A CAtegory of one

WASHINGTON AND LEEU N I V E R S I T Y

204 W. Washington Street

Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116

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Washington and Lee University, one of the nation’s oldest and most respected institutions of higher learning, possesses a combination of opportunities, attributes and assets that places it, unequivocally, in a category of one.

While successfully maintaining the integrity of its most valued traditions, W&L embraces the emerging technolo-gies, ideas and perspectives necessary to prepare students for lives of consequence in a rapidly changing world.

W&L is distinctive in the expansiveness and quality of its academic and cocurricular offerings; in its traditions of civility, integrity and trust; and in its commitment to shaping the national conversation on leadership. each profoundly affects the undergraduate experience. each is vital to our mission of examining, understanding and addressing the needs of the 21st century.

a university in a college setting . . . . . 2

an exemplary culture.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

a legacy of leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

a place of beauty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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vISITIng SCHoLAR Barry Lopez (top)

leads a seminar in W&L professor

Jim Warren’s class. Lopez, winner

of the National Book Award for

Arctic Dreams, engaged students

with his environmental essays and

short stories. Professor Warren’s

most recent book focuses on nature

writing between the Civil War and

World War I.

one-on-one guidance of student projects is common, not only in a lab (bottom), where biology professor Fiona Watson works closely with a student, but across all majors, for all students.

A Washington and Lee education combines the best aspects of both college and university life. Students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors, while choosing from a remarkable variety of majors and minors, courses, and in-depth study opportunities—a spectrum of options usually found only at large universities. Addition-ally, they have access to accredited journalism and business programs, law school resources, and funding for indepen-dent or collaborative research. outside of class, on a beauti-ful and historic campus, students form a lively community, pursuing rich residential and cocurricular lives.

— a university in a college setting —

a university . . .W&L students choose from 38 majors, 21 minors and more than 1,100 courses—an astonishing curricular breadth that rivals that of many larger institutions. for instance, the AACSB-accredited Williams School offers majors in public accounting, business administration, economics and politics. In addition to such specialized fields as engineering, neuroscience and east Asian studies, undergraduates have access to advanced and professional training seldom available at liberal arts colleges through a variety of internship and research programs.

. . . in a college settingCollegial relationships between students and faculty stem from long tradition and from resources that allow a student- faculty ratio of 9-to-1 and an average class size of 16. W&L faculty members are respected teachers and scholars; 95 percent hold the highest degrees in their fields, and almost all are engaged in research or writing at the frontiers of their disciplines. yet in many cases—often over coffee or dinner—faculty and students share friendship and intellec-tual exchange outside the classroom.

an uncommon approachIn a deliberate departure from the traditional two-semester college format, W&L maintains a 12-12-4 calendar— fall and winter terms of 12 weeks each, followed by a four-week spring term. the spring term represents an opportunity for curricular experimentation, focused pursuit of a single topic, faculty-super-vised study off campus and abroad, research, or internships stateside or abroad. the flexibility afforded by the spring term is one reason more than half of W&L students graduate having studied abroad.

a busy lifeWashington and Lee attracts students who are not only smart, but whose passions and interests fuel busy lives outside of class. Something is always going on in art studios and galleries, in student-run media, in the outdoors program, and in club sports or Division III athletics. there are ample opportunities for involvement and leadership with 130-plus clubs and organizations from which to choose, including cultural, international, creative, governmental and activity and service-related organizations.

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w&L IS THe onLy top liberal

arts school in the nation to have

a journalism program recognized

by the Accrediting Council on

Education in Journalism and

Mass Communications, and it

was among the first colleges in

the country to create digital

classroom and laboratory systems

for its journalism students.

CoMMITTeD To foSTeRIng the

student-faculty relationship, W&L

professors are teacher-scholars

who are knowledgeable in their

fields, skilled in pedagogy, and

committed to the intellectual and

personal development of their

students. One example: popular

art historian Pamela Simpson

wrote the first scholarly book

about linoleum. Its colorful title,

which must be considered in

context, is Cheap, Quick and Easy.

It’s just one of the many articles,

essays and publications she’s

penned in her 35 years at W&L.

LexIngTon ATTRACTS the famous.

Recent campus visitors and events

have included Jesse Jackson,

Helen Thomas, Dick Gregory,

Roger Goodell, Bob Woodward,

David McCullough, Cornel West,

Christopher Buckley, Clarence

Thomas, the Russian National

Ballet, Neil Berg’s “100 Years of

Broadway,” Pulitzer Prize-winning

playwright Paula Vogel, the

Juilliard String Quartet, The Roots,

Blues Traveler, Busta Rhymes and

W&L alumnus Tom Wolfe.

RenovATeD AnD exPAnDeD science facilities

(right) include state-of-the-art classrooms, labs

and high-end, specialized research equipment for

teaching, as well as student and faculty research.

SoRoRITy Row supports an

active Greek life, offering lodging,

lounges and dining facilities.

Some 80 percent of W&L

students are affiliated with

sororities or fraternities.

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grounded in the timeless ideals of its legendary namesakes, george Washington and robert e. Lee, the W&L community thrives on an ethic of honor and civility. An air of respect enables frank debate, resulting in a culture of open exchange and intellectual freedom. A revered, student-administered Honor System underpins it all, creating conditions for an education based on integrity and trust.

— an exemplary culture —

a place of trustrobert e. Lee set the tone during his presidency (1865-70) when he insisted that the University’s only rule was that “every student must be a gentleman.” Accordingly, the W&L Honor System is not a codified set of rules. It is a concept of community based on a fundamental understanding that students will not

violate others’ trust through acts such as lying, cheating or stealing. the resulting atmosphere of responsibility and mutual respect affects life from the classroom to the soccer field to the coffee shop. exams are self-scheduled and unproctored, most buildings are accessible 24 hours a day, and students respect each other’s personal belongings.

By TRADITIon, for programs in Lee

Chapel, men wear a coat and tie,

and women wear a skirt, slacks or a

dress. Dressing up on such

occasions is a common sign of

respect at W&L.

In LeSS foRMAL gARB, students hang

out with friends (middle) or cheer for

the Generals (right).

SeLfLeSS SeRvICe and the pursuit

of solutions to the world’s

problems are principles to which

W&L is committed. No program

better exemplifies that vision than

the University’s Shepherd Program

for the Study of Poverty and

Human Capability. The Shepherd

Program combines the study of

poverty with direct involvement in

communities in need—throughout

the United States and abroad. Other

organizations, such as the Nabors

Service League, stimulate W&L

volunteerism within the surrounding

community. Critical national and

international issues are addressed

by initiatives such as the Society

and the Professions Program in

Ethics, which focuses on social

responsibility in business, law,

medicine, journalism and

the environment.

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the speaking tradition

By longstanding tradition, members of the W&L community regularly say “hello” to one another, whether passing on the Colonnade or meeting in the Commons. this simple courtesy, which affects and reflects the warmth and civility of life on campus, is also extended to visitors—who instantly are made to feel a part of the community.

an open communitythe uncommonly inclusive character of W&L informs both intellectual and extracurricular life. the campus-wide commitment to openness extends to clubs, organizations and even fraternity and sorority events, to which all students are invited. respect for one’s peers leads, in part, to deep, lasting friendships. W&L students enjoy sharing their

artistic and musical talents, tales of inter-national travels, and victories on the field. they represent such a wide diver-sity of backgrounds, perspectives and interests that just getting to know one’s fellow students is a major part of the education here.

As a result, graduating seniors head out into the world with an extensive network of friends from coast to coast and around the world who are united by their love of W&L and share a distinctive set of values and sensibilities.

THe SPeAkIng TRADITIon, integral to

the W&L experience, is one of the

first lessons learned by first-years

upon arriving on campus.

SeRIoUS ReSoURCeS, including the

fully staffed Center for International

Education, support an important

part of a comprehensive Washing-

ton and Lee education—the interna-

tional experience. W&L’s numerous

spring term courses allow intensive

overseas experiences. Recent

offerings: Drawing Italy; Science

and Art in the Netherlands; Chinese

Language and Culture in Beijing,

Shanghai and Xi’an; Regional

Geology of New Zealand; British

Politics in London; and Economic

Development of Sub-Saharan

Africa. For longer international

studies, W&L maintains relation-

ships with dozens of approved

programs and universities abroad.

Phil Flickinger ’97

CAMPUS kITCHen (above), which

started as a student project within

W&L’s Shepherd Program, has

become an independent service

organization, attracting student,

faculty and staff volunteers. Surplus

food collected from campus dining

and catering services is packaged

into nutritious meals (more

than 75,000 since the program’s

inception in 2006) and delivered

to the hungry in Lexington and

surrounding areas. In this and more

than 130 other organizations,

students have the opportunity to

develop leadership skills.

w&L’S MoCk ConvenTIon (above)

is a nationally recognized simulation

in which the entire student body

participates in predicting the

non-incumbent party’s nominee for

the U.S. presidency. The predictions

have been correct 18 of 24 times

since the beginning in 1908.

Washington and Lee plays an important role in shaping the national conversation on leadership—carrying forward a rich institutional legacy that predates the nation’s found-ing. today, members of its faculty publish extensively on topics related to leadership and honor. the first national college honor society to recognize leadership and extracur-ricular service, omicron Delta Kappa, was founded and continues to thrive at W&L and has spread to more than 300 other campuses. And to encourage a new generation of outstanding scholars and leaders, the University recently created the generous Johnson Scholarship Program. no wonder high numbers of Washington and Lee graduates rise to positions of national prominence.

— a legacy of leadership —

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preparing for the futureW&L’s motto, “not unmindful of the future,” underlies the University’s commitment to providing a liberal arts education that is vital and relevant in the 21st century. By combining the benefits of a liberal arts foundation with emerg-ing technologies and interdisciplinary perspectives, our students head into life after college equipped with the habits of mind, strength of character, and essential knowledge needed to pursue lives of consequence.

In support of these efforts, W&L has opened a new, state-of-the-art building for the arts and music. It recently dedi-cated a technologically advanced journal-ism center and has invested more than $33 million in renovating its science facilities. It has added a 10,000-square-foot health-club-quality fitness center and has opened the Hillel House as a center for Jewish life on campus. Under-way: a multi-year, multi-million-dollar renovation of the historic Colonnade and significant new construction for other academic, living and recreational spaces.

in good companyfor 262 years, Washington and Lee graduates have been making landmark contributions to the world. Its alumni are leaders in business, journalism, medicine and many other fields. the number who have held top posts in government—27 U.S. senators, 67 U.S. representatives, 31 state governors, and four Supreme Court justices—is testament to the University’s commitment to fostering the ideals of visionary leadership.

investing in leaderseach year, Washington and Lee selects 44 students for the Johnson Scholarship Program, each of whom receives free tuition, room and board and graduates debt-free—meaning that he or she can make generous and liberating life decisions after college. these students come to W&L with outstanding leader-ship records in their high schools and home comunities, as well as exceptional academic accomplishments.

THe ALUMnI CoMMUnITy—more

than 24,000 strong—is a resource

for information and advice as well

as internships and jobs. Alumni of

note include Dr. Joseph L.

Goldstein ’62 (Nobel Prize winner,

medicine); Roger Mudd ’50 (news

correspondent); Tom Wolfe ’51

(novelist); Cy Twombly ’53

(abstract artist); Paul Maslansky

’54 (Hollywood producer); Bill

Johnston ’61 (former New York

Stock Exchange president);

Meriwether Lewis 1790s

(explorer); Lewis Powell Jr. ’29, ’31

law (Supreme Court justice);

Sascha Burns ’83 (political

strategist, commentator); Terry

Brooks ’69 law (fantasy fiction

author); John Warner Jr. ’49 (retired

U.S. senator, former Navy

secretary); Tricia Coughlin ’95 (TV/

Web producer); John M. McCardell

Jr. ’71 (former Middlebury College

president, current Sewanee

president); Walt Michaels ’51

(former NY Jets head coach); Kerry

Egan ’95 (author); Lyrae Van

Clief-Stefanon ’93 (poet); John

Chavis 1795 (missionary, preacher,

and possibly the first black

graduate of any American college);

David Low ’78 (astronaut).

geoRge wASHIngTon’S 1796 gIfT

of James River Canal stock, valued

at $20,000, was at the time the

largest-ever gift to an educational

institution. His generosity began a

long tradition of giving to W&L by

those who benefited from its

legacy and believe in its mission.

Two recent gifts underscore this

commitment: $33 million from

Gerry Lenfest ’53, ’55 law, in

support of faculty salaries, and

$100 million—also from an

alumnus—to create the Johnson

Scholarship Program.

MInDfUL of THe woRLD’S neeDS

at the start of the 21st century,

Washington and Lee has outlined

an ambitious and exciting

blueprint aimed at ensuring that

W&L will educate leaders prepared

for the challenges of a complex and

changing world. The details may be

found at strategicplan.wlu.edu.

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THe MoUnTAInS AnD STReAMS

of nearby ranges are favorites for

hiking, camping and fly fishing. The

Appalachian Trail, just off the Blue

Ridge Parkway, is minutes away.

Goshen Pass, a spectacular river

gorge 15 miles from campus,

attracts warm-weather tubing

enthusiasts. The whitewater of the

Gauley River and ski resorts of

Virginia, West Virginia and

Pennsylvania are in day-trip range.

THe DRIve to Roanoke, Richmond and

Washington, D.C., takes one, two and three

hours, respectively, so the urban experience is

always available to students. In practice,

off-campus forays are relatively rare: the

Lexington community pulses with things to do,

and other than outings into the surrounding

countryside, students generally report that

they don’t feel the need to leave town.

Lexington is energized by its two univer-sities (Virginia Military Institute is also located here) and a lively tourist trade. the surrounding area gives way to a stunning physical setting that affords students many recreational opportuni-ties—from hiking, biking, golf and fishing to just lounging with a good book.

Visit us. Have a meal in the Commons or at one of the many fine area restaurants.

grab a coffee and fresh baked goods along Washington Street. enjoy our on-campus bookstore or the two downtown. tour Lee Chapel, the nearby Cyrus McCormick historic site, or the george C. Marshall Museum. Stay for a play, a concert, an art show. truly, the only place to experience the unique character of life available at W&L is on our campus and in our town.

Lexington, Virginia, is a warm, welcoming and historic college town located in the great Valley of Virginia between the Blue ridge and the Allegheny Mountains.

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HISToRy

The ninth-oldest institution of higher education in the country, Washington and Lee University recognizes and embodies the direct contributions of two of American history’s most selfless and influential figures, George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

CAMPUS

Washington and Lee’s historic, continually updated campus in Lexington, Virginia, consists of 55 acres, plus 40 acres of playing fields and 210 acres of woodland, streams and countryside.

STUDenTS

Undergraduate—1,759 students from 48 states (85 percent from outside Virginia), representing citizenship in 50 countries. Ratio of men to women is 50:50. Ethnic minorities: 14 percent.

The School of Law—400 students.

fACULTy

187 full-time undergraduate faculty members. 95 percent hold terminal degrees. Student:teacher ratio, 9:1. Average class size, 16. Classes with fewer than 25 students, 90 percent; with fewer than 10 students, 22 percent.

DIvISIonS

The College—where all under-graduate students begin with a broad study of the liberal arts and sciences (arts, humanities, and natural and social sciences). W&L is the only top liberal arts college with a nationally accredited journalism program.

The Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics—politics, economics, accounting and business administration, business administration, public accounting. W&L is the only top liberal arts college with a nationally accredited business school.

The School of Law—among the nation’s top-ranked law schools.

DegReeS offeReD

Undergraduate—Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science with special attainments in chemistry, Bachelor of Science with special attainments in commerce.

The School of Law—Juris Doctor, Master of Laws.

