 | |
| Type | Private university |
|---|---|
| Established | 2000 |
Religious affiliation | World Olivet Assembly |
| Endowment | $42.3 million (2019)[1] |
| President | Matthias Gebhardt |
| Location | , , |
| Colors | Burgundy, gold |
| Website | www |
Olivet University is a private Christian university in Anza, California. It is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) to award certificates, bachelor's, master's, D. Min., and Ph.D. degrees.[2]
Olivet Theological College and Seminary (OTCS) was founded in 2000, in Seoul, South Korea, where it was co-located with the Southern Cross College Korea Campus, by evangelical pastor David J. Jang,[3][4] and in Los Angeles. Jang was a member of the faculty of Southern Cross College and the first director of its Korea campus.[5] The bible college was intended to train the denomination's ministers. OTCS eventually functioned more as a "seedbed" for mission, offering multiple study fields and distance learning to ministry-bound students.
By 2004, the seminary expanded and incorporated into a university comprising five colleges - Olivet Theological College & Seminary, Jubilee College of Music, Olivet College of Art & Design, Olivet College of Journalism, and Olivet Institute of Technology - in the institution's new home in San Francisco.[6] Ralph D. Winter advised Jang on the relocation and expansion plan, and later served as the honorary chairman of Olivet University.[7][8] The university moved into the former University of California, Berkeley Downtown Extension Campus, near the Moscone Center in 2005.[9] They also founded Olivet Business School, which offers MBA programs[10] and opened extension sites in Nashville, TN (at 141 Belle Forest Circle), San Francisco (at 1025 Howard Street), and Washington, D.C. (at 1400 Eye Street NW).[11]
Olivet's flagship college, Olivet Theological College & Seminary ("OTCS"), developed several major changes to accommodate the school's diverse student body. It was broken into separate institutions, each offering different degree programs. These include: The Jubilee College of Music, Olivet Business School, Olivet Institute of Technology, Olivet School of Art & Design, Olivet School of Language Education, Olivet School of Media and Communication, and Olivet School of Language Education.
On 26 November 2018, the Manhattan District Attorney charged the university and three of its officials with money laundering, fraud, and conspiracy in connection with the investigation into IBT Media. The indictment alleged that the university and it officials overstated the university's financial health to lenders and created a fictional auditor to approve its financial statements, then used funds for operational purposes rather than purchasing equipment.[12][13] The logic of the indictment, however, was questioned as no one involved enriched themselves and no lender lost money.[14] On February 20, 2020, Olivet University pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and falsifying business records[15] and paid $1.25 million in forfeiture.[15][16]
On June 30, the New York State Education Department did not renew Olivet University's temporary Permission to Operate in New York, which led to the University using the premises for its originally indended purpose as Evangelical Center.[17] The University's charter application with New York State remains pending.
The university continues to be under scrutiny by the state of California and its accreditor, with the state holding several surprise visits to the university and moving to close the university or revoke its ability to operate in California because it "lacked certain advertised courses, resources to ensure a quality education, and properly trained faculty." In March 2023, it was widely reported that California's Attorney General had filed a complaint to close down Olivet University due to several violations.[18][19][20][21]
Olivet University's main campus is located at 36401 Tripp Flats Road,[22] in Anza, CA 92539.
According to university's website it still operates campuses at the following locations:
Olivet University is divided into eight colleges: Jubilee College of Music, Olivet Business School, Olivet Institute of Technology, Olivet School of Art & Design, Olivet School of Language Education, Olivet School of Media & Communication, Olivet Theological College & Seminary, and Zinzendorf School of Doctoral Studies.[23] The university is approved by the BPPE (Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education) to grant bachelors, master's, and doctoral degrees, and certificates.[24]
In July 2007, the Ralph D. Winter Library was named for missiologist and Olivet University Honorary Chairman, the late Ralph D. Winter. The library currently features 150,000 physical and electronic items for Biblical higher education and research,[25][26] and is a repository for academic and theological resources in multiple formats and languages in service for world mission. Its collection of educational resources are distributed throughout the university's main library, the William L. Wagner Mission Library, the Asian library, and seven specialized libraries supporting Olivet's educational programs.[27]
IBT Media says it has an ongoing "working relationship" with Olivet University which includes the school's providing design assistance and computer resources, and IBT Media's providing internships for students. IBT characterizes this relationship as similar to those Silicon Valley companies have with local universities.[28] However, publication Christianity Today alleges that IBT Media has a close relationship both with Olivet and with its founder, controversial[28][29] evangelical pastor David J. Jang. It claims that Jang is an investor in and has exercised control over IBT Media.[28][30][31] Executives characterize the relationship as being between the institutions and not the founders, and that it is purely operational.[28][31] Additionally, students of Olivet worked for IBT Media in the early days of the International Business Times.[32]
Johnathan Davis is a co-owner of Newsweek and a former member of World Olivet Assembly.[33] In June 2022, Newsweek filed a suit against IBT Media, David Jang, Olivet University, and others but it was subsequently dismissed by the judge.[34] In June 2023, Newsweek's shareholders stated that they resolved their legal disputes.[35][36]
