Washburn University strives to continue to be an outstanding public metropolitan educational resource for the people of Kansas and the region, emphasizing excellence in teaching. This emphasis on quality instruction in the learning/teaching process has been maintained since Washburn's founding in 1865 and its evolution from a small church college to a comprehensive public metropolitan university. The University takes pride in its faculty and staff and the talent and diversity they bring to the educational process.
The University's educational objectives are to prepare individuals for careers and further study in a variety of disciplines and for a lifetime of continuous learning. The open admissions policy on the undergraduate level allows Washburn to offer higher education to a diverse population, but also requires the University to make a special effort to help individuals reach their full academic potential. An extensive advising system compliments the educational program.
Washburn provides educational opportunities principally for the residents of Topeka, Shawnee County and Northeast Kansas. It also attracts students from the entire state, nation and the world. Degrees are awarded at the associate, bachelor, master and professional levels. The general education foundation is the common base for all the University's undergraduate degrees. The College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Law historically have been and continue to be areas of strength for Washburn. As a metropolitan institution, programs in the Schools of Business, Nursing and Applied Studies, and the Division of Continuing Education are special emphases of the University. Washburn is also responsive to the needs of the recent high school and community college graduate, but it also has an additional commitment to provide educational opportunities for the adult learner.
As a metropolitan university, it is not only a university located in the city, it is an integral part of the community, the state and the region. It must focus on the total educational needs of the area and must adapt and change with the ever varying demands placed on it. Through musical and theater performances, library services, public forums, lecture series and art exhibitions, the University enriches the community's cultural and intellectual life. Working with business and industry, health care providers, government, social agencies, public schools and regional educational institutions, Washburn assists others in establishing and reaching their goals and objectives. University faculty and staff engage in research and creative activities and participate on commissions and boards to improve teaching effectiveness, meet community needs, and contribute to the extension of knowledge. The University also joins with other post-secondary institutions and organizations in offering educational opportunities for the people of Kansas and is committed to participation in appropriate cooperative ventures.
Washburn University is accountable to itself, its students, the citizens of Topeka and the taxpayers of Kansas. It is committed to accreditation of appropriate academic programs, to vigorous regular self-assessment of both academic and non-academic programs, and to continuous improvement.
Washburn is accredited or approved
by the Higher Learning Commission : A Commission of the North Central Association
of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504,
(312) 263-0456), the American Association of Museums, the American Bar Association,
the American Chemical Society, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
Education of the American Physical Therapy Association, the Association of American
Law Schools, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs
(Health Information Technology and Respiratory Therapy), Joint Review Committee
on Education in Radiologic Technology (Radiation Therapy and Radiologic Technology),
the Council on Social Work Education, the Kansas State Board of Education, the
Kansas State Board of Nursing, the National Association of Schools of Music,
the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the National Council
for Accreditation of Teacher Education, and the Kansas State Board of Nursing
and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Washburn University is a public municipal institution of higher education organized and existing under the provisions of the Kansas Constitution (Article 6, Section 2) and the Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A. 13-13a03 et seq). As a public institution, the meetings of its governing board are open to the public under the provisions of the Kansas Open Meetings Act (K.S.A. 75-4317 et seq) and the records of the University are subject to inspection as provided under the Kansas Open Records Act (K.S.A. 45-215 et seq).
Washburn University began in 1865 as Lincoln College, a school established by the Congregational Church. The Board of Trustees erected a two-story brick building at the corner of Tenth and Jackson streets where the Memorial Building presently stands. The first classes met there in January of 1866. Lincoln College became Washburn College in November 1868 in recognition of the financial support of New England philanthropist, Deacon Ichabod Washburn. In its early days, much of the support of the college came from persons in the East who hoped to promote quality education throughout the rest of the country.
The College moved to its present location in 1874. The first building on the present campus, later named Rice Hall in recognition of the untiring labors for Washburn of Harvey D. Rice, was occupied that year. This building, set on the treeless prairie at what then seemed a considerable distance from Topeka, furnished classrooms, living quarters for faculty and students, administrative offices—for several years it was the College.
Peter McVicar (1871-1895) guided
the institution through critical years of hard times, grasshopper plagues, and
drought. By the end of the McVicar administration, Boswell Hall, McVicar Chapel,
Holbrook Hall, and dormitories had been added.
