- Catalog Archive
- Course Descriptions
- Related Links
- Academics
- Provost & Dean
- Registrar
Offices & Services
-
We provide quality academic support services to help students become active and independent learners.
-
We help you get here!
-
Get connected, stay connected, join the WC network!
-
Monday-Friday: 8:30 - 4:30
Saturday: 10:00 - 2:00 -
We help with maintenance requests, service, and upkeep!
-
Monday-Friday: 8:30 - 4:30
-
Calendars, special event planning, and more.
-
Helping our students along their paths, from interns to executives.
-
Mail and print support.
-
Keeping George Washington’s promise, our office manages the generous gifts that people make to the college.
-
College Relations and Marketing
We tell it, share it, and show it! College communications HQ, including media information, branding and Web guidelines, and official downloads.
-
Weekdays: 7:30am to 7:30pm
Weekends: 10:30am to 6:00pm -
GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
Workshops, programs, and resources for mapping the Chester and beyond.
-
Monday-Thursday: 8:00 - 2:00 a.m.
Friday: 8:00 -10:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon-2:00 a.m. -
Video and photography servies, plus helpful drop-in classes and tutorials!
-
We help students, clubs, faculty, and staff plan and run activities on campus.
-
Office of Student Financial Aid
Numbers, and calculators, and loans - but most importantly, people who can help!
-
Our office manages grants and academic services, and also oversees campus events.
-
Phone: 410-778-7810
Office: Lower level of Wicomico Residence House
Hours: M-F 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. -
Grades, courses, transcripts, and advisory information. Plus a lot of friendly faces!
Hours: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
-
Our office home to all the homes! Find hall details, floorplans, forms and checklists. Meet your Resident Advisor!
Catalog
Diversity Statement
Washington College welcomes people of all backgrounds and beliefs who wish to participate in a diverse educational community. The College strives to be a place where all students, faculty, administrators, and staff are able to live, study, and work in an atmosphere free from bias and harassment. The College encourages civil debate and the lively exchange of ideas in the belief that such exchanges promote understanding that will grow beyond simple tolerance of difference to embracing and celebrating the richness of diversity. Our graduates acquire knowledge and learn skills that help them thrive in a culturally diverse world.
Our Mission
Mission Statement
Washington College challenges and inspires emerging citizen leaders to discover lives of purpose and passion.
Core Values
We share these values of our founding patron, George Washington: integrity, determination, curiosity, civility, leadership, and moral courage.
We offer academic rigor and self-discovery in a supportive, residential community of well-qualified, diverse, and motivated individuals. We develop in our students habits of analytic thought and clear communication, aesthetic insight, ethical sensitivity, and civic responsibility.
Unhurried conversation and close connections with an exceptional faculty and staff complement a broad curriculum of study. A beautiful campus, ready access to exciting cities and the Chesapeake Bay, and engagement with cultures and communities locally and around the world afford our students ample resources and opportunities for personal exploration and shared challenges.
We prepare our students for rich and fulfilling lives; for myriad and unpredictable opportunities; for a lifetime of learning, leadership, and productive endeavor.
Vision Statement
The enduring values of Washington College — critical thinking, effective communication, and moral courage — move the world.
Washington College is a selective national liberal arts college. Through the application form and supporting credentials, the Admissions Committee seeks to learn as much as possible about each candidate for admission. In addition to the official transcript, a counselor recommendation and one teacher evaluation are considered in evaluating the secondary school experience. Standardized test scores are also part of the admission process but are considered to be subordinate to the secondary school record. Other subjective factors that are considered include the admission essay/personal statement, extracurricular activity profile, and interview.
Then, on the basis of scholastic achievement, personal characteristics, and overall potential for success in a collegiate environment, the Committee selects for admission those individuals whose abilities, attributes, and interests match our criteria for the fall or mid-year entering class. Although an interview is not mandatory (unless specifically required by the Admissions Committee), candidates who have visited the campus and met with a member of the admissions staff are given preference in the admissions process.
General Information
Washington College is a participant in the Common Application program. The Common Application for Admission is available in most secondary school guidance offices, online at www.commonapp.org, and upon request from the Washington College Admissions Office. The application should be thought of as a direct medium of communication between the candidate and the Admissions Committee. Care should be exercised to take full advantage of the opportunity to detail one’s interests, activities, talents, ambitions, and other significant personal attributes.
Application Fee
The application fee for 2012-2013 is $50.
Notification and Reply Date
Regular Admission candidates who submit their application on or before February 1 will be given priority consideration for fall admission and merit-based scholarships. Since Washington College subscribes to the Candidate’s Reply Date Agreement, the required $500 enrollment deposit must be received no later than May 1. The deposit is non-refundable and will be applied toward first-semester bills. New students who wish to reserve on-campus housing will be required to complete a housing application and submit a housing deposit by a specified date.
School Records
An official secondary school transcript is required of all candidates for admission to Washington College. The following college preparatory units are recommended: four years of English; four years of social studies; four years of mathematics, including Algebra II; three years of a lab science; and two years of a modern foreign language or Latin. Considerable emphasis is placed upon the rigor of the candidate’s course load in any given year (especially the senior year), and on participation in accelerated, honors, advanced placement, or international baccalaureate courses.
Recommendations
Two recommendations should be submitted on the applicant’s behalf: a written statement from the secondary school college advisor or guidance counselor (or college faculty advisor if a transfer applicant) and one teacher evaluation that must be completed by a teacher of a major academic subject taken within the last two years. Additional teacher references may be submitted if so desired.
Standardized Testing
Results of either the SAT I or ACT should be sent directly to Washington College (institution code #5888) by the testing agency. We recommend, but do not require, that students submit results from the writing component of these tests. Unless requested, transfer candidates who have completed more than two semesters of college-level coursework are not required to submit results of standardized testing.
Freshman applicants with a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.75 or better (on a 4.00 scale) or with a top ten percent class rank can request and be granted a ‘score optional’ admission review. Documentation of a learning difference or medical condition can also be the basis for a ‘score optional’ review.
If English is not the applicant’s first language, results of a language proficiency assessment (TOEFL, IELTS or their equivalent) must be submitted to the Admissions Office. Students who have been educated in an English-speaking curriculum may submit SAT or ACT scores in lieu of TOEFL/IELTS scores.
The Admission Interview
The admission interview is seen as an ideal way for the prospective student and the College to learn more about each other. Although an interview is not mandatory (unless specifically required by the Admissions Committee), candidates who have visited the campus and met with a member of the admission staff are given preference in the admission process. Arrangements for an admission interview and campus visit are best made in advance by telephoning the Admissions Office (410-778-7700). The Admissions Office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 A.M.-12 noon and 1:00-4:30 P.M. throughout the calendar year.
Special Admission Programs
Early Decision: Binding
The Early Decision option requires applicants to certify that 1) Washington College is their first choice and that 2) an offer of admission, if extended, will be accepted. The application deadline for early decision candidates is November 15. A signed Early Decision Agreement is required for Early Decision consideration. Early Decision notifications are issued on a rolling basis through December 1. Enrollment commitments are required by January 15. In addition to committing to enroll, Early Decision students also agree to withdraw all other college applications.
Early Action: Non-Binding
Washington College offers an early action plan for students who wish to be notified of their admission status early in the senior year. Early action candidates who submit an application and all required credentials on or before December 1 will be informed of their status (admitted, denied, deferred) no later than January 1. Admitted Early Action applicants are not required to make an enrollment commitment until May 1.
Early Admission
The College will consider applications from prospective students who have completed all requirements for their secondary school diploma in three years rather than four. High school students who have not received a secondary school diploma or its equivalent are not eligible for admission to the College as matriculated, degree-seeking students.
Under special circumstances, secondary school seniors will be permitted to enroll for undergraduate classes at the College as non-degree, non-matriculated students. This policy applies to all participants in the College’s “More Able” program as well as the occasional local student who has attained a cumulative grade point average of “B” or better and who demonstrates strong motivation, maturity, and suitability for college-level coursework. Permission to enroll on a non-degree, non-matriculated basis is granted by the Vice President for Admissions.
Non-degree students are not eligible to receive any Federal Title IV financial aid funds until they have attained either a secondary school or GED diploma. Non-degree students will not be permitted to continue their studies at the College beyond the first year without either a secondary school diploma or GED diploma.
Freshman Entrance With Advanced Standing
A student may enter as a freshman with advanced standing toward a Washington College degree. This standing is usually achieved through the Advanced Placement Examinations given each May by the College Board. A score of four or five on an A.P. exam (or an A.P. score of 3 in Calculus BC, Computer Science, and Statistics) may, with the approval of the appropriate academic department, earn course credit toward graduation and make the student eligible to take upper-level courses in the department.
Washington College recognizes the International Baccalaureate curriculum, Higher Level courses, and diploma for the assigning of advanced standing credit and the fulfillment of requirements for distribution, prerequisite courses, and graduation. No special use is made of Standard Level course credits. Students who receive grades of 5, 6, or 7 in the Higher Level examinations may receive a maximum of one full year of credit. Advanced standing for high academic achievement in other international education systems will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Home-Schooled Students
Washington College welcomes applications from home-educated students. Applicants will be required to 1) submit a completed application form and essay/personal statement, 2) submit official results of either the SAT-I or ACT examinations (the “score optional” policy does not apply to home-schooled applicants), 3) submit a transcript (or its equivalent) of academic coursework, 4) submit one letter of recommendation, and 5) interview on campus with a member of the admissions staff.
Transfer Admission
Transfer students are admitted to the College for semesters beginning in January and August. Admissions decisions are issued on a ‘rolling’ basis. It is recommended that applications for fall transfer admission be filed prior to July 1 and that applications for spring transfer admission be filed prior to December 1. Application procedures for transfer candidates are generally the same as outlined above; however, SAT or ACT scores are only required for applicants who have completed less than two semesters of college-level study. Official transcripts from all colleges attended must be submitted. An official secondary school transcript is also required. Advanced placement and course credit will be given to transfer students with acceptable A.P. scores provided that documentation from the College Board is received within one semester of enrollment at Washington College. It is advisable to consult with both the Admissions Office and the Registrar in order to obtain an accurate evaluation concerning transfer of academic credits.
