Chapman University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chapman University

Former names	Hesperian College (1861–1896) Pierce Christian College (1874–1896) Berkeley Bible Seminary (1896–1912) California Bible College (1912–1920) California School of Christianity (1920–1923) California Christian College (1918–1920, 1923–1934) Chapman College (1934–1991)
Motto	ὀ Χριστòς καì ἡ Ἐκκλησíα (Greek)
Motto in English	"Christ and Church"
Type	Private research university
Established	March 4, 1861; 164 years ago (March 4, 1861)
Accreditation	WSCUC
Religious affiliation	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) United Church of Christ
Academic affiliations	AICCU ICSC
Endowment	$564.6 million (2022)
President	Daniele C. Struppa
Academic staff	1,117 total
Administrative staff	752 total
Students	10,001
Undergraduates	7,656
Postgraduates	2,345
Location	Orange , California , United States
Campus	Midsize City, 90 acres (36 ha)
Other campuses	Irvine
Newspaper	The Panther
Colors	Red and black
Nickname	Panthers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III - SCIAC
Mascot	Pete the Panther

Chapman University is a private university located in Orange, California. It is a place where students can learn and do lots of important research. The university has eleven different schools and colleges. It is connected to some Christian churches, but it welcomes students from all backgrounds.

History of Chapman University

A sculpture of Charles C. Chapman, who the university is named after.

Wilkinson Hall, one of the buildings at Chapman University.

The Schmid Gate, built in 2005, welcomes visitors to campus.

A piece of the Berlin Wall stands in Liberty Plaza on campus.

Chapman University first opened its doors on March 4, 1861. It was originally called Hesperian College and was located in Woodland, California. The school was special because it accepted students no matter their gender or race.

Over the years, the school changed its name and moved several times. In 1934, it became Chapman College. This was to honor C. C. Chapman, who was a big supporter of the school.

In 1954, Chapman University found its permanent home in the city of Orange, California. It took over the old Orange High School campus. The school continued to grow and became Chapman University in 1991.

Many new buildings and schools have been added since then. These include the Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education and the Leatherby Libraries. In 2016, the Musco Center for the Arts opened. This large concert hall hosts many performances for students and the public.

Chapman University is now known as a university that does a lot of important research. In 2018, one of its students, Vidal Arroyo, won a very special scholarship called the Rhodes Scholar award. This allowed him to study at Oxford University in England.

The Attallah Piazza and Leatherby Libraries, a popular spot on campus.

What You Can Study at Chapman

Chapman University has many different schools and colleges. Each one focuses on a different area of study.

Donald P. Kennedy Hall, where students study law.

Argyros College of Business and Economics

This college helps students learn about business and money. It was named after George L. Argyros, who was a U.S. Ambassador and a big supporter of the university. The college offers degrees in business, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA). It is known for its strong business programs.

The Argyros College also has special centers for research. These centers study things like economics, real estate, and how new businesses get started.

Donna Ford Attallah College of Educational Studies

This college is for students who want to become teachers or work in schools. You can study to be a teacher, a school counselor, or a school psychologist. The college also offers advanced degrees, including a Ph.D. in education.

The college is located in Reeves Hall, which is a very old building. It was built in 1913 and is now a historic landmark.

Dodge College of Film and Media Arts

This college is one of the best film schools in the world. Students here learn how to make movies, TV shows, and other media. The Hollywood Reporter magazine has ranked it as one of the top film schools in America.

Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

This college focuses on health and how people behave. Students can study things like human physiology, health sciences, and psychology. It also has programs for future physical therapists and physician assistants. Some of these programs are located at another campus in Irvine, California.

Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

This is the largest college at Chapman University. It covers many different subjects. These include art, English, history, languages, philosophy, and sociology.

Dale E. Fowler School of Law

This school is where students go to become lawyers. They can earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree. The law school is located in Kennedy Hall.

Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler School of Engineering

This is one of the newest schools at Chapman University. It opened in 2019. Students can study computer science, data science, and software engineering. They can also learn how to make video games. The school has many labs and spaces for students to work on projects.

College of Performing Arts

This college is for students who love music, dance, and theater. It has three main departments: music, dance, and theater. Students can earn degrees in these areas and perform in shows.

Schmid College of Science and Technology

This college is all about science and technology. Students can study many different science subjects. The college has special centers for research in areas like math and earth science.

The Schmid College recently moved into a new building called the Keck Center for Science and Engineering. This building has many labs and offices for students and teachers.

School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy is located at the Rinker Campus in Irvine. Students here learn how to become pharmacists. They can earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. There is even a special program for high school seniors to get a head start.

School of Communication

This school helps students learn how to communicate effectively. Students can study communication, strategic communication, and global communication. They learn how to share ideas and information in many ways.

University Rankings and How to Get In

Chapman University is a well-known school. It is often ranked among the top universities in the country. For example, U.S. News & World Report ranked it among the top national universities. This is because Chapman does a lot of important research.

Getting into Chapman University can be competitive. For the class that started in 2018, over 14,000 students applied. About half of them were accepted. The students who got in had strong grades and good test scores.

Holocaust Education

Chapman University has a special center for Holocaust education. It is called the Barry and Phyllis Rodgers Center for Holocaust Education. This center helps people learn about the Holocaust and remember its victims. It hosts lectures and writing competitions.

The university also has the Sala and Aron Samueli Holocaust Memorial Library. This library has many important books and documents about the Holocaust. It even has a first edition of The Diary of Anne Frank.

Sports at Chapman

Chapman University's sports teams are called the Panthers. They compete in NCAA Division III sports. This means that student-athletes do not receive sports scholarships. The Panthers play in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).

Chapman has 21 different sports teams. These include baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, and track and field. There are teams for both men and women.

The Panthers have won several national championships. They have won three baseball titles and three men's tennis titles. The softball team also won a national championship in 1995.

Some recent accomplishments include:

• In 2011, the women's lacrosse team won their national championship.
• In 2016, the men's lacrosse team won their national championship.
• The football team won the SCIAC championship in 2014, 2017, and 2019.
• In 2019, the men's baseball team won the NCAA National Championship.
• In 2022, the men's soccer team won their first SCIAC championship.

Students at Chapman University also run a sports network called CSBN. They broadcast football and basketball games.

Famous People from Chapman

Many interesting people have studied or taught at Chapman University.

Alumni (Former Students)

• Cooper Hefner (2015)
• Ryan Bergara – creator of the web series BuzzFeed Unsolved
• Matt Duffer (2007) – co-creator of Stranger Things
• Ross Duffer (2007) – co-creator of Stranger Things
• Justin Simien (2005) – filmmaker and director of Dear White People
• George Argyros (1959) – former U.S. Ambassador to Spain
• Loretta Sanchez (1982) – former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Tim Flannery (1979) – former Major League Baseball player and coach
• Randy Jones – former professional baseball player, winner of the Cy Young Award
• Kate Ziegler – Olympic swimmer

Current and Former Faculty (Teachers)

• Yakir Aharonov – a famous professor in natural philosophy
• Martha Coolidge – an Emmy-nominated film director
• Jack Horner – a paleontologist who was a technical adviser for the Jurassic Park movies
• Cheryl Boone Isaacs – former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
• Michael Shermer – an author and founder of The Skeptics Society
• Vernon L. Smith – a Nobel Prize winner in Economic Science

Images for kids

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  The official logo of Chapman University.