San Diego Christian College

{{Short description|Private evangelical college in Santee, California}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox university

|name = San Diego Christian College

|native_name =

|image = San Diego Christian College school seal 2013-08-13 14-35.jpg

|image_size = 250px

|caption =

|latin_name =

|motto =

|established = 1970

|closed =

|type = Private university

|religious_affiliation = Non-denominational Christian

|endowment =

|rector =

|officer_in_charge =

|chairman =

|chancellor =

|president = Kevin Corsini

|vice-president =

|superintendent =

|provost =

|vice_chancellor =

|principal =

|dean =

|director =

|head_label =

|head =

|faculty =

|staff =

|students = 681[https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/san-diego-christian-college-12031/overall-rankings U.S. News & World Report: San Diego Christian College.] Accessed March 15, 2019.

|undergrad =

|postgrad =

|doctoral =

|other =

|city = Santee, California

|country = U.S.

|coordinates = {{Coord|32|50|33|N|116|58|42|W|display=inline,title}}

|campus = Suburban

|former_names = Christian Heritage College (1970–2005)

|free_label =

|free =

|colors = Navy Blue, Sky Blue & Gold
{{color box|#002649}} {{color box|#41b6e6}} {{color box|#c5b783}}

|colours =

|sports_nickname = Hawks

|mascot = Moe Hawk

|athletics_affiliations = NAIAGSAC

|academic_affiliations = Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU)

|website = {{URL|www.sdcc.edu}}

|logo =

|footnotes =

}}

San Diego Christian College (SDCC) is a private evangelical university in Santee, California. Founded in 1970, SDCC offers traditional, non-traditional, and graduate programs.

History

In January 1970, Tim F. LaHaye, pastor of the former Scott Memorial Baptist Church of San Diego and co-author of the fictional Left Behind series of books, Art Peters and Henry M. Morris discussed the need for a Christian college on the West Coast where studies could be developed within the framework of creationism based on the Genesis creation narrative. That year, classes began at Christian Heritage College, supported by Scott Memorial Baptist Church.[http://www.sdcc.edu/about/content2.asp?id=2427 History of SDCC] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423130721/http://www.sdcc.edu/about/content2.asp?id=2427 |date=2008-04-23 }} The first degrees were awarded in 1973.

In 1984, it was first accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In 2005, the college changed its name to San Diego Christian College. In 2015, it moved to its new location in Santee, California.

Campus

In 2005, Christian Heritage College became San Diego Christian College and in 2014, SDCC moved to its new campus in Santee. The new campus consists of five buildings, with an athletic annex office and residential apartments which are located 1.8 miles off campus.

Its five buildings include smart classrooms, laboratories, chapel auditorium, cafeteria, counseling rooms, a library and faculty and staff offices. The library has a growing collection of over 450,000 items. Aviators train at Gillespie Field in El Cajon.

File:San Diego Christian College.jpgSDCC's fountain displays the institution's core values of truth, purpose, and impact.

Academics

The institution offers Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science degrees as well as Master of Arts and Master of Science Degrees, and teacher's credentials.

San Diego Christian College has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) since 1984.{{cite news | url=http://www.wascsenior.org/institutions/affiliation.aspx?accessID=40 | title=San Diego Christian College Profile | publisher=Western Association of Schools and Colleges | year= 2009 | access-date =2009-07-08}} On June 23, 2006, WASC reviewed San Diego Christian College and placed its accreditation on probation.{{cite news | url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/07/31/MNAOR9VAI2.DTL | title=Progressive New College in academic, fiscal mess | newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle | date= July 31, 2007 | first= Leslie| last= Fulbright| access-date =2009-07-08}} This was because the institution was unable to demonstrate its "autonomy."[http://www.pointweekly.com/PWNews/AccreditationPreview.htm Lauren Morgan, "Accreditation team visits PLNU this week," The Point Weekly, October 1, 2007.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080112171133/http://www.pointweekly.com/PWNews/AccreditationPreview.htm |date=January 12, 2008 }} The commission on February 2, 2007, found the institution had taken a "number of significant and positive steps" in addressing its concerns, but still found it to be in "noncompliance," so another visit was scheduled for the Spring of 2008.{{cite news | url=http://www.wascsenior.org/institutions/programs/ps_40.pdf | title=Public Statement | publisher=Western Association of Schools and Colleges | year= 2008 | access-date =2009-07-08}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} In June 2008, San Diego Christian College received a reaffirmation of accreditation.