To satisfy requirements for graduation, transfer students must complete a minimum of fifty-six credit hours at Washington College or in a Washington College approved off-campus study program, and the final eight courses must be taken in residence. Transfer students must also complete the senior capstone experience.
Readmission of Former Students
Unless an official leave of absence has been obtained, students who voluntarily withdraw in good standing and take courses at another college or university during the withdrawal period are required to complete an Application for Readmission. Such students also forfeit any/all previously-awarded merit-based scholarships.
To have their matriculated enrollment status reinstated, students suspended for academic reasons must petition the Committee on Advising and Academic Standing and submit evidence of further academic progress supported by an official transcript from an approved college.
Students dismissed for a disciplinary reason must petition the Vice President and Dean of Students and supply evidence clearly indicating, through study at an approved college or recommendation from an employer, that reinstatement of matriculated enrollment status is warranted.
International Student Admission
International students are encouraged to apply to Washington College and should review all information posted for international students at the College Web site: www.washcoll.edu.
The required financial affidavit and appropriate academic transcripts should be mailed or faxed (410-778-7287) to the College as quickly as possible. If English is not the applicant’s first language, results of a language proficiency assessment (TOEFL, IELTS or their equivalent) must be submitted to the Admissions Office. Students who have been educated in an English-speaking curriculum may submit SAT or ACT scores in lieu of TOEFL/IELTS scores.
Washington College recognizes the International Baccalaureate curriculum, Higher Level courses, and diploma for the following purposes: admission, the assigning of advanced standing credit, and the fulfillment of requirements for distribution, prerequisite courses, and graduation. No special use is made of Standard Level course credits. Students who receive grades of 5, 6, or 7 in the Higher Level examinations may receive a maximum of one full year of credit. Advanced standing for high academic achievement in other international education systems will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
International students who require a student visa to enter the United States are required to submit a health form with current immunization records and chest x-ray results, and an affidavit of financial support; these documents are sent to all admitted applicants and must be returned no later than June 1.
Fees and Expenses
Basic educational Fees for 2012-2013:
Tuition (full-time) $39,208
Student Service Fee $736
Campus Housing $4,482 - $5,594
Meal Plans Per Year
19/week $4,342
14/week $3,950
10/week* $3,288
Ultimate Plan $5,498
19/week UR $5,026
14/week UR $4,730
50 Block* $ 810 per semester
75 Block* $ 935 per semester
175 Block* $2,336 per semester
*available to off-campus students only
Orientation Fee
All first-year and transfer students must pay an orientation fee of $234 for the fall semester or $166 for the spring semester.
Off Campus Study Fee
For each semester, or portion thereof, that a student participates in an off-campus program while enrolled at Washington College, the student must pay tuition and fees associated with the off-campus program and an additional $890 Off-Campus Study Fee.
Certain off-campus programs also require the payment of a special program fee that is generally non-refundable. The program fee is paid in two installments. A deposit is generally required at the time the student applies to the program, and the balance of the program fee is due upon billing.
Graduation Fee
There is a $170 mandatory graduation fee for all students expected to receive a Washington College degree. Generally the fee will be billed and due during the senior or final year. The graduation fee is a one-time non-refundable fee.
Part-time Student Fees
Part-time students are defined as those taking fewer than 12 credit-hours in a semester. Tuition is charged at the rate of $6,534 per semester undergraduate course and $1,164 per semester graduate course. Part-time undergraduate students are also assessed a pro rata student fee ($110 for a full credit course). Graduate students are also assessed a $100 non-refundable per course registration fee. For students enrolled only as auditors, the fee for each audited course is $339.
Special Course Fees
Certain courses, such as applied music, education internship, and some specialized instruction classes in physical education, have additional fees.
Senior Obligation/Senior Capstone Fee
Students whose graduation requirements include completion of an SCE:
If a student has completed all graduation requirements except the senior capstone experience (SCE) and has not previously taken an SCE, the fee for the SCE will be the same as the fee for one four-credit course.
If a student has completed all graduation requirements except the SCE and has taken but not successfully completed (failed or withdrawn from) an SCE, he or she will have to register for and successfully complete a second SCE in order to graduate. For students who register for the second SCE within one or two semesters of not successfully completing the first, the fee for the second SCE will be $1500.00.
If a student has completed all graduation requirements except the SCE and has not been enrolled at the College for more than two semesters, that student must register for and successfully complete an SCE in order to graduate. The fee for that SCE will be the same as the fee for one four-credit course, regardless of whether the student has previously taken an SCE.
Incomplete Grades in SCE:
Faculty may assign a grade of incomplete to a student taking an SCE, subject to the policy on the incomplete (see page 55). Students whose SCE incomplete becomes a grade of F (on Friday of the third week of classes) may register for a second SCE by Friday of the following week (the fourth week of classes) in that semester. The fee for that SCE will be $1500.00. Only under extreme extenuating circumstances will students be allowed an extension of their incomplete for an SCE.
Students whose graduation requirements include completion of the Senior Obligation:
If a student has completed all graduation requirements except the Senior Obligation, that student must register as an auditor for and successfully complete an SCE (which replaced the Senior Obligation in Fall 2006) in order to graduate. The fee for that SCE will be $300.00.
Deposits
Once admitted to Washington College, full-time matriculating undergraduate students are required to make a $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit. The College reserves places in the entering class in the order in which these deposits are recorded.
All students who will be living on campus are required to make a non-refundable housing deposit of $300 for returning students and $200 for first-time students. This deposit will be applied to the room billing for the semester.
In addition to semester fees, all undergraduate students are required to maintain a security deposit of $285 throughout their College careers.
Billing and Payment Policies
Tuition, Fees, Room, and Board
The College bills for tuition, fees, room, and board twice a year: in early July for the fall semester, and in late November for the spring semester. At the beginning of each semester, pending financial aid is allowed as a credit to the student’s account, and is counted as payment until September 30 and January 31 for the Fall and Spring semesters, respectively. Students who have not completed all necessary paperwork to finalize pending aid by that time are required to pay in full. If financial aid is later reinstated, the student will be given a full refund of any credit balance. This refund is available by contacting the Business Office. The due dates for each semester are indicated on the student statements. Generally, the due date will be two to three weeks prior to the first day of classes.
Students who have not paid in full, or who have not made satisfactory arrangements to pay in full using financial aid or the “Tuition Pay” payment plan, by the due date for the semester, will not be considered as having met their financial obligation. A late payment fee will apply and the student may be removed from class and housing assignments if payment arrangements are not made by the due date. The amount of the late payment fee is $150 on any balance of $1,500 or more for undergraduate students and $80 on any balance of $800 or more for graduate students.
Late Fee
The amount of the late payment fee is $150.00 on any balance of $1,500 or more for undergraduate students and $80.00 on ay balance of $800 or more for graduate students. A late fee is charged when a student:
has not paid their account in full or made payment arrangements by the officially posted due date for the current semester; or
has defaulted on a payment plan; or
has financial aid cancelled, in any manner.
Until this obligation has been met, students may not return to campus, attend classes, or obtain keys or a college ID card. Students may also be removed from class and housing arrangements. All students are required to complete and submit to the Business Office an Information Release/Responsibility Form. This form serves as consent for Business Office personnel to discuss questions regarding the student’s account with the indicated parties. Only those persons listed may be given information regarding the student’s account.
Other Students Charges
The Business Office bills each month for fines incurred by the student. These include parking violations, Library fines, Honor Board fines, dorm damages and other assessed charges. Parents/guardians should first discuss questionable charges with the student and/or appropriate department head, before calling the Business Office. Students are notified in writing when any fines are levied. Dorm damages are assessed after move out and are billed by June 15. All charges are due upon receipt of the monthly Student Statement of Account. Any charge that is outstanding for more than 30 days may result in grades not being sent, transcripts of academic credit not being issued, a diploma not being issued, and pre-registration for subsequent semesters may be delayed.
Students may view their student account through the Washington College Web site using WebAdvisor.
Prepaid Debit Card System
The College uses ManageMYID.com where students (and parents) can view and/or manage a student’s campus card account. It provides valuable information about account balances and spending history, while enabling deposits to the campus card account using a credit card. ManageMyID.com is always on, and funds can be added anytime day or night. The card can be used at retail venues throughout campus. Balances on the debit cards transfer from semester to semester and year to year. Balances for graduating seniors will revert to their College account the last week of May typically. Refunds for medical withdrawals must be approved by the Business Office, otherwise there are no refunds. Lost or stolen cards are reported by logging on to ManageMyID.com to submit a lost/stolen card report immediately removing all access and spending privileges from the card. The student will be instructed on what their next steps should be in order to obtain a new card.
Payments
Washington College Business Office accepts cash, cashier’s checks, traveler’s checks, wire transfers, and money orders in payment of student accounts. Wire transfer information can be obtained by calling the Accounts Receivable Specialist in the Business Office (410-778-7736). Personal checks are also accepted, unless there has been a previous incident of payment by check that was returned for non-sufficient funds. Once a non-sufficient funds check has been returned on a student’s account, future payments must be made using another acceptable form of payment. Post-dated checks are not acceptable. Credit card payment for student account balances may only be made via the Washington College Web site, there is a convenience fee for this service. E-Check payment can be made via the Washington College Web site, there is no fee for this service.
Personal checks submitted for payments on student accounts will have the student’s college ID number written on the face of the check.
Parents wishing to insure against the financial losses associated with medical withdrawals after the beginning of classes may purchase insurance through the College. (Contact the Business Office for more information.)
Sallie Mae Tuitionpay, in partnership with Washington College, offers tuition installment payment plans. Tuition and fees may be paid in 10, 11, or 12 monthly installments under these plans. Information about the Tuitionpay Monthly Installment Plan is mailed to all current and accepted students and can be obtained through the Business Office. All payment obligations not included in the Plan must be paid in full by the due date for the semester. If Tuitionpay terminates the student’s plan for nonpayment, the student will be subject to a default penalty charge equal to the late check-in penalty.
Washington College offers a prepaid tuition plan which guarantees savings by protecting the student from future increases in the price of tuition. Tuition may be prepaid at the prevailing semester rate by multiplying the current semester rate by the number of semesters to be prepaid.
