California baptist university
C E L E B R AT I N G
here is no way to explain what’s taken place at California Baptist University over the past 25 years except that God raised up and laid His hand on an exceptional leader and sent him to dream a fresh dream for the future of this fine institution. From a small struggling college that California Southern Baptists were considering closing to become one of Baptists’ largest and strongest institutions is nothing short of miraculous. And the beauty of it is that CBU is committed to being academically strong, unapologetically Christian, and unashamedly Baptist with a global heartbeat that is impacting the world for Christ and His Kingdom.
DR. BOB R. AGEE
President Emeritus of Oklahoma Baptist University and Retired Executive Director of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities
2
Over most of my adult life I have been a serious student of leadership theory, practice, style and effectiveness. I have taught courses on leadership and management at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels including supervising doctoral research during the past 20 years since retiring from the presidency of Oklahoma Baptist University. I know of no story more exciting and compelling than what has happened here during those years. Among the several styles identified in textbooks on leadership and management, the rarest is transformational leadership. I’ve known Dr. Ron Ellis for longer than most of you have. I first became aware of him and his work when he was vice president at Campbellsville College in Kentucky. When Dr. Ken Winters brought Ron there, the school was really struggling. Kentucky Baptists had already closed two of its schools and the word on the street
was that Campbellsville might not survive either. During Ron Ellis’ years there, the school turned the corner and began to grow and become stronger. Today it is a thriving university. In recent years I have pointed to Dr. Ron Ellis as the classic example of the transformational leadership style. He is a true visionary with a passion for growth, progress and achievement. He dared to dream a noble and challenging dream of a strong dynamic Christian university that he has termed a “Great Commission University”. His commitment to transforming lives through excellent academics combined with a strong Christcentered focus has attracted some of the brightest and best students, faculty and staff to be found anywhere. His ability to be sensitive to the needs and demands of the global marketplace has spawned the development of degree programs, facilities and resources that will help to shape the future of lives and communities across this nation and the world. His knowledge of what a strong successful Christian university ought to look like and his ability to identify and surround himself with quality capable people who share his dream and vision are the marks of the rare characteristics of a transformational leader. CBU is blessed to have a president who has spiritual depth, willing to dream of possibilities beyond what others could imagine, and the courage to invest himself in the task of making those dreams come true. It is a privilege to share in the celebration of Dr. Ron Ellis’ 25 years of amazing effectiveness as your leader.
4
Honoring Dr. Ronald L. Ellis
6
1994-1998: CBC to CBU
14
1999-2003: Building the CBU Experience
20
2004-2008: New Traditions, New Challenges
26
2009-2013: The Climb to Prominence
34
2014-2019: Landmark Years
44
CBU Timeline of Growth
46
Institutional Accolades
47
About Dr. Ellis
3
4
ive years ago, as California Baptist University celebrated Ellis’ 20th anniversary as president, he pointed out a goal he had previously set at the request of the board of trustees: 8,080 students enrolled by the year 2020. The number was somewhat arbitrary, he said, aside from the fact that 8,080 students would be 10 times the 808 students enrolled when he arrived on campus in 1994. The enrollment in 2014 was 7,957, which gave the university six more years to achieve the additional 43 students. Who could have predicted that by 2019, enrollment would have increased by more than 3,000 students? In fact, CBU was recently named the 8th fastest-growing university in the United States, among many other accolades. In a day when college campuses are experiencing enrollment declines and budget restraints, CBU thrives with Ellis at the helm. Lancer Athletics has grown from five teams competing in the NAIA to 18 teams competing in the NCAA Division I.
CBU’s 160-acre main campus is comprised of more than 30 buildings featuring the 94,800 sq. ft. Eugene and Billie Yeager Center, separate men’s and women’s residence halls, multiple apartment complexes and modular housing, the 270-seat Wallace Theater, a fitness center, one of the region’s largest aquatic centers, the Annie Gabriel Library, the Van Dyne Gym and the JoAnn Hawkins Music building, one of the nation’s most advanced music production and recording facilities. The latest architectural additions to campus are a 5,050 seat, 153,000 sq. ft. Events Center, the Athletics Performance Center, the East Parking Structure and, of course, the new main entrance to the campus from Adams Street. God has truly blessed California Baptist University and Dr. Ronald L. Ellis as its president. This publication honors Dr. Ronald L. Ellis for 25 years at the helm. It celebrates his vision and his accomplishments as he leads the charge to build a university for the future.
