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University of La Verne

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This article is about the University of La Verne (ULV). For other uses, see ULV.
University of La Verne
Former names
Lordsburg College (1891–1917)
La Verne College (1917–1977)
MottoKnowledge, Service, Vision
TypePrivate university
Established1891; 133 years ago (1891)
Religious affiliation
Secular (Historically Church of the Brethren)[1][2][3][4]
Endowment$113.4 million (2020)[5]
PresidentRisa E. Dickson (interim)
Undergraduates2,713
Other students
5,804
Location
La Verne
,
California
,
United States
CampusSuburban, 66 acres (27 ha)
ColorsGreen and Orange
   
NicknameLeopards
MascotLeo and Lea
Websitelaverne.edu

The University of La Verne (ULV) is a private university in La Verne, California. Founded in 1891,[6] the university is composed of the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business & Public Management, the LaFetra College of Education, College of Law, College of Health and Community Well-Being, an online adult school, two military centers, and a Regional Campus Administration that oversees six regional campuses.[7] It awards undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.[8] Many of their classes are taught at smaller campuses throughout the greater Los Angeles area and Kern County.[9]

History

Lordsburg College c.1910

Lordsburg College

The University of La Verne was founded in 1891 as Lordsburg College by members of the Church of the Brethren, a German Christian sect originating from the Schwarzenau Brethren. Historically, the Brethren are considered one of the "peace churches", like the Quakers and the Mennonites,[10] and slots on the Board of Trustees are still held for members of the Brethren.[11] The baccalaureate ceremony is held at the local Church of the Brethren, and the holder of the post of campus minister must be a member of the Church of the Brethren.[12]

The Lordsburg College originally opened in a hotel building located on the corner of 3rd Street and D Street in La Verne, CA (then called Lordsburg). The land-boom hotel is said to never have hosted a single paying guest, as the interest in land around Southern California had subsided by the time the hotel was complete. In 1899, two members of the Church of the Brethren decided the hotel building could be repurposed as a college, so they purchased the hotel, along with 100 city lots, for $15,000.[13] The Lordsburg College building was demolished in 1928, shortly after the completion of Founders Hall.[14]

In 1901, the Los Angeles Times wrote that the Lordsburg College "seems to be predestined to an early demise." Attendance had shrunk to only 12 students, just two more than the number of faculty, and the college had been burdened by multiple scandals involving its administration. The college's second president, E.A. Miller, had a scandal in Virginia which followed him to California. William Hoover, the school's fourth president, resigned in 1901.[15][16]

La Verne College

When the agricultural town of Lordsburg renamed itself to La Verne in 1917, Lordsburg College renamed itself accordingly, becoming La Verne College. The college reorganized in 1977, 87 years after its founding, to become the University of La Verne. Since then, the university has grown to consist of the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business and Public Management, the LaFetra College of Education, the College of Law, and multiple regional campuses.[6][7][9]

The University of La Verne conferred its first master's degree in 1965 and awarded its first doctorate in 1969. In 1969, La Verne began its adult education program. The university opened its first regional campus, in Orange County, in 1981 and has since opened additional locations throughout the area, including Vandenberg AFB and Pt. Mugu. Despite its Church of the Brethren heritage, the university describes itself as non-sectarian.[17]

Athens, Greece

La Verne extended to a campus in Athens in 1975, mainly for the children of US military personnel. By the time of the sudden closure of the Athens campus in 2004, the campus operated as a franchise, sending back €690 per graduating student to the main university in California. Students and faculty were given 48 hours' notice of the closure prior to the start of classes.[18] Stephen C. Morgan, president of La Verne at the time, justified the closure on financial grounds. The Athens campus had by 2004 gained a reputation as "one of the best private, English-language institutions in Greece".[19]

Enrollment and admissions

Founders Hall.

The University of La Verne does not require the SAT or ACT for first-time freshmen students applying for admission.[20] In 2024, University of La Verne accepted 73.5% of undergraduate applicants, with admission standards considered average, applicant competition considered low, and with those enrolled having an average 3.24 high school GPA. The university being a test optional school, those enrolled that submitted test scores had an average 1140 SAT score (6% submitting scores) or average 21 ACT score (1% submitting scores).[21]

Number of Students[22]
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Main campus 4,883 4,873 4,803 4,752 4,484 4,484
Regional and online 3,415 3,462 3,326 3,291 2,899 2,494
Other 36 34 30 21 13 5
Total 8,334 8,369 8,159 8,064 7,396 6,983

Academics

La Verne Online offers select programs through online coursework and some programs offer student choice on whether to take a class on campus or online.

