The University of the Pacific is a private university in
Stockton, California, originally affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The university was chartered on July 10, 1851, in Santa Clara under the name "California Wesleyan College." In 1858, the college opened the first medical school on the West Coast. The medical school later became part of Stanford and is now California Pacific Medical Center. Previously known as "COP" and then "UOP," the school is primarily known by the nickname of "Pacific" to avoid any association with University of Phoenix.
In 1871, the campus was moved to San Jose, and the college opened its doors to women, becoming the first independent co-educational campus in California. In 1878, the Conservatory of Music was established at Pacific, making it the first of its kind west of the Mississippi River. In 1896, Napa College merged with the college. In 1911, the name was changed to "College of the Pacific" (COP).
In 1925, the campus relocated from the Bay Area to the
Central Valley city of Stockton; it became the "University of the Pacific" in 1961.
In 1962, Pacific merged with the San Francisco College of Physicians and Surgeons (established in 1896 in San Francisco), and then in 1966, with the McGeorge School of Law (established in 1924 in Sacramento). In the late 1960s, the university separated from the United Methodist Church, when "federal law about public funding of church-related institutions became an issue."
Founded in 1851, Pacific is the oldest chartered university in California. There are three professional schools: the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, the top-100 ranked McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, and the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on the main campus in Stockton.
In May 2007, the university announced an estate gift of $100 million from Robert C. and Jeannette Powell. The gift was unusual in its size for an institution like Pacific that is not primarily research-focused. Only 29 universities throughout the world received a larger gift in the prior 40 years.
University of the Pacific is the home of
K-PAC Student Radio, 89.7 (FM) and student run newspaper The Pacifican.
The Stockton campus, featuring a tower, rose gardens,
architectural columns, brick-faced buildings, and numerous trees, was used in Hollywood films, due to its aesthetic likeness to East Coast Ivy League universities: Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Sure Thing and Dead Man on Campus.
University of the Pacific The Stockton campus is home to three main residential halls: Grace Covell Hall, Southwest Hall and the Quad Buildings. The Quads are composed of many separate smaller residence halls in close proximity to each other. Grace Covell is the largest residence hall on campus holding more than 350 students while Southwest and the Quads hold a lower number of students. Upperclassmen can find housing in the University Townhouses on the northeast side of campus or in the two brand new apartment buildings known as Monagan and Brookside Hall.
In 2008, the university opened a state-of-the-art $30 million University Center to centralize all campus student-centered activities. This University Center will house a new central dining hall, mailroom, student cafe, pub, bookstore and conference centers, replacing the McCaffrey Center. It is concurrently building a new $20 million Biological Sciences Center that will provide advanced classroom and laboratory facilities for students studying the natural science and the health sciences.
Morris Chapel
UOP Campus
The campus is home to Morris Chapel, a non-denominational church with simple architecture, excellent acoustics and photogenic backdrops.
Demographics
As of 2007, the Stockton campus had 4,646 students (3,470 undergraduates, 535 graduate, 641 First professional students). Approximately 83% are from California; the rest are from 43 other states and 42 other countries.
The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco had 516 students, and the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento had 1,073 students.
Undergraduate Ethnic Breakdown
African-American 3%
Asian/Pacific Islander 32%
Hispanic 10%
Multi-ethnic 6%
Native American 1%
Non-resident Alien 3%
White/Caucasian 39%
Unknown 6%
Male: 1556 45%
Female: 1914: 55%
Source:(Common Data Set for 2007)
Academics
For an institution its size, the school is unusual in the breadth and mix of undergraduate and professional education it offers. It offers more than 100 programs and grants more than 60 undergraduate degrees. In the 2009 US News & World Report rankings, it is ranked as one of the top 50 best value colleges, top national universities for economic diversity, and top national universities for ethnic diversity, with its pharmacy and outstanding dentistry programs. Graduate degrees are offered (M.M., M.Ed., M.A., MBA and M.S.), including educational specialist in school psychology (Ed. S.), and doctoral (D.P.T., Ed. D. and Ph.D.) degrees in over 15 departments in five schools and colleges. University degrees:
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Bachelor of Music
Master of Arts (MA)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Master of Education (M.Ed)
Master of Laws (LLM)
Master of Music
Master of Science (MS)
Education Specialist (EdS)
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
Doctor of Education (Ed.D)
Juris Doctor (JD)
Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD)
Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Psychology (M.A.)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
These degrees are offered across nine schools and a graduate office within the university. These include:
University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry: San Francisco
Gladys L. Benerd School of Education: Stockton
College of the Pacific: The University's school of science and liberal arts, Stockton
Conservatory of Music: The first conservatory of music on the west coast, Stockton
Eberhardt School of Business: Stockton
Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: Stockton
McGeorge School of Law: Sacramento
School of Engineering and Computer Science: Stockton
School of International Studies: One of six undergraduate schools of international studies in America. The school offers four Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Global Studies, International Affairs and Commerce, and Development as well as a minor. The school offers a M.A. in Intercultural Relations. [The Office of Research and Graduate Studies: Stockton
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, an adjunct professor, teaches at the McGeorge School of Law. The school's programs of study can be found on the school's Academics page.