5
s On September 6, 1994, The Banner campus newspaper announced Dr. Ellis’ election as president of California Baptist College.
6
CBC TO CBU 7
HE STORY REALLY BEGINS YEARS BEFORE RONALD L. ELLIS CAME TO CALIFORNIA BAPTIST COLLEGE AS PRESIDENT. HIS WAS A CALLING THAT DEVELOPED OVER TIME—FROM HIS EARLY YEARS GROWING UP IN A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS TO CAREER CHOICES THAT POISED HIM FOR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP.
8
1994-1999
Ellis says education was an important part of his childhood. “I come from a family of educators. A number of relatives were in education, so I was always around that environment. Education was highly valued in my household.”
an internship in higher education and really felt a calling to that field,” he said. “I thought I could find a lot of fulfillment in helping other people live their dreams.” Ellis remembers telling his graduate school advisor, “I think I found my calling. I want to be a Baptist college president. I want to go to struggling colleges and turn them around.” After completing his master’s degree at Baylor, Ellis began working on his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University in Higher Education Administration, where he studied organizational change. “Particularly [I was interested in] how to take an organization like a private university that may have been struggling and turn it around,” he said. “My doctoral dissertation was an image study but a lot of my research dealt with organization and systemic change, so my degree was a little of that but not specific to it.”
Ellis received a bachelor’s degree from Houston Baptist University in 1977 and taught history at Hornbeck (Louisiana) High School for three years before beginning a graduate program in educational administration at Baylor University. “In my mid-twenties when I was working on my master’s degree at Baylor, I did
Although it focused on institutional image, his dissertation allowed him to study the internal and external aspects of a university and to understand the different layers of it. He acquired a first-hand view as registrar at Louisiana College and assistant director of institutional research at Baylor University. In 1989, he became executive vice president at Campbellsville College in Kentucky, where he was being groomed for the presidency. At Campbellsville, a former CBC trustee contacted Ellis about the presidential
9
1994-1999 search at California Baptist College. He agreed to interview, and began to research the college and the higher education environment in California. When he arrived on the CBC campus to interview, he saw a struggling college with potential. There was significant deferred maintenance throughout the campus, but the location was favorable and there was a surplus of square feet under roof. Ellis developed a turn-around plan for immediate implementation. The plan was not an arbitrary one. Ellis’ research and experience in higher education had developed into a fascination of what made colleges grow. He had studied college presidents who had been in one place for a quartercentury or more—what made them effective, how they made decisions. And he examined those institutions that experienced growth in enrollment, academic and athletic programs, as well as in their facilities. Ronald L. Ellis was elected as the fifth president of CBC in August 1994. According to the minutes of the Board meeting, he expressed his excitement to the Board of Trustees and “acknowledged God’s leading and work through the Great Commission, even in His calling him to this mission.” The task before him was a mission, indeed. Before his election, the Board had been struggling with “budget problems” and “rightsizing” the college. Enrollment was 808 students, with 22 academic majors being offered and one graduate program. The Evening College offered two bachelor’s degree programs. CBC employed 47 full-time faculty. The Class of 1994 included 150 graduates.
10
s
Left: The walkway along Palm Drive was a major entrance to the campus for students in the 1990s. Center: The Fortuna statue still stands on CBU’s campus. Lower left: Dr. Ronald Ellis presents diplomas at a CBC commencement and (right) speaks at a CBU commencement.
11
DURING HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS, ELLIS STATED:
“Each new era is birthed into a unique set of circumstances. In this regard, all eras share common ground. Once begun, the clock ticking without benefit of timeouts, that marvelously exhilarating process of shaping and being shaped runs at a pace and with twists and turns worthy of an Indiana Jones movie. Here, at our beginning, we are grateful for the lessons learned and go forth to contend with the pedagogical, demographic, technological, financial and other challenges to be addressed.�
12
1994-1999 He told the Board that enrollment would grow from 808 students to 1,000 by the next fall. At the time, CBC rested on 59.43 acres and consisted of 14 buildings, with a total of 332,507 square feet under roof. Ellis began building what he envisioned as “a university committed to the Great Commission,” and based his efforts on opportunity planning to build enrollment. “I thought about a university committed to the Great Commission—what that would look like,” he said. “I realized that we needed to be seen first and foremost as a good neighbor. We would seek opportunities to fill education gaps. We would look for opportunities to serve. The first two physical plant projects of the Ellis era began almost immediately afterward: painting the exterior walls of the James building with funds donated by the Citizens Committee, and paving the parking lot in front of the Van Dyne Field House (later Van Dyne Gym) with funds donated by the Yeagers. In his inaugural address, he recognized Eugene and Billie Yeager for their monetary gift to construct the 145-space parking lot.
