View source for Washington Adventist University

{{Short description|Private university in Takoma Park, Maryland, US}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Infobox university
|name           = Washington Adventist University
|image          = Columbia Union College Logo.jpg
|motto          = Gateway to Service
|established    = 1904
|type           = [[Private university]]
|religious_affiliation    = [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
|president      = Weymouth Spence
|city           = [[Takoma Park, Maryland]]
|country        = U.S.
|campus         = Suburban
|former_names         = Washington Training College (1904–1907)<br />Washington Foreign Mission Seminary (1907–1914)<br />Washington Missionary College (1914–1961)<br />Columbia Union College (1961–2009)
|coordinates    = {{Coord|38|59|10|N|77|0|0|W|region:US-MD_type:edu|display=inline,title}}
|students       = 695 (Fall 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington Adventist University |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=MD&pg=5&id=162210 |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) |language=en}}</ref>
|undergrad      = 605 (Fall 2023)
|colors         = Navy Blue & Orange<br />{{color box|#103459}}&nbsp;{{color box|#f26722}}
|sports_nickname       = Shock
|athletics_affiliations = [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics|NAIA]] – [[NAIA independent schools|Independent]]<br />[[United States Collegiate Athletic Association|USCAA]] – Independent
|affiliations   = [[Council of Independent Colleges|CIC]]<br />[[National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities|NAICU]]<ref>[http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/members.asp NAICU – Member Directory] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109231238/http://www.naicu.edu/member_center/members.asp |date=November 9, 2015 }}</ref>
|website        = {{URL|http://www.wau.edu}}
}}
{{third party|date=September 2023}}

{{Seventh-day Adventism}}

'''Washington Adventist University''' is a [[Private university|private]] [[Seventh-day Adventist]] university in [[Takoma Park, Maryland]].

== History ==
[[File:Halcyon Hall - WAU.JPG|thumb|left|Halcyon Hall]]

Washington Adventist University was established in 1904 by the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]] as '''Washington Training College'''. In 1907, it was renamed '''Washington Foreign Mission Seminary''', in 1914, '''Washington Missionary College''', in 1961, '''Columbia Union College''', and in 2009 received its current name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=2597|title="Washington Adventist University" New Name for CUC|website=adventistreview.org|access-date=April 14, 2018|archive-date=September 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917090117/http://adventistreview.org/article.php?id=2597|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2007, WAU nearly accepted a $25 million bid for the radio station owned by WAU, [[WGTS]] 91.9FM, from [[American Public Media Group]]. WGTS listeners and supporters ran multiple campaigns against the sale for months before the board of trustees voted against selling the radio station in September 2007. WAU would have used the sale payment to pay down about $5 million in debts and to increase its endowment of $4 million. The school, which has an enrollment of about 1,000 students, also anticipated that the proceeds would pay for constructing the first new building on campus in 37 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002563.html|title=Christian College to Keep Radio Station|access-date=April 14, 2018|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref>

In 2008, President Weymouth Spence announced he would eliminate or freeze up to 22 faculty and staff positions in order to restructure the school's curriculum and relieve WAU's multimillion-dollar debt. The announcement came as part of Spence's plan to restructure WAU into a health science-focused institution. As a result, some students and faculty expressed uncertainty and displeasure to local and school-wide media regarding the change in school focus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/040208/silvnew194745_32357.shtml|title=Columbia Union to cut, freeze teaching positions|website=www.gazette.net|access-date=April 14, 2018|archive-date=October 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006235907/http://www.gazette.net/stories/040208/silvnew194745_32357.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Academics ==
[[File:Science_Building_-_WAU.JPG|thumb|left|Science Building]]
WAU is accredited by the [[Middle States Commission on Higher Education]] and approved by the [[Adventist Accrediting Association]] of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Maryland Higher Education Commission.  Professional accreditations include the Department of Baccalaureate and Higher Degree Programs of the National League for Nursing, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, and the Maryland State Department of Education.

The university offers undergraduate Associate and bachelor's degrees, as well as several certificate programs.  Graduate programs include the following: [[MBA]], Masters of [[Nursing]] with Business Leadership, Masters in Public Administration, Masters of Religion, and Masters in Psychology.  Adult evening courses towards accelerated bachelor's degree programs are also available from the School of Graduate and Professional Services.

The current president of the college is Weymouth Spence, who has announced plans for structural changes to attempt to revitalize the school.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spectrummagazine.org/articles/spectrum_interview/2008/05/19/cucs_new_president_talks_about_his_plans_college|title=CUC's New President Talks About 'The Plan'|website=www.spectrummagazine.org|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref> The changes are described in detail in a document called ''The Plan''.<ref>{{cite news | publisher=Columbia Union College | title=The Plan for Columbia Union College | date=March 5, 2008 | url =http://www.cuc.edu/uploads/PDF/THE%20PLAN%20FOR%20CUC-2008.pdf | access-date =May 28, 2008 }}</ref>  President Spence succeeded [[Randal Wisbey]], who left in 2007 for [[La Sierra University]].  The [[registered agent|resident agent]] is The Corporation Trust, Inc., in [[Baltimore, MD]].

== Student life ==
[[File:Morrison_Hall_-_WAU.JPG|240px|thumb|Morrison Hall]]
The student body is diverse with students attending from a reported 40 states and 47 countries.

WAU has 16 separate student clubs/organizations, including 6 honor societies.  WAU is recognized with a premier music department and award-winning music ensembles. The New England Youth Ensemble (NEYE), WAU's resident orchestra, is one of North America's most traveled orchestras. Under the direction of faculty member Preston Hawes, the Carnegie Scholars Program of the NEYE affords qualified students a mentoring relationship with professional musicians of its parent organization, the New England Symphonic Ensemble, the resident orchestra of MidAmerica Productions in New York City.  The Music Department features two choral groups, the Columbia Collegiate Chorale, and the elite performing vocal ensemble ProMusic. The Washington Concert Winds holds a yearly band festival where a newly commissioned work, composed specifically for the occasion is premiered each spring semester. The Music Department is housed in a newly constructed building, the Lois and Leroy Peters Music Center.

Other groups include the following:
[[File:Peters Music Center - WAU 09.JPG|thumb|right|Peters Music Center]]
*BSU Gospel Choir
*[[Mock trial]] team
*Newspaper/college journal
*[[Ethnic]] groups
*[[Political groups]]
*Social service groups
*[[Student Association]]

WAU also features a Sports-Acrobatics Exhibition Team. The Acro-Airs have performed across the country and for a variety of venues. The team does performances at schools and community events where they spread the message of healthy living including abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. Washington Adventist University's Acro-Airs also perform half-time shows for NBA games. They have performed at games for the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks, and others. A recent performance was at the "Discover Strathmore Open House 2009", which was sponsored in part by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus.

The ''Columbia Journal'' serves as the campus newspaper.

Many of the student body are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, though students of all faiths and belief systems may enroll.  Weekly church services are held at the campus church, Sligo Church.

== Athletics ==
The Washington Adventist athletic teams are called the Shock. The university is a member of the [[National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics]] (NAIA), primarily competing as an [[NAIA independent schools|NAIA Independent]] within the Continental Athletic Conference since the 2014–15 academic year. They also compete as a member of the [[United States Collegiate Athletic Association]] (USCAA) since the 2013–14 academic year.<ref>{{cite web |title=WAU Joins NAIA, Effective August 1 |url=https://www.wau.edu/wau-joins-naia-effective-august-1/ |website=wau.edu |date=April 17, 2014 |publisher=WAU |access-date=12 January 2020}}</ref><ref name="Official List">{{cite journal|title=USCAA Members|url=http://theuscaa.com/members/index|website=TheUSCAA.com|publisher=United States Collegiate Athletic Association|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref> The Shock previously competed in the [[NCAA Division II]] ranks as an [[NCAA Division II independent schools|NCAA D-II Independent]], which they withdrew from at the end of the 2012–13 school year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wauathletics.com/|title=Washington Adventist University|website=www.wauathletics.com|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref>

Washington Adventist compete in nine intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, cross country and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, softball, soccer and volleyball. The university also houses a showcase [[acrobatics]] team known as the Acro-Airs.

=== Intramurals ===
In addition to intercollegiate athletics, WAU offers [[intramural sports]] for men and women. Sports facilities and activities are available to students. A volleyball club, fitness club, sports fields, and weight room complement the program.

=== Accomplishments ===
The 2008 men's baseball team won the USCAA National Championship, the first national championship in the school's history.  The "Iron Nine" of the Washington Adventist University baseball team played in three national championship games between 2006 and 2009. Along with winning the title in 2008 they have been national runners-up in 2006 and 2009.

=== Withdrawals ===
In recent years, WAU eliminated their men's volleyball program, along with the baseball, softball, and men's and women's track and field program.

