Olivet University

Not to be confused with Olivet Nazarene University or the University of Olivet.

For schools with similar names, see Olivet University (disambiguation).

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 University

Type	Private university
Established	2000; 23 years ago (2000)
Religious affiliation	Evangelical Assembly of Presbyterian Churches in America
Endowment	$42.3 million (2019)^[1]
President	Matthias Gebhardt
Location	Anza , California , United States
Colors	Burgundy, gold
Website	www.olivetuniversity.edu

History

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), New York City (at 6 Barclay Street in Lower Manhattan), 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 laundered the money through affiliated companies.^[12][13][14] On February 20, 2020, Olivet University pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and falsifying business records in an attempt to fraudulently obtain $35 million from lenders.^[15][16] Olivet University, as part of the plea, must pay $1.25 million in forfeiture over two years.^[15][17] In 2022, a new probe, conducted by the federal government, is also investigating money laundering in addition to human and labor trafficking and visa fraud, a former senior official of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek.^[18] The former official, who was briefed on the investigation, characterized it as "complex and significant."^[19] On June 30, the New York State Education Department officially ended Olivet's authorization to operate in the state citing that their failings "are part of a larger pattern of poor administration and addressing such problems only after being caught in a criminal conspiracy."^[20][21][22] The Olivet's New York campuses in Dover and Manhattan were shut down.^[23] 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.^{[24][25][26][27]}

Campus and student life

Olivet University's main campus is located at 36401 Tripp Flats Road,^[28] in Anza, CA 92539.

According to university's website it still operates campuses at the following locations:

• San Francisco, CA campus is located at 201 Seminary Dr, Mill Valley, CA 94941
• Washington, D.C. campus is located at 201 Rittenhouse St NW, Washington, DC 20011
• St. Louis, MO campus is located at 5341 Emerson Ave. St. Louis, MO 63120
• Nashville, TN campus is located at 141 Belle Forest Circle Nashville, TN 37221

Academics

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.^[29] The university is approved by the BPPE (Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education) to grant bachelors, master's, and doctoral degrees, and certificates.^[30]

Ralph D. Winter Library

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,^[31][32] 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.^[33]

Link to IBT Media

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.^[34] However, publication Christianity Today alleges that IBT Media has a close relationship both with Olivet and with its founder, controversial^[34][35] evangelical pastor David J. Jang. It claims that Jang is an investor in and has exercised control over IBT Media.^[34][36][37] Executives characterize the relationship as being between the institutions and not the founders, and that it is purely operational.^[34][37] Additionally, students of Olivet worked for IBT Media in the early days of the International Business Times.^[38]

Johnathan Davis, is a co-owner of Newsweek, and a former follower of Jang.^[39] In June 2022, Newsweek filed a suit against IBT Media, David Jang, Olivet University, and others for damages the publication said it suffered as a result of IBT's admitted criminal acts of fraud and money-laundering. In June 2023, Newsweek's shareholders stated that they resolved their legal disputes and co-owner, Davis announced he left the Olivet Christian sect which had been embroiled in the litigation.^[40][41] In July 2023 the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) also severed ties with David Jang's Christian sect associated with Olivet University.^[42]