PRogRAMS of STUDy

The University offers more than 1,100 courses and majors in 38 areas:

Accounting and Business AdministrationAccounting: Public AccountingArt HistoryBiochemistryBiologyBusiness AdministrationChemistryChemistry with Special AttainmentsChemistry-EngineeringClassicsComputer ScienceEast Asian Languages and LiteratureEconomicsEnglishEnvironmental Studies FrenchGeologyGerman LanguageGerman LiteratureHistoryIndependent WorkJournalism and Mass CommunicationsMathematicsMedieval and Renaissance StudiesMusicNeurosciencePhilosophyPhysicsPhysics-EngineeringPoliticsPsychologyReligionRomance LanguagesRussian Area StudiesSociology and AnthropologySpanishStudio ArtTheater

Minors are also available in African-American studies, art history, computer science, creative writing, dance, East Asian studies, environmental studies, French, German, Latin American and Caribbean studies, mass communications, mathematics, museum studies, music, philoso-phy, poverty and human capability studies, Russian language and culture, studio art, theater, and women’s and gender studies.

STUDenT LIfe

More than 130 student activities and organizations, including drama, music and dance; media, including yearbook, newspapers, and WLUR, our campus radio station; political action and advocacy organizations; cultural awareness groups; groups with religious focus; service-oriented clubs and initiatives; Outing Club; and the nationally celebrated Mock Convention, among others.

Eighty percent of all students are members of one of W&L’s 16 fraternities and eight sororities.

ATHLeTICS

The Generals play in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, NCAA Division III.

Varsity teams—men’s and women’s basketball, cross- country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis and track and field (indoor and outdoor); men’s baseball, football, and wrestling; women’s field hockey and volleyball; and equestrian (coeducational).

Intramural and sport clubs—baseball, cheerleading, cricket, cycling, disc golf, eventing, fencing, ice hockey (men’s), lacrosse, martial arts, paintball, polo, rowing, rugby, running, skiing, soccer, squash, triathlon, ultimate Frisbee and volleyball.

ReSIDenCe LIfe

40 percent of rooms for first-year students are singles; students must live in on-campus residence halls or Greek housing (all owned

and maintained by the University) through sophomore year.

AfTeR w&L

Typically, about 89 percent of W&L students graduate in four years. Approximately 25 percent of W&L alumni go directly to graduate school; overall, within a year of graduation about 95 percent of W&L alumni are employed, are in graduate school, or are otherwise productively occupied.

fInAnCIAL AID, SCHoLARSHIPS

W&L will provide more than $32 million in undergraduate finan-cial aid in 2011-12. The competitive Johnson Scholarship Program provides debt-free education to 44 students in each class. All admitted students meeting financial aid deadlines receive an aid package covering the family’s institutionally determined need with grant, not loans.

APPLyIng

Due dates

Regular decision—January 2

Johnson Scholarship—December 1

Early decision, Round I—November 15 (for December 22 decision)

Early decision, Round II—January 2 (for February 1 decision)

Required—SAT or ACT (and its writing test); two SAT subject tests of applicant’s choosing are recommended

Of the 6,487 who applied in 2010-11, some 1,183 were admitted. The first-year class size is usually 460-470. Typically, 80 percent of enrolling students are among the top 10 percent of their high school classes. In 2010, the middle 50 percent of enrolling students scored between 1310 and 1460 on the SAT.

vISITIng CAMPUS

Washington and Lee University is located in Lexington, Virginia, just off I-81 and I-64.

See go.wlu.edu/visit for information to help you plan your visit to W&L.

Office of Admissions Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116 admissions@wlu.edu www.wlu.edu (540) 458-8710

In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other applicable non-discrimination laws, Washington and Lee University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran’s status, or genetic information in its educational programs and activities, admissions, and with regard to employment. Inquiries may

be directed to the Interim Provost, Robert A. Strong, Washington Hall, (540) 458-8418, who is designated by the University to coordinate compliance efforts and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX, as well as those under Section 504 and other applicable non-discrimination laws. Inquiries may also be directed to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education.

2011-12