Enrollment and Student Services

Mr. Kent Dacus
Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services

Ms. Celeste Wilcox
Administrative Assistant
Phone (951) 343-4687
FAX (951) 343-4576

Philosophy of Student Development

As a Christian institution, California Baptist University has dual responsibilities to its constituency. As an academic institution, it seeks to promote high scholastic standards, stimulate mental alertness, impart a general knowledge of the natural world and of the history and institutions of human society, and to assist students in choosing and learning an area of specialization for their life’s work.

As a Christian institution, the University seeks to promote and follow the spiritual principles set forth by Jesus Christ. In acknowledging these principles, the University places special emphasis on leading students in an active pursuit of the spiritual values of life and developing leaders for the Southern Baptist churches of California and beyond.

Students at CBU are individuals involved in academic pursuits and at the same time are members of a Christian community nurturing one another in spiritual growth. The University expects students to take seriously this two-fold responsibility.

The Student Services Division is committed to the intellectual, spiritual, social, aesthetic, and physical development of California Baptist University students so that they are assisted in becoming autonomous, competent, responsible, and interdependent individuals who use their intellects and skills with wisdom and integrity.

Freedom and Responsibility

California Baptist University students are entitled to the same freedom as any other citizen of our country. It is the Policy of the University to ensure these rights, consistent with the provisions of law, acceptable tastes, and purposes and goals of the institution. When matriculation in the University requires that conditions be placed upon Student freedoms, these conditions and their rationale are clearly delineated.

At California Baptist University, the concepts of freedom and personal responsibility are inextricably bound together. The University community, like any other, functions upon the principle that all members respect and protect the rights of their fellow citizens. Students are encouraged to develop these values which represent mature, self-disciplined people who appreciate the privilege of education and are willing to accept its responsibilities.

When people choose a college, they commit themselves to its philosophy of education, policies, and regulations. Students are to demonstrate proper respect of University personnel which includes, but is not limited to, compliance with directives of University officials in the performance of their duties.

Even though students may not agree with a few rules established by the University, it is expected that they comply with them in a manner conducive to the highest moral standards and in keeping with the discipline of the academic community.

Generally, through appropriate procedures, institutional judicial measures shall be imposed for conduct which adversely affects the institution’s pursuit of its educational objectives, which violates or shows a disregard for the rights of other members of the academic community, or which endangers property or persons on institution or institution-controlled property.

Responsibility for enforcement of Student Conduct Policy lies with the Dean of Students, Director of Student Conduct, and other Student Services staff. This group defines behavioral expectations and takes appropriate action in support of University Policy.

Standard of Student Conduct

In order to achieve its mission, California Baptist University expects members of the campus community to accept responsibility for their personal conduct and to encourage others within the community to do the same.

All students enrolled at California Baptist University are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Standard of Student Conduct, regardless of age, classification, or the number of credit hours being taken. The Standard of Student Conduct is established for the purpose of outlining expected behavior of students in the University community. The Standard of Student Conduct shall be defined as any and all policy, procedure, and/or behavioral expectation contained within the Student Handbook and the University Catalog.

If the conduct of any member of the campus community is found to be detrimental to the academic, social, and spiritual development of others within the community, the University (through its various offices and personnel) provides guidance, direction, and if necessary, judicial action.

This Standard of Student Conduct shall apply to any and all lands owned or leased by the University, as well as, to any location where a student is engaged in a University activity. Examples of such coverage include, but are not limited to, athletic teams and performing arts groups traveling to and participating in events off campus, student teaching and observation/participation, student government, recognized organizations and clubs engaging in a club event or activity, off-campus internships, international internships, international student teaching, academic extracurricular travel, faculty-led academic engagement and service-learning, clinicals/health fairs, student field practicums, student independent or directed studies, student research, community service, study abroad, International Service Projects, United States Service Projects, and Summer of Service Projects.

