California Baptist University

From Wikipedia, the free 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 theWestern Association of Schools and Colleges.

History

1950s

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 California Southern Baptist Convention, the same year that the first edition of theAngelos, the college yearbook, was published. In 1954, the college received its charter from the state of California.

The college moved to a more spacious 75.6 acre 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.Soon, the college outgrew its facilities, and, in 1955, moved its campus to the then rural city of Riverside.