California Baptist College became the first college on the West Coast to receive accreditation by Association of College Business Schools and Programs in 1996, and a Master of Business Administration was added. New construction added Mission Hall in 1997, and the Lancer Aquatic Center in 1998. The $1.5 million Aquatic Center was considered one of the best collegiate swimming facilities in Southern California. In 1997, Ellis launched International Service Projects to encourage students, faculty and staff to volunteer their skills, their hands and their hearts in service to others. The first teams traveled to China, Ecuador and Russia. By the fall of 1997, enrollment had reached 2,009. The following year—in September 1998—California Baptist College officially became California Baptist University. CBC was now CBU, and the institution’s growth had just begun. Lancer Aquatic Center
During the first eight months, the projected deficit in the current budget was overcome by limiting spending and enhancing revenue. The following fall, enrollment reached 1,226. The Evening College quadrupled in size, and a new Master of Education was added. As enrollment grew from year to year, Ellis made sure the campus had enough classrooms, parking and housing for students. The momentum continued as the college constructed new buildings and acquired and renovated others.
13
Yeager Center
14
s
The Yeager Center became the cornerstone for the CBU campus and includes the Dana and Melba Horn Academic Wing and the Evelyn Johnson Student Services Wing.
15
ITH ITS NEWLY ATTAINED UNIVERSITY STATUS, CALIFORNIA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY’S REPUTATION CONTINUED TO CLIMB. CAMPUS FACILITIES AND ACADEMICS IMPROVED, ENROLLMENT INCREASED AND LANCERS BEGAN WINNING ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS.
16
1999-2003
The Men’s Water Polo team was formed in 1999
In 1994, the college had only five teams competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Ellis encouraged the growth of athletics at CBU, knowing that it would be an important part of developing an energetic campus culture. “I realized that a competitive athletic program would be one of the keys not only for a good student experience but also for a healthy institutional image,” he said. “California is an ideal setting for all kinds of sports and we used that to our advantage in adding new teams.” In 1999, the men’s track (distance) team won the university’s first national title at the NAIA indoor track & field championship, followed by a national championship for CBU’s men’s volleyball team. That team went on to win a total of eight national championships. Over a 13-year period (1999–2011), CBU captured 22 NAIA national championships in track & field, softball, men’s swimming & diving, women’s swimming & diving, men’s volleyball and women’s volleyball. Under the leadership of President Ellis, CBU Lancer Athletics transitioned from competing in the NAIA to the NCAA, first becoming a national powerhouse in NCAA Division II before advancing to NCAA Division 1—the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics. While Ellis encouraged and applauded the recognition athletics brought to CBU, he also believed the campus needed a centerpiece. Previously (before the Ellis
years), the college had sold a 15.5-acre plot that adjoined the campus to help the college financially. Now, it was time to get the property back. “That piece of land was located right at the edge of the campus,” he explained, “so it was an ideal place for a major building that would give a great first impression. It was essential to buy it back, if at all possible.” The buyer had never developed the land, so two donors, Gene Yeager and Dana Horn, initiated the idea of repurchasing the acreage. Ellis traveled to South Korea to meet with the owner, who agreed to sell the property back to CBU for less than he paid for it. “The importance of that land purchase to the growth of CBU is hard to overstate,” Ellis said. “Without a doubt it changed the trajectory of the institution.”
17
1999-2003
With the reacquisition of the real estate, Ellis began planning a building that would nearly double the campus classroom space. The 94,500-square-foot Eugene and Billie Yeager Center was completed in 2003 and also included computer labs, a 400-seat dining commons, a bookstore, game room, a prayer chapel and prayer garden, as well as more than 50 faculty, staff and administrative offices. The complex became the cornerstone for the CBU campus and includes the Dana and Melba Horn Academic Wing and the Evelyn Johnson Student Services Wing. The Yeager Center’s new classroom space allowed for the university’s academics to be strengthened with new and improved programs. Building on CBU’s existing music curriculum, the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music was founded in 2002 with a small number of dedicated faculty, staff and students. The School of Music flourished under the direction of its first dean, Dr. Gary Bonner, who established what remains one of the hallmarks of the CBU music culture — its eight major performance ensembles that consist of more than 500 participants. These ensembles enjoy a rigorous concert schedule, touring nationally each year. The new Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education followed in 2003, strengthening a foundation of undergraduate and graduate programs for future educators. In addition to its undergraduate majors, the School has grown to include six master’s degrees and a doctoral program.