The Prepaid Tuition Option covers tuition only; room, board, and other fees cannot be prepaid and will be invoiced according to the normal fall/spring billing cycle(s).
For additional information or questions, please contact Jeani Narcum, Director- Office of Student Aid at 410 778 7214
Withdrawals and Refunds
If a student withdraws from the College during a semester, the student will be responsible for all nonrefundable amounts. When the student withdrawal results from a disciplinary action, the College makes no refund of any kind.
Tuition refunds or credits will be allowed according to the following schedule:
Before classes begin -100%;
During the first two weeks of classes-75%;
During the third week of classes-50%; during the fourth week of classes-25%;
After the fourth week of classes there will be no tuition refund.
Fees are generally not refundable after the start date of the semester. Residence hall spaces are assigned for the academic year; therefore no refunds or credits for rooms are given for a student withdrawing after classes begin. Board refunds or credits will be determined on a pro-rated basis.
Financial Aid
Washington College is committed to providing educational excellence and equity for all students. The policies and principles of financial aid are based on the belief that all qualified students—regardless of their race, sex, or economic status—should have the opportunity to experience a Washington College education. The College supports the principle that the purpose of financial aid is to provide monetary assistance to students who can benefit from a Washington College education, but who, without such assistance, would be unable to attend. Access to such assistance is considered a privilege, not a right.
Washington College offers several types of financial aid to help qualified full-time undergraduate students meet their college expenses. College-sponsored tuition scholarships, tuition grants, work-study, and low-interest loans are available to full-time undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and who meet the College’s admission criteria. In addition to College-sponsored financial aid, eligible students can receive assistance from federal, state, and independent aid programs.
The financial aid process is predicated upon the precept that parents will assume primary responsibility for the educational expenses of their sons and daughters; it is also understood that students have a responsibility to help pay for their education. Since an education is an investment that should yield lifelong dividends, a family should be prepared to contribute to it both before entering and while in college. College support is intended to complement family financial resources (including any federal, state, or other outside aid for which a student may be eligible); College need-based tuition assistance is offered only after all other sources of aid have been exhausted.
The purpose of need-based aid is to reduce the difference between the student’s estimated contribution to college expenses (as determined by the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) and Washington College’s Institutional Application for Need-Based Financial Aid) and the actual cost of tuition, room, and board, plus an estimated amount for books and miscellaneous expenses. For the 2012-2013 academic year at Washington College, that total is $52,518.
Applicants for Fall 2013 should file the FAFSA and Washington College’s Institutional Application for Need-Based Financial Aid between January 1 and March 1, 2013. Although 2012 federal tax information is needed to complete the two forms, families are advised to use estimated tax data rather than miss the March 1 filing deadline. Families with questions about estimating tax data are encouraged to call the Office of Student Financial Aid.
For students who show exceptional academic promise, Washington College also offers merit-based academic tuition scholarships. These are offered without regard to financial need; however, in cases involving both superior academic achievement and demonstrated financial need, a merit-based tuition scholarship will be included in the financial aid package.
Grant and scholarship assistance from all sources is applied first to full-time tuition charges. Grant and scholarship assistance in excess of tuition is then applied to direct College charges for fees, and on-campus room and board.
Application Procedures for Freshmen and Transfer Students
There are four items that must be submitted to be considered for need-based financial aid at Washington College:
The Washington College Institutional Application for Need-Based Financial Aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Parents’ 2012 Federal Income Tax Transcript
Student’s 2012 Federal Income Tax Transcript
The FAFSA is used to collect financial information needed to determine a student’s eligibility for federal aid (Federal Pell, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Direct Student Loans). The WC Institutional Application for Need-Based Financial Aid collects additional non-federal data used by Washington College to determine eligibility for institutional need-based grants. To be considered for maximum federal, state, and College financial aid, the FAFSA and WC Institutional Application for Need-Based Financial Aid should be completed and mailed between January 1 and March 1. Students who file these forms after the March 1 deadline will be processed in the order received and, if eligible, funded to the extent permitted by the availability of remaining funds.
New students will be notified of financial aid decisions on a rolling basis beginning in February. Returning, upper-class student award notices are posted online and available through Web Advisor in June after the completion of spring semester courses.
Upperclass Student Aid
Financial aid recipients are required to reapply for need-based aid each year. Upperclass students must complete the FAFSA form by March 1. Completion of The Washington College Institutional Aid Application is only required during the first year a student requests consideration for need-based aid. Tax transcripts are required only in the event that the student’s file is selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education. Notification of aid decisions begins in June.
Students who received no financial assistance during the fall semester, but who wish to be considered for need-based aid during the spring term, must file the appropriate applications with the Financial Aid Office no later than November 1. Spring term awards are based upon the availability of funds as well as demonstrated need and academic achievement.
Important notes regarding need-based aid award: All students who have applied for and qualify for need-based financial aid will be offered some form of self-help aid. Self-help aid is defined as Federal Subsidized Direct Loans and Federal Work-Study. All students offered WC Institutional need-based grant or scholarship assistance are expected to accept and use the self-help assistance to offset their educational expenses.
The percentage of demonstrated need that is met by the College’s aid award varies from student to student. Although 100% of demonstrated need is met in some cases (e.g., a student with high academic ability and low to moderate need), meeting full need is not the policy of Washington College.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policies
The Office of Student Financial Aid has established the following policies and procedures stated to fulfill the requirements expressed in the Higher Education Act (HEA). The Satisfactory Academic Progress policies and procedures of Washington College are reviewed when changes at the federal or institutional level require review to ensure compliance with Federal Regulations. All Washington College students applying for Title IV federal and selected other types of assistance must meet the criteria stated hereafter regardless of whether or not they previously received aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress for financial aid eligibility should not be confused with the College’s academic progress policy. These are two distinct and totally separate policies. It is entirely possible to fail to meet minimum standards of one policy and pass the minimum standards of the other.
Policy Requirements
The HEA revised section 668 contains updated regulations concerning Satisfactory Academic Progress. Section 668 requires that an institution establish, publish and apply reasonable standards for measuring a student’s ability to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Such standards must meet the following qualifications:
- Contain standards that are the same as or stricter than the institution’s standards for a student enrolled in the same educational program who is not receiving assistance under a Title IV, HEA program.
- Include both a qualitative (grade-based) element and a quantitative (time-based) element.
- Evaluate student progress in both elements annually, at a minimum.
- Provide specific procedures under which a student may appeal a determination that the student is not making satisfactory progress including documentation of extenuating circumstances.
- Provide specific procedures for a student to re-establish that he or she is maintaining “satisfactory progress.”
- Describe the pace at which a student must progress toward a degree to complete degree requirements within the allowed timeframe providing measurement at each evaluation.
- Describe how GPA and pace of completion are affected by transfer credit.
- Require that if the student is not making satisfactory academic progress, the student is no longer eligible to receive aid.
- Notify students of the results of the evaluation at the end of the annual review as to whether the student has met the qualitative and quantitative components.
- Define terms used in discussing the evaluation of satisfactory academic progress including the terms appeal, probation, academic plan, and maximum timeframe.
- Provide for consistent application of standards to all students within categories of students, e.g., full-time, part-time, undergraduate, and graduate students and educational programs established by the institution.
The programs governed by these regulations are:
1. For Undergraduates:
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
Federal Work-Study (FWS)
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
All Washington College need-based tuition grants
2. For Graduate Students:
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Satisfactory Academic Progress standards include three elements:
- Maximum time frame within which a degree or certificate must be granted,
- Minimum completion percentage, and
- Minimum cumulative grade point average.
SAP Definitions
HEA section 668 requires that Washington College define various terms related to the evaluation of SAP.
Maximum Timeframe (MTF) – The required length of time it will take a student to complete a degree program or certificate based on the appropriate enrollment status. Federal regulations allow a student to be eligible to receive aid up to 150% of the time that it would normally take to complete a degree. All credit hours in which a student enrolls or transfers to Washington College are included in the maximum time frame calculation, regardless of the number of degrees a student chooses to obtain. Grades that are considered credit hours attempted and completed in the calculation of maximum time frame include: A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, I*, W, P.
Minimum Completion Percentage (MCP) – The percentage of coursework that a student must earn during enrollment. Washington College requires students to earn passing grades in 67% of the hours in which they enroll during the evaluation period. Grades that are considered hours earned include A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, P.
Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average – The minimum GPA a student must have earned at the end of the evaluation period. For first year undergraduate students, a 1.75 CGPA is required. All other undergraduates a 2.0 CGPA is required. Graduate students are required to maintain a CGPA of 2.67 during the entire length of their program.
SAP Appeal – The process by which a student who is not meeting the institution’s standards petitions the institution for reconsideration of the student’s eligibility. Students are evaluated at the close of spring semester annually. At this time, any student not meeting all SAP components will be ineligible for any further financial aid. Students may submit an appeal to be considered for reinstatement on a probationary status of no more than one semester to resolve all deficiencies. Students who appeal, but for whom it would be mathematically impossible to resolve all deficiencies in one semester, will be placed on an academic plan. Per Federal Regulations, Washington College can only consider appeals based on the death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or other special circumstance. Appeals must include documentation of circumstances on which the appeal is based. Appeals must also specify why the student failed to satisfy SAP requirements and what has changed in the student’s situation.
SAP Probation – A status assigned to a student who fails to satisfy SAP requirements, who has successfully appealed and had eligibility for aid reinstated. Reinstatement of aid during this probationary period may be no longer than one semester. Additional periods of probation are determined by performance during previously approved probationary periods.
Academic Plan – Students may be placed on an academic plan upon submission of a successful appeal. If it is mathematically impossible for a student to resolve all deficiencies during one semester of attendance and the student’s reason for appeal is appropriate according to federal regulations, the student may be placed on an academic plan with the end goal being to resolve all deficiencies. An academic plan can vary in length and is determined by the Office of the Associate Provost and Dean. The Academic Plan does not have to equate to the exact number of semesters it would take a student to resolve all deficiencies. Students granted aid eligibility through an academic plan may receive aid for up to one year before conducting a review of the student’s performance. If the student is meeting the criteria identified in the SAP appeal approval at the annual review, the student’s academic plan may be extended.
Reinstatement – The act of removing all SAP deficiencies reinstating aid eligibility. Reinstatement is defined as removing all deficiencies acquired during all period of enrollment or caused by transfer credits. Reinstatement is not a status granted in regard to an appeal.
SAP Components
The following provide detailed information regarding the evaluation of the three components required in the review of SAP.
Maximum Time Frame (MTF) – Undergraduate students receiving financial aid must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and make steady progress toward the completion of their degree as described below. The maximum time frame for program completion is defined as 150% of the credits required to complete the degree program as defined by Washington College. For example, a typical Bachelor’s degree requires 128 credits: 128 x 150% = 192 credits. 192 credits is the maximum that can be attempted with financial aid.
Attempted Credits Grade Point Minimum Cumulative
Average Requirements Credit Completion
0 – 32 1.75 67% of attempted credits
33 – 48 2.00 67% of attempted credits
49 – 64 2.00 67% of attempted credits
65 – 80 2.00 67% of attempted credits
81 or more 2.00 67% of attempted credits
Transfer credits accepted by Washington College will be included in the progress completion requirement and minimum CGPA requirement (if the College transferred in the grade). Students who have not completed their undergraduate degree after 192 attempted hours (including transfer credits) will no longer be eligible for financial aid. Students must graduate with a cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
For undergraduates, first-year students must earn a minimum of a 1.75 cumulative grade point average by the end of the first award year. Undergraduate students must earn a minimum of a 2.00 cumulative grade point average by the end of all subsequent award years to be eligible for aid.
Washington College is not obligated to continue institutional grant assistance to undergraduate students who require more than eight semesters to complete degree requirements.
Graduate students receiving financial aid must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and make steady progress toward the completion of their degree as described below. The maximum time frame for program completion is defined as 150% of the credits required to complete the degree program as defined by Washington College. For example, a typical Graduate degree requires 30 credits: 30 x 150% = 45 credits. 45 credits is the maximum that can be attempted with financial aid.
Attempted Credits Grade Point Minimum Cumulative
Average Requirements Credit Completion
0 – 9 2.67 67% of attempted credits
10 – 15 2.67 67% of attempted credits
16 – 21 2.67 67% of attempted credits
22 – 27 2.67 67% of attempted credits
27 or more 2.67 67% of attempted credits
Transfer credits accepted by Washington College will be included in the progress completion requirement and minimum CGPA requirement (if the College transferred in the grade). Students who have not completed their graduate degree after 45 attempted hours (including transfer credits) will no longer be eligible for financial aid. Students must graduate with a cumulative 2.67 grade point average.
SAP Notifications
At a minimum, students will be notified of the results of the annual SAP review. All students will receive notification of their SAP standing regarding of their status. Students who comply with Federal Regulations will receive their financial aid award for the upcoming academic year. Correspondence will be sent to students via email. Academic Advisors will receive a copy of SAP notifications in the event that an advisee fails to meet the SAP standards.
SAP Ineligible – This letter is sent to students who have failed to meet, at least, one component of SAP. Students found to be deficient in GPA, MCP, and/or MTF after the annual review are considered ineligible for all forms of financial aid during the subsequent award year. Aid can only be reinstated through a successful, documented appeal or by resolving all deficiencies.
SAP Probation Removed – This letter is sent to students who were on a probationary status during their prior term of attendance and have now resolved all of their deficiencies. This status is approved at the end of the term of probation and is determined by successful removal of SAP deficiencies. To receive SAP Probation Removed, students must have achieved the minimum GPA required for their academic career and level and must reach, at least, 67% of accumulative course completion. Students who fail to meet these criteria will be ineligible for financial aid unless all deficiencies are satisfied.
SAP Probation Denial – This letter is sent to students who were on a probationary status during their prior term of attendance and did not resolve all deficiencies. Students who fail to resolve all deficiencies will be ineligible for financial aid. Students in this situation cannot have aid reinstated. They have already submitted an appeal during a prior term and, thus, have exhausted their right to appeal. Resolution of all deficiencies is the only mechanism that a student may again be considered eligible for financial aid.
SAP Academic Plan Extension – This letter is sent to students who were on an academic plan during their prior term of attendance and met all requirements of their plan and/or resolved all deficiencies. This status is granted upon specified review of the academic plan or during the annual review. Unless otherwise specified, students must maintain the minimum GPA required for the academic career for the term and must complete, at least, 67% of courses attempted. Students who fail to meet these criteria or those communicated specifically in the SAP correspondence will be ineligible for financial aid unless all deficiencies are satisfied.
SAP Academic Plan Denial – This letter is sent to students who were on an academic plan during their prior term of attendance and did not meet all requirements of that plan or resolve all SAP deficiencies. Students who fail to meet these criteria or those communicated specifically in the SAP correspondence will be ineligible for financial aid. Students in this situation cannot have aid reinstated. They have already submitted an appeal during a prior term and, thus, have exhausted their right to appeal. Resolution of all deficiencies is the only mechanism that a student may again be considered eligible for financial aid.
SAP Appeal Procedures
Beginning with the 2011-12 academic year, significant changes were made to the appeal process. Federal regulations do not require that a school allow students an opportunity to appeal an unsatisfactory status. Washington College has chosen to exercise the ability to use professional judgment and entertain appeals for reinstatement of aid for no more than one term of probation. Students for whom it would be mathematically impossible to resolve all deficiencies during one term may be placed on an academic plan, which gives much more flexibility in financial aid reinstatement. However, per federal regulations, only appeals documenting specific circumstances will be considered for approval. The Admission and Student Aid Committee overseeing SAP will review the content of the appeal. Only appeals that document the following reasons will be considered:
Serious physical or mental illness of the student
Serious physical or mental illness of the student’s immediate family member
Death of the student’s immediate family member
Other extreme circumstances
If the appeal is not submitted for one of these reasons, it will automatically be denied by the Director of Student Aid and will not be heard by the SAP Appeal Committee. If the appeal is submitted based on an approved circumstance, but does not provide documentation of said circumstance(s), the Director will contact the student and request the documentation. If the appeal is complete and all necessary documentation is provided, the Director will prepare to present the appeal to the SAP Appeal Committee.
Students may only submit one appeal per academic career. For example, students may appeal once as an undergraduate and once as a graduate. Exceptions may be made for students who have not attended Washington College for, at least, three full academic years.
For students who have exceeded the maximum timeframe, consideration for reinstatement may be given up to 175% of the normal time it takes to complete a degree in the student’s academic career. Appeals for students who have exceeded 175% of the normal time it would take to complete the degree they are pursuing will not be considered. Students who have exceeded this cap may only pursue alternative loan funding. They will no longer be considered for financial aid during their academic career.
There is no secondary appeal process. If an appeal is denied, students can only be reinstated for aid eligibility if they satisfy all deficiencies. If an appeal is approved and the student does not fulfill the conditions of his or her probation or academic plan, the student will not be eligible for aid for any future semesters during their academic career unless the student satisfies all deficiencies.
SAP Probation
In cases where the appeal is approved, the student may only be permitted one semester of aid. During this semester, the student is considered to be on SAP Probation. Unless otherwise specified, students must maintain the minimum GPA required for the academic career for the semester and must complete, at least, 67% of courses attempted to be extended for the subsequent semester. Students on SAP Probation for timeframe will be reviewed to determine if the academic plan (timetable) is currently being followed and future enrollment is following this plan.
At the end of each semester, all students on SAP Probation will be reviewed to determine whether the student maintained the minimum GPA and MCP and/or the MTF academic plan is being followed. If a student fails to meet these criteria, the student loses aid eligibility. It will not be reinstated unless the student satisfies all SAP deficiencies at the end of the evaluation period. Notification of the semester probation review will be sent to students.
At the SAP annual review, students who were on probation or an academic plan during their most recent semester of attendance will be reviewed for an additional probationary term or continuation of the academic plan in the next academic year.
Eligibility for Reinstatement
A student may be reinstated for federal and selected other types of financial assistance by successfully satisfying all deficiencies. Students who regain eligibility by resolving all deficiencies will be identified during the annual SAP review.
Merit-Based Scholarships and Grants
Students who receive merit-based tuition scholarships are also required to maintain satisfactory academic progress. The Admissions and Financial Aid Committee will review the progress of any merit scholarship recipient with a CGPA below 3.0 and, in such a case, reserves the right to reduce or remove the student’s merit-based award.
Washington College recognizes and rewards exemplary academic achievement. More than 50% of all Washington College students qualify for a merit-based scholarship at the time of their admission to the College. On average, these scholarships range in amount from $5,000 - $17,500 per year. In most cases, eligibility for a merit-based scholarship is determined by high school GPA and SAT-I or ACT scores. Unless otherwise specified in the scholarship award letter, the annual renewal of all merit-based awards is contingent upon maintenance of full-time continuous enrollment and a CGPA between 3.00 and 4.00. Washington College Scholars are eligible to renew their Academic Tuition Scholarship through the completion of 8 semesters or 128 Washington College credits. NOTE: Only the Sophie Kerr and Quill & Compass Scholarships may be combined with another Washington College merit-based award. Students who meet the eligibility criteria for more than one Washington College award are entitled only to the largest award offered.
To be considered for merit-based awards we recommend the following:
Pursue a challenging course schedule. We assign weighted values to AP, IB, Honors and Advanced courses. Without exception, the students who receive our largest scholarships have taken the toughest classes. Be realistic with your selections but avoid the path of least resistance!
Seek letters of recommendation from those teachers who can attest to your best efforts and success. Let them help tell your story!
Be sure to schedule an admission interview/campus visit. Do not pass up the opportunity to meet and inform the individual who will be reviewing your credentials!
Apply for admission well in advance of our February 15 deadline.
All recipients of merit-based scholarships are designated as Washington Scholars. Within the Washington Scholars Program there are several categories of awards; these include:
Washington College Academic Tuition Scholarships for Entering Freshmen
These four-year tuition scholarships are awarded to admitted applicants on the basis of secondary school achievement and potential for success. All admitted applicants are reviewed by the Scholarship Committee to determine their eligibility for these awards.
Admitted applicants who are members of their high school’s National Honor Society, Cum Laude Society or National Society of High School Scholars at the time of admission are awarded a four-year Washington College Academic Tuition Scholarship of at least $50,000 ($12,500 annually ($6,250 per semester) for four years). Some NHS /CLS members with exemplary high school academic records may qualify for awards that increase their Washington College Academic Tuition Scholarship from $12,500 per year to $13,750-$17,500 per year.
Admitted applicants who qualify for merit-based academic tuition scholarships are notified of their award and the amount of the award at the time of admission to the College.
Washington College Academic Tuition Scholarships for Transfer Students
These tuition scholarships are awarded to full-time, high-achieving transfer students including, but not limited to, students who have been inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Society. Typically, awards range in amount from $5,000 to $17,500 per year. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 - 4.0 and full-time continuous enrollment are required for renewal.
Admitted transfer applicants who qualify for academic tuition scholarships are notified of their award and the amount at the time of admission.
Sophie Kerr Gifts in English Literature
These $6,000 scholarships ($1,500 annually for four years) are awarded to entering students who intend to major in English and/or minor in Creative Writing and who show outstanding promise in the field of English or American literature. Members of the English Department select scholarship finalists.
Quill & Compass Scholarships
These $6,000 scholarships ($1,500 annually for four years) are awarded to entering students who intend to major in History or American Studies. Members of the C. V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience select scholarship finalists.
Readmission and Merit Scholarship Renewal Information for Students Who Withdraw from Washington College
A student who voluntarily withdraws in good standing and subsequently takes courses at another college or university prior to returning to Washington College is required to complete an Application for Readmission. Students who enroll in classes at another college or university prior to returning to WC will need to contact the Admissions Office to request an Application for Readmission. The readmission decision will be based on the grades received in the courses taken at the other college or university.
Students who receive merit scholarships to attend Washington College are expected to maintain full-time continuous enrollment at Washington College, and maintain a CGPA of at least a 3.00. Merit-based scholarships will not be reissued to students who withdraw from the College and subsequently re-apply for admission. Students who withdraw and reapply will be considered for all appropriate need-based aid programs if they meet the College’s need-based aid application deadlines.
College Scholarships and Grants
Income from the corporations, foundations, and individuals listed below provides funding for need- and merit-based scholarships at Washington College. Students need not apply for these scholarships, as the Director of Financial Aid awards them in accordance with the donors’ stipulated criteria and administers them in conjunction with the College’s financial aid program. Awards held by upper-class students may not be available to new students in any given year.
Annual Scholarships
The Independent College Fund of Maryland Scholarships
The Kent and Queen Anne’s Alumni Scholarship Fund
The James Millard Murphy Scholarship
Dr. Jacob D. Rieger ‘28 Scholarship
Endowed Scholarships
The Helen Sullivan Adams Scholarship Fund
The Bailey Memorial Scholarship
The William O. Baker ’35 Scholarship
John E. Barnes, Jr. ‘47 Scholarship
Berkshire Hathaway Scholarship
A.T. and Mary H. Blades Scholarship Fund
Cecil M. Benadon / Hodson Trust Memorial Scholarship
The Elizabeth A.”Bo” Blanchard Scholarship Fund
The Theodosia C. Bowie ‘33 Scholarship Fund
The Ann Brandt ’43 Memorial Fund
George Avery Bunting Scholarships
The Burchinal Scholarship
The Joseph Raynor Carrow Fund
The Douglass Cater Scholarship
The Chevy Chase Bank Scholarship
The Christmas Scholarship
A. James Clark Scholarship Fund
The Dr. Charles B. Clark ‘34 Scholarship Fund
Class of 1940 Scholarship
Class of 1950 Scholarship
The Class of 1956 Scholarship Fund
Class of 1987 Scholarship
Class of 1994 Scholarship
The William L. Clayton Scholarship
Cleaver / Hurst Educational Endowment
George and Ann Clegg Scholarship Fund
Clark M. Clifford Scholarship
Clough Family Scholarship
Colonial Dames, Chapter 1, Scholarship
The Concordia Foundation Scholarship Fund
The Nellie Graham Cooley Scholarship
The Corddry Scholarship Fund
The Alonzo G. Decker, Jr. Scholarship
The Virginia G. Decker Scholarship
The Helen Springer Dryden Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Harry J. Duffey Scholarship
The Henry Armitt Brown Dunning Caroline County Scholarship
George R. Evans / Hodson Trust Memorial Scholarship
Robert Fallaw Endowed Scholarship
The Jefferson L. Ford, Jr. ‘14 Memorial Fund
France-Merrick Scholarship
The Friends of the Arts Scholarship
Gale Fund for Environmental Studies
The Charles H. Gibson Scholarship Fund
The Daniel Z. Gibson Scholarship Fund
Helen S. Gibson Scholarship
James H. Gilliam, Jr. Scholarship
The Gray-Pinkney Scholarship
The William G. Greenly ’50 Scholarship Fund
The William E. Griffith ‘24 Scholarship
The Julius Grollman Scholarship American Legion Post #278
Norman M. and Eleanor H. Gross Scholarship Fund
Anna Melvin Hague ‘05 Memorial Scholarship
The Charles S. Hague, Jr. ‘38 Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Avery W. Hall Scholarship
William Randolph Hearst Foundation Scholarship
The Leroy Savin Heck, M.D. ‘25 Scholarship Fund
The Alfred S. Hodgson Scholarship
The Hodson Trust-Beneficial Merit Scholarships
Hodson-Gilliam Scholarships
Leroy E. Hoffberger Music Scholarship
The William and Nellie Frederick Hotchkiss Scholarship Fund
The Ernest A. Howard Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Vincent Hynson Scholarship Fund
The Jenkins Family Scholarship
The Rufus C. Johnson ‘42 Scholarship
Elwood M. Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Reverend John Edward Jones Scholarship
The Mr. and Mrs. William Kight Scholarship
The Johan and Bart Koppenol Scholarship Fund
Prudence Kudner Memorial Scholarship
The Larkin Family Scholarship
The Constance Stuart Larrabee Scholarship Fund
Legg Mason Wood Walker Scholarship Fund
The Lewis-McGrath Scholarship
The Dr. Frederick G. Livingood Memorial Scholarship
Thomas Hunter Lowe ‘52 Scholarship
Thomas J. and Belle Patterson Maher Scholarship
The Ida May Heinz Mantel ’62 and Robert B. Mantel Scholarship
The Mary Martin Drama Scholarship
The Mary Emily Matthews Scholarship Fund
The William Beck Matthews Scholarship Fund
The Joseph H. McLain ‘37 Memorial Scholarship
The Memorial Scholarship
The Alice C. and J. William Middendorf, Jr. Merit Scholarship
The Mid-Shore Community Foundation Scholarship
The Mid-Shore Community Foundation/Steele Fund Scholarship
The Lewis Waters Milbourne Scholarship Fund
The Clifton M. Miller Scholarship
The Duncan Miller Scholarship
Mary Louise Moore Scholarship
Dorothy Woodall Myers Scholarship Fund
The Everett Nuttle Memorial Scholarship Fund
The George D. and Margaret A. Olds Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Dr. John Thomas Parker Scholarship Fund
The William Kennon Perrin and Anita Ewens Perrin Scholarship
The Raymond Richard Pomeroy ‘51 Scholarship
The Raggedy Ann and Andy™ Scholarship Fund
The Irwin O. Ridgely Memorial Scholarship
The H. Charles Rienhoff Scholarship Fund
The John W. Roberts III ‘67 Book Scholarship
The Emory T. Roe Fund
The Henry Rogers Scholarship
Sonia and Nathan Rosenwald Scholarship
The Harry S. Russell Memorial Scholarship
St. Paul Travelers Scholarship Fund
The Margaret Jane Martin Sasse Memorial Scholarship
The Joseph W. and Jean E. Sener Scholarship
The Seraph Foundation Scholarship
The Smith-Bandel Scholarship
C. V. Starr Scholarship
The Joe B. Stevens Scholarship
The George D. Stowman Memorial Scholarship
The SunTrust Scholarship
The J. Edwin Tawes Memorial Scholarship
The Edith Louise Lawrie Thornton Scholarship
The Margaret Boulden Thornton Memorial Scholarship
The Ralph Usilton ‘62 Scholarship
The William Warner Scholarship
George Washington Scholarship
Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning (WC-ALL) Scholarship
P. Watson Webb Scholarship
Elizabeth Tate Westbrook Art Scholarship
The Clarence C. White Memorial Scholarship
The Mrs. John Campbell White Scholarship
The Jacob O. Williams Memorial Scholarship
Federal and State Grants and Scholarships
The Federal Pell Grant program makes funds available to undergraduate students to attend post-secondary institutions. Eligibility is based on financial need, and application is through the FAFSA application .
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program provides funds for grants to undergraduate students with great financial need. Application is through the normal financial aid application process of Washington College, and the awards are determined by the institution.
State Scholarships are available to some students through their individual state scholarship administrative offices. To compete for these state awards, students should contact their state scholarship administration to inquire about application procedures, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines.
Student Loan Programs
The Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Student Loan Program enables students to borrow directly from the U.S. Department of Education. This loan is guaranteed by the federal government.
The maximum for freshmen is $5,500; for sophomores, $6,500; and for juniors and seniors, the maximum is $7,500. All borrowers must complete a FAFSA. The interest rate is set in July of each year.
Repayment of Federal Direct Student Loans begins six months after leaving school, and borrowers may be allowed up to ten years to repay the loan. Students borrowing funds through the Unsubsidized Direct Student Loan program are responsible for monthly interest payments while enrolled. Principal payment is deferred until six months after graduation. Consolidation programs, which may allow a longer repayment period, are also available.
The Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) allows a parent to borrow funds to assist with payments for the current academic year. This program is not need-based and may be used in lieu of the family contribution. The interest rate is set in July of each year. Repayment normally begins within 60 days of disbursement. However, parents may elect to postpone repayment of the principal until 6 months after the student is enrolled at least half time. Application information is available through the Office of Student Aid.