==Study abroad opportunities==
Washington Adventist University co-sponsors Adventist Colleges Abroad,<ref>[http://www.nadadventist.org/aca/ Adventist Colleges Abroad<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614005958/http://www.nadadventist.org/aca/ |date=June 14, 2008 }}</ref> a program in which qualified students study overseas while completing requirements for graduation at Washington Adventist University.  This language and cultural immersion is available in eight locations: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain,  WAU undergraduate students may also study business courses in England through an exclusive partnership program with Newbold College just outside London, England.

== Notable alumni==
[[File:The Commons - WAU.JPG|thumb|right|The Gateway on the Commons]]
*[[Leonard Lee Bailey]] – 1964 – pediatric heart [[surgeon]]<ref name="Bailey">{{cite news|title=Leonard Bailey; Exclusive Interview Leonard Bailey Tells His Story|publisher=Adventist Review|author=James Coffin}}</ref>
*[[Roscoe Bartlett]] – 1947 – [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] in [[United States House of Representatives]] formerly representing [[Maryland's 6th congressional district]]<ref name="Bartlett">{{cite web | title = Maryland and the US Government, House of Representatives | publisher = Maryland Government | url = http://www.mdgovpap.net/msa/mdmanual/39fed/06ushse/html/msa01956.html | access-date =October 10, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Hans-Jørgen Holman]], Norwegian-American musicologist and educationalist.<ref>[http://www.iamaonline.com/Bio/HOLMAN.htm International Adventist Musicians Association Biography]</ref>
*[[H. M. S. Richards]] – 1919 – pioneer radio broadcaster and founder of the [[Voice of Prophecy]] media ministry<ref name="Richards">{{cite web | title = Life Sketch of HMS Richards | publisher = Voice of Prophecy | url = http://www.vop.com/article.php?id=746 | access-date =October 10, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Rachel Roy]] – 1996 – fashion designer<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rachelroy.com/pages/about|title=About Rachel Roy|website=Rachel Roy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226063541/https://rachelroy.com/pages/about|archive-date=December 26, 2018|access-date=December 26, 2018}}</ref>
*[[Thomas L. Saaty]] – 1948 – mathematician and inventor of the [[Analytic Hierarchy Process]]<ref name="Saaty">{{cite web | title = Perseverance, creativity keys to success, Tyler lecturer says | publisher = University of Delaware | url = http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2009/oct/tyler101308.html | access-date =October 10, 2010}}</ref>
*[[Nicholas Sarwark]] – 1998 – Libertarian Party activist<ref>[https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2015/04/17/libertarian-party-chair-and-wau-grad-talks-about-freedom LIBERTARIAN PARTY CHAIR AND WAU GRAD TALKS ABOUT FREEDOM]</ref>
*[[Benjamin G. Wilkinson]] – major contributor to the [[King-James-Only Movement]] with his book ''[[Our Authorized Bible Vindicated]]''<ref>{{Cite book|title=Our Authorized Bible Vindicated|last=Wilkinson|first=Benjamin George|publisher=TEACH Services, Inc|year=2014|isbn=9781479604326}}</ref>
* [[Ted N. C. Wilson]] – 1971 – Former world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church<ref name="Wilson Pres">{{cite news|url=https://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2010-06-24/wilson-elected-president-of-seventh-day-adventist-world-church/|title=Wilson elected president of Seventh-day Adventist world church|last1=Oliver|first1=Ansel|date=June 24, 2010|work=Adventist News Network|access-date=December 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226064436/https://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2010-06-24/wilson-elected-president-of-seventh-day-adventist-world-church/|archive-date=December 26, 2018|publisher=Seventh-day Adventist Church|last2=Kellner|first2=Mark}}</ref>
*[[Charles F. McMillan]] – 1977 – tenth director of the [[Los Alamos National Laboratory]]<ref>{{cite news|title=New director named at Los Alamos Lab|author=K. Roark|url=http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/25641|newspaper=UC Newsroom|date=26 May 2011|access-date=3 Oct 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916112001/http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/article/25641|archive-date=16 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Christianity|Maryland}}
*[[List of Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist education]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.wau.edu/}}
* [http://www.wauathletics.com/ Official athletics website]

{{Adventist Colleges and Universities}}
{{Seventh-day Adventists Colleges and Universities in North America}}
{{Colleges and Universities in Maryland}}
{{Montgomery County, Maryland topics}}
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[[Category:Seventh-day Adventist universities and colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Montgomery County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1904]]
[[Category:USCAA member institutions]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Takoma Park, Maryland]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in Maryland]]
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[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Maryland]]