Azusa Pacific University

About

Azusa Pacific University (APU) is a private evangelical research university in Azusa, California, United States. The university was founded in 1899 in Whittier, California, with classes first held on March 3, 1900, and degrees offered in 1939. The university's seminary, the Graduate School of Theology, holds to a Wesleyan-Arminian doctrinal theology. APU offers more than 100 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs on campus, online, and at seven regional locations across Southern California. Azusa Pacific University is organized into several colleges and schools: The College of Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and Theology (School of the Arts, School of Humanities and Sciences, School of Theology); the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (School of Education, School of Behavioral Sciences); the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (School of Nursing, School of Health Sciences); the School of Business and Management (including the Leung School of Accounting); and Azusa Pacific Seminary. APU is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and also has 14 professional accreditations.

Azusa Pacific University was established on March 3, 1899, in Whittier, California. Under the name Training School for Christian Workers, it was the first Bible college on the West Coast. Led by president Mary A. Hill, the school initially had a total enrollment of 12 students. Early years saw the school relocate and change leadership several times. In 1939, Cornelius P. Haggard became the school's 13th president. In response to low enrollment and a lack of donations, Haggard launched a variety of fundraising efforts. Haggard served for the next 36 years. Following mergers with three Southern California colleges, the university relocated in 1946 to the city of Azusa, where it resides today. In 1939 the Training School became Pacific Bible College, and four-year degrees were offered. In 1956, the name was changed to Azusa College. By 1965, Azusa College had become Azusa-Pacific College (APC), and three years later, APC merged with Arlington College. Upon its achievement of university status in 1981, the college changed its name to Azusa Pacific University. After Haggard's death, Paul E. Sago became president, serving until 1989. Sago encouraged the development and growth of off-site educational regional campuses throughout Southern California, and presided over the addition of master's degree programs and the development of schools within the university. Richard E. Felix, became president in 1990, and initiated the university's first doctoral programs. He also introduced the university's "Four Cornerstones," Christ, Scholarship, Community, and Service, and oversaw the construction of seven new buildings, a doubling of student enrollment, and a quadrupling of graduate programs. When nearby institution, Ambassador College closed in 1997, the Worldwide Church of God and Azusa Pacific University jointly established the Ambassador Center at Azusa Pacific University for the continuation of classes for former Ambassador College students. In November 2000, then-Executive Vice President Jon R. Wallace, DBA, became president. In April 2018, Wallace announced his plan to retire and accepted his new role as president emeritus. In 2017, a new independent economic study found that APU generates $1.25 billion in economic impact within California each year. Of that, APU contributes $37 million in state taxes each year and supports 7,260 jobs statewide. The report also found approximately 47,500 APU alumni reside within California, increasing the state's productivity and earning power. Of those, 10,600 APU alumni and 600 APU employees live in the San Gabriel Valley. Paul W. Ferguson was named APU’s 17th president in April 2019, then retired during the fall 2021 semester. Adam J. Morris became the 18th president of APU in July 2022. Morris has overseen the implementation of a new strategic plan called the Nehemiah Initiative;[11] a renewed focus on APU’s Christ-centered mission; a new General Education program; the establishment of the Institute for Faith, Learning, and Service; the construction of the Military and Veterans Center; and the return of APU’s football program. As of February 2022, Moody’s Investors Service affirmed APU’s Ba2 issuer rating with a stable outlook, reflecting the university’s improved liquidity, growing cash and investments, and management’s efforts to align expenses with revenue, despite previous financial challenges and a competitive environment in Southern California.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.