Калифорниядағы Вангард Университеті

Private university in Costa Mesa, California, U. S

Vanguard University (officially Vanguard University of Southern California) is a private Protestant university in Costa Mesa, California. It was the first four year college in Orange County. Vanguard's required core curriculum includes courses on American politics and history, theology, fine arts, and public speaking.

In summer 1920, Harold K. Needham, D. W. Kerr, and W. C. Pierce opened Southern California Bible School, an institution intended to prepare Christian workers for the various ministries of the church. The school moved from Los Angeles to Pasadena in 1927, and was chartered by the state of California in 1939 to grant degrees. Given this new distinction, the former Southern California Bible School became Southern California Bible College, the first four year institution of the Assemblies of God. The university is divided into four schools: College of Arts and Sciences, Patty Arvielo School of Business and Communication, School of Education, and School of Theology and Ministry.

It is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Harold K. Needham served as the founding president of Vanguard University. Subsequently, nine people have served as presidents of the university: Daniel W. Kerr, Irvine J. Harrison, John B. Scott, O. Cope Budge, Emil A. Balliet, Wayne E. Kraiss, Murray W. Dempster, Carol Taylor, and Michael J. Beals, who assumed the office on August 1, 2013.

Needham was one of the founders of the university. In 2016, Beals, along with other conservative Christians, publicly opposed California Senate Bill 1146 authored by Democrat Ricardo Laura. He asserted "[SB 1146] seeks to restrict the state religious exemption that allows Vanguard and other faith based institutions the right to operate according to our religious mission and identity. SB 1146 erodes the religious liberty of all California faith based universities." and was named by The Princeton Review as one of its 124 “Best Western” Colleges.

The Vanguard athletic teams are called the Lions. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) for most of its sports since the 1986–87 academic year; while its men's and women's wrestling teams compete in the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC). Vanguard competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, dance, golf, soccer, sideline dance, softball, stunt, track & field, volleyball and wrestling.

In 2014, Vanguard won the NAIA Division I men's basketball championship in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2008, the women's basketball team won the NAIA Division I National Championship in Jackson, Tennessee.

Beginning in 2024, the Freed Center will serve as the primary facilities for the university's athletic programs. The center will contain a 1,900 seat gymnasium, along with weight and training rooms. The university's also has a softball field and soccer complex.