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{{Infobox university |
 image = [[Image:Fresno pacific log.png|200px]] |
 name = Fresno Pacific University |
 motto = Founded on Christ |
 established = 1944 |
 type = Liberal Arts |
 affiliation = [[Mennonite Brethren Church]]|
 head_label = President <!-- change as needed; old template said President --> |
 head = Dr. Merrill Ewert |
 city = [[Fresno, California]]|
 state = |
 country = [[United States]] |
 coor = {{coord|36.7260|-119.7348|type:edu|display=inline,title}} |
 undergrad = 2800 |
 postgrad = 850 |
 postgrad_label = graduate |
 campus = {{convert|42|acre|ha}}, 16 buildings |
 faculty = 200 |
 mascot = Sunbird |
 colors= Blue and Metallic Pewter |
 free_label = Athletics |
 free = Fresno Pacific Sunbirds [http://www.fpuathletics.com www.fpuathletics.com] |
 free = [[Pacific West Conference]] [[Division II (NCAA)|NCAA Div. II]] (2012-present) [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] (1986-2012) |
 website = [http://www.fresno.edu/ www.fresno.edu] [http://www.fpuathletics.com/ www.fpuathletics.com]
}}

'''Fresno Pacific University''' (originally Pacific Bible Institute) also known as '''FPU''' is an accredited Christian university located in [[Fresno, California]], [[United States]]. It was founded in 1944 by the Pacific District Conference of [[Mennonite Brethren Church]]es. The university awarded its first [[bachelor of arts]] degree in 1965.<ref name='gameo'>{{cite web|author=Peters, George W and Richard D. Thiessen|month=July|year=2008|title=Fresno Pacific University (Fresno, California, USA)|publisher=[[Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online]]|accessdate=2009-11-28|url=http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/P320.html}}</ref> The first master's degree program was introduced in 1975.<ref name='gameo'/>

==Mission and Academics==

According to its mission statement, "Fresno Pacific University develops students for leadership and service through excellence in Christian higher education."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fresno.edu/about/mission_and_values.asp|title=Mission, Vision and Values|publisher=Fresno Pacific University|accessdate=2009-11-05}}</ref>

Fresno Pacific offers Bachelors degrees in 28 fields (and minors in an additional 10) with 45 areas of study.
It also offers advanced degrees or [[credential]]s in four areas: [[Education]], Individualized [[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|Master of Arts]], Leadership & Organizational Studies and Peacemaking & Conflict Studies. The university is organized into four schools: The School of Business; the School of Education; the School of Humanities, Religion and Social Sciences; and the School of Natural Sciences.  In the most recent U.S. News & World Report college rankings, Fresno Pacific's peer assessment score tied it for 26th in the Western United States in the Universities-Master's category.

Fresno Pacific is accredited through the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges]].

*The School of Business

*The School of Education

*The School of Humanities, Religion & Social Sciences

*The School of Natural Sciences

*The Biblical Seminary

===Graduation Guarantee===

[[Image:FPU-Mc-Donald-Hall.jpg|thumb|McDonald Hall]]
In February 2009 Fresno Pacific University began offering a "Four Year Graduation Guarantee."<ref>[http://fresno.edu/fouryear Four Year Guarantee]</ref> FPU already has the highest four-year graduation rate in the Central Valley, with 51 percent of traditional undergraduate students already graduating in four years,compared to 12-15 percent in the CSU system.

The university will guarantee graduation within four years to qualified students entering the traditional undergraduate program. The guarantee is limited to basic graduation requirements for a single major with no minor. Transfer, degree completion and graduate students are not part of the guarantee.

Student responsibilities include:
*Sign up for the guarantee during the freshman year, choose a major by the second semester of the freshman year and keep that major until graduation.
*Make course plans with their advisor, follow those plans and meet all advising, registration and financial aid deadlines.
*Complete at least 32 units per year with passing grades in each course and remain in good standing behaviorally.

==History==
At the time of its founding, Pacific Bible Institute was located in a large home at 1095 N. Van Ness Ave. There were five staff members and twenty-eight students.  By the time the first school year was finished, a former [[YWCA]] building at the corner of Tuolumne and L streets (originally designed by [[Julia Morgan]]) had been purchased, and the next school year began in this building.

By 1958, land was purchased for the construction of the current campus near the corner of Butler and Chestnut, along with the [[Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary]] and the new Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church.  Construction began on a new classroom building that year, and two dormitory buildings one year later.  The classroom building was ready for use in the fall of 1959, but the dorm buildings were not completed until 1961 due to financial difficulties.  

The Bible Institute became an accredited junior college in 1961, and decided to develop a four-year program two years later, in 1963.  In 1964, Pacific Bible Institute changed its name to Pacific College, and became accredited with the [[Western Association of Schools and Colleges|WASC]] the next year.  By 1967, the decision was made to add graduate courses, and the accreditation for the first master of arts program was received from WASC in 1975. The college changed its name to Fresno Pacific College in 1976 and to Fresno Pacific University in 1997.