Federal Work-Study Program
Washington College participates in the Federal Work-Study Program, which provides job opportunities on campus for students who have financial need. There are a wide variety of jobs from which to choose: students assist in the Admissions and Student Affairs offices, in Miller Library, and for various departments and offices all over campus. In return for their efforts, work-study participants earn a biweekly paycheck to help cover their ongoing educational expenses. Application is made through the College’s normal financial aid application process, and awards are determined by the College.
Campus Employment
Washington College also offers on-campus employment opportunities that are not need-based.
Federal Title IV Aid Refund Policy
Washington College adopted the refund policy that conforms to Section 668.22 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. Withdrawing, or expelled students with Title IV funding will be subject to both Federal Policy regarding the possible return of Title IV funds awarded to the student and to Washington College’s policy regarding the possible return of institutional aid awarded.
The law requires that, if a student withdraws, is granted an approved leave of absence, or is expelled during a semester, the amount of Title IV assistance that the student has earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. If the student received more assistance than he or she earned, the excess funds must be returned.
The amount of assistance that a student has earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is, if a student has completed 30 percent of the semester, the student earns 30 percent of the assistance they were originally scheduled to receive. Once the student has completed more than 60 percent of the semester, the student earns all of his/her assistance.
If a student received excess funds that must be returned, Washington College must return a portion of the excess equal to the lesser of the student’s institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of financial aid received, or the entire amount of the excess funds. Funds are returned in the following order:
ID Description Return Priority
USTF Unsub FFEL/Direct loan 1
GSL SUB FFEL/Direct Stafford 2
GPLUS FFEL/Direct Graduate PLUS 3
PLUS FFEL/Direct PLUS 4
PELL Pell Grant 5
FSEOG FSEOG Category 6
TEACH TEACH Grant 7
Policies and procedures for withdrawing from the College are described on page 57. To request an approved leave of absence or to withdraw from the College, please contact the Associate Provost for Academic Services.
Any Title IV aid recipient who is withdrawing from the College, requesting a leave of absence, or is expelled must contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss how this action would affect his/her financial aid awarded. Any questions related to this refund policy should be directed to the Financial Aid Office in the Casey Academic Center.
Around Campus
Academic Facilities
William Smith Hall, named in honor of the College’s founder, is the main classroom building. Known affectionately as “Bill Smith,” the early twentieth-century building includes seminar rooms and larger classrooms, faculty offices, and the Norman James Theatre, a 164-seat auditorium used for symposia, films, and student recitals. Wireless access is also available.
Dunning Hall and the Alonzo G. Decker Jr. Laboratory Center, recently renovated, are part of a complex devoted to the sciences, and house state-of-the-art classrooms, labs, and offices for Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.
The John S. Toll Science Center is a 45,000 square foot, state-of-the-art classroom, office, and laboratory complex. The facility houses chemistry and biology labs, a 94-seat lecture hall, an environmental classroom, two seminar rooms, a penthouse greenhouse, and a dramatic three-story glass atrium. The atrium connects to the newly renovated Dunning Hall, and the Alonzo G. Decker Jr. Laboratory Center.
The Eugene B. Casey Academic Center is the heart of campus activity. The ground floor of the brick Georgian-style building is a grand concourse that opens onto the College’s bookstore, student post office, and a common room for both faculty and students. The second floor includes a multipurpose forum, several seminar-size classrooms, and the Student Affairs Office. The third floor is home to the Office of Admissions and Student Financial Aid. Wireless access is also available. The landscaped Martha Washington Square adjoining the Casey Academic Center is a popular meeting place for students and faculty.
Daly Hall provides a mix of classrooms, seminar rooms, and faculty offices. Wireless access is available. The two-story brick structure, while traditional in appearance, features the latest in technology.
Louis L. Goldstein Hall combines faculty offices, classrooms, seminar rooms, labs, and a 75-seat lecture hall with 36 laptop computers. Wireless access is also available. The 23,000 square foot Flemish bond brick structure anchors the southern campus entrance.
Clifton M. Miller Library, built in 1970, is located in the center of campus. The building houses the library collection of more than 500,000 books, periodicals, newspapers, government documents, microform, and audiovisual resources, and is equipped with teaching classroom/computing lab, computing workstations, a multimedia center, the College archives, and a conference room. The campus network provides access to numerous electronic resources on- or off-campus and state-of-the-art technology enables students to use wireless laptops anywhere in the library. The Beck Multimedia and Technology Learning Center is located on the ground floor. The Center is equipped with Windows and Macintosh laptop computers, video editing workstations, digital video and digital still cameras, and DVD/VCR units. The Academic Skills office and the Math Center are also located in the library.
The Daniel Z. Gibson Center for the Arts houses the 440-seat Decker Theater, the 200-seat Shotwell Recital Hall, a 175-seat experimental theater, the Kohl Art Gallery, offices, and teaching and support spaces for Music and Drama.
The Constance Stuart Larrabee Arts Center is home to the visual arts. Once a boiler plant, it has been imaginatively converted into a modern facility equipped with studios for drawing and painting, as well as a darkroom and photography studio, informal exhibit space, and faculty studios.
The Rose O’Neill Literary House is the focal point for creative writing and literary activity. The renovated Victorian home contains a student study lounge, a paperback lending library, individual student writing rooms, gallery space for small art exhibitions, two Chandler and Price letterpresses and a Heidelberg Press. The offices of the Literary House Press and the Literary House’s director and associate director are also located here.
Recreational Facilities
Cain Athletic Center is home court for both the men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball programs. The facility also houses offices for physical education faculty, the Director of Athletics, coaches, sports information and sports medicine; locker rooms; and the Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Eugene B. Casey Swim Center houses an indoor pool and is home to the men’s and women’s varsity swim teams. Non-varsity-level swimmers might try intramural water polo, take a course in scuba diving, or do a few leisurely laps during recreational swim hours.
The Lelia Hynson Boating Park located a short walk from campus on the Chester River, features a dramatically designed waterfront pavilion, the perfect vantage point for watching sailing and crew races. The Truslow Boathouse, headquarters for the men’s and women’s crews, the sailing program, and other waterfront recreational activities, is located here.
The Benjamin A. Johnson Fitness Center provides exceptional indoor practice space for varsity baseball, softball, lacrosse, tennis, field hockey, and soccer teams. In addition, the 56,000-square foot facility provides recreational space for individual and intramural activities and includes a recently renovated 4,200-square foot fitness center, a jogging track, a dance studio, squash and racquetball courts, locker rooms, offices for coaches, and classrooms.
Kibler Field/Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium, home of the Shoremen lacrosse and soccer teams, has a new Field Turf artificial playing surface, a new track, and a spectacular new stadium. The stadium features open bleacher seating, team meeting rooms, a concession area, and an enclosed multi-purpose room overlooking the field. Baseball action takes place on the adjacent Athey Field. Varsity practice fields and a varsity softball diamond are on the western end of campus.
The Ellen Bordley Schottland Tennis Center, one of the College’s newest athletic facilities, provides a home for Washington College’s nationally competitive tennis program.
Other Buildings
The newly renovated Alumni House serves as a place for alumni to meet and socialize when they return for a visit. The space is also used as meeting and event space for student groups and organizations. Located adjacent to campus, on the corner of Washington and Campus Avenues, the house features a lounge, a comfortable meeting space, a full kitchen, and a flat screen TV; upstairs, the offices of the Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations and staff are located.
Brown Cottage offers distinguished guests of the College comfortable overnight accommodations and spacious living and dining areas for entertaining.
Bunting Hall houses the administrative offices of the College’s President, the Provost and Dean, Advancement, College Relations, Institutional Research, and the Registrar.
The Custom House, located at the foot of High Street along the Chester River, recalls Chestertown’s importance as a port of entry for Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Constructed in the 1740s, the building features Flemish bond brickwork with glazed headers. This significant historical structure is one of very few of its type that survive from the colonial era. The historic Custom House serves as the principal offices of the C. V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience and the Center for Environment & Society.
515 Washington Avenue houses the Business Office.
500 Washington Avenue houses the Human Resources offices.
508 Washington Avenue houses the Office of International Programs.
The historic Hodson Hall houses Hynson Lounge, an elegant space for readings, lectures and small dinners; downstairs, in the study lounge, portraits of retired faculty are displayed
Hodson Hall Commons, opened in October 2009, is a beautiful new facility for dining, relaxing, and socializing. The new student center features a game room, a wide-screen TV, a performance space known as “Center Stage,” and offices for the student events board and student government. Dining options include a two-level dining area, outdoor seating, and several retail food establishments (see page 33 for details).
The Hynson-Ringgold House is one of Maryland’s beautiful eighteenth-century mansions, today used as the home of the College’s President. Situated on Water Street in downtown Chestertown, it overlooks the Chester River.
Campus Life
Students at Washington College become members of a campus community rich with intellectual, artistic, musical, athletic, and social opportunities. Here, students have the chance to discover where their interests and talents lie and to build a foundation that will last a lifetime. They will interact with one another and with faculty and staff members in and out of the classroom—whether they work collaboratively on a research project, perform together on stage, meet for an afternoon kayaking excursion on the Chester River, cheer side-by-side for the basketball team, or practice German while having lunch in Hodson Hall Commons.
Students will benefit most from their college experience if they become involved with a few of the many groups and organizations that make up the Washington College community. It is our students, and their efforts to improve and enrich their community, that make Washington College such a special place.
Student Activities and the Student Center
Hodson Hall Commons Student Center is the heart of student activity on campus. Whether students are looking for a comfortable place to relax between classes, a friendly game of pool or the latest video game, a fun night of karaoke or a meeting place for their club or organization, they can find it in the Student Center. The Student Center features a popular game room, the Center Stage (known more informally as “The Egg” because of its shape), the Office of Student Activities, the Student Government Association Office and the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.
Student clubs and student leaders also find a home in the Student Center. Located near the Office of Student Activities and the Student Government Association Office, the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership provides student organizations and student leaders with the resources needed to plan activities and meetings. It even offers tools and supplies to craft eye-catching promotional flyers and banners. At Washington College, the Student Center has something for everyone!