School of International Studies
The School of International Studies increased its emphasis on social entrepreneurship: In 2006 one of the leading microfinance lenders for Central America, The Katalysis Bootstrap Fund, relocated to the University of Pacific campus, making Pacific the first U.S. University to have a microfinance center operating on its campus.
In 2006, the School of International Studies opened The Global Social Entrepreneurship Center. According to the center’s site, the center conducts research on Social Entrepreneurship as well as acts as a gathering place of social entrepreneurship. The center is in the process of developing a Social Entrepreneurship specialization for its B.A. program as well as a certificate program.
Two University of the Pacific graduates were awarded by the Skoll Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. In 2005, Martin Burt received an award for his agricultural education and rural entrepreneurship program, Fundación Paraguaya. In 2006, Sakena Yacoobi was awarded for her foundation, Afghan Institute of Learning, which aims to restore education and health programs.
Athletics
Facilities include the 2,500-seat Klein Family Field for baseball, the 350-seat Bill Simoni Field for softball, the 6,150-seat Alex G. Spanos Center for basketball and volleyball, the 30,000-seat Amos Alonzo Stagg Memorial Stadium for soccer (and high school football), the Hal Nelson Tennis Courts and the Chris Kjeldsen Pool.
University of the Pacific competes in NCAA Division I athletics as the Pacific Tigers, primarily in the Big West Conference. Headed by Lynn King, the athletics department sponsors 16 sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's cross country, women's field hockey, men's golf, women's soccer, women's softball, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's volleyball and men's and women's water polo. The university's two national championships have come in women's volleyball, a sport in which the school advanced to 24 straight NCAA Tournaments (1981-2004) and appeared in 9 Final Fours (2 AIAW, 7 NCAA).
The Pacific Tigers men's basketball program has enjoyed national success recently, highlighted by three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament (2004, 2005, 2006). Head coach Bob Thomason became the Big West Conference's winningest coach in league games when he collected his 206th career league victory on Feb. 14, 2009, surpassing the win total of former LBSU and UNLV head coach Jerry Tarkanian.
In 2003-04, the Tigers were 25-8, winning an NCAA Tournament First Round game, with an upset victory over number 5 seeded Providence in the First Round. It was Pacific's second trip to the NCAA Tournament under Thomason (1996-97). Pacific had a 75-73 win over Cal State Northridge in the 2004 Big West Conference championship game. Pacific also shared the Big West Conference regular season championship with a record of 17-1. Three times under Thomason, Pacific has had a 16-game winning streak.
In the 2004-05 season, the team was ranked as high as 17 in both the AP and ESPN/USA Today Polls. The Tigers earned an at-large bid as an 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament and beat 9 seeded Pittsburgh in the First Round. The 2004-05 Tigers finished the season with the best record in school history at 27-4.
In 2005-06, after winning the Big West regular season and tournament titles, Pacific earned their third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. As a 13 seed, the Tigers played 4th seed Boston College and gave the Golden Eagles everything they could handle, battling back from a 13-point second half deficit to force overtime. In the first extra session, Pacific led by as much as six points, but Boston College was able to force double overtime. The Eagles proved to be too much for Pacific in the second extra session, defeating Pacific, 88-76.
After 77 years of competition, Pacific ended its football program following the 1995 season.
Administration
Following President Donald DeRosa's retirement on July 1, 2009, University of the Pacific will be headed by Pamela Eibeck, the university's 24th and first female president. The university undertook a $200 million fundraising campaign to construct, among other things, a University Center, Biological Sciences Center, multipurpose gymnasium, a library addition, and the Klein Family Field for baseball. In the summer of 2007, the University announced it had vastly exceeded that goal, having raised a total of $330 million7, including a bequest gift of $100 million from Robert C. and Jeannette Powell.
Serving under the president are various vice presidents. In 2005, former Stanford Athletic Director Ted Leland announced that he would return to his undergraduate alma mater as Pacific's Vice President of University Advancement.
The president is selected by the University's Board of Regents, consisting of 27 members, including U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Janice Brown, U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Connie M. Callahan and U.S. District Court Judge Morrison England. Former members are occasionally named Emeritus Board Members. This list includes San Diego Chargers owner Alex G. Spanos.
The provost, Philip N. Gilbertson, serves as the chief academic officer, overseeing all of the university's schools and divisions. The Council of Deans comprises all academic deans, associate and assistant provosts, the Director of Planning and Research, and the Academic Budget Officer.
Greek life
Greek life plays a role at University of the Pacific, where there are four on-campus social fraternity houses, four on-campus social sorority houses, and five multicultural fraternities that are overseen by the University's Department of Housing and Greek Life. There are also a wide variety of professional fraternities on campus, overseen by the office of Student Leadership and Involvement. Pacific participates in deferred recruitment, which means no student may join a fraternity or sorority until they have completed at least 12 college units and have a 2.5 overall GPA.
Approximately 20% of Pacific students are involved in Greek life at Pacific.
Fraternities
Theta Chi - Iota Eta Chapter
Delta Upsilon - Omega Phi Alpha Chapter
Pi Kappa Alpha - Kappa Nu Chapter
Sigma Chi - Kappa Sigma Chapter
Sororities
Alpha Phi--Iota Gamma Chapter
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Kappa Alpha Theta
Multicultural organizations
Delta Sigma Theta
Gamma Alpha Omega
Omega Delta Phi
Xi Chi Sigma
Rho Delta Chi
Professional fraternities
Alpha Chi Sigma—Chemistry
Delta Sigma Pi—Business
Kappa Psi—Pharmacy
Mu Phi Epsilon—Music - Mu Eta Chapter
Rho Pi Phi—Pharmacy
Phi Alpha Delta
Phi Delta Chi—Pharmacy
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia—Music - Beta Pi Chapter
Sigma Alpha Iota—Music
Theta Alpha Phi
Lambda Kappa Sigma—Pharmacy
Delta Phi Epsilon (professional)—Foreign Service
Service fraternities
Alpha Phi Omega
Honors societies
Phi Beta Kappa
Omicron Delta Epsilon
Tau Beta Pi
Sigma Delta Pi
Rho Chi
Pi Kappa Lambda
Phi Kappa Phi
Notable alumni
Clint Eastwood is a chair member on the honorary board of the Brubeck Institute in Stockton. (Courtesy photo)
Susan B. Neuman, 1977, EdD, prominent literacy researcher, educator and author; US Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education 2001-2003
James Aiona, Jr., 1977, present Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
Homero Andrade, 1969, Ecuadorian entrepreneur and politician
Scott Boras, 1977, 1982 (JD), Major League Baseball agent
Dave Brubeck, 1942, legendary jazz pianist and founder of the Brubeck Institute
Connie Callahan, 1975, Judge, Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appealsv
Pete Carroll, 1973, head football coach at the University of Southern California
Matt Castle, 1975, Actor, Musician, Musical Director New York City
Bruce Coslet, 1968, former NFL head coach for the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals
Robert Culp, 1949, Actor
Jamie Lee Curtis, 1979 (non-graduate), Actress
Dell Demps, 1992, 1998, former pro basketball player, now San Antonio Spurs executive
Gustavus Cheyney Doane, 1861, U.S. Army, member of Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition to Yellowstone in 1870
John Doolittle, 1978, United States House of Representatives
Doris Dörrie, 1975, German film director and producer
Arthur A. Dugoni, 1948, President, American Dental Association Foundation. Past President: ADA, AADS, CDA, etc.
