 Fall enrollment exceeds 7,100 students
2013 Aviation science program opens flight school
2013 CBU ranks #13 in the West among "America's Best Colleges for Veterans" by U.S. News & World Report
2014 CBU honors 1,335 graduates at spring commencement
2014 Online and Professional Studies ranks #13 in "Best Online Bachelor's Degree Programs for Veterans" by U.S. News & World Report
2014 CBU's campus newspaper, The Banner, repeats its first place award at the National College Journalism Convention
2014 CBU sends out 400th ISP/USP team
2014 CBU advances in U.S. News & World Report rankings for ninth straight year
2014 School of Nursing Annex and Prayer Garden are dedicated
2014 Enrollment reaches 7,957
2014 CBU honors Dr. Ronald L. Ellis' 20th year as president
2014 CBU is listed on President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
2015 CBU food ranks #3 among California universities by Niche.com
2015 CBU Online advances among online bachelor programs in U.S. News & World Report rankings
2015 Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (CBU's first doctorate) launches in fall
2015 College of Allied Health is renamed College of Health Science
2015 Fall enrollment reaches 8,541, eclipsing “8080 by 2020” enrollment goal, five years ahead of schedule
2015 Construction begins on 153,000 sq. ft. CBU Events Center
2015 College of Health Science campus opens
2016 Anonymous $10 million gift is announced; first eight-figure gift in CBU history to help fund new 100,000 sq. ft. building to house Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering
2016 Class of 2016 has 2,218 applications for graduation—tops 2,000 for the first time
2016 CBU hosts inaugural Courtyard Shakespeare Festival
2016 School of Nursing becomes College of Nursing
2016 Fall enrollment reaches 9,157 students—tops 9,000 for the first time
2016 CBU receives third consecutive top-40 ranking for “Best Regional University” by U.S. News & World Report
2016 CBU breaks ground for new 100,000 sq. ft. Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering building
2017 CBU announces acceptance into Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and transition to NCAA Division I
2017 $15.5 million-plus revitalization of the College of Health Science campus receives a beautification award in the category of “Exterior Reconstruction with Landscaping” from the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful program
2017 CBU Online ranks #8 nationally among “Top Online Education Programs” by U.S. News & World Report
2017 “Mounted Lancer” sculpture is installed at CBU Events Center
2017 CBU dedicates Events Center
2017 School of Behavioral Sciences becomes the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
2017 CBU celebrates inaugural commencement ceremonies in the Events Center
2017 Drumline is added to CBU Pep Band
2018 CBU Homecoming activities return to spring semester
2018 Wellness Center moves to 3626 Monroe St., adjacent to College of Health Science campus
2018 Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building opens for fall semester
2018 CBU conducts inaugural summer commencement ceremonies
2018 2,848 candidates for graduation make Class of 2018 largest ever at CBU
2018 “Inspiration” sculpture is unveiled at CBU
2018 The Habit Burger Grill opens at CBU
2018 CBU Lancers begin competing in NCAA Division 1, Western Athletic Conference
2018 Fall enrollment at CBU surges past 10,000 for first time (10,486)
2018 CBU receives fifth consecutive top-40 ranking as “Best Regional University” by U.S. News & World Report
2018 Chronicle of Higher Education ranks CBU #8 among fastest-growing U.S. colleges (2006–2016)
2019 CBU launches the Leadership Studies, Ph.D. program, the first Ph.D. program and fifth doctoral degree program at CBU
2019 Psychological Services of Riverside (PSR) opens
2019 CBU Online ranks #42 nationally among “Top Online Education Programs” by U.S. News & World Report
2019 Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building at CBU is honored with top award for “New Construction with Landscaping” by Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful program
2019 Dr. Ronald L. Ellis receives Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from Boy Scouts of America and is honored as 2019 Distinguished Citizen by the Mt. Rubidoux District
2019 CBU surpasses 5,000 ISP volunteers since start of program in 1997
2019 Class of 2019 is CBU’s largest graduating class ever with some 2,775 students eligible to participate in fall, spring and summer commencement ceremonies
2019 East Parking Structure opens in Lancer Plaza, providing more than 1,450 additional parking spaces
2019 CBU opens new main entrance to campus from Adams Street to Lancer Lane
2019 Couch’s Corner, which includes the food concepts “Delect-a-Bowls” and “Shake Smart,” opens
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2020s
2020 Doctor of Social Work program is launched
2020 CBU offers all online courses during spring semester in response to COVID-19
2020 The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and Inland Empire honors the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences as its 2019 Partner of the Year
2020 CBU Adams Street entrance receives Riverside beautification award from City of Riverside
2020 Dr. Ronald L. Ellis is honored for 25 years of transformational leadership
2020 CBU Online earns a #52 spot among national bachelor’s programs in the 2020 “Top Online Education Program” for U.S. News & World Report
2020 Division of Arts and Letters is created within College of Arts and Sciences
2020 Magnolia Crossing campus housing opens
2020 CBU receives seventh consecutive top-50 ranking as “Best Regional University” by U.S. News & World Report
2020 Fall enrollment totals 11,317 despite coronavirus pandemic
2020 CBU ranks first in California and fifth nationally among private universities helping students with social mobility
2020 CBU honors 3,194 graduates in the class of 2020 in virtual commencement due to COVID-19
2021 CBU Online ranks #67 nationally among “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” by U.S. News & World Report
2021 Magnolia Crossing is honored with third place for “New Construction with Landscaping” by the Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful program
2021 CBU holds 12 in-person spring commencement ceremonies to honor 2021 and 2020 graduates
2021 College of Health Science launches Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders