UNIVERSITY MISSION SUMMARY
Washburn University shall prepare qualified individuals for careers, further
study and life long learning through excellence in teaching and scholarly work.
Washburn University shall make a special effort to help individuals reach their
full academic potential.*
*Washburn Board of Regents, 1999
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 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.
EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY POLICY STATEMENT
It is the policy of Washburn University to assure equal educational and employment opportunity to qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, marital or parental status, or sexual orientation.
Equal educational opportunity includes, but is not limited to, admissions, recruitment, extracurricular programs and activities, housing, facilities use, access to course offerings, counseling and testing, financial aid, health services, and employment. Equal employment opportunity includes, but is not limited to, recruitment, hiring, assignment of duties, tenure and promotion determinations, compensation, benefits, training, and termination.
The administration of Washburn University is committed to its support of the principles of equal opportunity for students, faculty, and staff. Each unit within the University is charged with conducting its practices in conformity with these principles. Responsibility for monitoring and implementation of this policy is delegated to the Equal Opportunity Director*; however, all personnel will share in the specific activities necessary to achieve these goals.
*The Equal Opportunity Director is Ms. Carol Vogel,
Morgan Hall, Room 380A, (785) 231-1010, Ext. 1509 or carol.vogel@washburn.edu
Washburn University of Topeka intends to assure a harassment-free environment in which to work and to pursue educational goals. Sexual harassment is a form of misconduct, which undermines the integrity of employee relationships and student-faculty relationships.
Employees: Harassment on the basis of sex is defined by Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual, or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
Students: Sexual harassment of students is a violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination in education. Academic sexual harassment is the use of authority to emphasize the sexuality of a student in a manner, which prevents or impairs that student’s full enjoyment of educational benefits, environment, or opportunities. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when (1) the conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the individual’s academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive education environment (2) imposed by an employee or agent of Washburn University which denies, limits, conditions, or provides different aid, benefits, services or treatment.
All persons must be allowed to pursue their activities at Washburn University free from unsolicited and unwelcome sexual overtures or conduct. The administration of Washburn University strongly disapproves of such inappropriate conduct and will not tolerate its occurrence.
Complaints of sexual harassment should be made verbally or in writing to:
Carol L. Vogel Equal Opportunity Director
Morgan Hall, Room 380A,
(785) 231-1010, Ext. 1509.
carol.vogel@washburn.edu
Washburn University was established in February 1865 as Lincoln College by a charter issued by the State of Kansas and the General Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches of Kansas. A two-story brick building on the northeast corner of 10th and Jackson Streets was soon erected and the first classes began in January 1866. In 1868, the school was renamed Washburn College, in recognition of a $25,000 donation by Ichabod Washburn, a church deacon and resident of Worcester, Mass.
The university was granted a permanent location in 1865 when Topekan Col. John Ritchie donated a 160-acre site, which at the time was a considerable distance southwest of the city. Construction on the first building began in 1872, with occupancy taking place in 1874. For the next two decades, college President Peter McVicar conducted an aggressive development campaign. His efforts resulted in the establishment of numerous Victorian limestone structures which characterized the campus for the next 90 years.
Expansion of the school was constant. The School of Law was organized in 1903, as was a School of Fine Arts and a medical school, which educated physicians until 1913. During the next three decades structures such as the Mulvane Art Museum, Benton Hall and Whiting Field House were added to the campus. In June 1966, a tornado struck Topeka and several historic buildings on campus were demolished. The Washburn community rallied and financial support from friends and alumni made possible the rebuilding of many school facilities during the coming years. Today, university facilities offer more than one million square feet of modern academic and support space.
In 1941, the citizens of Topeka endorsed Washburn by voting to establish a municipal university, supported in part by the city and governed by a local board of regents. In 1952, the Washburn Board of Regents officially changed the name of the school to Washburn University of Topeka. In 1999, the university's primary funding was moved from city property tax to county sales tax sources, with the school retaining status as a municipal subdivision of the state. In addition to local financial support, Washburn has received state funds since 1961, which have been coordinated by the Kansas Board of Regents since 1991. Washburn is governed by its own nine member Board of Regents.
Washburn provides broadly-based liberal arts and professional education through more than 190 certificate, associate, baccalaureate, master's and juris doctor programs through the College of Arts and Sciences and the Schools of Law, Business, Nursing and Applied Studies. Ninety-seven percent of the faculty holds a doctorate or the highest degree available in their discipline.
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 (Respiratory Therapy), Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (Health Information Technology), Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (Radiation Technology), the Council on Social Work Education, the Kansas State Board of Nursing, the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, 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).
CAMPUS
& FACILITIES
Website: http://www.washburn.edu/visitors/on-campus-attractions.html
Washburn University is located on a spacious, attractive campus in the capital city of the state of Kansas. Washburn is a municipally supported, state assisted university comprised of six major academic units; the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Law, the School of Business, the School of Nursing, the School of Applied Studies and the Division of Continuing Education. There are over 7,000 students enrolled in traditional undergraduate degree programs, two-year associate degree programs and professional graduate programs in Law, Business, Psychology, Education, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Liberal Studies and Nursing. Visit the website listed above to learn more about the campus.
Special Facilities Listed below are brief descriptions of special facilities available at Washburn. For information on classroom buildings please visit the website listed above.
The Andrew J. and Georgia Neese Gray Theatre, seating 388, features a thrust stage, and is the site of productions by both the University Theatre Department and Community groups.
Athletic Facilities
The equipment and facilities for physical education provide an opportunity for every student to participate in physical education activities.
Whiting Field House, erected in 1928 and named for Albe G. Whiting, provides facilities for varsity athletics and physical education classes. It provides a large playing floor for basketball, volleyball, handball, wrestling, tumbling, and gymnastics work. The building seats 2000 spectators.
Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl was completely renovated in 2003. The first gift to the stadium renovation was from former Ichabod defensive end Bernie Bianchino, with substantial gifts from an anonymous donor and others. The Bianchino Pavilion includes six suites, media facilities, restroom and concession facilities, and meeting rooms. The new name of Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl is in honor of former Ichabod runningback Gary Yager.
Other playing fields are provided for other varsity sports, varsity practice, and intramural sports. A baseball diamond and two softball diamonds for intercollegiate competition are available, and there are six excellent cement tennis courts located near Petro Allied Health Center.
Petro Allied Health Center is a state of the art physical education and athletic facility. This facility includes a six-lane swimming pool with two diving boards, a large gymnasium with basketball, volleyball and badminton courts, as well as a running track. There is also a weight-training room, a dance studio, athletic training room, exercise physiology laboratory, and Physical Therapy Assistant laboratory.
Bradbury Thompson Center, which was funded entirely from private sources, opened in April 1996. The Center houses the operations of the Washburn Alumni Association and Washburn Endowment Association, and was designed to serve the needs of alumni and Washburn University, as well as provide meeting space for many community groups and organizations.
Charles Bennett Computer Center, completed in 1988, houses the main offices of Information Technology Services, academic computing laboratories and offices for the Computer Information Sciences faculty.
Housing on Campus
The Living Learning Center To reach the goal of providing attractive on-campus housing that focuses on the intellectual and social development of students, the University committed its efforts and resources to building this award winning facility. The Living Learning Center serves students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members by providing social and common areas, seminar rooms, dining services, a reading room, and residential living on campus.
The Living section of the Center includes 400 beds in modern, four-bed suites grouped in clusters for privacy and personal space. The suites are equipped with computer data ports for each student. Students are surrounded with amenities traditionally not found in residence hall settings, while experiencing the opportunities of on-campus living and an atmosphere that encourages learning. Clusters of rooms are arranged around community spaces that include television lounges; kitchenettes with ovens, sinks and microwaves; and light, airy group study rooms.
Professional apartments are connected to the Living section of the Center. These accommodate the Faculty-in-Residence and professional staff.
Kuehne Hall, named for Fred J. Kuehne, Washburn alumnus, was completed in 1980. This coed residence consists of five self-contained units, eight persons each, with a living room and an outside entrance with a patio or balcony. West Hall replicates Kuehne Hall and provides housing for 43 students.