Morrison England, 1976, 1983 (JD), U.S. District Court Judge
William A. Finley, 1863 (non-graduate), First president of Oregon State University
Jo Van Fleet, 1941, actress
Tom Flores, 1959, retired Super Bowl-winning coach of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League
David Gerber, 1950, Golden Globe, Emmy and Peabody Award winning TV producer/executive
John M. Gerrard, 1981 (JD), Nebraska Supreme Court
Allan D. Hardcastle, 1977, 1979 (JD) Judge, Superior Court, Sonoma County
James W. Hardesty, 1975D (JD), Nevada Supreme Court
Walt Harris, 1967, former head football coach at Stanford University and University of Pittsburgh
Jose Hernandez 1985, NASA astronaut
Chris Isaak, 1980, actor and musician
Jennifer Joines, 2004, USA volleyball Olympian (2008)
Malia Kamisugi, 1998, Nationally-ranked open ocean outrigger canoe racer
Joseph R. Knowland, 1895 Congressman and Owner Oakland Tribune
Eddie LeBaron, 1950, former NFL football player and NFL executive
Janet Leigh, 1947 (non-graduate), Actress
Ted Leland, 1970, 1972, former Stanford Athletic Director and Pacific's current Vice President of University Advancement
Bill Lockyer, 1986E (JD), California Attorney General
Ronald O. Loveridge, Mayor of Riverside, California
Craig Manson, 1981D (JD), former General Counsel of the California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento County Superior Court judge, and Assistant Secretary, Fish, Wildlife and Parks in the U.S. Department of the Interior
Lionel Manuel, 1984 (non-graduate), former New York Giants wide receiver
Bridget Marquardt, 2000 (Masters Degree in Comm.), Playboy Playmate and one of the stars of The Girls Next Door
Steve Martini, 1974 (JD), NY Times Bestselling author of legal novels
Darren McGavin, 1948 (non-graduate), television and film actor
Mike Merriweather, 1982, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings pro-bowl linebacker
George Moscone, 1953, former Mayor of San Francisco, assassinated along with Harvey Milk by Dan White
Elaina Oden, 1989, two-time Olympic volleyball player
Michael Olowokandi, 1998, former NBA player and 1st overall pick in 1998 NBA Draft
Theodore Olson, 1962, lawyer and former Solicitor General of the United States
Johnnie Rawlinson, 1979D (JD), Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Anthony Shafer, 1996, Recipient of the Young Alumni Award (2003), Previously a Visual Effects Technical Director at Industrial Light and Magic and Stereoscopic Supervisor at ImageMovers Digital for Robert Zemeckis and Disney
Bradley Schumacher, 1997, 2005, two-time Olympian (1996 Swimming, 2000 Water Polo) and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (1996 Swimming)
James Farrell Segerstrom, 1968, founder of Rescue 3 International, founding member of the International Rescue Instructors Association, originator of the Swiftwater Rescue Technician program, Executive Director of Special Rescue Services Group, Managing Director for the Canadian/US consortium, World Rescue Services, Inc.
Alex Spanos, 1948, owner of the San Diego Chargers
Chauncey Veatch, 1970, National Teacher of the Year (2002)
Craig Whelihan, 1995, former NFL, XFL and AFL quarterback
Joseph Pomeroy Widney, 1863, 2nd President of the University of Southern California (1891-1895), co-founder of the Church of the Nazarene
Allan Zaremberg, 1978, President & CEO, California Chamber of Commerce
Notable coaches
John Dunning, won 2 NCAA women's volleyball titles and had 7 Final Four appearances as Pacific's head coach from 1985-2000; now head coach at Stanford University
Jon Gruden, former Pacific assistant football coach, later served as head coach of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers until his dismissal in 2009
Terry Liskevych, former 3-time Olympic women's volleyball head coach; Pacific's head coach from 1977-84
Buddy Ryan, former Pacific assistant football coach, former NFL head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals
Ed Sprague, former Major League Baseball all-star; current head baseball coach, 2004-present
Amos Alonzo Stagg, "The Grand Old Man of Football", head football coach at Pacific from 1933-46
Bob Thomason, 5-time Big West Coach of the Year and school's all-time winningest men's basketball coach; Pacific's head coach from 1988-present