Colleges

The University of La Verne has five colleges:[7]

  • The College of Arts and Sciences
  • The LaFetra College of Education
  • The College of Business and Public Management
  • The College of Law
  • The College of Health and Community Well-Being

College of Law

Main article: University of La Verne College of Law

The University of La Verne College of Law was founded in 1970 and is currently located in Ontario, California. In February 2006, the college was provisionally accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), allowing students to take the bar exam and become practicing attorneys in any U.S. jurisdiction.[23] In June 2011, the ABA denied the College full ABA accreditation.[24] On August 29, 2011, the college announced it received accreditation from the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.[25] In March 2012, the ABA again granted provisional approval.[26] On March 14, 2016, the ABA granted full accreditation. Of the La Verne graduates who took the California bar exam for the first time in July 2016, 31% passed, vs. a statewide average of 62%.[27] In November 2019, the university's board of trustees voted to change from an ABA-accredited school to a California Bar-accredited school,[28] a decision that was influenced in part by the ABA's introduction of tougher accreditation standards in May 2019 which shortened the timeframe schools had to ensure a 75-percent bar pass rate from five to two years.[29]

Online school

The University of La Verne offers a limited number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs fully online.[30]

Accreditations

The University of La Verne is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission]].[31] Several programs are accredited or approved by discipline-specific organizations:

Rankings

Academic rankings
National
U.S. News & World Report[37]196

The University of La Verne is ranked tied for No.196 in National Universities, tied for No.164 in Best Colleges for Veterans, tied for No.7 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, and having a $48,200 median starting salary of alumni, as reported in U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Colleges rankings.[38]

The University of La Verne is ranked tied for No.135 nationally in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Graduate Schools ranking for Public Affairs.[39]

Campus

The University of La Verne's address is 1950 3rd Street in La Verne, California. Some of the most prominent buildings on campus include Founders Hall, which was completed in 1927,[40] the Abraham Campus Center, the Sports Science & Athletics Pavilion, Citrus Hall, and the Wilson Library.

In 2014, La Verne held a grand opening ceremony for the newly constructed Campus West, located just over a half-mile from the main campus.[41] Campus West is home to the university's baseball and softball fields.

Some of the oldest buildings still standing on campus include Founders Hall, Miller Hall (constructed in 1918),[42] and the Hanawalt House (constructed in 1905).[43]

Student housing

The Sports Science and Athletics Pavilion (left), Citrus Hall (right), and the Abraham Campus Center (middle) viewed from the parking structure.

There are three on-campus housing options for students.[44]

  • Citrus Hall
  • Vista La Verne
  • The Oaks

Citrus Hall opened for the Fall 2018 semester and houses about 400 students. The Spot dining hall, located on the first floor of Citrus Hall in wings B and C, opened at the same time, replacing the Davenport Dining Hall a block away. Generally, Citrus Hall houses first-year students, Vista La Verne houses graduate students, and continuing students stay in either Vista La Verne or The Oaks.[45]

Sports Science and Athletics Pavilion

The Sports Science and Athletics Pavilion, or SSAP, is a large tent structure located in the central campus, between the football stadium and Citrus Hall. The SSAP has an indoor basketball/volleyball court, workout rooms, locker rooms, classrooms, and various other facilities. When first constructed in the 1970s, the building contained facilities for the Athletics Department, Art Department, and the schools radio and TV stations. The SSAP also contained a snack bar and game area for students. The building now serves only the athletics department for the most part, as the Art and Communications departments now have their own building on D Street. The Campus Center now serves the functions the snack bar and game area once did.[46]

A smaller tent located next to the SSAP contains the Dailey Theatre and other facilities for the Theatre Department.[47]

Often referred to as "The Tents," or the "Super Tents," they were the "world’s first permanent–tensioned membrane structure" when completed in the early 1970s. They are constructed using a fabric made from woven fiberglass coated with Teflon.[46][48]

Wilson Library

The Elvin and Betty Wilson Library—La Verne's main library—contains over 193,000 volumes and access to over 70 academic databases.

An Alpha Beta supermarket was constructed on the corner of 'D' street and second street in 1955. The site was previously occupied by a park, which was constructed after the demolition of the original Lordsburg College building.[49] In 1977, the University purchased the Alpha Beta supermarket and converted it into a new library. This was done with the help of contributions made by Elvin and Betty Wilson, the donors the library is now named after. The library was closed between 1993 and 1996 to allow for expansion, again with the help of the same donors.[50]

The library is a two-story building, but has two level for books per floor, making it seem like a four-story building. The first floor has study and meeting rooms, a help desk, offices, and paid printing facilities. The second floor (third level) contains the Honors Center and one classroom. The university's archives and special collections are located on the fourth level.[51]

Transportation

A free shuttle used to be offered between the main campus at the Wilson Library and a remote parking lot, near Campus West. The shuttle service was suspended in 2019, after the opening of a new $16 million parking garage on the main campus in 2016, which added 693 spaces.[52]

An extension to the LA Metro 'L' line is projected to be completed in 2025. A station will be located between the La Verne campus and the Pomona Fairplex, on the northeast corner of 'E' Street and Arrow Highway.[53]

Student life and traditions

Greek life

The University of La Verne has chapters of five sororities and two fraternities.[54]

