(1937-present)
1937
September
George Pepperdine College is founded with 167 students and 22 faculty. Dr. Batsell Baxter is named president, Hugh Tiner is named dean.
November
Orange and blue are chosen as school colors, the Graphic student newspaper is named using the initials of the school, GPC, spaced evenly.
1938
June
First Pepperdine College graduation — four transfer students receive diplomas.
September
School opens with 242 students enrolled.
1939
June
Hugh Tiner becomes second president.
September
School opens with 362 students enrolled.
1942
February
First annual Bible lectures.
1944
September
First of six Pepperdine students dies in World War II.
Alumni Association founded.
Dolores voted most popular girl on campus.
1957
July
M. Norvel Young becomes Pepperdine’s third president.
1961
December
Football is dropped from curriculum due to rising costs.
1962
July
George Pepperdine dies.
1963
September
First Year-in-Europe program kicks off in Heidelberg, Germany.
1968
September
The Rindge-Adamson family of Malibu donates 138 acres of land to the college, making the move to Malibu possible.
1971
January
George Pepperdine College becomes Pepperdine University.
February
William S. Banowsky becomes fourth president of Pepperdine.
April
Construction begins on Malibu campus.
September
Tuition, room and board totals $3,114 dollars for the academic year.
1972
September
Malibu campus opens with class of 867. Total enrollment surges to 7,072.
1974
May
Phillips Theme Tower completed.
1978
September
Howard A. White becomes fifth Pepperdine president.
1981
Pepperdine adds 187 acres to Malibu campus, land where the Drescher Campus is now being constructed.
Los Angeles campus sold to Crenshaw Christian Center.
1982
September
Pepperdine adopts formal Mission Statement.
1984
July-August
Pepperdine hosts Summer Olympics water polo at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.
1985
April
David Davenport becomes sixth Pepperdine president.
October
Helen Pepperdine dies.
1993
November
Old Topanga fire rages along Malibu coastline.
1996
October
Pepperdine basketball fans gather in Firestone Fieldhouse for first ever Midnight Madness.
Firefighters successfully battle Malibu Canyon blaze that threatened the Pepperdine community.
1997
February
Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr becomes dean-designate of the School of Law and School of Public Policy. He postpones his acceptance during Whitewater investigation and later withdraws.
1998
September
Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission approves plans for a 50.4-acre expansion of the Malibu campus known as the Drescher Graduate Campus.
2000
September
Andrew K. Benton inaugurated as Pepperdine’s seventh president.
U.S News & World Report ranks Pepperdine No. 49 — top tier — in its best universities issue.
2001
September
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks his home especially hard for Pepperdine students. Graziadio alumnus Thomas Burnett was on United flight 11, which crashed in Pennsylvania. The community
2004
January
The Drescher Graduate Campus, which will include student housing, a parking garage, academic and meeting facilities, will be ready for partial occupation by students, faculty and administrators of the Graduate School of Education and Psychology, the Graziadio School of Business and Management and the School of Public Policy.
November 14, 2002