18
“The importance of that land purchase to the growth of CBU is hard to overstate. Without a doubt it changed the trajectory of the institution.”
s
– DR. ELLIS ON THE LAND PURCHASED FOR YEAGER CENTER
Today the Yeager Center opens to a stone-covered terrace ideal for dining or studying and a lawn that connects the complex to other campus buildings.
19
s The men’s swimming and
diving teams captured NAIA national championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The women’s swimming and diving teams captured NAIA national championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
20
21
HE UNIVERSITY CELEBRATED ELLIS’ 10TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2004. THE YEAGER CENTER, COMPLETED THE PREVIOUS YEAR, STOOD AS A TESTAMENT TO THE PHENOMENAL GROWTH TAKING PLACE AT CBU.
22
2004-2008
The Board of Trustees voted to honor Dr. and Mrs. Ellis’ commitment to the University by dedicating the “Ronald L. and Jane D. Ellis Great Commission Plaza” that connects the Dana and Melba Horn Academic Wing and the Evelyn Johnson Student Services Wing of the Yeager Center. In addition to the soaring columns and arches adorning the impressive architecture, the Great Commission Plaza features a floating 10-ton granite globe called “the Kugel” as its symbolic centerpiece. Etched on the globe are the outlines of the continents and on its base, the text of the Great Commission from Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB): Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Establishment of the Plaza—and, in particular, the Kugel—began traditions that echoed the vision Ellis had articulated for “a University committed to the Great Commission.” One beloved CBU tradition is for newly enrolled students to touch the Kugel as they begin their education at the university and again on commencement day, symbolizing each student’s commitment to live a life of purpose in accordance with his or her spiritual beliefs. Another tradition is for teams departing campus for International Service Projects (and later U.S. Service Projects and Summer of Service) to gather for prayer with family and friends as they touch the Kugel. “Service is an integral part of the experience at CBU,” Ellis explained. “The commitment of students, faculty and staff to be involved in service activities represents a very practical application of one of the university’s core values: equipped to serve.” Since it was Ellis’ 10th anniversary as president in 2004, the Board of Trustees wanted him to set a new goal.
The Kugel
“John Funk, the Board chair, asked me to lead the effort to recast the vision,” Ellis remembers. “As a result, the board approved an enrollment goal of 8,080 by the year 2020. Based on research, we began looking at the STEM (science,
23
2004-2008
technology, engineering, math) areas— high barrier to entry programs like engineering and nursing.” An enrollment of 8,080 would be 10 times the number of students registered for classes when Ellis arrived as president. He knew it also would support a greater breadth and depth of academic programming.
Expanded programs meant the university needed more student housing, so the Cottages were built to accommodate upper level students.
Enrollment had risen to 2,905 in 2004. That year, the School of Music added a Master of Music, and the JoAnn Hawkins Music Building opened in 2005. In keeping with the concept of advancing STEM programs, the School of Nursing was established and received approval from the State of California Board of Registered Nursing in 2005, with the first students admitted in 2006. The Gordon and Jill Bourns School of Engineering opened in 2007, and facilities for nursing and engineering classes were remodeled by 2008. Establishment of the CBU engineering program, combined with the Great Commission vision articulated by President Ellis, enabled creation of the innovative CBU-Rwanda Presidential Education Agreement. Ellis traveled to Africa to develop the pact with His Excellency Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda. The program was designed to help train future leaders to rebuild the genocide-ravaged nation. Soon afterward, the first cohort of Rwandan baccalaureate students arrived at CBU to begin studies in engineering, mathematics, and biology. By 2009, 31 Rwandan students were studying at CBU, with more to come.
24
Lancer athletic teams continued to show success, with the softball team making its first appearance at the NAIA World Series (2004), the women’s volleyball team winning its first national championship (2004), men’s (2006, 2007, 2008) and women’s (2005, 2006, 2007) swimming and diving teams capturing NAIA national championships, the men’s volleyball team winning its 9th national championship (2007) and men’s water polo capturing a CSPA/NAIA national championship. New teams added included women’s golf and men’s golf, tennis and wrestling. The Lancer Outdoor Sports Complex was completed in 2007.
s
Left: Engineering students work on a robotics program. Center: The Cottages is a favorite residential area for upper level students. Women’s tennis was one of the teams added during the Ellis years.
25
s 26
The 40,682-square foot Recreation Center features two intramural basketball courts, a collegiate basketball court or three volleyball courts. In addition, the space includes lounge areas, racquetball courts, workout rooms, men’s and women’s locker rooms and a cheerleading practice space. Even the roof is usable, with a running track and a soccer field covered with synthetic turf.
27
HE FIVE YEARS BETWEEN 2009 AND 2013 SAW ELLIS’ INITIAL PLAN FOR THE UNIVERSITY TAKING FORM. THE RAINCROSS GROUP SELECTED ELLIS ONE OF 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL LEADERS IN RIVERSIDE. DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, CBU BEGAN TO GAIN PROMINENCE IN SEVERAL AREAS.
28
2009-2013
The popularity of International Service Projects led to the program’s expansion to United States Service projects in 2009, an opportunity for community involvement nationally, regionally and locally. It was followed by the addition of Summer of Service (SOS) in 2010, allowing for longer term ISP/USP trips. CBU contributed nearly 35,000 service hours in 2012 through those programs, administered through the Office of Mobilization. ISP, which celebrated its 15th year in 2012, sent a record 422 volunteers to 20 countries. That commitment to community service and service learning resulted in the university being one of 642 institutions nationally named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. CBU was named a semifinalist in the 2012 AMX Innovations Awards as one of only 22 institutions worldwide to gain the recognition for its innovative use of technology. In addition, the G.I. Jobs website listed the university as a “military friendly” institution in 2013, and CBU Online was listed among the 2013 Top Online Education Program rankings by U.S. News & World Report. By that time, CBU Online served more than 2,500 students online throughout the U.S. and offered 26 online undergraduate majors, eight master’s degrees and two certificate programs. In academics, CBU received its first ever 10-year accreditation from the Western Association of Colleges and Universities. What had begun as the Evening School
relaunched as the Division of Online and Professional Studies, the School of Engineering became the College of Engineering, the College of Allied Health opened for training in health care and the aviation science program was introduced. With the latter, the university purchased small planes for flight lessons but also added to its fleet a Boeing 727-200F donated by FedEx Express that would be used as a working flight laboratory. The College of Architecture, Visual Arts and Designed opened an art gallery in downtown Riverside to display work of students and faculty. CBU’s campus publications—the Banner newspaper, Angelos yearbook and Pursuit magazine—won the first of its national awards at the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Advisers national convention in 2011. To increase the number of available classrooms, the Business Building was completed in 2012, and the Recreation Center added fitness space for the CBU
29
2009-2013
community. The opening of Brisco’s Cafe meant more options in campus dining. The new CBU Recreation Center was one of 145 projects profiled in the 2013 American School & University magazine’s Architectural Portfolio issue, which “celebrated the best in education design.”
Competition in the NCAA’s PacWest Conference began in 2011, with six Lancer teams racking up impressive PacWest titles in their first season. As a result, CBU won the prestigious Commissioner’s Cup. The Cup Scoring System awards points to schools based
Additional students created a need for additional housing, so CBU purchased the Parkside Village Apartments near the campus and renamed them the Colony at CBU. Hobby Lobby gifted Tahquitz Pines, a conference center in the mountains of Idyllwild, Calif., to the university, allowing space for retreats and athletic training, as well as opening the door to outside groups renting space for conferences. The NCAA approved CBU’s application to join Division II, a three-year process, even while teams continued to win championships. National championship wins included the men’s swimming and diving teams (2009), the softball team (2009), men’s volleyball (2010, 2011), women’s golf (2011), men’s and women’s soccer teams (2011, 2012), women’s volleyball (2011) and men’s and women’s track-distance (2012), the cheer team (2012, 2013) and the baseball team (2013).
30
on their finishes in conference-sponsored sports. The school also won the National Christian College Athletic Association’s Presidential Award, and the magazine Sports Spectrum named CBU the top Christian College athletics program.
s
The Business Building features 56,717 square feet with 14 state-of-the-art classrooms, a capital markets trading room, 20 faculty offices, a student career center, student lounge and a conference-style board room.
31
2009-2013
32
7,144 7,144 ENROLLMENT IN 2013. AND MORE WAS YET TO COME ...
33
s Under Ellis’ leadership, the campus has grown from 59.43 acres to 160 and from 14 buildings with a total of 332,507 square feet to more than 30 buildings with 1.5 million square feet.
34
35
HE FIVE YEARS LEADING UP TO ELLIS’ 25TH ANNIVERSARY SAW THE UNIVERSITY RISE TO NEW HEIGHTS AND ACHIEVE GOALS ONLY DREAMED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY.
36
2014-2019
CBU dedicated the 153,000-square-foot Events Center in 2017. Besides athletics, the arena also provides space for the university’s chapel program attended by nearly 5,000 students weekly during the academic year. Other uses planned for the Events Center include student orientation activities and commencement ceremonies that are held each spring and fall. Attendance surpassed 50,000 attendees during the inaugural season in the state-of-the-art Center. According to the NCAA Division II figures, CBU men’s basketball finished second in Division II in total home attendance and fifth in average home attendance. Ellis said the new multi-use arena is the realization of dreams and prayers of generations of Lancers.
“We were in pursuit of this for most of my 23 years here [at CBU]. And I know that people dreamed about such a facility long before I arrived in 1994. So this is an accumulation of generational dreams
for many, many people affiliated with California Baptist College and California Baptist University.” The College of Health Science dedicated its new campus in 2015. The Health Science campus comprises more than 70,000 square feet under roof on more than 11 acres. A $17.5 million-plus remodel transformed the campus into a state-ofthe-art learning center. During this five-year period, Lancer Plaza North opened, as well as new dining options: Chick-Fil-A, El Monte Grill, Campus XPress, the Habit, Foodology and Couch’s Corner. The Gordon and Jill Bourns College of Engineering at California Baptist University moved into its new home, the 100,000-square-foot Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building, for the fall 2018 semester. The building houses classrooms, faculty offices and administrative spaces as well as a spacious, multipurpose design hall with room for labs, projects, exhibits, presentations and student collaboration. The Athletic Performance Center, opened in 2019, features a 10,800-square-foot weight room, which makes the center the largest facility for a NCAA Division I non-football institution in the state of California. The new center quadruples the size of the previous CBU strength and conditioning facility. The Athletic Performance Center is situated next to the Recreation Center that opened in January 2013. The expanded facilities are part of the renovation of Lancer Plaza that now features a new entrance to CBU at Adams Street and Lancer Lane, a five-
37
2014-2019
story East Parking Structure with more than 1,450 car stalls and the CBU Events Center that holds more than 5,000 seats for sporting and university events. CBU’s first doctoral degrees were granted in 2017, as three students earned Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from the College of Nursing. The School of Behavioral Sciences officially transitioned into the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences and launched its fifth graduate program. The university’s four campus publications—the Banner campus newspaper, the Banner Online, Pursuit magazine and Angelos yearbook— competed with those from top universities across the country at annual journalism conventions and won more than 50 national awards for excellence in writing, design and photography. For the second year in a row, the California Baptist University Army ROTC women’s squad won first place in the color guard event at the John J. Pershing Memorial Drill Competition in 2019. CBU hosted a celebration in 2019 for its 5,000-plus International Service Project (ISP) volunteers. Students, faculty and staff annually contribute more than 600,000 hours of community service and service learning. Ellis was elected to serve on the NCAA Division II President’s Council, and CBU claimed the PacWest Commissioner’s Cup for the sixth time. The Lancers became the first program in PacWest history to win five conference championships during the fall 2017 athletic season. All five PacWest championship teams qualified for the NCAA Division II postseason, with men’s
38
“We were in pursuit of this for most of my 23 years here [at CBU]. And I know that people dreamed about such a facility long before I arrived in 1994. So this is an accumulation of generational dreams for many, many people affiliated with California Baptist College and California Baptist University.” – DR. ELLIS ON THE OPENING OF THE EVENT CENTER IN 2017
39
40
2014-2019
soccer and volleyball earning host bids. The historic fall season helped propel the Lancers to a No. 1 seeding in the NCAA Division II Learfield Director’s cup winter standings, a first for CBU. In all, CBU received five Coach of the Year honors, 11 conference top honors, 42 all-conference honorees, 26 All-West Region honorees, 16 All-Americans and a national player of the year, along with four top-six national rankings. In its last year competing in NCAA Division II, Lancers finished on top of the Learfield Cup national standings, a first for the university. The fall 2018 semester saw California Baptist University transition confidently into NCAA Division I competition in the Western Athletic Conference. CBU consistently won accolades from a variety of sources. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the university as a top-tier university in the West and has also included it in specialized listings, including one of the Best Colleges for Veterans (2014, 2020), Best Value School and Most Innovative School (2018, 2020), Best Undergraduate Teaching (2020) and Top Performers on Social Mobility (graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants). U.S. News & World Report also ranked the Division of Online and Professional Studies in the 2018 Best Online Bachelor’s list for the sixth consecutive year and was the only California online
program nationally ranked in the top 25. The 2018 and 2020 Niche Best Colleges list ranked CBU in their listings for Best College Campus, Best College Food and Best College Dorms. The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked CBU No. 8 among the fastestgrowing colleges in the U.S. during a recent 10-year period, reflecting the institution’s enrollment growth from 2006 through 2016. The fall 2019 enrollment was 11,045, 5.3 percent increase over the fall semester of 2018. “Add the current year increase of 559 and over the last 10 years CBU enrollment has grown 6,940 on a base of 4,105 in fall 2009—a 169 percent increase in 10 years,” Ellis declared. During its 69-year history, California Baptist University has seen 19 triple-digit or greater year-over-year increases—all of them occurring since fall 1995. Since Ellis became president in November 1994, CBU enrollment has grown from 808 to 11,045, an increase of 10,237, which is 13.67 times larger. “Fall 2019 is another record breaking enrollment increase on top of a sustained 25 years of significant increases,” Ellis said. The new enrollment goal is 12,000 by 2025, when CBU will celebrate its 75th anniversary.
41
42
2014-2019
GRADUATES IN THE CLASS OF 2019, REPRESENTING CBU’S LARGEST GRADUATING CLASS YET!
43
Years of
Lancer Aquatic Center
1995 • Enrollment jumps from 808 in fall 1994 to 1,226 in fall 1995 • Evening School quadruples in size • Master of Education added
1998 • Lancer Aquatic Center completed • California Baptist College becomes California Baptist University • Men’s cross country team wins Golden State Athletic Conference championship
2000 • Men’s cross country team wins Golden State Athletic Conference championship
1994
1997
1999
• On November 1, 1994, Dr. Ronald L. Ellis began serving as president at California Baptist College.
• International Service Projects launch with teams of students traveling to China, Ecuador and Russia
• Men’s track (distance) team wins university’s first national title at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field championship
• Mission Hall and Lancer Fitness Complex constructed
• Men’s volleyball inaugural team wins NAIA National Tournament championship
1996 • Master of Business Administration added
•
Baseball team wins Golden Gate Athletic Conference championship and makes appearance in the NAIA World Series
• Men’s cross country inaugural team wins Golden State Athletic Conference championship • Men’s water polo play inaugural season
2012 2006 School of Business Building
• Master of Public Administration added
2010
• School of Nursing admits first students 2004 • Ronald and Jane Ellis Great Commission Plaza constructed • Master of Music added • Women’s tennis introduced
• Men’s golf and tennis teams added
2002 • Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Music founded
• Women’s volleyball team wins first NAIA national championship
• College of Allied Health opens
• Men’s volleyball team wins eighth NAIA national championship
• Brisco’s Cafe opens • Summer of Service program begins
• Men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams capture NAIA national championships
• Softball team makes first appearance in the NAIA World Series of Softball • Men’s volleyball team wins third NAIA national championship
• Division of Online and Professional Studies launched
• CBU approved to join NCAA Division II, beginning three-year process 2008 • Wrestling added to athletic teams • Men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams capture NAIA national championships
• CBU approved to join Pacific West Conference, with competition beginning 2011 • Men’s volleyball team wins NAIA championship
• School of Business Building completed • Recreation Center opens • Men’s and women’s soccer teams win PacWest and NCCAA championships • Men’s cross country, women’s cross country, baseball and softball teams win PacWest championships
2014 • Lancer Plaza North opens •
400th team participates in the flagship International Service Projects, United States Projects and Summer of Service
• CBU claims PacWest Commissioner’s Cup for second time in three years • Dr. Ellis selected to serve on NCAA Division II President’s Council
• Women’s swimming and diving team wins Scholar All-American Award
• CBU qualifies 12 teams for NCAA playoffs
• Men’s and women’s track (distance) team wins NCCAA national championships
• Lancer Plaza North opens
2018
• Chick-fil-A and Campus Xpress open
• 100,000-square-foot Dennis and Carol Troesh Engineering Building opens
• Cheer team wins USA Collegiate Cheer championship • International Service Projects celebrates 15th year
•
CBU wins first NCAA Division II championship, places No. 26 nationally among D-II membership in Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup final standings
2016 • School of Nursing becomes College of Nursing
• CBU Lancers begin competing in NCAA Division 1, Western Athletic Conference
2017
2019
• 153,000-square-foot Events Center dedicated
• Athletic Performance Center completed
• First doctoral degree granted
• Five-story East Parking Structure opens
2011 2001
2007
2009
• Men’s volleyball team wins NAIA championship
• CBU-Rwanda Presidential Agreement established
• United States Projects launch as extension to ISP
• Lancer Outdoor Sports Complex completed
• Men’s swimming and diving team captures NAIA national championship
• School of Engineering opens
• Softball team wins national championship
2003 • Eugene and Billie Yeager Center completed • Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education added
