Concordia University Irvine
Former name
Christ College Irvine (1976–1993)
MottoDeveloping Wise, Honorable, and Cultivated Citizens.
TypePrivate
Established1976
Religious affiliation
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Endowment$46 million
PresidentMichael Thomas
ProvostScott Ashmon
Students4,046[1]
Undergraduates1,592[1]
Postgraduates2,454
Location
Irvine
,
California
,
United States
CampusSuburban
ColorsGreen and gold[2]
   
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division II
PacWest Conference
MascotGolden Eagles
Websitewww.cui.edu

Concordia University Irvine is a private Lutheran university in Irvine, California, United States.[3] It was established in 1976 to provide a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod college to serve the Pacific Southwest[4] and provide training for pastors, religious education teachers, and Christian school administrators.[5] Concordia University Irvine has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,592[1] and its campus size is 70 acres (28 ha).[6] It is part of the Concordia University System.[7]

History

Sign for Christ College Irvine, now known as Concordia University Irvine

In 1955, Dr. Victor Behnken, then president of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), proposed the creation of a preparatory college for the Pacific Southwest. In 1962, the LCMS agreed to build the school. A search committee commissioned by the district considered 87 sites before commercial and residential real estate developer The Irvine Company offered the present location in Irvine. In 1973, Rev. Dr. Charles Manske accepted the call from the district to be the founding president of the school, which was originally named Christ College Irvine.[8][9]

In February 1993, the Board of Regents of Christ College Irvine voted to change the school's name to Concordia University Irvine.[5] At that time, the university became the tenth campus in the national Concordia University System (CUS).[5] In addition to the Concordia University System, the LCMS and its congregations also operate two seminaries, 130 high schools, and more than 900 elementary schools, making it the second largest church-operated school system in the United States.[10]

Academics

The university currently includes five schools: Christ College (School of Theology), School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, and School of Professional Studies; and offers 20 undergraduate majors and 50 specializations, nine graduate programs, four adult bachelor's degree completion programs, and three nursing programs.[11] In 2014, Concordia University Irvine added its first doctoral program, Educational Leadership.[4]

Campus

The campus at Concordia University Irvine

The campus is located 50 miles (80 km) south of Los Angeles, 80 miles (130 km) north of San Diego, and 6 miles (9.7 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean in the city of Irvine. Irvine is a planned community which is rated one of the safest cities of its size in the United States.[12] The campus rests on a 70-acre (28 ha) plateau overlooking Orange County in a private residential community surrounded by wildlife and hiking trails.[13] The offices of the School of Professional Studies - Adult Degree Programs, M.A. International Studies, Nursing programs, and the Masters in Coaching and Athletic Administration (MCAA) teams moved to an offsite location in Irvine.[14]

Athletics

The Concordia–Irvine (CUI) athletic teams are called the Golden Eagles. The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) for most of its sports since the 2015–16 academic year;[15] while its men's volleyball team competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF);[16] and its men's water polo team competes in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA). CUI previously competed in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1987–88 to 2014–15; and as an NAIA Independent from 1981–82 to 1986–87. The CUI women's water polo team competed in the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) until the 2022 spring season.

CUI competes in 21 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball and water polo; while women's sports include softball, basketball, beach volleyball, cheerleading, cross country, soccer, softball, stunt, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball.[17] Former sports included women's lacrosse and women's water polo.

Accomplishments

The university was previously a member of the NAIA from 1981 to 2015. During that time, Concordia–Irvine earned 7 NAIA Team National Championships and 25 NAIA Individual National Championships. In addition to the NAIA championships, Concordia–Irvine won 26 GSAC Regular-Season Championships and 13 GSAC Tournament Championships.[18]

LGBT prohibition

Concordia University Irvine's code of conduct for students prohibits sexual intimacy for unmarried people, and defines marriage as heterosexual only.[19]

Concordia hosts conversion therapy and anti-same-sex-marriage events and speakers, such as a debate featuring gay marriage opponent Ryan T. Anderson.[20] Concordia hosted the annual conference of Exodus International[21][22] until the organization was disbanded in 2013 because of the failure of conversion therapy to make people straight.[23]

Rankings

In U.S. News & World Report's 2013 rankings of the best colleges in America, Concordia University Irvine is listed as 63rd in the Western region. In 2016, the university earned a ranking of 55 among regional universities in the Western U.S.[6]

In 2015, The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked Concordia University Irvine as one of the fastest-growing private nonprofit master's universities in its 2015-2016 edition of Almanac of Higher Education, noting that the university grew over a 10-year period (2003–2013).[24]

Also in 2015, Money magazine included Concordia University Irvine in a list of schools "that provide the best value for your tuition dollar."[25]

Notable alumni and faculty

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About CUI". Concordia University Irvine. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  2. ↑ Concordia Athletics Style Guide (PDF). August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Concordia University Irvine". Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Our History". Concordia University Irvine. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 McQueeney, T. O. M. (February 9, 1993). "Irvine: Christ College to Be Concordia University". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Concordia University | Concordia University (California) | Best College". US News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Concordia University System". The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Our History". Concordia University Irvine.
  9. ↑ Crescenzo, Sarah de. "Charles Manske, founder of Concordia University Irvine, dies at 82". Orange County Register. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Concordia University System". Concordia University Irvine.
  11. ↑ "Academic Programs". Concordia University Irvine.
  12. ↑ "Location and Maps". Concordia University Irvine.
  13. ↑ "Location". Concordia University Irvine.
  14. ↑ "Growth at Concordia University Irvine Leads to Expansion to New Location". Concordia University Irvine.
  15. ↑ "The Official; Athletic Site of Concordia University Irvine". Concordia University Irvine Athletics. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  16. ↑ "CUI, GCU WILL JOIN MPSF IN 2018". MPSF Athletics. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Home of Your Concordia Eagles". Concordia University Irvine Athletics.
  18. ↑ "Concordia Irvine Championships". Concordia University Irvine Athletics. Archived from the original on July 22, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  19. ↑ Concordia University Irvine (2021–2022). Student Code of Conduct (PDF) (Report). p. 24. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Religious Liberty and Discrimination Debate set for Tuesday, January 30 at Concordia University Irvine". January 9, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Gay Rights Movement Becoming More Confrontational with Religious Right". Voice of OC. June 21, 2010.
  22. ↑ Pak, Ellyn (June 28, 2010). "Gays protest Exodus forum at Concordia". Orange County Register.
  23. ↑ Lovett, Ian (June 20, 2013). "After 37 Years of Trying to Change People's Sexual Orientation, Group Is to Disband". The New York Times.
  24. ↑ "Almanac of Higher Education 2015". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  25. ↑ "MONEY's Best Colleges". Retrieved June 16, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Famous Olympian Misty May-Treanor Touts Concordia's MCAA Program". Concordia Eagles. August 6, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Called to Glory: Rev. Dr. Jacob A. O. Preus, Third President of Concordia University Irvine". Concordia University Irvine. August 4, 2022. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Rod Rosenbladt". 1517.org. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
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