Wabash College

{{Short description|Private college in Crawfordsville, Indiana, US}}

{{infobox university

| name = Wabash College

| former_names = The Wabash Teachers Seminary and Manual Labor College (1832–1851)

| image = Wabash college seal.png

| image_size = 150

| latin_name = Collegii Wabashensis

| motto = Scientiae et Virtuti (Latin)

| mottoeng = For Knowledge and Virtue

| type = Private liberal arts men's college

| endowment = $391.5 million (2024){{Cite web|url=https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2023/Public-NCSE-Tables|title = National Association of College and University Business Officers}}

| established = {{start date and age|1832|11|21|br=y}}

| city = Crawfordsville, Indiana

| country = U.S.

| coor = {{coord|40|2|17|N|86|54|18|W|type:edu_region:US |display=inline,title}}

| president = Scott E. Feller

| faculty = 96 full-time and 7 part-time{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Wabash+College&s=all&id=152673|title = College Navigator - Wabash College}}

| undergrad = 835{{Cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=Wabash+College&s=all&id=152673|title = College Navigator - Wabash College}}

| campus = Suburban, {{convert|65|acre|ha}} {{cite web |url=https://wabash.edu/aboutwabash/facts |title=About Wabash - Facts and Figures |publisher=Wabash College |access-date=2019-07-06}}

| free_label = Newspaper

| free = The Bachelor{{Cite web |title=The Bachelor – Student Newspaper |url=https://www.wabash.edu/bachelor/ |website=Wabash College |access-date=2025-04-17}}

| athletics_affiliations = NCAA Division III – NCAC

| colors = {{Color box|#CD0E2C|border=darkgray}} Wabash Scarlet

| sports_nickname = Little Giants

| mascot = Wally Wabash

| academic_affiliations = {{unbulleted list

|NAICU{{cite web|title=Member Center – Wabash College|url=http://member.naicu.edu/member_center/member/wabash|publisher=National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities}}

|CIC

}}

| website = {{URL|https://www.wabash.edu/| wabash.edu}}

| logo = Wabash college indiana logo.png

| logo_size = 200

}}

Wabash College is a private liberal arts men's college located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Founded in 1832, by a group of Dartmouth College graduates and Midwestern leaders, the institution was originally named "The Wabash Teachers Seminary and Manual Labor College". It was later renamed Wabash College in 1851.{{Cite web |title=In the beginning… – Dear Old Wabash |url=https://blog.wabash.edu/dearoldwabash/2009/11/06/in-the-beginning/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=blog.wabash.edu}} The college was founded with the intention of providing classical and English education to young men in the region, aiming to develop future educators and clergy.

Caleb Mills, a Dartmouth alumnus and graduate of Andover Theological Seminary, was the first faculty member of Wabash College. He played a pivotal role in shaping the institution's academic character and later became instrumental in establishing Indiana's public education system. The college's mission is to educate men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely.{{Cite web |last=College |first=Wabash |title=About Wabash |url=https://www.wabash.edu/aboutwabash/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Wabash College |language=en}}

As of 2024, Wabash College enrolls approximately 835 undergraduate students. The academic program is structured into three divisions: natural sciences, humanities and arts, and social sciences. Students can choose from 36 majors and minors, with popular fields of study including rhetoric, economics, history, and biology. A distinctive feature of the Wabash curriculum is the comprehensive examination process for seniors, which includes both written and oral components to assess students' mastery in their major disciplines.

Wabash College is one of only three non-religious, all-male, four-year colleges remaining in the United States, alongside Hampden–Sydney College and Morehouse College. The college maintains a strong tradition of single-sex education, emphasizing close-knit community and leadership development.

History

File:CollegeFounding.jpg

Wabash College was founded on November 21, 1832, by a group of Presbyterian ministers and laymen in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Seeking to bring classical and moral education to the American frontier, the founders envisioned a “classical and English high school, rising into a college as soon as the wants of the country demand.” The next day, they dedicated the campus grounds in prayer while kneeling in the snow—a moment that became symbolic of Wabash’s spiritual and intellectual mission.{{cite book |last=Osborne |first=James I. |title=Wabash College: The First Hundred Years |publisher=R. E. Banta |year=1932 |location=Crawfordsville, IN |last2=Gronert |first2=Theodore G.}}