Students should understand the commitment to the spirit of the University and realize that their enrollment is viewed as a willingness to abide by and accept the responsibilities of the environment.

Philosophy of Discipline

The purpose of discipline at California Baptist University is to assist in maintaining individual and community growth. Personal growth and maturity are encouraged most when each member of the University community uses self-discipline and shares the responsibility to care enough about others to confront them when appropriate. The responsibility to confront one another in a loving manner should enable inappropriate behavior to be corrected on a personal level.

Unfortunately, situations may arise which warrant a formalized judicial process. Judicial procedures are designed to provide a just and equitable process of educational discipline. While every effort is made to protect the rights of students, the University does not attempt to duplicate or to emulate court proceedings and should not be viewed as such. Student judicial procedures, student rights, and the appeal process are outlined in detail in the Student Handbook.

Enrollment and Student Services Division

The Enrollment and Student Services Division encompasses the offices of Academic Advising, Career Center, Community Life, Counseling Center, Enrollment Services, Intercollegiate Athletics, Leadership and Transitions, Provider Food Service, Residence Life and Housing Services, Safety Services, Spiritual Life, Student Government, Wellness Center, Title IX, and University Card Services. In addition to providing general supervision of the offices that comprise the Student Services division, the Student Services Office provides services that include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Administrating student health insurance provided through the University and accepting proof of insurance (as required by University policy)
• Referring students to campus resources
• Facilitating the judicial action and non-judicial action appeals processes
• Investigating student allegations and complaints
• Reviewing and approving on-campus postings (flyers, posters, etc.)
• Serving as the primary point of notification when students are involved in situations that require an extended absence from campus
• Coordinating commencement events
• Any issue dealing with food services
• Title IX Office

Academic Advising

The Office of Academic Advising assists students with course registration, degree planning, graduation checks, program changes and various academic appeals. Academic Advising works in cooperation with academic departments and other student support offices to ensure the best possible assistance is provided to students navigating their programs of study. Advisors are available by appointment, walk-in, chat, email, or phone.

Activities

In addition to maintaining the University’s activity calendar, serving as an activity-planning resource, and assisting with the oversight of student clubs and organizations, the Community Life Office plans and implements campus activities, intramural sports, educational programs, cultural programs, and seminars that reflect the Christian values of the institution.

Associate Student Government

The Associated Students of California Baptist University (ASCBU) is committed to the development of the student body through the representation of student needs and concerns to the University administration and a variety of student programs.

The ASCBU organization consists of a three-branched government; the executive, legislative, and judicial. The Executive Council, Senate (Class, Residential, and Commuter Representatives), and Judicial Board perform duties for each branch, respectively. Specific responsibilities of each branch are outlined in the ASCBU Constitution.

Campus Housing

The Residence Life Office strives to promote the mission of California Baptist University by providing an on-campus living environment that is conducive to scholarship, personal growth, and development. Accordingly, living in residence at CBU carries with it a distinctive set of privileges and responsibilities. Students who reside on campus live in a community with their peers and are entrusted with the responsibility to challenge and support each other in a respectful, cooperative, and communicative fashion. This environment provides students with enriching experiences, which may help to promote healthy interpersonal relationships.

Students interested in campus housing should consult the Office of Residence Life.

Career Center and Student Employment

The Career Center serves as a connection between education and career by providing students opportunities and resources for professional development, networking, and experience. The goal of the Career Center staff is to equip students with the professionalism necessary to excel in their respective careers and become effective servant-leaders for Christ upon graduation, both locally and globally.

The Career Center provides students with varied opportunities for professional development and career exploration through programing that is both campus-wide and major specific. Career Center staff conducts classroom presentations, workshops, seminars, and provides office walk-in hours to assist and instruct students in their professional development. In addition, the Career Center arranges opportunities for students to interact and network with potential employers through career fairs and employer presentations.

