University of Mary Washington
The University of Mary Washington is a state-assisted, coeducational institution
composed of two colleges. One is the predominantly undergraduate, residential College
of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1908, it has evolved from a teacher’s college, to the
women’s college of the University of Virginia, to what it is today: one of America’s
outstanding institutions of liberal learning. The second campus is the College of
Graduate and Professional Studies. Opened in 1999, this nonresidential and primarily
graduate college is designed to support lifelong learning, professional advancement, and
regional economic development by providing programs tailored to the needs of adult
learners, professionals, and members of the business community.
Throughout these changes in the University’s mission and structure, one characteristic
has been constant: the commitment to academic excellence. Several factors contribute to
the institution’s excellence. Foremost among these are the expertise and commitment of
the faculty. While many members of the faculty are energetically engaged in productive
research and scholarship, it is teaching that is their primary goal and purpose.
Teaching effectiveness is enhanced by the small size of most classes, which
encourages personal interaction between faculty and students. Moreover, faculty devote
much attention to students’ concerns beyond the classroom, working closely with them
on matters of academic, career, and personal development.
Every institution of higher learning accredited by the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools possesses a brief, formal statement of institutional purpose. This
statement defines the mission and role of the institution. It also provides a clear sense
of overarching direction and a benchmark against which institutional effectiveness may
be gauged. The official mission statement of the University, adopted by its governing
Rector and Board of Visitors and approved by the State Council of Higher Education for
Virginia, is as follows: