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Whitworth University

{{Short description|Presbyterian university in Spokane, Washington, US}}

{{distinguish|text = Whitworth Female College in Brookhaven, Mississippi}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Whitworth University

| image = Whitworth univ seal.png

| image_size = 150

| motto = Education of Mind and Heart

| established = {{start date and age|1890}}

| type = Private university

| religious_affiliation = Presbyterian Church

| endowment = $203 million (2022){{Cite web|title=Annual Report | Whitworth University|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/administration/president/annual-report/|access-date=2022-03-07|website=www.whitworth.edu}}

| president = Scott McQuilkin

| provost = John Pell

| faculty = 149{{Cite web|title=Facts & Rankings | Whitworth University|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/about/facts-and-rankings/|access-date=2022-03-07|website=www.whitworth.edu}}

| students = 2,814{{Cite web |title=Whitworth University |url=https://www.forbes.com/colleges/whitworth-university/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

| undergrad = 2,417

| postgrad = 372

| address = 300 W. Hawthorne Road

| city = Country Homes

| state = Washington

| postalcode = 99251

| country = United States

| coordinates = {{Coord|47.754|-117.418|region:US-WA_type:edu|display=inline,title}}

| campus = Suburban
{{convert|200|acre|km2}}

| campus_size = 200 acres

| former_names = Whitworth College
(1890–2007)

| colors = Crimson, Black

{{Color box|#8B0000|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#000000|border=darkgray}}

| sporting_affiliations = Northwest Conference

| nickname = Pirates, Bucs

| website = {{URL|www.whitworth.edu}}

| logo = Whitworth univ logo.svg

| logo_size = 200

}}

Whitworth University is a private Christian university that is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church and located in Spokane, Washington, United States.{{cite web |title=QuickFacts Country Homes CDP, Washington |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/map/countryhomescdpwashington/PST045221 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=15 August 2022}} Founded in 1890, Whitworth enrolls nearly 2,600 students and offers more than 100 graduate and undergraduate programs.{{Cite web|title=Whitworth Welcomes Record Number of First-Year Students for Fall Term|url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2018/09/whitworth-welcomes-record-number-of_5.html|access-date=2022-03-07|publisher=Whitworth University}}

Whitworth competes athletically at the NCAA Division III level in the Northwest Conference as the Pirates. Its colors are black and crimson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitworthpirates.com/landing/index|title=Whitworth Athletics|website=Whitworth}}

History

Image:George F. Whitworth 1890.jpg around the time he founded the college]]

In 1883, George F. Whitworth established the "Sumner Academy" in Sumner, a small town in Washington Territory, east of Tacoma. Incorporated as "Whitworth College" in 1890, it relocated to Tacoma in 1899. When a Spokane developer offered land just before World War I, the college moved once more, and classes were held for the first time in Spokane in September 1914. The college relocated due to persistent financial difficulties, local competition from College of Puget Sound and the Pacific Lutheran Academy, and a lack of support from the Washington state Presbyterian Synod or the City of Tacoma. When Whitworth was approached by Spokane boosters, the Spokane Presbytery, and railroad magnate Jay P. Graves with some land on his new Country Homes development outside the city, the trustees agreed to the move provided that the Spokane community donate $70,000 and the Synod of Washington donate $30,000 for facilities.{{cite web | last = Arksey| first = Laura| title = Whitworth College| work = Essay 8125| publisher = HistoryLink| date = April 21, 2007| url = https://www.historylink.org/File/8125| access-date = May 22, 2019}} Whitworth merged with Spokane Junior College in 1942, when the latter shut down due to financial difficulties during World War II.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ONdXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YPUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4152%2C4272278 |title=Junior College joins Whitworth |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |date=February 20, 1942 |page=3}}

The board of trustees voted to change the institution's name to Whitworth University in 2006, which became effective July 1, 2007.{{Cite web|url=http://www.whitworth.edu/News/2006_2007/Spring/WhitworthNameChange.htm|title=Press release details Whitworth's name change}}

Campus

File:At_Witworth_University_in_Spokane_(4937402906).jpg

File:Harriet Cheney Cowles Memorial Library.JPG

Whitworth's campus in northern Spokane has {{convert|200|acre|km2}}. In 2009, Whitworth opened a University District (U-District) location near downtown Spokane, expanding program offerings for nontraditional evening students and providing a location with shorter commutes for working professionals.