References

1. As of June 30, 2019. "U.S. and Canadian 2019 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2019 Endowment Market Value, and Percentage Change in Market Value from FY18 to FY19 (Revised)". National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
2. "Memberships & Approvals". Olivetuniversity.edu. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
3. "Dr. David Jang New Role at HBS". Olivetnews.com. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
4. "Dr. David Jang WEA NAC Member". worldea.org. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
5. "David Jang Bio". Retrieved 2014-04-03.
6. . Olivet University. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017.
7. "Library". Olivet University. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
8. "Dedication Service Marks Renaming of Library". Olivet University. 2007-09-11.
9. "Olivet University Public Statement to Recent Media Publications". Olivet University Seminary Blog. 2012-08-23.
10. "Olivet Business School". Olivet University.
11. . Olivet University. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
12. Kellner, Mark (November 26, 2018). "DA adds evangelical university to fraud case against Christian Post owners". Religion News Service. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
13. "DA Vance Announces Indictment of Olivet University Officials and Christian Media CEO in $25 Million Fraud Probe Arising out of Newsweek Investigation" (Press release). New York: Manhattan District Attorney. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
14. "Olivet Watch". Olivet Watch.
15. Alejandra Molina (20 February 2020). "Bible college and former Newsweek and Christian Post publishers plead guilty in $35 million fraud probe". religionnews.com. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
16. "Newsweek sues Pastor Jae-hyeong Jang (David Chang) of Olivet Theological Seminary for $35 million in damages". NY Culture Beat. 19 July 2022.
17. Kelly, Keith J. (February 20, 2020). "Bible school Olivet University pleads guilty in money-laundering case". New York Post.
18. Rouhandeh, Alex J.; Jamali, Naveed (December 1, 2022). "Olivet University Faces Accreditor Ultimatum as Probes, Violations Pile Up". Newsweek.
19. Jamali, Naveed; O'Connor, Tom (April 22, 2022). "Christian University at the Center of Federal Trafficking and Fraud Probe". Newsweek.
20. Jamali, Naveed (June 30, 2022). "New York Shuts Down Olivet University Amid Federal Money-Laundering Probe". Newsweek.
21. Belz, Emily (July 6, 2022). "New York Shuts Down Embattled Olivet University Campus". Christianity Today.
22. Rouhandeh, Alex J. "Evangelical Christian Group Suspends Olivet as Newsweek Lawsuits Pile Up". Newsweek.
23. Poff, Jeremiah (July 5, 2022). "Olivet University New York campuses shuttered amid money laundering investigation". Washington Examiner.
24. Nelson, Joe (March 30, 2023). "Olivet University target of AG Bonta complaint that could shut down the California-based Christian college". The Mercury News.
25. Cochrane, Deborah (March 17, 2023). "ACCUSATION BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THE BUREAU FOR PRIVATE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA" (PDF). Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education - BPPE.
26. Bauer-Wolf, Jeremy (March 29, 2023). "California attorney general complaint could shut down Olivet University". Higher Ed Dive.
27. Jamali, Naveed; Rouhandeh, Alex J. (March 28, 2023). "California Moves to Shut Down David Jang's Olivet University as Feds Circle". Newsweek.
28. "Payment - Admissions & Aid". Olivet University.
29. "Olivet University". Olivetuniversity.edu. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
30. "School Detail: Olivet University". Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
31. "Olivet University celebrated the official renaming of University library to the Ralph D. Winter Library on September 10, 2007 with a dedication service held in the library facilities of the main campus building immediately after the Fall Convocation ceremony". Olivet News. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
32. . TIME Magazine. Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
33. "Olivet University's Ralph D. Winter Library". Ralph D. Winter Library Official Website. Retrieved 2012-06-30.
34. Lauria, Peter (3 August 2013). "Newsweek's New Owners Say They Bought "A Lot Of Cachet"". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
35. Smietana, Bob (16 July 2012). "LifeWay land deal with Calif. school faces scrutiny". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
36. McCarthy, Tom (5 August 2013). "Newsweek is dead. Long live Newsweek?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
37. Bercovici, Jeff (5 August 2013). "Meet The Mysterious Duo Who Just Bought Newsweek". Forbes. New York. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
38. Dooley, Ben (31 March 2014). "Who's Behind Newsweek?". Mother Jones. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
39. Rouh, Alex J. (3 July 2022). "IBT Media Sues Newsweek CEO, Demanding He Return the Magazine". Newsweek.
40. Fischer, Sara (July 26, 2022). "Newsweek execs speak out amid legal drama". Axios.
41. Rouhandeh, Alex J.; Jamali, Naveed (June 29, 2023). "Newsweek Shareholders End Legal Dispute, Co-owner Davis Leaves Olivet Sect". Newsweek.
42. Rouhandeh, Alex J.; Jamali, Naveed (July 19, 2023). "World Evangelical Body Cuts Ties with David Jang's Embattled Olivet Sect". Newsweek.

External links

• Official website