Claremont Lincoln University: A Hub for Ethical Leadership and Social Impact
Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) stands as a distinctive institution dedicated to cultivating ethical leaders and fostering positive social change. Rooted in the vision of David C. Lincoln and the Reverend Dr. Jerry Campbell, CLU offers innovative online degrees and certificates designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to address pressing global challenges. With a strong emphasis on the Claremont Core® teaching philosophy, the university guides students from personal awareness to collaborative action, empowering them to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.
History and Founding Principles
The genesis of Claremont Lincoln University lies in David C. Lincoln's conviction in the transformative potential of the Golden Rule. This belief led him to collaborate with the Reverend Dr. Jerry Campbell to conceive a new paradigm for university education. Their vision emphasized the exploration of diverse beliefs, values, and traditions as a foundation for positive change leadership.
In March 2008, the board of trustees at Claremont School of Theology authorized the establishment of a university centered on interfaith dialogue. The "University Project" aimed to create an educational environment where representatives of the world's religions could study together and address critical social problems, including religious violence. The Claremont School of Theology board formally incorporated the university in January 2010. The university's name was revealed on May 16, 2011, and classes commenced in the fall of the same year. Jerry D. Campbell served as the founding president.
In spring 2014, Claremont Lincoln University shifted its focus beyond its initial inter-religious orientation. While maintaining its commitment to fostering collaboration, civil dialogue, and addressing key social problems, the university began developing educational programs and degrees that did not rely on faith, spirituality, or religion. Claremont Lincoln University's slogan is "socially conscious education."
Academic Programs and the Claremont Core®
Claremont Lincoln University offers unique online degrees and certificates that are innovative, relevant, and engaging. Committed to providing expanded opportunities to diverse populations, all programs are intentionally built online to increase flexibility for the working professional. Program instruction is 100% online and asynchronous to fit your busy life-taught by dedicated faculty that are involved, engaged, and accessible.
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The university develops curriculum that builds on the fundamentals of "Claremont core," a set of skills and practices that the university believes students should have after graduation: mindfulness, dialog, collaboration, and change.
Integrated into every master’s program is a teaching philosophy that moves from personal awareness and transformation to active listening and the creation of a collaborative path toward sustainable change. The online degree programs from Claremont Lincoln University provide you with the vision and framework to be an inclusive, ethical, and authentic leader. Discover how to effect positive social change in the organizations and communities you serve.
Among the programs offered are:
- M.A. in Human Resources Management
- M.A. in Healthcare Administration
- M.A. in Social Impact
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Partnership
Claremont Lincoln University is proud of its strong partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a nonprofit, private operating foundation established in 1946 by the same family that founded CLU. Since 2019, CLU and LILP have collaborated on distinctive curricula focused on addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. Among the many benefits of the affiliation is the Fellowship for Ethics and Equity in Public Administration. In 2020, Claremont Lincoln University and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (LILP) announced a partnership to advance its Masters in Public Administration (MPA) program. The partnership included $100,000 in scholarships/fellowships for incoming students in the masters program to offset the cost of tuition. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a 75-year-old institution focused on work around the world on issues of climate resilience, reduced poverty and spatial inequality, sustainability managed land and water resources, functional land markets, efficient and equitable tax systems, and fiscally healthy communities and regions.
Accreditation and Recognition
WSCUC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions throughout California, Hawaii, and the Pacific as well as a limited number of institutions outside the United States. WSCUC is one of seven institutional accrediting agencies formerly known as “regional accreditors” approved by the US Department of Education and a member of Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The Commission encourages continual institutional improvement and assures the membership and its constituencies, including the public, that accredited institutions are fulfilling their missions in service to their students and the public good. Claremont Lincoln University admits students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
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- Current Accreditation Status: Accredited - Reflects the Commission's finding that the institution is in compliance with the Standards.
- Granted Candidacy: Candidacy is a status of preliminary affiliation with the Senior College and University Commission, awarded for a maximum of four years following a procedure for institutional review that includes self-study and on-site visitation.
- First Accredited: Date the institution was first accredited by WSCUC.
Commitment to Accessibility and Affordability
Committed to providing expanded opportunities to diverse populations, all our programs are intentionally built online to increase flexibility for the working professional. In response to a combination of global social and economic challenges (including the COVID-19 pandemic and rising student loan debts for college degrees), the university announced in 2021 that it would be reducing the cost of its tuition for students by 21%.
Leadership and Faculty
Dedicated to serving diverse populations and challenging systemic disparities, Lynn Priddy, PhD became Claremont Lincoln University’s fourth President in 2021. As CLU’s president and CEO, she is dedicated to developing ethical and authentic leaders who are committed to profound impact and positive social change in workplaces and communities across the nation.
Claremont Lincoln University faculty include passionate educators who offer a wide range of professional experience in the courses they teach. Our faculty do not just talk about the topics, they are scholar-practitioners who are industry experts and work in the field in which they teach. Student-to-Faculty ratio - 14:1
Recent Developments
- 2021: Dr. Lynn Priddy was appointed President and CEO of Claremont Lincoln University.
- In response to the health and economic distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, CLU created the Golden Rule Student Assistance Fund and raised $14,000 from board members, faculty, and staff in the first week. The Golden Rule Fund is a legacy designed to live long into the future.
- Three new master’s programs are approved by WSCUC in record time: M.A. in Human Resources Management, M.A. in Healthcare Administration, and M.A.
- CLU breaks ground on its new headquarters.
- CLU becomes independent of Claremont School of Theology, with its own offices, staff, faculty, and Board of Directors.
- The next two master’s programs in the initial suite of complementary programs are approved by WSCUC: the M.A. in Social Impact and the M.A.
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