Login
Login

:Webber International University

{{Short description|Private university in Babson Park, Florida, US}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}

{{Infobox university

|name = Webber International University

|native_name =

|image = Webber Seal.PNG

|image_upright = 0.7

|caption =

|latin_name =

|motto = A Tradition in Business Education

|mottoeng =

|established = {{Start date and age|1927}}

|closed =

|type = Private university

|affiliation =

|endowment = $4.9 million

|officer_in_charge =

|chairman =

|chancellor =

|president = Nelson Marquez

|vice-president =

|superintendent =

|provost =

|vice_chancellor =

|rector =

|principal =

|dean =

|director =

|head_label =

|head =

|faculty =

|staff =

|students = 800

|undergrad =

|postgrad =

|doctoral =

|other =

|city = Babson Park

|province = Florida

|country = U.S.

|coor = {{Coord|27.8398|-81.5359|display=inline,title}}

|campus = {{convert|110|acre|km2}}

|former_names = Webber College (1927–2001)

|free_label =

|free =

|sports =

|colors = Forest Green & Gold
{{color box|#234f33}} {{color box|#ae831f}}

|sports_nickname = Warriors

|mascot =

|athletics_affiliations = NAIA – The Sun

|affiliations =

|website = {{url|www.webber.edu}}

|logo =

|footnotes =

}}

Webber International University (Webber or WIU) is a private university in Babson Park, Florida.

History

Webber International was founded as Webber College by Roger Babson, an entrepreneur and business theorist in the first half of the 20th century. Established in 1927, it was the first private college chartered under Florida's then new charitable and educational laws, and one of the nation's first business schools for women. Webber International University now hosts men and women from some 48 different nations.

In February 2011, Webber announced a merger with St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, North Carolina.{{cite news|title=Webber International University Plans to Take Over N.C. School|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20110202/news/102025036|access-date=19 February 2014|newspaper=The Lakeland Ledger|date=11 February 2011}} In January 2014, Webber announced the acquisition of Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia,{{cite news|title=Virginia Intermont College, with dwindling enrollment, intends to merge with Fla. school|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginia-intermont-college-with-dwindling-enrollment-intends-to-merge-with-fla-school/2014/01/31/5ef28ffc-8aa3-11e3-916e-e01534b1e132_story.html|access-date=19 February 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=31 January 2014}} but these efforts were abandoned later the same year.{{cite web|title=Merger Statement Issued Today by Dr. Phillips|url=http://www.vic.edu/merger-statement-issued-today-by-dr-phillips/|publisher=Virginia Intermont College|access-date=16 April 2014}} In late April of 2025, it was announced St. Andrews University was closing effective May 5 for both in-person and on-line classes, due to financial difficulties.{{cite web|url= https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/st-andrews-university-to-close-on-may-5/ |title=St. Andrews University to Close on May 5|publisher=the Assembly, April 25, 2025|accessdate=May 1, 2025}}

Academics

The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels.

Athletics

{{Main|Webber International Warriors}}

The Webber International athletic teams are called the Warriors. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),{{cite web|title=Schools|url=http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205322922|website=NAIA.ORG|publisher=NAIA|access-date=11 November 2015}} primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) for most of its sports since the 1990–91 academic year.{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://thesunconference.com/sports/2012/7/2/members.aspx|website=Thesunconference.com|access-date=11 November 2015}} Its football team formerly competed in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) until after the 2021 fall season.{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Michael|title=Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20160225/SPORTS19/160229601|access-date=27 February 2016|publisher=The Lakeland Ledger|date=25 February 2016}} They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level.

Webber International competes in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, flag football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball. Club sports include eSports and men's beach volleyball. The university also has an internationally respected bowling program.

Notable alumni

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.webber.edu Official website]
  • [http://webberathletics.com Official athletics website]

{{Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida}}

{{The Sun Conference navbox}}

{{Mid-South Conference navbox}}

{{Florida College Sports}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1927

Category:Universities and colleges in Polk County, Florida

Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Category:Private universities and colleges in Florida

Category:1927 establishments in Florida