Webster University

{{Short description|Private university in Webster Groves, Missouri}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Webster University

| native_name =

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| image = Webster University seal.svg

| image_upright = 0.6

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| former_name = Loretto College (1915–1924)
Webster College (1924–1983)

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| type = Private university

| established = {{start date and age|1915}}

| founder = Sisters of Loretto

| accreditation = HLC

| endowment = $129.8 million (2020)As of June 30, 2020. {{cite report |url=https://www.nacubo.org/-/media/Documents/Research/2020-NTSE-Public-Tables--Endowment-Market-Values--FINAL-FEBRUARY-19-2021.ashx |title=U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 |publisher=National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA |date=February 19, 2021 |access-date=February 20, 2021}}

| chancellor = Tim Keane{{cite web |url=https://news.webster.edu/2024/keane_selected_as_chancellor.php |title=Chancellor Tim Keane |author= |date=n.d. |publisher=Webster University |access-date=12 April 2022}}

| students = 7,606 (fall 2023){{Cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=179894 |title=College Navigator - Webster University |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics |date=2024 |accessdate=2025-03-09}}

| faculty = 175 full-time, 560 part-time (2023)

| city = Webster Groves

| state = Missouri

| country = U.S.

| coordinates = {{Coord|38.5892|-90.3457|type:edu_region:US-MO|display=inline, title}}

| campus = Suburban, {{convert|47|acre|0}}{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/webster-university-2521 |title=Webster University |author= |date=n.d. |website=U.S. News |publisher=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=8 May 2019}}

| colors = {{colorbox|#0047BB}}{{colorbox|#FFBF3F}} Webster blue and gold{{cite web |url=https://www.webster.edu/documents/globalmarketingcommunications/tutorials/webster_brand_guidelines_april_2018.pdf |title=Brand Guidelines |author= |date=n.d. |website=Webster University |access-date=8 May 2019}}

| athletics_affiliations = NCAA Division III, SLIAC

| athletics_nickname = Gorloks

| mascot = Webster Gorlok{{cite web |url=http://www.webster.edu/admissions/undergraduate/what-is-the-webster-gorlok.html |title=What is the Webster Gorlok? |author= |date=n.d. |website=Webster University |access-date=8 May 2019}}

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

| logo = Webster University Logo.svg

| logo_size = 200

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Webster University is a private university with its main campus in Webster Groves, Missouri, United States. It has multiple branch locations across the United States and countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa.{{Cite web|title=Study Abroad Programs|url=http://www.webster.edu/study-abroad/programs/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=webster.edu}} The university has an alumni network of around 170,000 graduates worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://www.webster.edu/worldwide|title=Worldwide Webster}}

History

The college was founded in 1915 by the Sisters of Loretto as Loretto College, a Catholic women's college, one of the first west of the Mississippi River.{{cite journal|title=Commemorating the centennial of Webster University|url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:S.RES.465:|journal=Bill Text: 113th Congress (2013–2014): S.RES.465.ATS|date=June 3, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014|archive-date=January 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107154142/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c113:S.RES.465:|url-status=dead}} One of the early founders was Mother Praxedes Carty.{{Cite journal|last=Lee|first=Barbara|date=17 April 2012|title=Honoring the Sisters of Loretto|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2012-04-17/pdf/CREC-2012-04-17-pt1-PgE545.pdf|journal=Congressional Record|pages=E545}} Its name was changed to Webster College, after Senator Daniel Webster, in 1924.{{cite web |url=http://www.webster.edu/centennial/timeline/ |title=Webster University History Timeline |author= |publisher=Webster University |access-date=February 24, 2020}} The first male students were admitted in 1962.{{cite journal |title=Webster University Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/colleges/webster-university/|journal=Forbes|access-date=February 17, 2016}} The sisters transferred ownership of the college to a lay Board of Directors in 1967; it was the first Catholic college in the United States to be totally under lay control.{{cite web|url=http://webster.edu/about/ |title=About Webster |publisher=Webster University |access-date=November 19, 2011}} In 1983, Webster College's name was changed to Webster University.

