Top 20 Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding SCC's Transition to University Status
(One in a series of historical documents on Vanguard's transition to university status)
- Why "Vanguard University of Southern California?"
- When did SCC officially become Vanguard University of Southern California?
- Is there more to university status than just a name change?
- How big will Vanguard University become?
- Will the move to university status affect the undergraduate male to female ratio at Vanguard?
- Any new sports planned as a result of the move to university status?
- Did the mascot change, or is it the Vanguard Vanguards?
- Will university status and a larger enrollment change the nature of the institution? Will a Vanguard education be in the tradition of an SCC education?
- What benefits will I receive as a result of the move to university status?
- Will Vanguard University of Southern California have more visibility than SCC in Costa Mesa, Orange County, Southern California, and beyond?
- If some believe that university status carries more prestige, will Vanguard's admissions requirements change?
- Doesn't university status mean a shift away from teaching to research? Will the move to university status affect faculty by requiring greater research and publication? If so, won't this affect the quality of teaching at Vanguard?
- Will the move to university status result in higher quality services and larger facilities such as Career Planning, Dining Commons, computer labs, etc.?
- Will campus policies be changed as a result of university status?
- Will Chapel continue to be mandatory?
- Will university status mean increases in tuition and other costs?
- For those who graduated in May or Summer 1999 do their diplomas say SCC or Vanguard?
- What does my transcript read as of July 1999?
- I'm an SCC alumnus. Can I get a new Vanguard University of Southern California diploma?
- Since I'm an alumnus, which name should I put on my resume: SCC or Vanguard?
1. Why Vanguard University of Southern California?
Vanguard University fits with the institution's vision and mission
- "Vanguard" means "the foremost position of a movement," thus fitting the vision of the institution's preferred future as a multi-cultural, gender inclusive, racially diverse Christian academic community.
- An institutional desire to be on the forward part of the advancements made in Christian higher education in the cultivation of virtue, the pursuit of truth and commitment to service fits with the name Vanguard University.
Vanguard University fits with the heritage and roots of our institution
When the name "Vanguard" was selected in the Fall of 1958 as the athletic mascot of SCC, Professor Calvin Holsinger noted that the name represented more than just the athletic mascot; instead, Holsinger said that name "pictured the school's desire and reputation to 'lead' the field of the brave and best." Even back then, SCC was acknowledged as being "the Vanguard presence of the academic community of the Assemblies of God."
The College was the first institution within the denomination:
- To offer degree programs
- To become a liberal arts college
- To receive regional accreditation
- To become a college rather than a bible school or institute
- To recognize the chaplaincy and provide specialized training required by the government
- To locate as a four-year college of any kind in Orange County (Chapman University is older, but was located in L.A. at the time SCC moved to Costa Mesa in 1950)
- To begin offering graduate programs at the M.A. level
Vanguard University is poised to continue this tradition by becoming
- The first A/G institution outside of Springfield to offer the D.Min. from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary
- The first A/G institution to offer the Ph.D. through a cooperative partnership with the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, validated by both Leeds University and the University of Wales
- Vanguard University bespeaks of God's gracious blessing on the college from its inception to the present day.
Vanguard University has a sense of strength and prestige that will assist in marketing strategies
- Its brevity gives it an energy and power over longer more cumbersome name possibilities.
- Given its dictionary meaning of the foremost position of a movement, Vanguard University connotes a commitment to excellence and being progressive.
- The name has a distinctiveness from other AG colleges and CCCU institutions in southern California.
Vanguard is a word not uncommon to the vernacular of our constituencies and publics
- The name has expanded beyond a mascot identification for VU athletic teams to college music groups that represent the institution in churches and in concerts open to the public.
- The Vanguard Centre student housing facility across Newport Boulevard joins Vanguard Hall on-campus.
- The city has designated the street, Vanguard Way, as a corridor between Fair Drive and Newport Boulevard.
Vanguard University of Southern California retains our identity since 1920
- By keeping "Southern California" in the name, Vanguard University is connected with the institution's identity since 1920.
- "Southern California" in the name is appropriate given ownership by the Southern California District Council of the Assemblies of God.
- "Southern California" continues to have appeal with many of the institution's publics.
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2. When did SCC officially become Vanguard University of Southern California?
