News

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Pacific Union College Announces Semester Conversion and Future Changes

By Marina Maher on October 23, 2026

On October 22, Pacific Union College officially announced its conversion from a quarter-based academic schedule to a semester system, effective fall 2028. As the college prepares for this transition, PUC assures students it will remain committed to their academic progress and provide a clear path to graduation without delays or additional tuition costs. This conversion will create new opportunities, allow more time for in-depth course engagement, and provide greater flexibility in learning experiences, aligning PUC more closely with most colleges and universities nationwide while prioritizing students' academic experience and outcomes.Phase 1 of the conversion process is complete, with conversion committees established and policies, procedures, and roadmaps developed. PUC is currently in Phase 2, where faculty are converting course curricula to fit the new semester system, updating degree requirements, aligning learning outcomes, and completing governance approvals. The college expects Phase 3 to begin in summer 2027, with student preparation highlighted by the release of semester catalogs and degree maps, as well as advising resources and information sessions. As Phase 4 takes effect in fall 2028, PUC will ensure student support services are readily available while continuing to assess and improve them, monitor student success, and refine policies."A semester system will make...

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PUC Partners with Maranatha for McReynolds Hall Renovation

By Marina Maher on October 22, 2026

From August 10 to 20, 36 Maranatha Volunteers International and Pacific Union College volunteers, faculty, staff, students, and community members collaborated to renovate McReynolds Hall, a residence hall primarily used when academies and other groups visit campus.The PUC Administration team has anticipated Maranatha’s return to PUC for a few years now, since their last project visit in 2019, when they successfully renovated and refreshed 31 Newton Hall dorm rooms and bathrooms, and continued the same project in 2020.The goal was to refresh as many of the 48 rooms and common areas as possible, starting with 16 rooms in wings A and C on the first floor. The plan was to remove old carpets and obsolete desks, paint the rooms, and install new vinyl plank flooring (LVT), shades, and lights. During this project, they completed 24 rooms and 12 bathrooms across two first-floor wings and the third wing, excluding floor preparation and installation of the new vinyl plank flooring in the B wing, which was more than they had originally planned.They began their project by removing loose furniture, including two beds and a dresser, old blinds, existing built-in desks, and carpets from the rooms. They painted the rooms and bathrooms, including...

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PUC Hosts Girls’ Volleyball Tournament

By Ally Romanes on October 21, 2026

From October 1-3, Pacific Union College hosted its Girls’ Volleyball Tournament for 12 schools throughout California. About 200 students and coaches from Redlands Adventist Academy, La Sierra Academy, Glendale Adventist Academy, Newbury Park Adventist Academy, Armona Union Academy, Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy, Pine Hills Adventist Academy, Central Valley Christian Academy, Lodi Academy, Monterey Bay Academy, Mountain View Academy, and PUC Prep competed in the college’s first high school tournament of the school year.As teams arrived on campus Wednesday evening, PUC students welcomed them with dessert treats, dorm essentials, and new tournament shirts designed by PUC student Riley Ramirez. Before games began Thursday morning, each academy gathered for worship at Paulin Hall and listened to a message from PUC Assistant Professor of Music and Enrollment Counselor Kristian Leukert. To keep students fueled and hydrated, PUC offered a free snack-and-drink table at the gym during pregame and postgame, which the students always enjoy, with special food items for their coaches as well. Because PUC hosts this event, its athletic department also attends games to see which players they could potentially recruit.After games on Thursday and Friday, visiting students could sit in on classes of their choice, giving them a glimpse of PUC...

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PUC’s 2026 Graduating Class Honors Allison Fox

By Ally Romanes on October 20, 2026

During Commencement on June 14, the 2026 graduates at Pacific Union College honored Allison Fox with a memorial plaque as their class gift. Fox, a PUC alum who served as an access services librarian and honors program director, sadly passed away in 2023. Senior Class President Jacqueline Messing presented their gift after her presidential speech, sharing how they wanted to select a gift that reflected the lasting impact one individual can have on a community.“She possessed a rare gift for making people feel seen, valued, and encouraged. As a class, we wanted to recognize her not only for her contributions to this institution, but also the enduring legacy she leaves behind,” said Messing. “Professor Fox helped cultivate the values, relationships, and sense of community that continue to shape this campus today.”Throughout the process of creating the plaque, the senior class cabinet was dedicated to ensuring it reflected Fox’s authenticity, even including her mother in the process. Fox’s mother played a significant role in bringing this gift to life, which, for Messing, led her to see the project from a new perspective and made the process much more meaningful. The senior class also collaborated with PUC Director of Alumni Relations and...

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Pacific Union College Welcomes Brandon Broome as New Athletic Director

By Marina Maher on October 5, 2026

Pacific Union College is delighted to announce that Brandon Broome has been appointed as PUC’s new athletic director, bringing 16 years of coaching and program-development experience. With six years of collegiate-level experience, Broome envisions creating a place where athletes pursue excellence and acceptance is a priority.He graduated from Oakwood University with a bachelor’s degree in physical education in 2010. As a collegiate basketball player for OU from 2007 to 2010, he helped build the school’s first of four United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) teams. Broome also held the USCAA Slam Dunk Contest title as part of the National Championship team in 2008– a precursor to the passion, drive, and determination that has followed him into his coaching career.Before joining PUC, he served as head men’s Basketball Coach and Compliance Administrator at Walla Walla University for six years, guiding players on the court and contributing to the institution’s success.Broome began his role as athletic director on September 30. When you see him on campus, say hi and welcome him and his family to Angwin’s beloved college on the hill....

