Motto | Knowledge, Service, Vision |
---|---|
Type | Private |
Established | 1891 (as Lordsburg College) |
Affiliation | Church of the Brethren |
Endowment | US $68.8 million (2015) |
President | Dr. Devorah Lieberman |
Students | 8,517 |
Address | 1950 3rd Street, La Verne, CA 91750 USA, La Verne, California, USA |
Campus | Suburban, 66 acres (27 ha) |
Colors | Green and Orange |
Nickname | Leopards |
Mascot | Leo and Lea |
Website | www.laverne.edu |
The University of La Verne is a private not-for-profit university located in La Verne, California, United States, about 35 miles (56 km) east of Los Angeles. Founded in 1891, the university is composed of the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Business & Public Management, the LaFetra College of Education, College of Law, and a Regional Campus Administration that oversees seven regional campuses. It awards both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Many of their classes are taught at smaller campuses throughout the greater Los Angeles area. U.S. News & World Report ranked the University 8th among private institutions in California and 18th overall in the state in its 2017 Best College Rankings.
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. In 1917, the surrounding agricultural community of Lordsburgh renamed itself La Verne; the College followed suit shortly thereafter. La Verne College reorganized in 1977 as 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.
La Verne conferred its first master's degree in 1965 and began an adult education program in 1969; it awarded its first doctorate in 1979. In 1981, the University founded a campus in Orange County and has since opened locations throughout the area, including Vandenberg AFB and Pt. Mugu. Despite its Church of the Brethren heritage, the University describes itself as non-sectarian.
Historically, the Brethren are considered one of the "peace churches", like the Quakers and the Mennonites, and slots on the Board of Trustees are still held for members of the Brethren. 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.