| Vanguard University | |
| Native Name: | Vanguard University of Southern California |
| Motto: | Truth. Virtue. Service |
| Established: | 1920 |
| President: | Michael J. Beals, Ph.D. |
| Students: | 2,752 |
| Undergrad: | 2,482 |
| Postgrad: | 270 |
| Country: | United States |
| Campus: | Urban |
| Former Names: | Southern California Bible School (1920–1939) Southern California Bible College (1939–1959) Southern California College (1959–1999) |
| Colors: | Navy Blue & Gold |
| Athletics Affiliations: | NAIA – GSAC (primary) NAIA – CCC (wrestling) |
Vanguard University (officially Vanguard University of Southern California) is a private Protestant university in Costa Mesa, California. It was the first four-year college in Orange County. Vanguard's required core curriculum includes courses on American politics and history, theology, fine arts, and public speaking.[1]
In summer 1920, Harold K. Needham, D. W. Kerr, and W. C. Pierce opened Southern California Bible School, an institution intended to prepare Christian workers for the various ministries of the church.[2] [3] [4] The school moved from Los Angeles to Pasadena in 1927, and was chartered by the state of California in 1939 to grant degrees. Given this new distinction, the former Southern California Bible School became Southern California Bible College, the first four-year institution of the Assemblies of God. In 1943 the college received recognition by the government for the training of military chaplains. It moved to the present campus in 1950, becoming the first four-year college in Orange County. Its name was changed to Southern California College nine years later when majors in the liberal arts were added to the curriculum.
Regional accreditation and membership in the Western Association of Schools and Colleges were granted in 1964. In 1967 the college received recognition and approval of its teaching credential program from the California State Board of Education. In June 1983 the Graduate Studies Program received approval from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. A Degree Completion Program was started in 1994 for adult learners. On July 1, 1999, university status was achieved when Southern California College registered with the Secretary of State's Office as Vanguard University of Southern California.
Vanguard's campus is in Costa Mesa, California, centrally located in Orange County and about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Two graduate programs, organizational psychology and clinical psychology, are housed nearby at a satellite campus in Santa Ana, California.
The President's Cabinet is responsible for oversight and management of the university.[5] The university is divided into four schools: College of Arts and Sciences, Patty Arvielo School of Business and Communication, School of Education, and School of Theology and Ministry.[6]
It is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.[7]
Harold K. Needham served as the founding president of Vanguard University. Subsequently, nine people have served as presidents of the university: Daniel W. Kerr, Irvine J. Harrison, John B. Scott, O. Cope Budge, Emil A. Balliet, Wayne E. Kraiss, Murray W. Dempster, Carol Taylor, and Michael J. Beals, who assumed the office on August 1, 2013. [8]
Needham was one of the founders of the university. He served as its inaugural president. Needham chapel, Vanguard University's chapel, is named in his honor.
Beals received a BA from Vanguard in 1981 and a PhD in Christian Ethics from Fuller Theological Seminary. Before assuming the university's presidency, he served as the senior pastor of a Pentecostal church for 23 years. As president, Beals has overseen the construction of the 42,000 sq. ft. Waugh Student Center and 61,000 sq. ft. Freed Center. Additionally, he oversaw the recruitment of the largest incoming ungraduated class in the university's history.[9] In 2016, Beals, along with other conservative Christians,[10] [11] publicly opposed California Senate Bill 1146 authored by Democrat Ricardo Laura.[12] He asserted "[SB 1146] seeks to restrict the state religious exemption that allows Vanguard and other faith-based institutions the right to operate according to our religious mission and identity. SB 1146 erodes the religious liberty of all California faith-based universities."
In 2019, the school was ranked #43 in U.S. News & World Report's Western Regional Colleges ranking,[13] and was named by The Princeton Review as one of its 124 “Best Western” Colleges.[14]
See main article: Vanguard Lions. The Vanguard athletic teams are called the Lions. The university is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) for most of its sports starting with the 2024-25 academic year. The university was formerly a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC).
Vanguard competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, sideline dance, softball, stunt, track & field, volleyball and wrestling.[15]
Beginning in 2024, the Freed Center will serve as the primary facilities for the university's athletic programs.[16] The center will contain a 1,900 seat gymnasium, along with weight and training rooms. Dean Harvey Field serves as the university's baseball field.[17] The university's also has a softball field and soccer complex.