File:Caleb-Mills.jpg

Classes began in 1833 on education, and Elihu W. Baldwin became the college’s first president in 1835. Early instruction emphasized Classical education, Theology, and a short-lived Manual labor school model. Despite early financial hardship and a devastating fire in 1838, Wabash quickly rebuilt. It developed a distinguished faculty, notably Caleb Mills, a founder of Indiana Department of Education, and Edmund Otis Hovey, who served as professor, trustee, treasurer, and fundraiser for over four decades.{{cite book |last=Osborne |first=James I. |title=Wabash College: The First Hundred Years |pages=20–25}}

By the mid-19th century, Wabash had become known for its liberal arts education, rooted in classical studies, rhetoric, and moral philosophy. Student life was centered around literary societies such as the Euphronean and Calliopean, which provided early platforms for oratory and debate.{{cite book |last=Osborne |first=James I. |title=Wabash College: The First Hundred Years |pages=85–95}}

Under President Joseph F. Tuttle (1862–1892), the campus added buildings such as Center Hall and Peck Hall, while Wabash increasingly emphasized scientific education alongside the classics.Wabash College Archives, Tuttle Papers

File:WabashCollegeStudent Life - SATC recruits.png

In the 20th century, President George L. Mackintosh (1903–1926) instituted major reforms, including the development of the Wabash Plan, which emphasized faculty-student dialogue, senior comprehensive exams, and a distinctive curriculum rooted in interdisciplinary learning.{{cite book |last=Osborne |first=James I. |title=Wabash College: The First Hundred Years |pages=140–150}} During World War I, Wabash hosted a Student Army Training Corps unit, and during World War II, the college trained Navy officers through the V-12 Navy College Training Program.{{cite web |title=Wabash and the V-12 Program |url=https://www.wabash.edu/archives/v12}}

The postwar period brought enrollment growth through the G.I. Bill and further academic reform. Despite broader national trends toward coeducation, Wabash remained a men's college, reaffirming that identity via a campus-wide referendum in 1992.{{cite news |date=1992 |title=All-Male Tradition Affirmed at Wabash |newspaper=Indianapolis Star}} In 1996, under the direction of James Fisher, Wabash became the first college in America to stage Tony Kushner's Angels in America.{{cite web |year=1999 |title=Wabash College, One of a Dying Breed |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/990208/archive_000234.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211095156/https://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/990208/archive_000234.htm |archive-date=February 11, 2008 |access-date=February 22, 2013}}

In the 21st century, Wabash has prioritized global learning, undergraduate research, and leadership programs like WabashX. The college maintains vibrant traditions such as Chapel Sing, Ringing In and Out, and the annual Monon Bell Classic against DePauw University. With a strong alumni network, modern facilities, and enduring commitment to the liberal arts, Wabash continues its mission: “to educate men to think critically, act responsibly, lead effectively, and live humanely.”{{cite web |title=Wabash Mission Statement |url=https://www.wabash.edu/about/mission}}

Academics

Wabash College offers a liberal arts education leading exclusively to the Bachelor of Arts degree. All students follow a structured curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, effective communication, ethical reasoning, and global citizenship.{{cite web |title=Wabash College Academic Bulletin 2023–2024 |url=https://www.wabash.edu/bulletin/home.cfm |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College}}

Students complete general education requirements in three academic divisions: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. They must also demonstrate core competencies in writing, oral communication, quantitative reasoning, and diversity and inclusion. One of the college’s signature academic features is the comprehensive examination, a capstone assessment required of all seniors in their major field.

= Majors and minors =

Wabash offers more than 25 majors and minors across the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Popular majors include Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Biology, and Rhetoric. Interdisciplinary and special programs include:

Students may also propose independent majors with faculty approval.

= Rankings =

Wabash is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. In its 2024 rankings, U.S. News & World Report placed Wabash:

54th in National Liberal Arts Colleges
5th in Best Undergraduate Teaching{{cite web |title=Wabash College Rankings |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/wabash-college-1841 |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=U.S. News & World Report}}

The Princeton Review (2024 edition) recognized Wabash in several categories:

4th in Best Alumni Network
6th in Most Accessible Professors
9th in Best Classroom Experience{{cite web |title=The Best 389 Colleges: 2024 Edition |url=https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=best-389-colleges |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=The Princeton Review}}

Wabash is also frequently ranked among the top U.S. colleges for alumni giving and faculty accessibility

