President Spence's Welcome
Welcome to Washington Adventist University! WAU is a Christ-centered institution of higher education that supports a culture of excellence where all feel valued. I encourage you to read the WAUPlan and review our strategy for sustaining this culture in our roadmap to academic excellence.
Our vision as an Adventist university is to produce graduates who bring moral leadership and competence to their communities. WAU graduates get great jobs and enter top graduate programs.
Our campus has an internationally and culturally diverse population with over 40 countries and nearly every state represented by students, faculty, staff, and administration. We are next to the country's richest mix of faith, history, and culture, and just moments away from great outdoor pursuits such as hiking, wind surfing, whitewater rafting, and skiing.
Our student/teacher ratio of 13 students for each faculty member means that our students receive the individual attention they deserve, and assures that everyone will be a name, not a number. Our students develop personal relationships with faculty and staff members who enjoy leading and aiding in intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth.
I welcome you to come for a visit, and I challenge you to stay for an experience you can't get at any other university. As our graduates leave WAU, they embark through the “Gateway to Service” as stated in our motto. You too can be a part of this great journey. We look forward to helping you reach your full potential as the Christ-centered individual God intended for you to become! We look forward to hearing any suggestions you may have and invite you to take part in the Continuous Quality Improvement Program.
Sincerely,
Weymouth Spence, Ed.D., R.T.
04 August 2010
To the Learning Community,
I hope your summer is going well - we are only about four weeks away from the beginning of Fall Semester!
VP Jackson recently informed me that 450 students are enrolled in summer classes and there is a 100% increase in the number of students enrolled in the Summer Bridge Program. Our Capital Summer Program begins August 2. Thanks go to the enrollment team who are working hard to ensure that we meet our enrollment targets.
There is also a project in progress to contact and inform every current student that we are preparing the campus to welcome them back for another exciting school year. Our facilities and technology team members are working hard to renovate and update various areas of the campus such as dormitories, grounds, classrooms, and student recreational areas. Also, the music building will soon be torn down to make way for a new music building! The Spirit is growing at Washington Adventist University!
Most of you know that, due to health reasons, Dr. Susan Scharffenberg has decided not to return to campus this fall. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. The assistant to the provost, associate deans, and school deans are doing an outstanding job of holding up the academic standards and fulfilling the responsibilities of academic administration. Your continued patience and understanding during this period is much appreciated. The Dean’s Council serves as the search team with the guidance and support of the Director of Human Resources. I requested that the procedure and criteria for selection be posted on our website. This is an open and transparent process which seeks input from faculty, staff, and students.
During the search process, a team from Performa Higher Education will work with the associate and school deans to provide leadership to keep the strategic academic initiatives moving forward. The school deans will continue to manage the daily operations of their respective schools. The assistant to the provost will continue to anchor the services of that office. One of the primary objectives of the Performa team is to focus on building a firm foundation and culture of accountability so the transition to a new provost will be smooth and informed. As we move forward, I will post updates on the President’s webpage. Your feedback and input is always welcome.
Our continued institutional focus is on excellence and student success. Our students depend on us to provide the lessons, modeling, and services that support their academic pathway. Thank you for all you do to create an institution of excellence…without you, the University cannot possibly be successful.
May the God of peace and love be your daily support.
Sincerely,
Weymouth Spence
President
Spring is always an exciting time at Washington Adventist University. The campus emerges from the winter’s feeling of dormancy with a burst of life—especially this year after a winter of record snowfall and low temperatures. As the pink and white blossoms emerge on the trees and the Easter flowers push up through the soil, the feeling of renewal is apparent on the faces of our students. Some are anticipating graduation and the challenges of a new professional life just around the corner, while others are excited about upcoming mission trips and other summer events.
In addition to the many traditional events of the weekend we are commemorating the transition to a University of Excellence with a landmark concert on Monday evening, May 3 at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Md. The Columbia Collegiate Chorale and New England Youth Ensemble of Washington Adventist University will perform their world-renowned repertoire. WAU alumnus, Dr. Leonard Bailey, and a number of additional special guests will help us make this an evening to remember.