Fraternities

Sororities

The Rock

The rock has been a tradition at the University of La Verne for more than 60 years. The original rock was painted orange with the letters "LVC," because the school was still named La Verne College at the time. In the 1960s La Verne students took it upon themselves to replace the rock with a much larger one. They buried much of it so that it would not be stolen by rival schools, as the original rock had been in the past.[46]

The new rock would be painted by clubs and organizations, sometimes being repainted overnight to prank other students. This tradition continues, but students must reserve the rock before painting it.[46]

Homecoming

Each year, La Verne holds its homecoming event prior to the homecoming football game. A street fair is held on 3rd Street, outside Founders Hall, and student clubs and organizations set up booths and host activities. A parade is also hosted with student made floats.[46]

Student government

The Associated Students of the University of La Verne (ASULV) is the University of La Verne's official student government. Aside from the executive board, there are two senators for the College of Arts and Sciences, two senators for the College of Business and Public Management, one senator for the College of Education, and five senators at large. All members are elected annually.[55][56]

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) was founded in 2005 and is a non-profit on campus organization that organizes and coordinates events and programs on campus each year. CAB has two executive board members and nine chair persons.[57][58]

Campus locations

United States

Military satellite campuses:

Athletics

At the University of La Verne, approximately 30% of traditional-age undergraduates participate in intercollegiate athletics annually. (An NCAA Division III member, the University does not offer scholarships based on athletic ability.) Its athletic program is dedicated to developing scholar-athletes who demonstrate a commitment to academic and athletic success. Intercollegiate athletics are an integral part of the overall college experience, engaging the campus community and establishing a sense of spirit and pride while promoting a healthy lifestyle and fitness of mind and body.

La Verne has captured numerous SCIAC Championships, and has claimed NCAA team titles in baseball (1995), men's volleyball (1999)[59] and women's volleyball (1982, 2001).

  • Women's volleyball is a perennial national contender with three national titles (1981, 1982, 2001) and 22 conference championships in its history. The program produced two National Players of the Year (Amy Smith – 2003; Ryan Winn – 2001).
  • Baseball has a national reputation stretching back five decades, with two national titles (1972, 1995) and 20 conference titles.
  • Football's competitive tradition (including an undefeated conference season[60] in 2015) can be traced back 83 years and is a keystone of the University's athletic legacy.
  • Softball has established a competitive reputation, earning eight NCAA Division III playoff berths since 2006. Arleena DeLaCruz (Pitcher) leading the way to the playoffs in 2006 and drafted professionally to the Chicago Bandits.
  • Men's golf won seven consecutive SCIAC championships from 2007 to 2013 and placed second at the Division III national championship tournaments twice (2007, 2009). Kelby Scharmann claimed the individual national championship in 2015 and Mitchell Fedorka received the Jack Nicklaus Award as the Golf Coaches Association of America's collegiate player of the year.
  • Track and field programs are a national powerhouse, having produced nine individual national champions and 76 All-Americans.

La Verne offers 18 intercollegiate athletic teams—9 sports for men and 9 for women. The Leopards are a member of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) and compete at the NCAA Division III level.[61]

Publications

  • VOICE Magazine
  • La Verne Magazine ISSN 0199-347X OCLC 5803867
  • Campus Times

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ "University of La Verne | WASC Senior College and University Commission". www.wscuc.org.
  2. ^ "University of La Verne - Profile, Rankings and Data". US News Best Colleges. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  3. ^ "University of La Verne". Forbes.
  4. ^ "The La Verne Experience: A Common Core for Undergraduate and Graduate Students". Association of American Colleges & Universities. April 7, 2014.
  5. ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Institutional History". About the University of La Verne. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  7. ^ a b c "Academics at La Verne | University of La Verne". Academics. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  8. ^ "Degrees and Programs". The University of La Verne. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  9. ^ a b "Locations Throughout California | University of La Verne". Locations Throughout California. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  10. ^ Bowman, Carl (1987). A Profile of the Church of the Brethren. Elgin, IL: Brethren Press. See also Bowman, Carl (2008), Portrait of a People: The Church of the Brethren at 300. Elgin, IL: Brethren Press
  11. ^ "I. ULV Faculty Handbook: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION". Faculty.laverne.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  12. ^ Herb Hogan and Gladdys Muir's The University of La Verne: A Centennial History: 1891–1991 (1990)
  13. ^ "A Brief History of La Verne". Historical Society of La Verne. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  14. ^ "Lordsburg Demo". University of La Verne Digital Collections.
  15. ^ "Dunker College's Latest Sorrows". Los Angeles Times. March 15, 1901.
  16. ^ "Past Presidents | President Devorah Lieberman | University of La Verne". President Devorah Lieberman. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  17. ^ "Religious Life at La Verne". Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  18. ^ Psaropoulos, John (2004). "Laverne's collapse has political implications". Athens News. Archived from the original on 2018-01-10. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
  19. ^ Bollag, Burton (2004-10-13). "U. of La Verne Closes Its Athens Campus On 3 Days' Notice, Citing Mounting Debts". The Chronicle of Higher Education. Archived from the original on 2020-12-19. Retrieved 2020-12-19.
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