= Comprehensive examinations =

All Wabash seniors are required to pass a comprehensive examination in their major field of study, a hallmark of the college's academic program. These exams assess students' mastery of core disciplinary concepts, their ability to synthesize information, and their written and oral communication skills.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Student life

As of 2024, Wabash College enrolled 822 undergraduate students. The college remains one of the few all-male liberal arts institutions in the United States.{{cite web |title=Facts & Figures |url=https://www.wabash.edu/aboutwabash/facts |access-date=17 April 2025 |publisher=Wabash College}}

= Racial and ethnic breakdown =

class="wikitable sortable"

!Race/Ethnicity

!Percentage

White

|70.2%

Hispanic or Latino

|13.5%

Black or African American

|4.4%

Asian

|1.4%

Two or More Races

|4.0%

International

|6.0%

Unknown

|1.2%

Source: [https://www.wabash.edu/aboutwabash/docs/consumer-info-diversity.pdf Wabash College Diversity Disclosure Report, 2024]

= Socioeconomic Breakdown =

class="wikitable"

!Indicator

!Percentage

Students receiving Pell Grants

|24.8%

Students not receiving Pell Grants

|75.2%

Students receiving any financial aid

|~99%

Source: [https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/wabash-college-1844/paying U.S. News & World Report], 2024

= Traditions =

File:ChapelSing.jpg

One of Wabash's most symbolic ceremonies is Ringing In Saturday, which marks the beginning of each student’s college experience. Incoming freshmen are formally welcomed by the dean of students, the dean of admissions, the president of the alumni association, and the college president. Each student is ceremonially “rung in” by the president using the same bell that Caleb Mills, the college’s first teacher, used in the 1830s.{{cite web |title=Ringing In Saturday |url=https://www.wabash.edu/news/story/11064 |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College}}

During Homecoming Week, Wabash hosts Chapel Sing, a spirited and widely recognized tradition where fraternity pledges (and independent students) attempt to sing the college fight song, Old Wabash, in unison before a panel of judges. Organized by the Student Senate and the Sphinx Club, Chapel Sing symbolizes school pride and serves as a rite of passage.{{cite web |title=Chapel Sing: A Tradition Like No Other |url=https://www.wabash.edu/news/story/12090 |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College}}

= Student government =

The Wabash College student government is formally known as the Student Body of Wabash College. It operates under a tripartite structure with executive, legislative, and judicial branches.{{cite web |title=Student Senate Constitution |url=https://www.wabash.edu/studentlife/senate/constitution |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College}}{{cite web |title=Student Senate Homepage |url=https://www.wabash.edu/studentlife/senate |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College}}

= Student organizations =

Wabash supports a diverse array of student-led clubs and organizations. Groups represent interests including academics, community service, performing arts, political advocacy, identity and culture, and recreation. All organizations are eligible to receive funding through the Student Senate, which manages the student activity fee assessed each semester.{{cite web |title=Student Senate Finances |url=https://www.wabash.edu/studentlife/senate/budget |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College}}

The college newspaper, The Bachelor, has been continuously published since 1908 and covers news, sports, editorials, and student opinion.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

=Fraternities=

Approximately 50–60% of Wabash students join one of the college’s fraternities, which play a significant role in social, residential, and extracurricular life. The first chapter, Beta Theta Pi, was founded at Wabash in 1846 and has remained active since.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

= The Gentleman's Rule =

Wabash College does not employ a traditional student code of conduct. Instead, the institution relies on a single guiding principle known as the Gentleman’s Rule:

The student is expected to conduct himself at all times, both on and off campus, as a gentleman and a responsible citizen.

This rule entrusts students with personal responsibility for their actions and is considered the college’s oldest and most defining tradition. It is enforced through community standards, administrative discretion, and peer accountability rather than a formal disciplinary code.{{cite web |title=The Gentleman's Rule |url=https://www.wabash.edu/studentlife/rule |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College}}

Endowment

As of June 30, 2023, Wabash College's endowment was valued at approximately $391 million, equating to about $462,700 per student. This positions Wabash among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States in terms of endowment per student.{{cite web |title=Wabash College at a Glance |url=https://bulletin.wabash.edu/about-wabash/wabash-college-at-a-glance/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |publisher=Wabash College}}