Yeager Center
2005 • The Cottages added • JoAnn Hawkins Music Building opens • School of Nursing established and received approval from the State of California Board of Registered Nursing • Women’s golf introduced
• Men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams win NAIA national championships • Men’s volleyball team wins NAIA championship • Men’s waterpolo team captures CSPA/NAIA national championship
• CBU acquires Parkside Village apartments, renamed The Colony at CBU • School of Engineering becomes College of Engineering • CBU receives first ever 10-year accreditation from Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Recreation Center completed • Dr. Ellis selected as one of 25 most influential leaders in Riverside
• Men’s and women’s soccer teams win National Christian College Athletic Association (NCAA) championship
• Campus publications win first national awards
• Women’s volleyball team wins NCCAA championship
• Softball team wins NAIA Region II championship
• CBU claims PacWest Commissioner’s Cup • CBU wins NCCAA Presidential Award • Sports Spectrum names CBU the top Christian College athletics program
• The School of Behavioral Sciences officially transitions into College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Aviation Science program introduced • FedEx donates Boeing 727 to Aviation Science program
• Men’s volleyball team wins NAIA national championship
Events Center
• Tahquitz Pines gifted by Hobby Lobby
• Women’s golf wins first NAIA national championship title
• Men’s and women’s volleyball teams win NAIA national championships
• Women’s swimming and diving teams capture NAIA national championship
2013
• Baseball team wins NCCAA World Series • Wrestling team wins National Collegiate Wrestling Association championship • Cheer team wins National Cheerleaders Association Cheer and Dance championship
2015 •
College of Health Science dedicates new campus with more than 70,000 square feet under roof on more than 11 acres
• College of Allied Health renamed College of Health Science
• CBU announces acceptance into Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and transition to NCAA Division I
• New entrance to CBU opens at Adams Street and Lancer Lane • International Service Projects celebrates 5,000 plus volunteers
BORN: December 16, 1955
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS:
MARRIED: Jane Dowden in 1975
•
1989-1994 Executive Vice President Campbellsville College Campbellsville, Kentucky
•
1988-1989 Executive Assistant to the President Lee College Baytown, Texas
•
American Association of Presidents of Independent Colleges and Universities, Board of Directors, 2009 to present; elected Vice Chair 2018-19
•
Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, Board of Directors; elected Vice Chair 2009, Chair 2010-11; present member; Treasurer, 2018-present
FAMILY: sons Ashton (born 1983) and Erik (born 1985), 10 grandchildren
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Magnolia Church, Riverside EDUCATION: • Post-doctoral study Harvard University Institute of Educational Management Graduate School of Education • Ph.D. Texas A&M University Higher Education Administration • M.S. Baylor University Educational Administration • B.A. Houston Baptist University Education
•
1987-1988 Assistant Director of Institutional Research and Testing Baylor University Waco, Texas
•
1983-1987 Registrar and Coordinator of Church and Associational Relations Louisiana College Pineville, Louisiana
•
1977-1980 History Teacher Hornbeck High School Hornbeck, Louisiana
• Baptist World Alliance, 1995 to Present, Academic and Theological Education Committee, Christian Education & Literature Committee, Doctrine and Interchurch Cooperation Commission • Greater Riverside (Calif.) Chambers of Commerce, 1995-96, 2005-2009, 2012-present, Board of Directors • International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities – Board of Directors member, 2004-07, 2017-present; chair, 2006; Finance and Audit Committee, chair, 2018-present; IABCU President 2019-present • NCAA Division II Presidents Council, 2014 to 2018
LANCE UP, CBU! Words and music by Steve Posegate, D.M.A.
C-B-U Live your purpose every day C-B-U Lance up! We’re ready to play C-B-U Go, Lancers! C-B-U Go, Lancers! C-B-U Win a victory to lift our name. L-A-N-C-E-R-S!