RIVERSIDE, CA (August 17, 2009) – California Baptist University in Riverside, CA, has been named by G.I. Jobs magazine as a 2010 Military Friendly School. The recognition places CBU in the top 15 percent of U.S. colleges with regards to policies, enrollment, and accommodation for military and veteran students, according to the magazine’s publisher.
Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, said the honor is a recognition of the recent expansion of the university’s ROTC cadet program and the fact that CBU has been a Serviceman’s Opportunity College (SOC) for many years. Universities designated as SOC institutions accept the American Council of Education’s recommendations for accepting selected formal military training as equivalent to college credit. CBU’s ROTC program began enrolling students in 2006 with a half dozen recruits and the University reports there are 24 returning cadets enrolled for Fall 2009, along with 12 potential new ROTC students.
California Baptist University’s ROTC program is finding favor with an ever-growing class of Army cadets as well as with the campus culture, as contracting ceremonies like the Spring 2009 event pictured take their place among many time-honored traditions at the mid-sized, independent Southern California university. |
“We are grateful to the San Bernardino-based Army ROTC Coyote Battalion for helping pave the way for and encouraging the students who have become part of our proud family at CBU,” Ellis said. He also expressed appreciation for CBU personnel and ROTC faculty who have helped make student transitions and campus programs a success. Currently, SFC Jay Villasenor and Capt. Fred Grigsby serve as full-time professors teaching military sciences classes at CBU.
In addition, Ellis noted that CBU’s status as a ‘Yellow Ribbon participating institution’ with the passage of the new G.I. Bill has paved the way for veterans to close the funding gap for college tuition and fees at private universities such as CBU. The Yellow Ribbon Program, which is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, provides funding to veterans up to the cost of the most expensive state university in California.
The new bill, which took effect August 1, significantly increases tuition assistance for those who seek admission at CBU. According to Shawnn Koning, CBU Registrar, all enrolled VA Students attending California Baptist University who are eligible to receive benefits under the new Post 9/11 GI Bill, will receive from the Veteran’s Administration up to $5,166 per semester in tuition benefits and up to $2,165.25 per semester in required fee benefits.
In addition, with California Baptist University’s participation in the Yellow Ribbon program, veteran students who qualify are eligible for up to an additional $5,000 a semester and $10,000 a year toward tuition and fees, enabling eligible undergraduate students to attend California Baptist University without paying any out of pocket tuition or required fee cost. In addition, Post 9/11 GI Bill eligible students may apply directly with the Veteran’s Administration for financial benefits toward housing and books each semester.
Founded in 1950, California Baptist University is a private comprehensive university located in Riverside, California and affiliated with California Southern Baptist Convention. Fall 2008 enrollment at CBU totaled 4,013 students from more than 30 states and 29 countries. California Baptist University currently offers 25 master’s degree programs and more than 90 undergraduate majors and concentrations. CBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, and the Consortium for Global Education. California Baptist University is recognized as a top-ranked master’s degree granting university in the West by U.S.News & World Report.