= Giant Steps campaign =

From July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2023, Wabash College conducted the "Giant Steps" campaign, the largest fundraising effort in its history. The campaign raised over $250 million from 12,029 donors who made 82,272 gifts, surpassing the original goal of $225 million.{{cite web |title=Wabash Makes History with Giant Steps Campaign |url=https://www.wabash.edu/news/story/13191 |access-date=17 April 2025 |publisher=Wabash College}}

A notable contribution to the campaign was a $40 million gift from alumni Paul Woolls ’75 and his wife, Betty O’Shaughnessy Woolls, marking the largest single donation in the college's history.{{cite web |title=Historic Gift Launches Giant Steps for Wabash College |url=https://giantsteps.wabash.edu/?news_ID=11306&pagetype=news |access-date=17 April 2025 |publisher=Wabash College}}

= Endowment management =

In 2015, Wabash College partnered with Strategic Investment Group to serve as its outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO). This collaboration has yielded significant returns; over a seven-year period, endowment returns exceeded benchmarks by $14.1 million.{{cite web |title=WM: The Noble Traditions We Inherit |url=https://www.wabash.edu/news/story/13221 |access-date=17 April 2025 |publisher=Wabash College}}

The college employs a 12-quarter rolling average to determine its annual endowment draw, which was set at 5.5% for fiscal years 2022 and 2023. This approach aims to provide a predictable stream of funding while preserving the endowment's long-term purchasing power.{{cite web |title=Independent Auditor's Report and Financial Statements |url=https://www.wabash.edu/businessoffice/docs/Wabash_College_2023_Short-Form_Audited_FS.pdf |access-date=17 April 2025 |publisher=Wabash College}}

= Financial aid and scholarships =

Approximately 99% of Wabash students receive some form of financial aid, supported in part by the endowment. The college's commitment to affordability is reflected in its extensive scholarship offerings, many of which were expanded through the Giant Steps campaign.{{cite web |title=Facts & Figures |url=https://www.wabash.edu/aboutwabash/facts/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |publisher=Wabash College}}

Athletics

Wabash College competes in NCAA Division III as a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The college fields 13 intercollegiate varsity sports, all for men, consistent with its status as one of the nation’s last remaining all-male colleges. The school’s athletic teams are known as the Little Giants.{{cite web |title=Athletics Overview |url=https://sports.wabash.edu/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College Athletics}}

Since 2021, Wabash has fielded a varsity men's volleyball team, competing in the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League, as the NCAC sponsors volleyball only for women. Wabash's athletic cheer is "Wabash Always Fights", and the college maintains a strong tradition of athletic excellence, student involvement, and alumni support.

The school's varsity sports include: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and wrestling.

= National championships =

Wabash has won several NCAA Division III national team and individual championships.

= Rivalries =

Wabash College maintains one of the oldest and most storied football rivalries in the United States with DePauw University through the annual Monon Bell Classic. First played in 1890, the game has been held annually since 1911 (with exceptions during World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic) and features the two Indiana schools vying for the 300-pound locomotive bell known as the Monon Bell.{{cite web |title=Monon Bell History |url=https://sports.wabash.edu/sports/2008/8/4/FB_0804082500.aspx |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Wabash College Athletics}}

= Historical highlights =

Inter-collegiate football at Wabash dates back to 1884, when student-coach Edwin R. Taber assembled a team and defeated Butler University by a score of 4–0 in the first intercollegiate football game in the history of the state of Indiana.[http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=royharper&id=I12498 Ancestry.com] Edwin R. Taber

Wabash’s athletic history also includes early success in basketball, where the Little Giants reached the Final Four of the 1982 NCAA Division III Tournament, and in wrestling, where the program has produced multiple individual NCAA champions and team podium finishes in recent years.

Notable people

References

=Primary sources=

Mills, Frank Moody. Early Days in a College Town: And Wabash College in Early Days and Now, with Autobiographical Reminiscences (1924). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Q49OAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22wabash+college+%22++++&pg=PA9 online]
Trippet, Byron K. "The role of a faculty in college administration." AAUP Bulletin 43.3 (1957): 484-491; by the Dean. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40222205 online]
Wabash College. Catalogue of Wabash College 1893-94 (1894). [https://books.google.com/books?id=ghPKa6KkYm0C&dq=%22wabash+college+%22++++&pg=PP14 online]
Wabash College: The Annual Catalogue 1916 (1916). [https://archive.org/details/annualcatalogueo1915waba/page/n1/mode/2up online]