University of the Pacific

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{{Infobox_University | name = Image:University of the Pacific - Wordmark and Seal.jpg | image = Image:University of the Pacific seal.gif | motto = none | established = July 10, 1851 | type = Private | president= Donald DeRosa | city = Stockton | state = Calif. | country = USA | undergrad = 3457 | postgrad = 2739 | staff= 966 | campus = Urban | free_label = Athletics | free = 16 varsity teams | colors = Orange and Black | website= www.pacific.edu }} The University of the Pacific (Pacific) is a private northern California university originally chartered on July 10, 1851 in Santa Clara, California, under the name California Wesleyan College by the California Supreme Court. In 1858, the college opened the first medical school on the West Coast. The medical school later became part of Stanford University and is now California Pacific Medical Center.

In 1871, the campus was moved from Santa Clara 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 1911, the name was changed to College of the Pacific. In 1925, the campus moved to Stockton, and in 1961, it was renamed University of the Pacific.

In 1962, Pacific merged with the San Francisco College of Physicians and Surgeons, and then in 1966, with the McGeorge School of Law (established in 1924 in Sacramento).

Pacific was one of the state's first institutions for higher learning, chartered at about the same time as the present Santa Clara University. The school now has three professional schools: the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, and the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on the main campus in Stockton.

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Demographics

As of 2005, the Stockton campus had about 4,615 students (3,457 undergraduates, 618 professional pharmacy students, and 540 graduate students, mostly in the fields of education and business). Approximately 80% are from California; the rest are from 43 other states and 42 other countries.

Forty-four percent of undergraduates are from ethnic and racially under-represented American minorities, and another 4% are from other countries. (Eight percent did not state ethnicity and are listed as "Unknown.") [1]

African-American 3%
Asian/Pacific Islander 30%
Hispanic 9%
Multi-Ethnic 1%
Native American 1%
White/Caucasian 45%
International 3%
Unknown 8%

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Academics

The University supports over 100 programs and issues the following degrees:

  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Bachelor of Music
  • Master of Arts
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Education
  • Master of Law
  • Master of Music
  • Master of Science
  • Education Specialist (EdS)
  • Doctor of Dentistry (DDS)
  • Doctor of Education (EdD)
  • Doctor of Laws (JD)
  • Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

These degrees are offered across 10 schools within the University. These schools include:

  • Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco
  • Benerd School of Education
  • College of the Pacific: the University's school of liberal arts
  • Conservatory of Music: the first conservatory of music on the West Coast
  • Eberhardt School of Business
  • The Graduate School
  • Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
  • McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento
  • School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • School of International Studies: one of six undergraduate schools of international studies in the United States

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, once an adjunct professor, continues to teach at the McGeorge School of Law. The school's programs of study can be found on the school's Academics page.

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Athletics

The University of the Pacific competes as the 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. The school ended its football program in 1995.

Facilities include 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 until 1995, football), the Hal Nelson Tennis Courts and the Chris Kjeldsen Pool. The 1,100-seat Klein Family Field for baseball is expected to be completed in time for the 2006 season.

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Administration

The University is currently headed by President Donald DeRosa, who became the university's 23rd president in 1995. During his tenure, the university has undertaken 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. Serving under the president are various vice presidents. In 2005, former Stanford Athletic Director Ted Leland announced that he had decided to 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. Former members are occasionally named Emeritus Board Members, including Alex G. Spanos, San Diego Chargers owner, and Bob Monagan, former California Speaker of the House.

The provost, Philip N. Gilbertson, serves as the University's chief academic officer, overseeing all of the University's schools and divisions. The Council of Deans, consisting of all academic deans, associate and assistant provosts, the Director of Planning and Research, and the Academic Budget Officer.

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Greek Life

Greek life plays an important role at University of the Pacific where there are four on-campus social fraternity houses and four on campus social sorority houses.

Fraternity Houses

Sorority Houses

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Notable Alumni

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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
  • Terry Liskevych, former 3-time Olympic women's volleyball head coach; Pacific's head coach from 1977-84
  • Ed Sprague, Jr., 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
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External links

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