Private Christian college leaves Ontario

The private Christian college was established in Ontario five years ago. Providence had been leasing the property in Ontario from Salem Christian Homes.

Because of the lease agreement and the desire to eventually expand the campus, administrators started looking for new locations, said Peter Haringsma, president of the college's board of trustees.

The search began in February, and by the end of the month, administrators had found the 17-acre Pasadena campus. Halvorson said college officials they didn't expect to find a location so quickly.

On May 1, the board of trustees voted unanimously to move. 

School staff started planning right after the decision was made. It was no easy venture, Halvorson said, because there are only 14 full-time and 18 part-time staffers.

One person was tasked with finding boxes, while another had to figure out storage options in Pasadena. Another was tapped to work the utilities situation in Ontario.

"It's a pretty small campus, but you get a strong sense of community here," he said.

That sense of community was evident when the time came to physically move everything out. Everyone, including Halvorson, helped out.

The first big move began two weeks ago when the college packed up 11,000 volumes of books from its library.

On Saturday, Halvorson and board members tackled office and residential furniture.

"It's a bittersweet move. We're excited about it, but we're sad to leave this place and sad to leave the community," he said.

Haringsma said that just because the campus is moving 35 miles away doesn't mean there will be a disconnect from the Inland Empire.

"We've had a wonderful relationship with supporters in the Inland Empire," he said. "To start a college today, especially in this economy, is challenging. Without their support it would not have been possible to start."

The new campus, Halvorson said, features ample residential and classroom space, a library, a cafeteria, administrative offices as well as tennis and basketball courts. It can also accommodate 300 beds, compared to the current campus capacity of 63.

This fall, Halvorson said he expects about 50 to 60 students to be enrolled.

The new location has meant an increased interest from out-of-state students, he said, adding that he hopes by the next year to have more students and staff.

"Many have never heard of Ontario or think it's in Canada. But Pasadena, it's known, which doesn't hurt us," he said.

The move will place the college closer to the city of Los Angeles, and give the college room to grow in future years, perhaps more than triple the size of the Ontario location.

But Halvorson will always remember where it started.

"This has been a wonderful community to have launched a college," he said.

Classes will begin Sept. 1.