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PUC Alumna Creates Bible Busy Boards

By Ally Romanes on October 1, 2026

When PUC alumna Natasha Elloway-Negrete’s daughter received a busy board, she loved watching her learn numbers and the alphabet and saw how educational it was for children. Then she wondered if there was a busy board that taught children about the Bible. After finding only a few Christian options that didn't include the Bible truths and stories she wanted her children to learn, she was inspired to create one herself.After designing activities, securing a manufacturer, and going through countless samples and revisions, Elloway-Negrete finalized her first Bible busy board and launched it in June of this year. Although she created this busy board for her two children, she wanted to share it with other families and help their kids learn Bible stories through hands-on play. By making these boards, she also founded a small business named Faith & Fun Kids Co. Just two months after launching the first 150 boards, she sold out, with 200 boards already in production to restock in October and a Spanish version in the making.Seeing and hearing families enjoy her Bible Fun Busy Board is Elloway-Negrete’s favorite part about running Faith & Fun Kids Co. “I love seeing photos of children using and enjoying something...

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PUC Appoints Anthony Cadavid as MBA Director

By Ally Romanes on September 30, 2026

Pacific Union College is happy to introduce Anthony Cadavid as the new MBA Program Director and Professor of Business Administration. Between teaching and supporting students and faculty, he develops partnerships to strengthen the department and support graduates, and ensures the program is on track to meet PUC’s vision.“PUC is an institution I have respected for decades,” said Cadavid. “I was genuinely happy to join the PUC family and have the opportunity to contribute to the important work the college is already doing. It also brought together things that matter deeply to me: education, leadership, faith, service, and helping people grow into responsibilities they may not yet realize they are capable of taking on.”When accepting this position, Cadavid was also drawn to PUC’s MBA Program's Christian mission, small class sizes for getting to know students on a personal level, and the flexibility to teach working students. “What excited me most was the opportunity to help shape the program around those needs and bring together exceptional faculty who could make that vision real,” said Cadavid. “I also found people already connected to the program who care deeply about our students, believe in what we can build, and have been incredibly supportive of...

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Abraham Garrido's 100-Mile Race in Europe

By Marina Maher on September 28, 2026

On August 24, Pacific Union College Enrollment Counselor and Angwin to Angwish Coordinator Abraham Garrido participated in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (TDS), a 100-mile race that crosses through the scenic views of the French Alps in Chamonix.The race began at midnight in freezing rain, foreshadowing a long night and day in the mountains for the 1,290 starting participants. The course included about 31,000 feet of elevation gain, taking runners through what Garrido described as “incredible terrain” in France and Italy, with mountain refuges on standby to house and care for participants. One of the coolest things he shared was being able to run with people from so many different countries and backgrounds, and how running can bring so many people from all over the world together.As he endured this life-altering experience, his wife, PUC Director of Recruitment, Isabella Malan-Garrido, along with his brother and sister, cheered him on at different aid stations, making it even more meaningful. “Honestly, one of the coolest parts of the whole experience was getting to share it with my family. I couldn’t have done it without them.”More than anything, getting to be in the Alps, running through the night, and sharing the experience with so...

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Pacific Union College Hosts 2026 Publication Workshop

By Marina Maher on September 24, 2026

From August 30 to September 1, Pacific Union College held its 36th annual Publication Workshop, hosting 129 high school and academy students, along with sponsors, from 13 schools. Faculty and staff from the visual arts, communication, marketing, and enrollment departments collaborated to put together this event. Students received hands-on practice in writing, journalism, video production, photography, design, newswriting, and social media, taught by PUC’s very own faculty– professionals in their respective crafts and fields.This year, PUC welcomed Armona Union Academy, Central Valley Christian, Columbia Adventist Academy, Lodi Academy, Miramonte Christian School, Mesa Grande Academy, Mountain View Academy, Pleasant Hill Academy, PUC Preparatory, Redlands Academy, Roseburg Christian Academy, San Fernando Valley Academy, and Tualatin Valley Academy.Sponsored by the communication and visual arts departments, students learned valuable skills through teacher-led activities while also getting a glimpse of the Christ-centered campus and its wide range of offerings. Faculty and staff members involved in this year’s workshop were PUC Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Professions and Director of Publication Workshop, Milbert Mariano; Associate Professor of Communication Tara Hargrove; Professor of Communication Patricia Maxwell; Professor of Graphic Design and Department Chair Brian Kyle; Instructor of Visual Arts Nephtali Marin; Adjunct Professor of Photography Mike Murtaugh;...

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PUC Gains New Rankings in 2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges List

By Marina Maher on September 23, 2026

Pacific Union College is delighted to announce that it has been ranked #15 in Overall Rank in the Regional Colleges (West) category and #5 in California in that same category in the 2026-2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges List. PUC has also earned a new ranking of #12 in Top Private Colleges, a category for private institutions funded entirely by non-government sources like tuition, endowments, and alumni gifts.U.S. News Best Colleges rates about 1,700 educational institutions nationwide, weighing factors like academic quality, graduation and retention rates, post-graduate outcomes, and academic resources, with the Regional Colleges (West) category awarding only 49 schools based on the career- and job-focused degrees they offer.Currently, PUC is #15 in the Overall Rank and #34 in Top Performers on Social Mobility– all in the Regional Colleges (West) category.Proudly embracing the tagline, "Learn with Purpose, Rise in Faith, and Serve with Love," PUC takes pride in and is known for its dedicated faculty and staff, who are fully devoted to serving the entire student body– from fostering a Christ-centered environment to a robust academic program."At PUC we are focused on quality and student experience," said PUC President Ralph Trecartin. "Whenever the U.S. News rankings come...

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