Due to an expanding student body, the university has invested more than $200 million in campus improvements in recent years. Currently under construction is the new PACCAR Engineering Building, slated to open in January 2026. In 2022, Whitworth completed construction on the new Dana & David Dornsife Health Sciences Building.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/academics/dornsife-health-sciences-building/|title=Dornsife Health Sciences Building|website=whitworth.edu}} Additionally, Whitworth completed construction of the Pines Café & Bookstore along Hawthorne Road and the $13 million Whitworth Athletics Leadership Team Center, also known as the WALT.{{Cite web|url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2020/10/whitworth-to-dedicate-state-of-art.html|title=Whitworth to Dedicate State-of-the-Art Athletics Leadership Team Center}}

The university finished renovation on the Megan E. Thompson Aquatic Center in 2019{{Cite web|url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2019/09/whitworth-to-rededicate-megan-e_18.html|title=Whitworth to Rededicate the Megan E. Thompson Aquatic Center}} and completed a renovation of the Beeksma Family Theology Center in 2018, which expanded the Seeley G. Mudd Chapel and provided offices for more than 20 faculty, staff and student employees.{{Cite web|url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2018/03/construction-begins-on-whitworths.html|title=Construction Begins on Whitworth's Beeksma Family Theology Center}} In 2015, the university renovated the Cowles Music Center, which remodeled the existing space and added {{convert|21481|sqft|0}} of new teaching studios, practice rooms, rehearsal rooms, and lobby space.

In 2011, the Robinson Science Hall was dedicated. This {{convert|63000|sqft|-2|adj=on}} building was built for biology and chemistry sciences, as well as math courses.{{cite web|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/Academic/Department/Biology/Facilities.htm |title=Whitworth University Biology Department - Facilities |website=Whitworth.edu |access-date=2019-10-19}}

Academics

Whitworth offers over 100 undergraduate majors and programs, six graduate programs, two doctoral programs and seven adult bachelor's degree completion programs. Academics at Whitworth is organized into five branches:{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/academics/|title=Academics | Whitworth University|website=whitworth.edu}}

File:WhitworthUniversityRobinsonHall.jpg

  • The College of Arts and Sciences supports a shared curriculum approach to general education and houses 18 undergraduate arts and science departments. The college offers 47 majors, the M.A in Theology and a number of interdisciplinary undergraduate programs, including Biology, Theology, Chemistry, Communications, and Computer Science.
  • The School of Business includes undergraduate programs in accounting, business management, economics, finance, and marketing. It also oversees three graduate programs, a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Business Leadership (MBL) and new Master of Science in Financial Planning.{{Cite web |title=Whitworth University to Offer Master of Science in Financial Planning Degree |url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2022/12/whitworth-university-to-offer-master-of.html |access-date=2023-03-30}}{{Cite web|title=MBA|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/mba/|access-date=2022-02-19|website=whitworth.edu}}{{Cite web|title=Business Management, BBA |url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/academics/undergraduate-majors-and-programs/business-management-bba/|access-date=2022-02-19|website=whitworth.edu}}{{Cite web |title=MBA Alumni Society |url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/alumni/mba-alumni-society/spotlight/ |access-date=2022-02-19 |website=whitworth.edu}} The Whitworth School of Business became AACSB accredited in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Whitworth University Earns AACSB International Accreditation |url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2020/12/whitworth-university-earns-aacsb.html |access-date=2022-07-16}}
  • The School of Education includes the Department of Undergraduate Teacher Education; the Department of Graduate Studies in Education; the Master in Teaching (MIT) Program; the Evening Teacher Certification Program; the Center for Gifted Education; and the Special Education Program.
  • The School of Continuing Studies provides bachelor's degree programs for non-traditional students through evening degree programs, accelerated-format classes and certificate programs.
  • The School of Health Sciences was formed in 2023 to encompass undergraduate degrees in Health Science (B.S. in health science, B.A. in community health), an M.S. in Athletic Training and two doctorate degree programs: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).{{Cite web |title=Whitworth to Launch School of Health Sciences to Meet Growing Demand |url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2023/03/whitworth-to-launch-school-of-health.html |access-date=2023-03-30}}

The university also offers 30-plus study abroad programs available to students over Jan Term, May Term, or during a full semester. 45 percent of Whitworth's 2021 graduates participated in one or more off-campus programs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/about/facts-and-rankings/|title=Facts & Rankings |website=whitworth.edu}}