Webster was involved in the early racial integration battles in St. Louis. During the early 1940s, many local priests, especially the Jesuits, challenged the segregationist policies at the city's Catholic colleges and parochial schools. The St. Louis chapter of the Midwest Clergy Conference on Negro Welfare arranged in 1943 for Webster College to admit a black female student, Mary Aloyse Foster, which would make it the city's first Catholic college to integrate.{{cite journal |title=Webster University 100 years|url=http://www.studymode.com/essays/Webster-University-100-Years-51147815.html|journal=Webster University 100 Years|date = April 2014}} However, in 1943 Archbishop John J. Glennon blocked that student's enrollment by speaking privately with the Kentucky-based Superior General of the Sisters of Loretto.Donald J. Kemper, "Catholic Integration in St. Louis, 1935–1947", Missouri Historical Review, October 1978, pp. 1–13. The Pittsburgh Courier, an African-American newspaper with national circulation, discovered Glennon's actions and ran a front-page feature on the Webster incident in February 1944.Ted LeBerthon, "Why Jim Crow Won at Webster College," Pittsburgh Courier, February 5, 1944, p. 13. The negative publicity toward Glennon's segregationist policies led Saint Louis University to begin admitting African American students in summer 1944."Pressure Grows to Have Catholic College Doors Open to Negroes," Pittsburgh Courier, February 19, 1944, p. 1; "St. Louis U. Lifts Color Bar: Accepts Five Negroes for Summer Session", Pittsburgh Courier, May 6, 1944, p. 1. In the fall of 1945, Webster College responded to pressure by admitting Irene Thomas, a Catholic African-American woman from St. Louis, as a music major."Missouri College Admits Race Girl," Pittsburgh Courier, October 13, 1945, p. 1.

In the 1960s, the school dropped its Catholic affiliation following the issuance of the Land O'Lakes Statement. The school's then-president, Jacqueline Grennan, renounced her religious vows and continued as head of what had effectively become a secular institution.{{Cite web |title=Taking the Catholic Out of Catholic Universities |url=https://www.city-journal.org/article/taking-the-catholic-out-of-catholic-universities#:~:text=Manhattanville%20College%20of%20the%20Sacred,being%20subject%20to%20religious%20obedience.%E2%80%9D |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=City Journal |language=en}}

Academics

Colleges include:{{cite web|url=http://webster.edu/academics/colleges.shtml |title=Colleges |publisher=Webster University |access-date=September 16, 2022}}

College of Humanities & Social Sciences
College of Health and Science
Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts
George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology
School of Communications
School of Education.

Webster University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.{{cite web|url=http://www.ncahlc.org/index.php?option=com_directory&Itemid=192&Action=ShowBasic&instid=1474 |title=The Higher Learning Commission website |work=Ncahlc.org |access-date=November 19, 2011}} Specific programs are accredited by specialized accreditors, including the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP),{{cite web|url=http://www.acbsp.org/index.php?mo=st&op=ld&sid=s1_025about&stpg=141&par=4213 |title=Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs website |work=Acbsp.org |access-date=November 19, 2011}} the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM),{{cite web|url=http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp?page=Member+Lists&memberId=4f3b3d0680052aab6556a5117bc9327c |title=National Association of Schools of Music website |work=Nasm.arts-accredit.org |access-date=November 19, 2011}} the National League for Nursing (NLN),{{cite web|url=http://www.nln.org/membership/memberschools.cfm |title=National League of Nursing website |work=Nln.org |access-date=November 19, 2011}} the Council on Accreditation (COA),{{cite web|url=http://coanet.org/home/ |access-date=October 23, 2018 |title=Council on Accreditation website}} the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE),{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100929111729/http://www.ncate.org/public/stateInstit.aspx?ch=106&state=MO National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education website ]}} the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,{{cite web|url=http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/sia/dar/UnderstandingYourAYP.pdf |title=Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website |website=Dese.mo.gov |access-date=November 19, 2011}} and the National Board for Certified Counselors.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcc.org/ |title=National Board for Certified Counselors |work=Nbcc.org |date=March 21, 2011 |access-date=November 19, 2011}}

In 2023, Webster University was ranked 22nd among regional universities (Midwest) by U.S. News & World Report.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

= Partnerships =

Webster University maintains a Confucius Institute in partnership with Beijing Language and Culture University.{{Cite web |title=- Involved@Webster |url=https://involved.webster.edu/organization/confucius-institute |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=involved.webster.edu}} In 2019, US senator Josh Hawley asked Webster University to close its Confucius Institute.{{Cite web |date=2019-07-25 |title=Hawley asks universities to cut ties with Chinese program |url=https://apnews.com/article/9876a8703e864ca18e83025efa56b45c |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}

Campus

Webster University's home campus is located in Webster Groves, a suburb of St. Louis. Many of the domestic campuses are located near military bases; some are located in various metropolitan areas. The international campuses are located in several European countries including Switzerland, Austria, Georgia, and The Netherlands; several are also located in Asia, such as in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Thailand, and China.