===Building Construction===
[[Image:FPU-Hiebert-Library.jpg|thumb|Hiebert Library]]
[[Image:FPU-Mc-Donnald-Hall-2.jpg|thumb|McDonald Hall]]
[[Image:FPU-Aims-Hall.jpg|thumb|AIMS Hall, Mathematics and Science]]
{| border=1
|-
!Completed !! Name !! Information
|-
| 1958 || Sattler Hall || Named for early [[Anabaptist]] leader [[Michael Sattler]] in 1973.
|-
| 1961 || Krause Hall || Named for Arthur and Lydia Krause in 1990.  Further units added to in 1962.
|-
| 1961 || Nachtigall Hall || Named for Ben W. and Anna Marie Nachtigall in 1989.  Further units added in 1962.
|-
| 1961 || Schlichting Hall || Named for Marvin and Loree Schlichting in 1994.  Further units added in 1962.
|-
| 1961 || Warkentine Hall || Named for Al and Dotty Warkentine in 1989.  Further units added in 1962.
|-
| 1962 || Hiebert Library || Named for Cornelius and Elizabeth Hiebert, the primary contributors.
|-
| 1964 || Alumni Hall || Building costs were mostly covered by alumni (renovated 2005).
|-
| 1966 || Marpeck Center || Named for early Anabaptist leader [[Pilgram Marpeck]] in 1973.
|-
| 1968 || Kriegbaum Hall || Part of Witmarsum Quad, renamed for former college president Richard Kriegbaum.
|-
| 1968 || Witmarsum Quad || Named for the city of [[Witmarsum]], birthplace of [[Menno Simons]], in 1973.
|-
| 1971 || Strasbourg Hall || Named for the city of [[Strasbourg]], where early Anabaptists often sought refuge, in 1973.
|-
| 1981 || Special Events Center || 
|-
| 1986 || Bartsch Hall || Named for [[Silas Bartsch]] and his wife Nadine Bartsch. Silas was an administrator and former interim president. The building was an existing residence which was purchased and remodeled.
|-
| 1990 || Wiebe Education Center || Named for Arthur and Evelyn Wiebe. Arthur was a former president and member of the faculty, as well as the president of the AIMS Foundation, which provided a large portion of the funding.
|-
| 1992 || McDonald Hall || Named for Arthur and Barbara McDonald, contributors and co-chairs of the fundraising campaign.
|-
| 1998 || East Hall || 
|-
| 2002 || AIMS Hall || Named for The AIMS Foundation, which provided a large portion of the funding by means of a grant. 
|-
| 2003 || Steinert Campus Center || Named for Marvin and Nadine Steinert, primary contributors.
|}

==Athletics==
[[File:FPUSunbirdlogo.png|thumb|right|200px|Fresno Pacific Sunbirds logo]]
The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds compete in the [[Pacific West Conference]] of the [[NCAA Division II]]. <ref name="pacwest">{{cite news|last=Staff|work=[[The Fresno Bee]]|url=http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/06/01/2411231/sports-briefs-sunbirds-accept.html|title=Sunbirds accept PacWest invite|date=June 1, 2011|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref>  
The university sponsors 16 intercollegiate sports, eight each for men and women:
{{Col-begin|width=auto}}
{{Col-break}}
'''Men's sports'''
*[[College baseball|Baseball]]
*[[College basketball|Basketball]]
*[[Cross country running|Cross country]]
*[[College soccer|Soccer]]
*[[swimming (sport)|Swimming]]
*[[Tennis]]
*[[Track and field]]
*[[Water Polo]]

{{Col-break|gap=5em}}
'''Women's sports'''
*[[College basketball|Basketball]]
*[[Cross country running|Cross country]]
*[[College soccer|Soccer]]
*[[swimming (sport)|Swimming]]
*[[Tennis]]
*[[Track and field]]
*[[Volleyball]]
*[[Water Polo]]
{{Col-end}}

During their days in the NAIA, the Sunbirds boasted one of the top programs in the NAIA, finishing in the top five of the [[NACDA Directors' Cup]] in each of the last four years. FPU has won a total of 52 conference titles and 12 national titles, including three during the 2010-11 season (volleyball, men’s swimming, men’s tennis). Within the last five years, FPU has won national titles in Volleyball, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Men’s Tennis and Women’s Tennis. They’ve also taken home GSAC titles in Men’s Basketball, Men’s Soccer and Men's Track & Field, and garnered national attention in Men’s Water Polo, Women’s Soccer, Baseball and Women’s Track and Field.The university has hosted a number of NAIA special events, including the Track & Field National Championships, Men’s Soccer Nationals and a round of the NAIA World Series.

The Women’s Volleyball program was dominant at the NAIA level, winning four consecutive national titles from 2007-2010<ref>{{cite web|work=Fresno Pacific University|url=http://www.fpuathletics.com/news/2010/6/6/WVB_0606101541.aspx?path=wvball|title=Three-peat nets national award|date=June 6, 2010|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> including an undefeated 38-0 season in 2009. FPU won the 2010 title without dropping a single set in the entire national tournament. The Sunbirds have consistently defeated crosstown institution [[NCAA Division I]] rival [[Fresno State Bulldogs|Fresno State]] of the [[Western Athletic Conference]], with a 7-0 all-time record against the Bulldogs.