July 1, 1999.
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3. Is there more to university status than just a name change?
Yes, university status can be summed up with the 3 "R"s: Reorganizing, Renaming, and Rebuilding.
REORGANIZING
VU has reorganized into a university model of academic administration. Vanguard University of Southern California is composed of the Undergraduate College, the Graduate School, and the School for Professional Studies. Each school is administered by its own Dean or Director, and has its own admissions and academic policies.
The Undergraduate College houses the eight undergraduate academic divisions offering a combined 22 academic majors. This college continues to award the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees.
The Graduate School continues to house the three graduate programs in Religion, Education, and Clinical Psychology, and is studying options for new graduate programs.
The School for Professional Studies administers the Degree Completion Program, and will house further non-traditional degree and certificate programs.
RENAMING
Southern California College became Vanguard University of Southern California.
REBUILDING
VU is rebuilding its campus. Vanguard 21, a $42 million capital campaign is already underway. This aggressive campus rebuilding program has $32 million earmarked for new buildings on campus, and $10 million for the endowment fund.
Vanguard 21 is slated to build:
- Housing facility
- 3 classroom buildings
- Performing Arts Center
- Studio Theatre
- Student Union
- Athletic Facility
Construction is expected to begin on the new housing facility during the 1999-2000 academic year. Construction is planned to begin on the first two academic buildings--the religion/business building and the science building--during the 2000-2001 academic year.
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4. How big will Vanguard University become?
In order to plan for campus facilities, VU is projecting a maximum university enrollment of 3,000 students. But because our 38-acre campus will not be able to handle 3,000 traditional-aged students, the maximum enrollment will include both traditional (Undergraduate College) and non traditional students (Graduate School and School for Professional Studies), with some of the enrollment in off-campus programs.
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5. Will the move to university status affect the undergraduate male to female ratio at Vanguard?
No, it is not expected that university status and name change will affect the current approximate 2 to 3 male to female ratio.
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6. Any new sports planned as a result of the move to university status?
No, not at this time. However, the construction of a new gymnasium may allow for more indoor sports to be offered.
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7. Did the mascot change, or is it the Vanguard Vanguards?
A new mascot has been selected for Vanguard University. Click here for a look at the Vanguard University LIONS logo as used in Athletics.
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8. Will university status and a larger enrollment change the nature of the institution? Will a Vanguard education be in the tradition of an SCC education?
Alumni feedback in 1997 clearly indicated a concern that the University not lose its commitment to Jesus Christ, its integration of faith with learning and living, its nurturing environment, and its personal approach to education. Administrators, Faculty and Staff enthusiastically agree. While Vanguard University will continue to grow, not all growth will be in the University College. The University remains committed to an undergraduate student to faculty ratio of about 16 to 1, to its mission of educating Christian students in the undergraduate program, to an enthusiastically Christian campus community, and to the integration of faith into all areas of collegiate life and academic programs. In short, the heritage of an undergraduate education at SCC will continue with Vanguard University of Southern California.
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9. What benefits will I receive as a result of the move to university status?
A university education infers that your undergraduate experience took place in an environment with graduate students and adult learners. For many, this infers a certain richness or texture of learning.
For others, a university education means greater prestige. It infers higher quality, a more substantial program of courses, and a larger environment. For many, attending a university simply sounds better.
The reality is that Vanguard will continue to offer a high quality academic program in an environment that includes graduate students and adult learners. As Vanguard grows, so will the number of its academic programs, its campus, and its enrollment.
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10. Will Vanguard University of Southern California have more visibility than SCC in Costa Mesa, Orange County, Southern California, and beyond?
VU recognizes that it is vitally important that external publics recognize the new name and tie it to SCC. The University also acknowledges that while SCC was well known with an excellent reputation with key external publics, some call the us a "best-kept secret." The institution is committed to greater visibility for the name and identity of Vanguard University of Southern California.
The administration developed and executed an aggressive Roll-Out Campaign to introduce Vanguard University to all of SCC's external publics. The goal of the campaign is to increase Vanguard's visibility so that its name and reputation will go beyond that of Southern California College. More resources than ever before will be directed toward the marketing of the institution. Much has already been done to establish the name of Vanguard University of Southern California. This campaign will continue for 2 years.