In addition to its own international campuses, Webster has also formed partnerships with a few universities that are based in their countries of interest. For example, The Webster Graduate School was until 2015 tied with Regent's University London;{{cite web|url=http://www.regents.ac.uk/system_pages/webster_schools.aspx |title=Regent's College website |publisher=Regent's College |access-date=November 19, 2011}} and Webster maintains a relationship with Kansai University in Osaka, Japan{{cite web|url=http://webster.edu/studyabroad/japan/index.shtml |title=Study abroad – Japan program |publisher=Webster University |access-date=November 19, 2011}} and with The Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico.{{cite web|url=http://webster.edu/studyabroad/mexico/index.shtml |title=Study abroad –Mexico program |publisher=Webster University |access-date=November 19, 2011}} Recently, Webster started a study abroad program in Greece.{{cite web|url=http://www.webster.edu/study-abroad/programs/greece/ |title=Greece | Webster University |website=Webster.edu |access-date=February 17, 2016}}

In 2015, Webster released a report on its Thailand campus citing several issues, including badly inadequate facilities and a culture of distrust between students and the administration.{{cite web|url=http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/webster-u-acknowledges-failures-of-thailand-campus/article_5792b316-c560-5953-a6a4-7af5f1f0e36d.html |title=Webster U acknowledges failures of Thailand campus: News |website=Stltoday.com |date=April 13, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2016}} The report also cited several strengths on the campus, including strong academics and financial stability, saying "recruitment, marketing and admissions" are an area of strength for the campus.{{cite web|last=Redden |first=Elizabeth |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/04/14/site-review-committee-offers-extensive-recommendations-improving-webster-us-campus |title=A site review committee offers extensive recommendations for improving Webster U.'s campus in Thailand |website=Insidehighered.com |date=February 12, 2016 |access-date=February 17, 2016}} One month after the internal report was issued, a campus ombudsman was appointed to address the communications issues and to bring the Thailand campus more in-line with the home campus' policies.{{cite web|url=http://www.webster.edu/news/2015/news/0042015-ombudsman-thailand.html |title=Ombudsman Appointed to Webster University Thailand Campus | Webster University |website=Webster.edu |date=May 4, 2015 |access-date=February 17, 2016}}

file:Webster University's Webster Hall - 2012.JPG|Webster Hall

File:Webster University (1444252375).jpg|Loretto Hall in 2007

File:Webster University-Geneva Campus.jpg|The Campus in Geneva, Switzerland

File:Webster University (Oude Rijn) Leiden.jpg|Campus in Leiden

File:Webster University Ghana Campus Welcome - November 2013.jpg|Campus in Ghana

Athletics

File:Webster univ athletics wmark.png

Webster University's athletic mascot is the Gorlok, named in honor of the school's location at the corner of Gore and Lockwood Avenues in Webster Groves. Athletic teams participate in the NCAA Division III and in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).{{cite web|url=http://www.websterathletics.com/ |title=Webster University Athletics |work=Websterathletics.com |access-date=November 19, 2011}}

Men's sports: baseball; basketball; cross country; golf; soccer; tennis; and, track and field
Women's sports: basketball; cross country; soccer; softball; tennis; track and field; and, volleyball

Webster's Baseball Team has made back to back trips to the Division III World Series placing fifth in both 2012 and 2013. They also made the Division III World Series in 2015. They made it to the regional Division III championship in 2014 but were defeated in the first round.{{cite web|url=http://www.d3baseball.com/top25/2015/2015-week-0 |title=2015 D3baseball.com Top 25, preseason |work=D3baseball.com |access-date=February 10, 2015}} Major League pitcher Josh Fleming played for Webster.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/flemijo01.shtml |title=Josh Fleming |work=Baseball Reference |access-date=September 1, 2020}}

Webster's chess team has won more national titles than any college team in the country and has been ranked #1 continuously since 2012.{{cite web|url=https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/webster-chess-wins-3-national-titles-in-2021-under-new-coach/|access-date=February 24, 2022|title=Webster chess wins 3 national titles in 2021 under new coach |work=FOX 2 |date=October 19, 2021 }}

Student life

Webster University, in Fall 2014, enrolled 5,010 undergraduate students and 17,190 graduate students.{{cite web|url=http://www.webster.edu/admissions/undergraduate/facts.html |title=Facts & Figures | Webster University |website=Webster.edu |access-date=February 17, 2016}} The average SAT composite score for the undergraduate class was 1,194. The average ACT composite score was 24. Students come from 49 states and more than 122 countries.

Webster University St. Louis has a student newspaper called The Journal and a student radio station called The Galaxy. The Galaxy was re-launched online in 2007.{{cite web|author=johnvschwartz |url=http://www.webster.edu/galaxy |title=The Galaxy at Webster University |publisher=Webster University |access-date=November 19, 2011}} Webster University has other e-newsletters such as Webster Today and departmental publications.