===Transition to NCAA===
On June 1, 2011, the university announced that it had accepted an invitation to join the [[Pacific West Conference]] in [[NCAA Division II]] competition, joining fellow [[Golden State Athletic Conference]] (GSAC) members [[Azusa Pacific University]] and [[Point Loma Nazarene University]], and [[California Pacific Conference]] (CalPac) member [[Holy Names University]] as part of the conference's expansion from 10-14 members.<ref name="pacwest"/> While the majority of sports will compete in the PacWest, water polo will join the [[Western Water Polo Association]] (WWPA).<ref name="tojoin">{{cite web|work=Fresno Pacific University|url=http://fpuathletics.com/news/2011/5/31/GEN_0531115553.aspx|title=FPU to join Pacific West Conference|date=June 1, 2011|accessdate=June 2, 2011}}</ref> The Sunbirds will compete in  conference play beginning in the 2012-2013 academic year. They will be eligible for conference championships and awards immediately but ineligible for NCAA postseason play for the first two seasons during the transition process.<ref name="tojoin"/>

On July 11, 2011, Fresno Pacific along with fellow conference mates, Azusa Pacific and Point Loma Nazarene, learned that their application for [[NCAA]] membership had been approved. The 2011-2012 athletic season will be the final one in GSAC and NAIA competition for the Sunbirds. The 2012-2013 season will mark the beginning of [[Pacific West Conference]] play for FPU.

===Mascot===
The athletics mascot is Sunny the Sunbird. Sunny is a much loved figure in the campus community.

==Traditions==
[[Image:FPU-Campus-1.jpg|thumb|right|Campus]]
* The ''Wittenberg Door'', a board located in the atrium of Steinert Campus Center, near the entrance to the dining room, is a place for the exchange of ideas. People are free to post expressions of their views, but are asked to write pieces in a charitable spirit and to include the writer's name. It was built in approximately 1983, and the original version was located in Alumni Hall when it still served as the campus cafeteria. A new board was built in 2004, and the old one was dismantled. The [[Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary]] has a board with the same name and purpose outside the B.C. Lounge.
* The [[Mennonite Central Committee]] holds its annual West Coast [[Mennonite relief sale|Relief Sale and Auction]] on the campus during the first weekend in April, at approximately 4:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Friday and 7:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Saturday. Ethnic foods, used books, antiques, plants, world crafts and quilts are all sold on campus in various booths and auction events.
* University Family [[Thanksgiving]] Meal
* Winter [[prom|Formal]]

==Chief executives==
[[Image:FPU-Campus-2.jpg|thumb|right|Campus]]
*1944-1946 Rev. Sam W. Goossen - Acting President/Dean
*1946-1947 Rev. George B. Huebert - Administrator
*1947-1953 Dr. George W. Peters - President/Dean
*1953-1954 Dr. Rueben M. Baerg - Acting President
*1954-1955 Dr. Rueben M. Baerg - Acting President, one-half year; Administrative Committee last half of year, Dr. George W. Peters, Chmn.
*1955-1960 Rev. B.J. Braun - President
*1960-1961 Dr. Arthur J. Wiebe - Director of Pacific Bible Institute; Mr. Joel A. Wiebe - Interim Director
*1961-1975 Dr. Arthur J. Wiebe - President
*1975-1976 Rev. Edmund Janzen, Chairman, Presidential Council
*1976-1982 Rev. Edmund Janzen - President
*1982-1983 Mr. Silas Bartsch - Interim President; Edmund Janzen on leave
*1983-1985 Rev. Edmund Janzen - President
*1985-1997 Dr. Richard Kriegbaum - President
*1997-2000 Dr. Allen Carden - President
*2000-2002 Dr. Harold Haak - President
*2002–2012 Dr. D. Merrill Ewert - President
*2012-present Dr. Pete Menjares - President

==Notable alumni==
[[Image:FPU-sign.jpg|thumb|right]]
* [[Chris Schwinden]], [[Major League Baseball]] pitcher for the [[New York Mets]]
* [[Ron Adams]], Assistant Coach for the [[Chicago Bulls]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* Toews, Paul, ed. ''Mennonite Idealism and Higher Education: The Story of the Fresno Pacific College Idea''. Fresno, Calif.: The Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies, 1995. ISBN 1-877941-05-0.
* Wiebe, Joel. ''Remembering...Reaching: A Vision of Service, a Fifty Year History of Fresno Pacific College''. Fresno, Calif.: Fresno Pacific College, 1994. ISBN 1-884397-01-8.

==External links==
*[http://fresno.edu/ Official website]
*[http://fpuathletics.com/ Official athletics website]
*[http://peace.fresno.edu/ Center for Peacemaking and Conflict Studies]

{{CCCU}}
{{Pacific West Conference navbox}}
{{NCCAA Division I West navbox}}

[[Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Mennonite Church]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Fresno County, California]]
[[Category:Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1944]]
[[Category:Council of Independent Colleges]]
[[Category:National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities members]]
[[Category:Fresno Pacific University|*]]

[[pdc:Fresno Pacific University]]