Pepperdine University in the 80's
The Founding of Pepperdine
Founder of Pepperdine University, George Pepperdine, was a man who believed in Christian faith based education. Building the framework of the college in 1937, he partnered with the LA county to make his dream of making his ideal Christian college a reality. Built upon the foundation of the Church of Christ, Pepperdine made an effort to disassociate the college with a particular Church of Christ and denied contribution from churches. Instead, the institution was created “so that, ‘Christian character, loyalty to Jesus, and faith in God would increase’” as stated by W. David Baird in his historical account, Quest for Distinction: Pepperdine University in the 20th Century. Pioneering this new educational institution, George Pepperdine was able to establish and build his university throughout the years, growing it in its academics as well as in its foundation in Christ. The 1980s was an essential time for the university’s development, as it facilitated challenges and opportunities that made the university what it is today.
Expansion
School of Business and Management
Inaugurated in 1982 as Dean of the School of Business and Management (SBM) at Pepperdine, James Wilburn met the faculty with a desire to expand the profile of the program. As Dean of the school, he believed that the values of the school and of Pepperdine encouraged “the efficiency and productivity of free institutions and nurtured the inner moral self-restraint which made economic freedom compassionate and serving” (Baird, 222). Wilburn saw the Christian values of the school as well as the academic possibilities it held, and saw the potential for success the school held if it used both to its advantage. In 1984 when he released a strategic plan for the SBM, it was evident that he centered the education plan of the school around Christian values, though they were not clearly stated to be “Christian values” in the written agenda.
Wilburn’s vision and execution skyrocketed the success of the graduate school. Within his deanship, admission and application numbers increased and diversity increased in sex, race, and religious affiliation. Beyond the data for the demographics of the school, Wilburn expanded the types of programs offered by the SBM, in hopes of increasing the academic appeal to prospective students. Five new programs were born, and thanks to donations from alumni and other investors, these programs were able to reach niche fields in business and make the pathways available in the SBM clearer. Wilburn’s leadership and his continued commitment to the Christian faith is the type of framework that George Pepperdine envisioned for his university, and both their efforts are apparent in the consistent growth and success of Pepperdine.
The Odell McConnell Law Center
While the SBM was growing at a successful pace, the School of Law (SOL) at Pepperdine was not seeing the same fruitful results from efforts the school took to improve it. Baird explains that when the American Bar Association (ABA) visited the campus, they were “unhappy with faculty salary levels, student aid amounts, support for the library, and graduates’ first-time bar pass rates” (Baird, 255). Given an ultimatum to improve by December of 1985, Dean of the SOL, Ron Philips was put to the test to improve his school.
A challenge that Philips faced in gaining credibility as a law school was the school’s connection to Christianity. He was told many times that because of their emphasis on the Christian mission, it would be difficult to gain full membership in the American Association of Law Schools (AALS). Not shying away from his faith, Philips did not stop building the faith community of Pepperdine and instead encouraged on campus bible studies and gave faculty the right to speak about faith in the classroom. To expand the academic agency of the SOL, Philips presented the idea to take the program across borders. Instilling a one-year program to London to study law, Philips established the abroad program to teach law students the benefits of global affairs. This increased appeal to the law program and also became Pepperdine’s “secret treasure” (Baird, 259). With programs then created in Germany, Denmark, South Korea, and Washington D.C., the AALS approved the programs and Pepperdine had successfully proved its value in academics in law.
After the efforts made by Dean Philips and associates from the law school, at the next visit of the AALS and ABA, the reports on Pepperdine’s SOL astronomically improved. Baird specifically mentions “the visiting team concluded that the Law Canter had made laudable progress in the field of legal scholarship; in diversifying its student body, faculty, and professional staff; in its strong commitment to greater student aid; and its ‘dramatic advancement’ on the California bar examination” (Baird, 261). Pepperdine was now back on track and their SOL had a respected law program that was recognized for its success.
Politics and global affairs
Russia and the SBM
In 1985, a conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Influential European and American business leaders came together to discuss “concerns of mutual interest and economic development” (Baird, 228). Due to connections made at the conference, Pepperdine’s SBM Dean Wilburn visited Moscow to organize American and Russian business leaders into a conversation about future political issues regarding privatization within the Russian committee. Because of his participation and assistance in this matter, Wilburn was given a grant to invite Russian general directors of manufacturing companies to Los Angeles for two weeks to give them courses on international business. During this time, “SBM faculty taught them how to develop strategic business plans, acquainted them with supply-side economics, and introduced them to venture capitalists from the Silicon Valley and elsewhere” (Baird, 228). Pepperdine had made a name for itself across the ocean, and their participation in global affairs and economics was apparent in the business district.
Pepperdine and Ronald Reagan
Pepperdine could not have been built without the help of outside endorsements and investors. One of the most important people associated with the construction of the university was President and California Governor, Ronald Reagan. In William Banowsky’s memoir to Pepperdine University, he claims “Without Ronald Reagan the Malibu miracle is inconceivable” (Banowsky, 92). Because of the welcoming environment and honor that Reagan received from Pepperdine faculty and business partners, it soon became a safe haven for the governor. Examples of how Reagan’s involvement benefitted the school included: “Reagan addresses at early Malibu events generated momentum. Second, being recognized as ‘Reagan’s school’ created credibility. Third, personal endorsement by Ronald and Nancy Reagan lubricated fundraising” (Banowsky, 99). There was mutual honor, respect, and admiration between Pepperdine and the Reagans; in 1983, Nancy Reagan was presented with an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine, who had given her husband one 12 years prior. The Reagan’s consistency in supporting the school paved the way for great success and recognition for the university, and “the Malibu miracle was yet another major Reagan revolution result” (Banowsky, 107).
A mission founded in faith
Pepperdine was established as an institution that was known for its deep roots in Christian values and beliefs. After years of nurturing the school’s relationship with the Church of Christ, campus ministry (CM) took a leap of faith in the 80s as more opportunities to participate in faith activities arose. In 1984, Care Groups were launched “in the Fireside Room in Tyler Campus Center where students could gather to praise, pray, learn, and fellowship every Wednesday evening” (Baird, 495). Students were encouraged to build relationships on the foundation of a shared faith beyond the borders of a church building. With CM expanding and bible study groups being maintained through the years, the roots in Christian values only dug deeper and faculty saw how “education rooted in Churches of Christ faith and practice seemed sustainable” (Baird, 501). The foundation of faith at Pepperdine grew as students got more and more involved, and members of the university all saw the fruit of their labor when it came to expanding faith activities on campus.
Conclusion
George Pepperdine began Pepperdine University on the foundation of Christian beliefs, and the same values he structured the school upon in 1937 continued and flourished as the college grew. During the 1980s, the school faced challenges getting recognized as a respected academic institution and took initiative to change their public perception. Because of the commitment of the deans from Pepperdine’s SBM and SOL, graduate programs at the university became highly regarded in the academic community and the academic success of their students increased. Crossing national boundaries became essential in growing the school’s excellence and by networking with important political and business leaders, Pepperdine was able to use their new resources to further develop graduate programs and give authority to their academics. Pepperdine experienced a turn in their academic programs and grew in their foundation of faith in the 80’s, not having to sacrifice one for the other. With the expansion of their political and academic presence around the world, Pepperdine took advantage of opportunities available to them during this decade and flourished into becoming the respected university that it is today.
Natalee Borum
Works Cited
Baird, W. David. Quest for Distinction: Pepperdine University in the 20th Century. Pepperdine University Press, 2016.
Banowsky, William Slater. The Malibu Miracle: A Memoir. Pepperdine University Press, 2010.