Clubs and Organizations

Clubs play an important role on the California Baptist University campus by encouraging students to pursue interests, develop leadership skills, create meaningful relationships, and enhance academic achievements. A list of chartered clubs and organizations as well as club and organization policy and procedures are available in the Community Life Office and on InsideCBU.

Intercollegiate Athletics

The Athletic Department provides education for the body, mind, and spirit of each student-athlete at California Baptist University. Under the direction of the athletic director, CBU offers a comprehensive athletic program with staff who address NCAA compliance, communications, development, athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports medicine, academic advising, facilities and event management, marketing and fan engagement, ticketing and sales, and media production. In addition to encouraging Christ-like competition by all participants, CBU coaches diligently strive to educate students and provide an environment in which students experience athletic, academic, and personal success.

Intramural Sports

California Baptist University is committed to the overall educational experience. Intramural sports play an integral part in this experience in the following ways:

• Encourage students to work together in pursuit of individual and team goals;
• Provide students an enjoyable way to interact with others;
• Offer students avenues to relieve stress or anxiety;
• Help students begin an attitude of lifelong physical fitness.

The University’s intramural sports program maintains a full schedule of athletic and recreational activities throughout the academic year. Activities include a variety of seasonal competitions between organized teams, tournaments, individual competitions, and non-athletic events.

Leadership and Transitions

The Office of Leadership and Transitions oversees the Student Leadership Program selection process, Student Leadership training and development, New Student programs, Welcome Weekend, and a variety of other campus-based programs and initiatives.

FYE (First Year Experience)

First Year Experience is designed to assist new Students with the transition to university life and the California Baptist University community through a University Success course. This course is required of all unmarried, full-time undergraduate Students who are first-semester freshmen and under twenty (20) years of age. Students who have completed a similar course and/or completed a full semester of transferable coursework at another institution are not required to enroll in the FYE course.

Recreation Center

The Recreation Center, is a state-of-the-art fitness and recreation facility. The Recreation Center offers members of the campus community a wide range of personal fitness and group exercise opportunities. This facility is equipped with a number of recreation features including a state-of-the-art cardio and weight room, racquetball courts, a gymnasium with basketball and volleyball courts, group exercise rooms, a rooftop track and soccer field, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and lounge spaces located throughout the facility.

Safety Services

California Baptist University maintains a Department of Safety Services to enhance the safety and security of the campus community. In addition to staffing the Welcome Pavilion and patrolling school properties, the department provides twenty-four (24) hour assistance with emergencies, crime and injury reporting, safety escorts, and education of the campus community on safety and security practices.

Community and Emergency Notification

The University has developed a multimedia system to immediately notify students, faculty, staff, and visitors of any emergency circumstance or serious situation that poses a credible threat to the safety and security of the campus community. Components of this system include:

• A siren/verbal warning system capable of projecting audible messages across open areas of the main campus.
• CBU Alert–an “opt-in” system capable of transmitting and delivering messages to all subscribed email and cellular telephone addresses on file with the University.*
• All University-issued email addresses.**

*Students must “opt-in” to receive these messages.
**Parents or guardians of students enrolled at CBU may also be added through the student’s account.

Any or all parts of this system may be activated in response to any specific incident.

For instances when there is no immediate threat to the safety of the campus community but it is desirable to provide information for educational or crime prevention purposes, email distribution is used to disseminate relevant facts and measures to be implemented or considered.

Vehicle Registration

Students who operate a vehicle on campus must register for a parking permit with the Safety Services Department. Parking permits are issued for the current school year. Drivers are expected to comply with the University traffic and safety regulations and non-compliance may result in the issuance of a citation and/or suspension of parking and/or driving privileges on campus. Copies of the California Baptist University Vehicle Code are available in the Student Handbook.

International Student Services

The Department of International Student Services (ISS) assists international students in transitioning into the CBU community, exploring American culture, and understanding U.S. immigration regulations. ISS ensures that students understand institutional expectations, provides support services, processes immigration documents, plans and implements activities that promote campus awareness and appreciation for cultural understanding and experience, and assists students in becoming integrated into the CBU community.

