Former names
|
Christ College Irvine |
---|---|
Motto | Developing Wise, Honorable, and Cultivated Citizens. |
Type | Private |
Established | 1976 |
Affiliation | Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod |
Endowment | $230 million |
President | Kurt Krueger |
Provost | Peter Senkbeil |
Students | 4046 |
Undergraduates | 1,944 |
Postgraduates | 2,102 |
Location | Irvine, California, United States |
Campus | Suburban |
Colors | Green and gold |
Athletics | NCAA Division II |
Mascot | Eagles |
Website | www.CUI.edu |
Concordia University Irvine (formerly Christ College) is a private Christian university located in Irvine, California, United States. It was established in 1976 in an effort to provide a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod college to serve the Pacific Southwest. Concordia University Irvine has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,918 and its campus size is 70 acres (28 ha). It is one of 10 colleges and universities that are part of the Concordia University System.
In 1955, Dr. Victor Behnken, then president of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, proposed the creation of a preparatory college for the Pacific Southwest. In 1962, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) agreed to build the new 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 Christ College Irvine.
In February 1993, the Board of Regents of Christ College Irvine voted to change the school's name to Concordia University Irvine. At that time, the university became the tenth campus in the national Concordia University System (CUS). 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.
The university currently includes five schools: Christ College (Christian seminary), 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.