Webster University recently allowed the formation of the first Greek organization on its St. Louis campus, with the founding of the 152nd Chapter of Delta Upsilon and the founding of the Gamma Zeta chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon.

Notable people

=Faculty=

Professors for the university have included Chess grandmaster Susan Polgar, actor/dancer Lara Teeter, dancer Alicia Graf Mack, poet David Clewell,{{cite web|url=http://www.webster.edu/depts/artsci/english/faculty.html |title=English – Faculty |publisher=Webster University |access-date=July 29, 2010}} video artist Van McElwee,{{cite web|url=http://www.webster.edu/communications/faculty/mcelwee.shtml |title=Webster University: School of Communications: Van McElwee |publisher=Webster University |access-date=July 29, 2010}} political scientists Daniel Hellinger and Johannes Pollak, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Violence Against Women Rashida Manjoo,{{cite web|title=Violence Against Women: South African legal expert takes over as new UN Special Rapporteur |url=http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/0/45FE9FE81A1861D0C125761F0031B4C9?opendocument |access-date=March 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604154039/http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/0/45FE9FE81A1861D0C125761F0031B4C9?opendocument |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }} activist and writer Sulak Sivaraksa, sound engineer Bill Porter, Holocaust scholar Harry J. Cargas, and former Missouri Governor Bob Holden.{{cite web|url=http://www.webster.edu/holdenppf/ |title=Holden Public Policy Forum |publisher=Webster University |access-date=July 29, 2010}}

=Alumni=

There were over 190,000 alumni as of 2017.{{cite web |url=http://news.webster.edu/webster_university_facts.pdf |title=Webster University Facts |author= |date=Fall 2017 |website=Webster University |access-date=8 May 2019}} They include:

Lloyd James Austin III, 28th United States Secretary of Defense and Army four-star general[http://www.bragg.army.mil/18Abn/CommandGroup/cg.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004041808/http://www.bragg.army.mil/18Abn/CommandGroup/cg.htm|date=October 4, 2009}}
John Boccieri, U.S. Congressman
Ann Walsh Bradley, Wisconsin State Supreme Court justice
William Broad, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times{{cite web |title=Alumni Award Recipients |url=http://www.webster.edu/alumni/documents/award_recipients.pdf |access-date=March 12, 2023 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527184530/http://www.webster.edu/alumni/documents/award_recipients.pdf |archive-date=May 27, 2010 }}
Norbert Leo Butz, Tony Award-winning actor
Eileen Collins, astronaut
Debra Drexler, painter, installation artist, curator
Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin, television producer
Nathan Lee Graham, actor and cabaret artist{{cite web|url=http://www.webster.edu/news/2013/news/08292013_graham_cabaret.html |title=Broadway, Film Star Returns to Webster | Webster University |website=Webster.edu |access-date=February 17, 2016}}
Sidney M. Gutierrez, astronaut{{cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/gutierrez-sm.html |title=Astronaut Bio: Sidney M. Gutierrez |website=Jsc.nasa.gov |date= February 11, 2015|access-date=February 17, 2016}}
Clarence Harmon, former mayor and chief of police for St. Louis
Jane Ellen Ibur, poet and arts educator
R. Alan King, military veteran (Panama and Iraq) and author of Twice Armed: An American Soldier's Battle for Hearts and Minds in Iraq – Winner of 2008 William E. Colby Award
Jenifer Lewis, television, screen, and stage actress{{cite web|url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2015/02/blackish_actress_and_kinloch_native_jenifer_lewis_will_give_webster_u_commencement_speech.php |title=Black-ish Actress, Kinloch Native Jenifer Lewis Will Give Webster U. Commencement Speech |work=The Riverfront Times |access-date=February 10, 2015}}
Sandra Mansour, fashion designer
Marsha Mason, four-time Academy Award-nominated actress
Jerry Mitchell, Tony Award-winning choreographer and director
Leyna Nguyen, news anchor and three-time Emmy awardee{{cite web|url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/personality/leyna-nguyen/ |title=Leyna Nguyen |access-date=September 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002213945/http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/personality/leyna-nguyen/ |archive-date=October 2, 2014 }}
Richard Ojeda, Bronze Star recipient, United States Army veteran of Afghan and Iraq conflicts, and West Virginia state senator
Rob Riggle, comedian, television star and sports commentator
Roderick Royal, mayor of Birmingham, Alabama
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, president of Indonesia{{cite web|url=http://admissions.webster.edu/admissions/graduate/news/news_story.asp?iNewsID=288&strBack=/admissions/graduate/news/news_archive.asp |title=Webster University |work=Admissions.webster.edu |access-date=July 29, 2010}}