=Rankings and reputation=

{{Infobox US university ranking

| USNWR_REG = 7 of 105

| Wamo_MASTERSU = 31 of 604

}}

In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked Whitworth 7th of 105 Regional Universities (West).{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/whitworth-university-3804/overall-rankings|title=University Rankings|website=U.S. News & World Report}} The Princeton Review also named Whitworth one of 79 institutions as "Best in the West" in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings?rankings=best-western|title=Best Western Colleges | The Princeton Review|website=www.princetonreview.com}}

INSIGHT into Diversity Magazine awarded Whitworth the 2020 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.{{cite news|url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2020/09/whitworth-receives-insight-into.html|title=Whitworth Receives "INSIGHT Into Diversity" 2020 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award|website=whitworth.edu|access-date=2020-12-18}}

The Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Whitworth as a Tree Campus USA since 2018.{{Primary source inline|date=March 2024}}

Admissions

Students on campus represent 29 states and 45 countries. As of 2023, international students make up 4.9 percent of undergraduate enrollment.

Athletics

file:Whitworth logo from NCAA.svg

Whitworth's athletics teams are the Pirates. The university offers 21 varsity sports and competes in the Northwest Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. Men's sports include cross country, football, basketball, swimming, track and field (indoor and outdoor), golf, tennis, soccer and baseball; women compete in soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming, track and field (indoor and outdoor), golf, tennis, lacrosse and softball. Whitworth has played their home football games at the Pine Bowl (an on-campus football stadium) since the 1930s.{{Cite web|url=http://www.whitworthpirates.com/information/insideathletics/facilities|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120110143143/http://www.whitworthpirates.com/information/insideathletics/facilities|archive-date = 2012-01-10|title = Whitworth}}

The field within the Pine Bowl was changed to artificial turf from grass in 2017 and subsequently was dedicated to the parents of the main donors by being named Puryear Field in 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/aug/31/new-look-whitworth-welcomes-la-verne-to-the-pine-b/|title=New-look Whitworth welcomes La Verne to the Pine Bowl in season opener {{!}} The Spokesman-Review|website=www.spokesman.com|access-date=2019-02-19}} Whitworth began playing football in 1904, and has only missed 7 seasons since then, due to World War I (1917–1919) and World War II (1942–1945).{{cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/incomplete_data/year_by_year_current.php?teamid=3548 |title=Year by Year Results |website=www.cfbdatawarehouse.com |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803120842/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/incomplete_data/year_by_year_current.php?teamid=3548 |archive-date=3 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}

Whitworth has won a total of 13 Northwest Conference McIlroy-Lewis All-Sports Trophies, including the last 12 in a row (2008–2019).{{cite web|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/about/facts-and-rankings/|title=Whitworth Facts & Rankings|website=Whitworth University}}

Whitworth men's swimming won the Northwest Conference Swimming Championship in 2022.

Student life

The Associated Students of Whitworth University ("ASWU") is in charge of clubs and activities on campus.{{cite web|url=http://whitworthaswu.com/|title=Associated Students of Whitworth University|website=whitworthaswu.com|access-date=2016-06-22}} The ASWU is composed of four executive officers (President, Vice President, Finance Director and Communications Director){{cite web|title=Activities & Involvement Opportunities|url=https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/administration/student-life/student-handbook/activities-and-involvement-opportunities/|access-date=|website=}} who coordinate the student government and lead the student body, several residence hall senators and representatives who represent specific living areas and hold voting power, and coordinators who are responsible for programming in specialized areas.

= Campus media =

The Whitworthian is the weekly student newspaper. The paper received the "Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper" award from the Society of Professional Journalists in 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spj.org/moe09.asp|title=Mark of Excellence Awards - Society of Professional Journalists|website=www.spj.org}}

Natsihi (pronounced "Not-See-Hee) is the Whitworth University yearbook taking its name from the Spokane Native American word meaning "among the pines." Over the years Natsihi has won national awards such as "Best in Show" and "Most Outstanding University Yearbook for 2017" from the Associated Collegiate Press.{{Cite web |title=Whitworth Yearbook Staff Wins Two National Awards |url=https://news.whitworth.edu/2018/01/whitworth-yearbook-staff-wins-two_5.html |access-date=2025-03-26}}

Notable People

= Alumni =

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References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{ccat}}

  • {{oweb}}
  • [https://whitworthpirates.com/ Athletics website]

{{Presbyterian Colleges}}

{{Colleges and universities in Washington (state)}}

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Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Category:Universities and colleges affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)

Category:Universities and colleges established in 1890

Category:1890 establishments in Washington (state)

Category:Private universities and colleges in Washington (state)