University Profile
Mission Statement
California Lutheran University is a selective, comprehensive institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in the liberal arts and professional fields. Mentored by dedicated and accomplished faculty members, students pursue their passion and discover their purpose as they seek to grow as individuals.
The mission of the university is to educate leaders for a global society who are strong in character and judgment, confident in identity and vocation and committed to service and justice.
Academic Excellence
Central to the university’s academic excellence is a dedicated teaching faculty, who come to Cal Lutheran from some of the finest universities in the country.
Cal Lutheran offers undergraduate, graduate and professional programs through the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Management, Graduate School of Education, Graduate School of Psychology and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS).
The university’s highly regarded graduate programs include doctorates in educational leadership, higher education leadership and clinical psychology, and master’s degrees in business administration, education, psychology, information systems and technology, economics, and public policy and administration. International programs include a full-time MBA for international students and an Executive MBA in Europe. A number of post-graduate credential and certification programs also are offered. Graduate and certification programs are offered at PLTS.
Campus Locations
Cal Lutheran’s main campus is in the city of Thousand Oaks, situated midway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. This convenient location puts students within reach of a variety of cultural and recreational experiences, the beach and mountains, airports and the international business community. The main campus spans 225 acres set against scenic Mount Clef Ridge. At the heart of the beautifully landscaped campus is Kingsmen Park, surrounded by the university’s academic and residential facilities.
The university’s proximity to the 101 technology corridor provides a highly skilled workforce the opportunity to pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees near their places of employment.
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary is in Berkeley.
History
In 1959 the Pederson Ranch, nestled against the rolling hills of the Conejo Valley, began its transformation to today’s dynamic learning community of California Lutheran University.
Richard Pederson, the son of Norwegian immigrants, donated his scenic ranch to be used “to cultivate a new crop of fertile, inquiring minds.” The ranch now forms the heart of the Thousand Oaks campus.
California Lutheran College welcomed its first students in 1961. The young college’s early commitment to excellence led to its being granted accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges during its first academic year.
In 1986 the name was changed from California Lutheran College to California Lutheran University to better reflect its breadth of undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.
Educational Objectives
As a comprehensive university rooted in the Lutheran tradition, California Lutheran University views liberal learning, professional preparation and character development as mutually supportive pillars of its educational excellence.
The liberal arts establish the essential foundations for defining challenges, integrating perspectives and articulating solutions, all of which comprise the cornerstone of lifelong learning. Professional programs provide the theoretical and practical framework for students to excel in specialized careers. A Cal Lutheran education must instill in students both the habits of heart and the convictions that will lead them to use their knowledge for service in their immediate communities and in society.
With varying degrees of emphasis, these basic elements undergird all of Cal Lutheran’s educational activities. They are delivered to students through academic and co-curricular programs, but also through pedagogical practices and the culture that permeates the campus.
The success of our academic and co-curricular programs ultimately will be measured not only by what our students learn in the classroom but also by their success in realizing and pursuing their individual passions. The distinction of a Cal Lutheran education is that its graduates are exceptionally well prepared for meaningful lives directed by a sense of vocation, leadership and service.
Accreditations and Affiliations
California Lutheran University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.
The Graduate School of Education is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to offer credentials. Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. The School of Management is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. Cal Lutheran’s program in Financial Planning has been registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. The Graduate School of Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
The university is a member of the Council of Independent Colleges, Association of American Colleges and Universities, New American Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, Alliance for Hispanic Serving Institution Educators, Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the National Association of College and University Business Officers.
California Lutheran University is one of 26 colleges and universities affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and is a member of the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America.
The University's intercollegiate athletic programs compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, NCAA Division III.
For information regarding WSCUC accreditation, contact:
WASC Senior College and University Commission
1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: 510-748-9001
Email: wascsr@wascsenior.org
University Governance
California Lutheran University was formally incorporated on Aug. 4, 1959. The governing bodies of the University are the Board of Regents and the Convocation.
Board of Regents
The 25-member Board of Regents directs the administration through its policy-making role, safeguards the mission and assets of the University authorizes budgets and strategic plans, elects the president of the University, and approves the appointment of chief administrative officers and faculty. Its members meet four times per year. Learn more about our Board of Regents.
Convocation
The Convocation is a group of 85 people intended to serve as a link between the University, the Church and the greater community. It is made up of members of the five Synods of Region II of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, faculty, students, the University president, and members-at-large. The Convocation meets once annually, typically in the fall, to conduct official business and elect the University's Board of Regents. Learn more about our Convocation.
Administrative Leadership
John Nunes
President and Chief Executive OfficerLeanne Neilson
Provost and Vice President for Academic AffairsDave C. Lawrence
Vice President for Administration and FinanceLaureen Hill
Chief Strategy & Growth OfficerMarvin E. Richards, Jr.
Vice President and General CounselMelinda Roper
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of StudentsRachel Ronning Lindgren
Interim Vice President for University AdvancementHoward Davis
Associate Vice President and Athletics DirectorColleen Windham-Hughes
Rector for Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
For the most current information about the Board of Regents, Convocators, and Administrative Leaders, please visit University Leadership.