In its 2024 rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked San Diego Christian College as #98 in its "Regional Universities West" category.

Athletics

The San Diego Christian College (SDCC) athletic teams were called the Hawks. The institution was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) from 1999–2000 to 2022–23. The Hawks were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the West Region of the Division I level.

SDCC competed in 14 intercollegiate varsity teams: Men's sports included baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer and tennis; while women's sports included basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

=Tennis=

In just their first year of a program in 2015, the SDCC men's tennis team went to the NAIA National Tournament held in Mobile, Ala. The Hawks lost in the Quarterfinal round against eventual winner and No. 1 team Georgia Gwinnett. The Hawks were ranked as high as No. 8 in the NAIA Top 25 Poll during the season.

=Baseball=

In 2014, the SDCC baseball team was a finalist in the [https://www.naia.org/sports/bsb/2013-14/releases/20140531mynfk NAIA World Series] after a record breaking year. The Hawks finished with a 42-20 overall record that included a GSAC Regular Season Championship as well as being ranked fifth in the NAIA Top 25 Poll.

=Men's basketball=

Competing at that time in the NCCAA, the Hawks won the NCCAA men's basketball championship in 1990, 1997, 1998 and 2004. They were second in 2000, losing to Bethel by a score of 83–82. They finished third in 1996 and 2003. They also went to the 2001 NAIA Final Four in that sport.{{cite news | url=http://www.thenccaa.org/custompages/History%20PDF%20Files/Men's%20Basketball%20DI%20History.pdf | title=Men's Basketball D1 History| publisher=The NCCAA | access-date =2013-08-14}}

=Women's basketball=

The Hawks won the NCCAA women's basketball championship in 2003.{{cite news | url=http://www.thenccaa.org/custompages/History%20PDF%20Files/Women's%20Basketball%20DI%20Archives.pdf | title=Women's Basketball D1 History| publisher=The NCCAA | access-date =2013-08-14}}

=Volleyball=

The Hawks women's volleyball team won the first national titles for the school in that sport in 1998 and 2000, and took second in 1996 and 1999.

Notable people

=Students and alumni=

class="wikitable"
bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="30%" | Namebgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="42%" | Known forbgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="28%" | Relationship to school
Matt KrauseMember of the Texas House of Representatives since 2013; lawyer from Fort Worth, TexasHawks basketball player, 1998-2002{{cite news|url=http://www.texastribune.org/directory/matt-krause/#ui-tabs-1|title=State Rep. Matt Krause District 93 (R-Fort Worth)|work=The Texas Tribune|access-date=March 18, 2014}}
Shannon Taylor

|Film producer, musician and actress

|Studied communications in 2009{{Cite news |last=Pfingsten |first=Tom |date=2009-01-24 |title=FALLBROOK: Young band completes fifth trip to Russia; no signs of slowing down |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-fallbrook-young-band-completes-fifth-trip-to-2009jan24-story.html |url-status= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102020953/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-fallbrook-young-band-completes-fifth-trip-to-2009jan24-story.html |archive-date=2024-01-02 |access-date=2024-03-11 |work=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}

Jeremiah TruemanNew Zealand basketball player{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}}
Liam SimmonsCollegiate basketball head coachGraduated in 2007, played guard for three years{{Cite web|title=Liam Simmons Hired As Men's Basketball Head Coach|url=https://ccucougars.com/news/2020/5/4/liam-simmons-hired-as-mens-basketball-head-coach.aspx|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Colorado Christian University Athletics|language=en}}

=Faculty and employees=

class="wikitable"
bgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="30%" | Namebgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="42%" | Known forbgcolor="#e5e5e5" width="28%" | Relationship to school
Duane GishSpeaker on creationismResearcher when the Institute for Creation Research was part of the college in the 1970s.
Swen NaterFormer NBA basketball playerCoached SDCC's basketball team from 1985 to 1995{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/11/sports/then-and-now-swen-nater-big-man-loved-the-game-then-learned-to-play-it.html | title=THEN AND NOW -- Swen Nater; Big Man Loved the Game, Then Learned to Play It | newspaper=New York Times | date= January 11, 2004 | first= Chris| last= Broussard| access-date =2009-07-08}}

References

{{Reflist}}