Washburn Village Apartment-style housing for students beyond the Freshman year. Open Fall of 2004, this new 192-bed facility, located south of KTWU, includes 2-, 3-, and 4-bedroom units. Many of the bedrooms are designed for single occupancy and include a computer data port and connections for cable and telephone service. In addition to the data/cable-ready bedrooms, each unit has a bathroom with a shower/tub combination, a living room, and a small kitchenette. Fully furnished, each unit contains the same amenities often found in off-campus apartments. A commons area includes a conference room for study, a lounge area with a large-screen TV, a reception desk, mailboxes, card access to laundry facilities 24 hours a day, and the Complex Coordinator’s Office.
International House, located near the center of the campus, is situated between the Student Union and Benton Hall. This Spanish-style structure, built in 1931 by Dr. and Mrs. Parley P. Womer, was the private residence of the former university president and his wife. After their deaths, the home reverted to the University and serves now as the center of international activities.
The building features a magnificent great room, 44 by 22 feet with a balcony on two sides, huge fireplace and a beamed, vaulted ceiling. Hurricane shutters and wrought iron balustrade and chandelier enhance the Spanish architecture. The House is furnished with American antiques and artifacts from around the world.
KTWU is a non-commercial television station licensed to Washburn University and a member station of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). It began broadcasting in 1965 as the first public television station in Kansas. KTWU’s broadcast center is located at 19th & Jewell Ave. on the Washburn Campus.
The station serves a 70-mile radius in northeastern Kansas as well as a 30-mile area in southeast central Kansas. In addition, other communities in Kansas and Missouri receive the KTWU signal over various cable systems. KTWU broadcasts its analog signal on channel 11 and a digital signal over digital channel 23.
KTWU’s analog programs are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Programming is selected for both children and adults with subjects related to education, cultural enrichment, public affairs and entertainment. The digital channel broadcasts from 6 a.m. to midnight and offers both a high definition track and a track of primarily children’s programs.
The station’s yearly operating support is provided by various community sources including individual donations, corporate underwriting, production grants and instrumental program support from Washburn University. KTWU also receives grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and State of Kansas.
KTWU is committed to actively participating in University life. In conjunction with Washburn University, KTWU regularly offers televised courses for college credit as part of its program service in conjunction with Washburn University. The station’s annual Leadership Scholarship provides tuition and books for a Washburn student who participates in special project and media studies at the KTWU studios. Work-study participants, student interns, and faculty also contribute to station projects in a variety of ways, both on and off air. In addition, Washburn students, staff, and faculty are encouraged to volunteer at KTWU to assist with pledge drives, the annual auction and other events.
Laboratories are located in many of the academic departments at Washburn, including scientific laboratories, open computer laboratories, a language laboratory, and a television production studio and video editing lab. For more information on Washburn’s laboratories, please contact specific departments.
The Law Library for Washburn University School of Law is located in the law building on the northwest corner of the campus. The National Jurist (Oct. 2004, p. 20) ranked the library in the top 30% among 183 U.S. law school libraries using a mix of categories measuring collection, facility and staff resources. The library contains over 350,000 volumes, including titles in microfiche, video, and CD-ROM formats. It is an official depository for materials published by the U.S. Government Printing Office and Kansas state agencies. Appellate case reports and statutes from all fifty states are available as is an extensive collection of briefs from the U.S. and Kansas Supreme Courts. The online catalog provides direct access to selected Internet full text documents as well as to the holdings of the university's Mabee Library and the 200,000 volumes held by the Kansas Supreme Court Law Library (located a five-minute drive from the law school in the Judicial Center).
Washburn has a national reputation for leadership in the use of new legal research technologies. Its WashLaw Web Internet site (www.washlaw.edu) is a nationally recognized legal research portal. The law library is host to the largest number of law-related electronic discussion groups (listservs) on the Internet. The library’s extensive selection of electronic research resources including Lexis and Westlaw is available for law student and faculty use. Instruction in the use of these tools is available to each student in the first year.
The Washburn University School of Law has been in continuous existence since 1903. The School was admitted to membership in the Association of American Law Schools in 1905 and in 1923 was one of 38 law schools (from among some 150 then in existence) on the American Bar Association’s first approved list of law schools. For more information please visit http://www.washburnlaw.edu .