Office of Student Activities and Student Events Board: Staff and students in the Office of Student Activities and the Student Events Board plan most of the major student events, with students taking the lead in selecting what is offered. The Student Events Board is known for the variety of events it sponsors and for its success in creating a vibrant and interesting campus social life. Open mic nights, an “Iron Chef” competition, dance parties, and nationally recognized comedians and bands are just a few of the social events that the Student Events Board sponsors on campus every year.
Lecture Series: The caliber of the lecturers and artists invited each year to Washington College is impressive. Recent speakers have included former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf; Nobel Prize-winning chemist Mario Molina; journalists John Harwood and Chip Reid; campaign strategists James Carville and Karl Rove; filmmaker Robert Bella; and numerous literary lights including Pulitzer Prize winners Junot Diaz, Natasha Trethewey and Ron Chernow, graphic novelist and screenwriter Neil Gaiman, and award-winning authors Nick Flynn, Colum McCann and Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket).
Concert Series: Students with a special love of the performing arts can enjoy distinguished performances. The Washington College Concert Series, now in its fifth decade, annually sponsors a variety of professional performances by such groups as the Brentano String Quartet and Inna Faliks, pianist.
Film Series: For the viewing pleasure of students, faculty, and community members, the College’s Film Series offers a selection of critically-acclaimed films.
Student Clubs and Organizations
Some student clubs have been around for years, while others come and go depending on the interests of students enrolled at the time. At Washington College it is easy to launch a new organization and the nearly 100 student organizations are proof. Below is a sampling of organizations active in the last few years.
Active Minds (mental health advocacy)
Alternate Dance Workshop
American Chemical Society Student Affiliate Chapter (Chemistry Club)
Amnesty International
Anthropology Club
Art History Club
Black Student Union
Campus Christian Fellowship
Catholic Campus Ministry
Cleopatra’s Sisters
Coalition for Peace and Social Justice
College Democrats
College Republicans
Computer Club
Dance Club
Equestrian Club
EROS: Encouraging Respect of Sexuality
Fakespeare
Habitat for Humanity
Health Occupation Students of America
Hillel (Jewish Student Organization)
International Relations Club
Interactive Gaming Society
Language Clubs: French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese
Model United Nations
Music Collegium
Musicians’ Union
Philosophy Club
Photography Club
Psychology Club
Scarlet Thread
Service Council
Skeet and Trap Shooting Club
SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise)
Student Environmental Alliance
WACappela
WAC Broadcasting
Waterski and Wakeboard Club
Wilderness Adventure Club
Writer’s Theatre
Writers’ Union
Student Publications: The Washington College Elm is the College’s weekly student newspaper. The Pegasus is the College yearbook. The Washington College Review (WCR) is a literary review that presents original writing. The Collegian is a bimonthly features magazine. The International Studies Review is an annual student journal featuring articles that contribute to the body of knowledge in international relations and related disciplines, provide fresh insight into the complexities of world affairs, and introduce readers to areas of the world they themselves have not yet explored. A board of publications composed of faculty advisors, administrative advisors, and the publications’ editors assists all student publications.
Student Government and Representation
Undergraduate members of the Washington College student body taking at least eight credits are members of the Student Government Association (SGA). There are three branches of the SGA. The legislative arm is the Student Senate, an elected group of students representing their classes and residential areas. The Senate shares in the work of establishing College regulations and standards of conduct and provides funding to support student clubs and extracurricular activities.
The executive branch consists of a President, Vice President, and Financial Controller who are elected by the entire student body each spring. They appoint an executive board to lead initiatives, support legislative committees, and address general student concerns. The Review Board of the SGA consists of the President, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Speaker of the Senate, and the Honor Board Chair.
The Honor Board exists to address both academic and social student misconduct, a responsibility shared with the faculty and with the College administration. The Review Board appoints a student Honor Board Chair and nine students who serve on the Honor Board; a faculty committee appoints faculty members serving on the Honor Board.
Students are represented on the following College committees: Academic Resources, Academic Standing and Advising, Admissions and Financial Aid, Curriculum, Honor Board, Planning, Review Board for Research with Human Subjects, and Student Life. In addition, the president of the SGA represents the student body at meetings of the Board of Visitors and Governors. The SGA secretary of academics represents the student body at faculty meetings; the editor of the Washington College Elm is also invited to faculty meetings and the College’s governing board meetings.
Office of Student Development
Washington College assists students in developing a variety of leadership and interpersonal skills as they negotiate the opportunities and challenges of college life. With this in mind, the Office of Student Development sponsors workshops, speakers, and other programs on a variety of topics including: leadership, alcohol and drug education and training, public speaking, conflict resolution, team/organization building, and others. Additionally, the Office of Student Development oversees Community Service and Greek Life and coordinates programs regarding sexual assault prevention and response.
Community Service: Contributing to the welfare of one’s community, nation, and world through service is an important part of the Washington College tradition. Opportunities for service learning beyond the classroom are varied and include:
Adopt-A-Bear
Amnesty International
Best Buddies
Books for a Better World
Chester River Association
Chestertown Volunteer Fire Dept.
Delmarva Blood Bank
Ducks Unlimited
For All Seasons, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity
Hands Out
Homeports (elderly assistance program)
Eastern Shore Hospice
Kent County Humane Society
Nothing but Nets Foundation
Sassafras River Association
Student Environmental Alliance
Students Helping Honduras
Students for Social Awareness
Tanzania Outreach
WC Service Council
Women in Need Alley Teen Center
Fraternity/Sorority Community: Roughly twenty percent of the students at Washington College belong to a fraternity or sorority. The women’s national sororities are Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Omicron Pi, and Zeta Tau Alpha. The men’s national fraternities are: Kappa Alpha, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, and Theta Chi.
The Interfraternity Council regulates and supervises recruitment and orientation of new members and ensures cooperation between various fraternities in social and philanthropic endeavors. The Panhellenic Council serves similar purposes for the sororities; both groups work closely with the College administration. The President’s Council works with the Director of Student Development and serves as the Greek governing body to set and uphold community standards as well as maintain the true spirit of the Washington College Greek community.
Alcohol and Other Drugs Programming: the Office of Student Development, working in conjunction with student and campus leaders, educates students about the importance of making informed and responsible decisions related to alcohol and other drugs and offers programming on a range of student wellness issues. The office brings speakers to campus to address issues of substance use and abuse known to be prevalent among college students nationwide. An important educational strategy occurs before new students come to campus. Before arriving for Orientation, every first-year student is required to complete AlcoholEdu for College, an online alcohol education program. Used at more than 350 campuses nationwide, the course educates students about the effects of alcohol, encourages the development of responsible decision-making and provides information about effective strategies to deal with peers on matters of alcohol and other drug use. AlcoholEdu also includes a mid-semester evaluation to gauge its effectiveness with students over time. Consistent with the College’s work to combat student misuse of alcohol and other drugs, parents and guardians are encouraged to participate in AlcoholEdu by reviewing a shorter version designed with parents in mind.
Multicultural Affairs
The Office of Multicultural Affairs serves as the principal office promoting cultural awareness and social justice programs for the Washington College community. In collaboration with student organizations and academic departments, the office works with faculty, staff, and students to engage in dialogue on multicultural awareness and social justice issues domestically and globally. The office also serves as a support system for students from historically under-represented populations in the areas of academics, personal development and career development.
Recreational Sports and Activities
The focus of the Recreational Department is not only on intramural competition, but also includes leisure activities that promote the surrounding environment of Washington College. The Recreation Department’s goal is to create exciting and enjoyable activities emphasizing and educating Washington College students on the idea of living a healthy lifestyle. Lifetime wellness is the essential component of the Recreation Department’s philosophy, and the only way to obtain lifetime wellness is through the motivation and practical application by each student.
Intramural activities promote friendly competition among friends and allow students an escape from the continual classroom stressors. Intramurals have included flag football, tennis, basketball, soccer, volleyball, racquetball, dodge ball, floor hockey, and kickball among others. The recreational fitness class arena offers a variety of free fitness classes with top notch instructors in their profession. Students can enjoy aerobics, Pilates, yoga, Zumba, meditation and several other classes that will challenge the mind, body, and soul.
The Washington College Club Sports program, under the auspices of the Recreational Sports Program, promotes student participation in a variety of physical and athletic activities and gives students opportunities to engage in the sport of their choice at various skill levels. The emphasis of this program is on student leadership and involvement.The Club Sports Program provides non-varsity competition in several sports, including: Equestrian, Trap and Skeet Shooting, Men’s Lacrosse, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Rugby, Women’s Rugby, Waterski and Wakeboard and Water Polo. The Recreational Sports Program provides activities including: Aerobic Exercise, Mixed Martial Arts, Wilderness and Adventure Club, and the Running Club.
With the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay so close to campus, recreational boating and fishing are favorite options for Washington College students. The College’s Boating Park on the Chester River provides opportunities for a variety of water sports, including kayaking, canoeing, sailing, crabbing, fishing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, and tubing. The Recreational Department also provides seasonal opportunities for students to get away from the college setting and enjoy the outdoors. Seasonal trips include whitewater rafting, winter skiing, camping, rock climbing, cycling, and sport clay shooting among others. Please visit http://studentlife.washcoll.edu/recreation/ for more information regarding campus recreation and the Benjamin A. Johnson Lifetime Fitness Center.
Intercollegiate Athletics
Washington College has a strong athletic tradition and is committed to providing a first-class athletic experience for its students at both varsity and non-varsity levels of competition. Approximately 25% of our students engage in intercollegiate athletics. The College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (Division III), and the Centennial Conference. The Centennial Conference, formed in 1993, comprises national liberal arts colleges and universities in the region that share similar academic aspirations and a commitment to the importance of the total educational experience of students engaged in sports. All eleven member institutions are more than one hundred years old and are Division III members of the NCAA. The College is also a member of the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC) as well as the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) and the Mid-Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association (MAISA).