Spiritual Life

California Baptist University is committed to the biblical teaching of the Christian faith. As a result, the University has sought since inception to evidence the values of Christian living in the lives of students, staff, and faculty as they live out the Christian ethics of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Though students are not required to be Christians, the University encourages students to grow in their relationships with God by exploring the gospel and expressing the Christian faith in a variety of ways.

As a University committed to the Great Commission, the University provides opportunities for spiritual growth and formation through the Office of Spiritual Life. The purpose of the Office of Spiritual Life is “Investing in lives to develop followers of Jesus.”

California Baptist University requires students to take Bible-based courses in Christian studies. However, the University also offers students many opportunities to explore and express the Christian faith. Students are encouraged to participate in ways unique to personal needs and interests through regularly scheduled times of spiritual emphasis, Bible studies, worship gatherings, evangelism, ministry teams, community service, and missions.

Compassion Ministries

By putting faith into action, students learn the significance of demonstrating the love of Christ in the context of the gospel. Participating in urban projects for a day or a weekend, working with the homeless, or serving the local community gives students the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others in the name of Jesus.

Chapel

The California Baptist University community gathers regularly for worship, fellowship, Christian growth, and spiritual encouragement. Chapel services vary from Bible preaching to inspirational sharing; but three (3) principles guide the worship-planning process. First, Chapel services will demonstrate a richness of biblical theology to direct the hearts and minds of worshipers to the glory of God, the preeminence of Christ, and the power of the gospel. Second, Chapel programming and personnel will represent the cultural and ethnic differences of the CBU community to serve as a reminder that God calls all people groups to worship Him through a relationship with Christ. Third, worship music will be stylistically diverse to accommodate the variety of worship styles represented by the campus community.

Chapel services are organized, coordinated, and implemented by the Dean of Spiritual Life and the Director of Chapel. Occasionally, as deemed appropriate by a University Officer, members of the campus community are recognized for notable accomplishments during Chapel. Holidays, cultural programs, and other forms of recognition and/or expression are not included as part of Chapel programming; such events may be coordinated through the Community Life Office.

Discipleship Ministries

Students of California Baptist University have opportunities to grow in their relationships with Christ through discipleship and mentoring in the context of weekly small groups, regular large-group meetings, regularly-scheduled conferences, and other events that encourage spiritual growth. The primary discipleship structure is Challenge, an intentional discipleship process based in small groups called “Tribes.”

Men’s and Women’s Ministries

Special all-male or all-female events provide environments that foster community for students to grow in their relationships with Christ and each other. Events are gospel-centered and planned around shared interests, strengths, experiences, and struggles. Ministry events provide opportunities for students to hear guest speakers, participate in small-group discussion, learn about gospel-centered resources, and be involved in ongoing discipleship.

Third Culture Kid (TCK) Ministry

At CBU, TCKs are American students who spent most or all of their developmental years outside of the United States. Although they are Americans by birth, they often do not feel connected to American/Californian culture or the culture of the American University. The TCK Ministry comes alongside and supports TCKs to assist them in bridging cultural gaps they encounter during their time at CBU so that they can grow socially, spiritually, and academically.

Mobilization

In cooperation with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and various missions organizations, International Service Projects (ISP) create opportunities for students to participate in the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20) so that they might gain a global vision for the cause of the gospel as well as cross-cultural experience through service learning. ISP teams have served in more than fifty (50) countries since 1997. Participation in ISP is open to California Baptist University students who meet membership requirements, successfully complete the application and interview process, fulfill fundraising obligations, and are in good academic and behavioral standing with the University. The service learning application and selection process is coordinated by the Mobilization area of the Office of Spiritual Life and takes place during the fall semester.