The early years of the twentieth century marked a period of expansion. The School
of Law was organized in 1903, along with the School of Fine Arts, later called
the School of Music and then the departments of music and art. Also in 1903,
the Kansas Medical College became the Medical School of Washburn College; it
continued until July 1, 1913.
World War I and the postwar period brought many problems and another period of expansion during which Mulvane Art Museum, Benton Hall, and Whiting Field House were added to the physical plant and the endowment funds were increased. Then came the depression and drought years of the 1930’s; sound management brought the College through this period in better financial condition than many of the other colleges in Kansas largely through the efforts of Richard Vogel, who served as the institution’s Vice President and Treasurer for 35 years (1939-1974).
In 1941 the citizens of Topeka overwhelmingly endorsed Washburn University and committed the resources of the community to the perpetuation of this vital and important institution, strengthening of the University’s programs and the provision of increased educational opportunities for its citizens. Topekans voted to maintain and further develop a university of quality—an institution of the first rank. The Board of Trustees of Washburn College accepted the city’s pledge and turned the physical assets of Washburn College over to the newly created urban university, supported in part by the City and governed by a local Board of Regents. The Washburn Endowment Association and its Board of Trustees still exist as the foundation that administers the endowment funds which are for the benefit of Washburn University.
The new University continued to grow and serve the city. The academic program expanded as an increasing number of students brought diverse backgrounds and needs to the University. The Memorial Union, Margaret Mulvane Morgan Hall, Stoffer Science Hall and Carruth Hall greatly improved the physical facilities.
Shortly after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 1966, a tornado roared over Burnett’s Mound and cut a path of destruction northeastward across Topeka to the Municipal airport. Six campus buildings: Rice Hall, McVicar Chapel, Thomas Women’s Gymnasium, Boswell Hall, Crane Observatory, and the Air Force Building were damaged beyond repair, as were two sorority houses. Nearly every other building on campus was severely damaged. More than 600 trees were destroyed.
Despite this crushing blow, the work of recovery began at once. Classes continued first at other locations and then on campus in temporary quarters. The new section of the Memorial Union was opened in the Fall of 1966. A restored Carnegie Hall was ready for the Department of Education the second semester. Construction of the Garvey Fine Arts Center was begun in 1966. The new School of Law building was completed in 1969. The Henderson Learning Resource Center was completed in 1970. The Mabee Library, begun as a bicentennial building in 1976, was completed the next year. The 138,000 square foot Kelsey H. and Edna Petro Allied Health Center was completed in 1984, and the Charles R. Bennett Computer Center was completed in 1988. An addition to the Law Library is complete and a new facility for KTWU was completed in 1994.
Bricks and mortar are only symbolic of the continued growth of the academic program. In 1973, the Department of Economics and Business Administration became the School of Business. The nursing program was initiated in 1974 in response to Northeast Kansas’ demand for highly qualified health care professionals. The growth and reputation of this program brought the creation of the School of Nursing in 1982.
In 1983 the Division of Continuing Education and Applied Education became the School of Applied and Continuing Education. The formation of the School recognized the professional and technical employment requirements of the community as well as student interest in expanded curriculum. In 1992 this unit was renamed the School of Applied Studies when the departments of Criminal Justice and Social Work were transferred from the College of Arts and Sciences to join the departments of Allied Health, Human Services, and Office, Legal & Technology. That same year, the Division of Continuing Education became a separate unit within the University.
The College of Arts and Sciences, the largest and oldest academic division of the University, includes courses and programs which are central to the mission of Washburn. All undergraduate students take a “core” program distributed among the three divisions of General Education— (1) Humanities and Creative and Performing Arts (2) Social Sciences; and (3) Natural Sciences, and Mathematics and Statistics. The College responds specifically to the needs and interests of students in career-oriented pre-professional programs such as pre-medicine and pre-law. The Department of Education is structured to provide enhanced undergraduate teacher education and graduate programs in such high demand areas as Special Education and Education Administration.
As an important element of an urban university, the College of Arts and Sciences seeks and employs creative ways to develop new academic programs, to meet the particular needs of the urban community, and to establish new directions for research and service that respond directly to emerging urban problems. Many programs involve internships through which students work closely with the business and professional community. The programs in computer information and creative and performing arts are further examples of the College’s determination to meet the needs of Kansans.