The Memorial Student Union, dedicated in 1952 as a memorial to Washburn students and residents of Shawnee County who lost their lives in foreign wars. Located in the center of campus, its comfortable living room atmosphere has been welcoming the Washburn community and visitors for years.
A suite of offices for Washburn Student Government Association, Campus Activities Programming Board, Washburn Publications, and the office of Student Activities and Greek Life, features a visible and accessible location for students. These offices are located on the lower level of the union.
The Ichabod Service Center opened fall 2001 providing an office for the Washburn identification card, the iCard, and copy center. The iCard is Washburn’s all campus card offering door and event access and declining balance accounts for use on campus.
The University Bookstore has a new look. Students are welcomed through a brand new entrance and truly appreciate the additional square footage for shopping ease. The University Bookstore continues to be the most complete college store serving the campus community and the world’s largest supplier of Ichabod memorabilia.
The Memorial Union provides quality meeting, conference and banquet facilities for student and campus groups as well as the Topeka community. Whether the occasion is a business meal for two or a conference for 400, the union staff will professionally handle all details to ensure a successful event. Fifteen conference rooms, the spacious lounges, and the 800 seat capacity Washburn room can be tailored for any occasion. Our courteous catering staff is glad to provide refreshments at break times, or can add breakfast, lunch, or dinner to your meeting’s agenda with items ranging from cold sandwiches to hot gourmet meals.
The Mulvane Art Museum, founded with a gift from Joab Mulvane,
first opened its doors in 1924. The museum will be renovated in 2005 and is
expected to reopen in early 2006. The renovated museum will have expanded spaces
for exhibitions and collection storage. In addition, a "hands-on"
experience center will occupy the first floor of the museum
and three classrooms will be provided on that floor for museum classes.
The museum hosts changing exhibitions throughout the year. Some of these exhibitions
are borrowed from other institutions; others are drawn from the museum's permanent
collection of approximately 3000 pieces. The mission of the Mulvane Art Museum
is to provide members of the Washburn community, Topeka residents and visitors
to the capital
district of Kansas an arena in which they can learn to think
independently and critically about art, to appreciate art as a vehicle for communicating
human values, and to value the diversity of human creativity.
Student Recreation and Wellness Center The mission of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center is to enrich the quality of campus life by promoting and offering opportunities for physical and mental growth, as well as social interaction in healthy surroundings and superior recreational facilities. The SRWC’s innovative co-curricular programs and offerings serve to provide a connecting link between students and the Washburn University experience.
SWRC facility components include a rock climbing wall, indoor track, gymnasium,
cardiovascular and resistance training area, multi-purpose room, wellness suite,
and locker rooms. Program offerings include informal, intramural, group exercise,
climbing and wellness opportunities. There are opportunities for everyone, from
the novice to the advanced recreational athlete.
The University Library, Mabee Library is located in the center
of the campus. Its three floors provide a variety of study environments, including
individual study carrels, group study rooms, an electronic classroom, and a
Special Collections Room. The Library provides facilities for use of audio-visual
materials, microforms, and Internet-based services. ATLAS, the online catalog,
includes the holdings of Mabee Library, the Curriculum Resources Center (CRC),
the Washburn University Law Library, the Kansas Supreme Court Library, the Kansas
State Library, and the Kansas State Historical Society Library. The online catalog
and approximately 100 electronic databases can be accessed through the Library’s
homepage (www.washburn.edu/mabee). Present library holdings include approximately
340,000 book volumes, 1,000 periodical subscriptions, 585,000 microforms, and
13,000 audio-visual items. Special Collections includes the Rare Book Collection,
the University Archives, and the William I. Koch Art History Collection. Mabee
Library is a selective depository for Federal and Kansas State Documents.
The Curriculum Resource Center, a branch of the Mabee Library, is located in
Carnegie Hall. It houses an extensive collection of children’s and juvenile
literature, primary and secondary textbooks, teacher reference works, and multimedia
instructional materials. It is available to all Washburn University students.
White Concert Hall was completed in 1968. It serves as the nucleus for the arts in Topeka. It is home to all music department concerts, the Topeka Symphony Orchestra, the Community Concerts Series, the Festival Singers, the Sunflower Music Festival and many University and civic events.