Engagement. Teams of California Baptist University students serve internationally for approximately three (3) weeks during the summer months. Each team is led by a University official or other approved member of the University community. The ministry focus may vary depending upon the outreach strategy of the selected area.

Immersion. Teams of California Baptist University students serve internationally for approximately eight (8) weeks during the summer months. Ministry focus varies depending on the outreach strategy of the selected area(s). Summer of Service was established in 2010, and in 2017 was rebranded to Immersion.

Encounter. Teams of California Baptist University students serve internationally for approximately two (2) weeks during the summer months. Each team is led by a University official or other approved member of the University community. Encounter was launched in 2018. The projects differ depending upon the service opportunities of the selected area.

Student Health Insurance

California Baptist University contracts with UnitedHeathcare Student Resources to provide student healthcare insurance. Requirements, eligibility, and cost related to student health insurance are determined by student enrollment status.

International students are required to enroll in the student insurance plan.

Traditional undergraduate students enrolled for seven or more units are automatically charged for medical insurance provided by the University - unless proof of medical insurance is submitted through the online waiver accessed at www.calbaptist.edu/healthinsurance. Proof of insurance must be submitted prior to the “last day to drop a class with refund” as indicated in the University Calendar, during the first semester of attendance of each academic year. Students who do not submit proof of medical insurance by the deadline will be enrolled in the plan. Once a student is enrolled, the charge is non-refundable. Students enrolled in less than seven units are not eligible to enroll in the plan.

Dependent Coverage for spouse and children of students enrolled on the plan is available for an additional cost. Questions about student health insurance can be directed to the University Card Services Office.

Information regarding the student health insurance plan provided by CBU may be accessed at www.calbaptist.edu/healthinsurance. Students who have questions regarding the student health insurance plan, after reviewing the information provided online, are encouraged to contact the University Card Services Office for assistance.

Wellness Center

The California Baptist University Wellness Center, located at 3626 Monroe Street, houses the CBU Health Center and the CBU Counseling Center. The goal of the Wellness Center staff is to provide effective health, wellness, and counseling services that promote academic and personal success.

Student Helath Center

The Health Center is available to all members of the campus community. To help maintain a healthy campus environment, students are encouraged to visit the student health center at the onset of illness symptoms and other health-related concerns. Health Center staff can address most conditions that are treated in an urgent care facility.

The Health Center is operated in cooperation with Riverside Medical Clinic that provides staffing and insurance billing services. In addition to accepting student health insurance (UnitedHealthcare Student Resources) provided through California Baptist University, most PPO insurances and HMO insurances (that name Riverside Medical Clinic as their primary medical group) are accepted at the Health Center. Kaiser Permanente Health Plans are not accepted at the Student Health Center. The Health Center has reasonable walk-in rates for all CBU community members beginning at $23. For students, faculty, and staff needing ongoing care and prescriptions for pre-existing conditions, it is recommended they visit their primary care physician.

The Health Center is typically open while classes are in session, Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 5:30 p.m.

Call 951.321.6520 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are required for all routine well- and/or preventative-services visits. Walk-ins are welcome.

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center offers a full range of counseling assistance as members of the campus community strive to become more effective, productive, and comfortable with University life. The primary mission of the Counseling Center is to provide professionally competent and personally compassionate care for students, faculty and staff. The goal of the Counseling Center is to provide services with a Christ-centered approach and biblically-focused world view.

Counseling is provided by well-trained Marriage Family Therapist interns and associates. All counseling is provided under the professional supervision of fully licensed therapists. Issues that can be addressed with a counselor include, but are not limited to:

Counseling is completely confidential except where limited by law. These limitations include any plan to harm others or self along with issues of child and/or elder abuse.

The Counseling Center is available to students, faculty, staff, and immediate family members (spouses and dependents under the age of 19). Typically, appointments will be scheduled within one (1) week of initial contact. Walk-in appointments are available for urgent situations. Call 951.689.1120 to schedule an appointment.