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11. If some believe that university status carries more prestige, will Vanguard's admissions requirements change?
There are no planned changes to the current undergraduate admissions requirements at Vanguard. The university will continue to recommend a college preparatory course of study in high school, and will continue to require at least a 2.5 grade point average in high school.
Most importantly, Vanguard will continue to admit students who on average have about a 3.4 g.p.a. in high school, and who desire a quality Christian liberal arts education in a campus community that is enthusiastically Christian.
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12. Doesn't university status mean a shift away from teaching to research? Will the move to university status affect faculty by requiring greater research and publication? If so, won't this affect the quality of teaching at Vanguard?
There have been no proposals or intentions to change the criteria for faculty promotion and tenure at Vanguard University. Faculty will continue to be evaluated on their teaching effectiveness and Christian character. Publication and research activities will be considered along with such activities as community service.
The term "university" no longer defines only an institution of research. The Carnegie Commission classifies "colleges and universities" as being liberal arts, comprehensive, or research institutions. Vanguard is restructuring to a comprehensive university model. It will contain an undergraduate college committed to teaching liberal arts and sciences. Therefore, undergraduate faculty will be reviewed for promotion and tenure according to their effectiveness within that college.
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13. Will the move to university status result in higher quality services and larger facilities such as Career Planning, Dining Commons, computer labs, etc.?
University status does imply a broader range of student services in larger facilities, and changes have already begun at VU that address this issue. During the 1998-99 academic year, for example, Southern California College:
- established a new Office of Student Leadership and Activities in order to reorganize and improve student services;
- expanded its Information Services Department in response to technology changes and institutional growth;
- restructured its Enrollment Services organization in order to better serve all students on campus; and
- added an Office of Marketing and Public Relations to coordinate external relations, improve institutional publications, and develop Vanguard University's on-line presence.
During the 1999-2000 academic year, Vanguard University:
- appointed two Deans and a Director within the university who will direct each schools' academic reorganization to a comprehensive model;
- hired a Registrar to oversee the articulation of a new general education core curriculum and new degree audit software that will track student progress toward graduation;
- will reorganize career planning assistance by establishing a Career Planning and Placement Office to further assist students in their preparation for careers (pending Fall enrollment); and
- During the 1999-2000 and the 2000-2001 academic years, Vanguard University has/will begin construction on the new housing facility, the religion/business building, and the Science building in the Vanguard 21 Capital Campaign, providing the first three of eight new buildings on campus.
As Vanguard University of Southern California grows in the next few years, so will its campus facilities and student services.
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14. Will campus policies be changed as a result of university status?
Policies will continue to be reviewed for their effectiveness in creating a quality academic and Christian environment on campus. University status itself will not change any campus policies.
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15. Will Chapel continue to be mandatory?
Yes, the university's spiritual formation activities, a hallmark of the "SCC experience," continue to encourage Vanguard University students to develop a dynamic, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
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16. Will university status mean increases in tuition and other costs?
No, there is no proposal to increase tuition as a result of university status. However, as SCC's tuition costs have risen approximately 5% per year on average, Vanguard's tuition is bound to increase each year as the cost of providing a quality education continues to rise. Vanguard University will continue to be committed to providing a great value for every tuition dollar.
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17. For those who graduated in May or Summer 1999, do their diplomas say SCC or Vanguard?
All diplomas through Summer 1999 said Southern California College. The official name change did not occur until July 1, 1999.
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18. What does my transcript read as of July 1999?
All academic transcripts now have the heading of Vanguard University of Southern California, and will include the name of the particular school (e.g., the Undergraduate College) from which the student is graduating. The transcript guide on the reverse side will list the previous names of the institution (as it always has).
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19. I'm an SCC alumnus. Can I get a new Vanguard University of Southern California diploma?
Yes, all alumni will have the option of ordering a new Vanguard University diploma. The cost will be $30 for a new paper diploma. The Vanguard Records Office will be processing those requests beginning in October, 1999.
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20. Since I'm an alumnus, which name should I put on my resume: SCC or Vanguard?
Your choice. Two items to consider: (1) if a prospective employer reviews your transcript, he/she will only see that you attended Vanguard University (unless they look at the transcript guide on the reverse side); and (2) you should assess if the prospective employer is more likely to recognize SCC or Vanguard.
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