Under the auspices of these recognized bodies, there is intercollegiate competition in baseball, basketball, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, swimming, and tennis for men; and basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball for women. The intercollegiate sailing program is coed. Men’s lacrosse is arguably Washington’s highest-profile sport, with 30 appearances in post-season play and a national championship title in 1998. The men’s tennis program is highly successful as well, having captured two national titles in four years—1994 and 1997—and remaining undefeated in conference play from 1986-2005. For decades, varsity rowing has been an integral part of the College’s athletic program, with a number of medals at prestigious regattas such as the Dad Vail. The women’s rowing team received berths to the NCAA Division III Championships in 2008 and 2009. Varsity sailing has also emerged as an elite program with its first ICSA National Championship appearance in 2009.
The College encourages all students to participate in some type of physical activity, and the Benjamin A. Johnson Lifetime Fitness Center makes that prospect quite appealing. The indoor practice area, the strength and conditioning room, the dance studio, the jogging track, and racquetball and squash courts draw both students as well as student/athletes who are interested in maintaining physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium, Kibler Field and Chatellier Track—home of the Shoremen and Shorewomen lacrosse and soccer teams and field hockey team—were completed in the summer of 2006 with a new field turf artificial playing surface, a new track, and a spectacular new stadium. The stadium features open bleacher seating, an enclosed multi-purpose room overlooking the field, team meeting rooms, and a concession area. Baseball action takes place on the adjacent Athey Park. Varsity practice fields and a varsity softball diamond are on the northern end of campus.
Employment Opportunities, Internships and More
Center for Career Development: As a resource for students in all classes and academic majors, the Center for Career Development offers a variety of career related services through individual appointments, information sessions, special events, a comprehensive website, and JOBS by George! First year students are connected to the Center for Career Development staff and resources early through the Career Awareness Program (CAP) that begins on-line before students arrive in late August and continues during Orientation. During the first year, students are guided to attend programs and engage in activities that clarify career interests, promote internships and experiential learning activities, and help students identify pursuits that will help them prepare for entry into graduate school, the workforce or other career choices. After the first year, Career Center staff work with students to find careers related to their majors, locate internships, develop job search, interviewing, and networking skills for employment and prepare for the graduate and professional school application process.
Office of Human Resources: The office coordinates non-work study campus employment and oversees all student employment authorization processes (for both work-study and non-work study positions).
Residential Life
Residential Life is an integral part of the Washington College liberal arts tradition. Living in a residence hall is an educational opportunity that supports and augments learning gained in the classroom. The College residence program, under the supervision of the Residence Life Office, provides students with opportunities and experiences to help them develop personal responsibility, maturity and independence along with the understanding, insight and skills needed for living in a close-knit community.
The College offers a variety of housing options. In addition to traditional corridor-style residence halls, several buildings offer suite style living. Students wishing to live with others who share similar interests will find areas set aside for wellness (including substance-free living), international relations, creative and performing arts, the sciences, and foreign languages. All students are required to live on campus during the first and second year. Beginning in the junior year, students have the option to apply to live off campus as long as they are in good academic and conduct standing.
Dining: Students enjoy a variety of dining options in Hodson Hall Commons including retail operations on the first floor and a full-service residential program on the second floor. The retail area features Washington College’s own Java George, offering Caribou coffee, house-baked items, grab and go meals and smoothies; the popular Mondo Subs; and specialty items in Martha’s Kitchen.
The residential dining area includes Fresh Market, which offers house-made soups and fresh salads; Martha’s Kitchen, an ever changing buffet-style service with vegetarian, main entrees, specialties and ethnic foods; Baker’s Crust, with classic deli favorites; Hearthstone Oven has a brick stone pizza oven to prepare classic Italian dishes; and My Pantry, a place students can call their own, with foods prepared to order and, with prior arrangement, dining services can store any special dietary requests in the cabinets and fridge for students’ personal use. All students living on campus are required to have a meal plan. Any special needs or dietary requests should be discussed with the Director. Please visit the website: www.dineoncampus.com/wc.
Motor Vehicles: All students living on campus may have a motor vehicle on campus as long as it is registered with the Department of Public Safety. Motor vehicle use must comply with regulations outlined in the Student Handbook, which can be found on the College Web site.
Wellness and Safety
Health Service: The College Health Service, located in Queen Anne’s House, is open for student care during the academic year, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The clinic is staffed with nurse practitioners and a registered nurse. Nurse practitioner hours are by appointment. Students can arrange an appointment or consult with the nurse on a walk-in basis between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For emergencies occurring when the Health Service is not open, students can go to the Emergency Department at nearby Chester River Hospital Center.
While there is no charge for a sick visit, charges for medications, in-house lab tests, suturing and physicals may be incurred. There are also costs associated with prescriptions, hospitalization, or services in the hospital or other facilities (including x-rays, laboratory tests, referrals to other providers, and emergency visits).
Washington College requires that all students have and provide documentation of health insurance and offers a health insurance plan for students who are not covered elsewhere. Information regarding the plan can be found under the Health Services page on the College Web site. All international students are required to purchase health insurance through the College. Students insured under an HMO are encouraged to check with their insurance carrier to determine if additional coverage is needed.
Counseling Service: The Counseling Service shares an office suite with the Health Service in Queen Anne’s House. A full-time licensed psychologist is assisted by part-time staff including a marriage and family therapist, clinical social worker and an addictions counselor. The staff provide confidential counseling, evaluation, and consultation to students seeking assistance with personal, family, and college adjustment concerns.
Campus Safety: The campus Department of Public Safety is located on the lower level of Wicomico Residence Hall. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Officers conduct foot and vehicle patrols of the entire campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Department of Public Safety can also be reached by telephone around the clock in the case of an emergency and by activating any of the emergency “Blue Light” phones located throughout the campus grounds.
The Academic Program
Educating the whole student is the goal of the liberal arts curriculum at Washington College. It is a goal that calls for active participation on the part of both faculty and students. The College values its role as a microcosm for today’s students who seek a liberal arts education.
Washington College’s size lends itself to educating the whole student in intensely personal, important ways. With one professor for every 12 students, teachers know their students by name rather than by College ID number.
The College’s commitment to the liberal arts and sciences encourages students to explore many areas of interest and to develop the capacity to reason, to appreciate literature and the arts, and to make the connection between courses of study and their implications in society.
Student participation is crucial to the success of a liberal arts education. That is why students are expected to design—with the help and guidance of faculty advisors—an academic program best suited to their individual interests and talents. To help in charting the course, Washington College has established a set of guidelines concerning its General Education and Distribution Requirements, which are designed to ensure a broad intellectual foundation in the arts and sciences. In addition to these general requirements, students are expected to complete writing requirements, course requirements for the major, and a Senior Capstone Experience, which usually takes the form of a thesis, performance, or comprehensive exam.
Washington College operates on a two-semester academic calendar year. The majority of courses are worth four credit hours; however, the College also offers one- and two-credit hour courses. It is customary to complete sixteen credit hours for each of eight semesters and to graduate at the end of four years with 128 credit hours total. Students who earn transfer credit in courses worth three credit hours at another institution may be eligible to graduate with only 126 or 127 credit hours upon request to the Registrar.
The curriculum is designed to provide for a thorough and intensive study of the material selected. Like other leading national liberal arts colleges, Washington College asks students to devote considerable time to each course—normally between ten and twelve hours a week for a four-credit course. Since less than a third of that time is actually spent in the classroom, courses emphasize the importance of outside work—independent research, additional reading and writing, laboratory research, creative projects, as well as service learning opportunities and participation in the many cultural events hosted by the College.
While the nature of any particular course is a matter to be determined by its instructor, that instructor has the responsibility for defining the nature of work to be done outside of the classroom and for demanding that it be successfully completed. Satisfactory grades are given only to students who demonstrate a mastery of the material as intended.
The Bachelor’s Degree
Washington College awards the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. For the degree to be awarded, a student must satisfactorily complete 128 credit hours, including one Global Perspectives seminar (GRW), ENG 101 (Literature and Composition), two writing-intensive courses (one each during the sophomore and junior years), and the Senior Capstone Experience. A student must achieve a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 overall. No more than six “D” grades overall can be counted for graduation. Additionally, students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.00 within the major and may not accumulate more than two “D” grades in courses counting toward the major. In most cases, the last eight courses (or 32 credit hours) leading to a degree must be taken in residence at Washington College.
Faculty advisors, division and department chairs, members of the Provost’s Office staff and the Registrar are freely available to answer questions and offer guidance in selecting and planning a course of study. The ultimate responsibility for meeting all requirements for the degree, however, rests entirely with the student.
Goals of the Liberal Arts Education
A fundamental goal of a liberal arts education is to encourage and to further individual self-development. Beyond this goal, the liberal arts college shares with other academic institutions an obligation to preserve, to transmit, and to advance the accumulated wisdom of civilizations. The scholarly tradition, in turn, provides the substance of what we offer to further an individual’s intellectual development. As a special kind of liberal arts college, one that stresses the value of close interpersonal relations, we strive to assist the student not only in enlarging his or her intellectual and aesthetic capacities, but in achieving a social and personal maturity as well. Two of the several purposes of higher education listed by the Carnegie Commission describe our situation very well:
The provision of opportunities for the intellectual, aesthetic, ethical, and skill development of individual students, and the provision of campus growth.
The transmission and advancement of learning and wisdom.
The Curriculum
Within the general guidelines of the curriculum at Washington College, students take major responsibility for shaping a program of study to broaden and deepen their intellectual development. Members of the faculty, especially faculty advisors, work closely with students to help them develop their program of study. Close interpersonal relations are highly valued at Washington College, and the faculty and staff assist students not only in making the most of your intellectual and aesthetic capacities, but also in achieving personal and social maturity.
Other aims of the curriculum may be grouped into four broad classes:
Acquisition of Information: Acquiring information involves learning how to look for, to read, and to listen for form and structure, coherence and cogency.
Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation: Analysis and synthesis require a reasoned, contemplative approach to problems, the patience to do research and gather information, and the ability to go beyond rationalization and emotionally charged arguments to discern good and fair bases for judgment and action. Evaluation demands an awareness of one’s own values and value commitments; an awareness that other individuals and cultures hold contrasting values which must be understood and to some extent accepted for satisfactory interactions with them; a sense of responsibility; defensible grounds of morality; and an ability to distinguish ideas of lasting value from those which are ephemeral.
Articulation and Action: Action and its consequences require that students learn and practice writing and talking with greater accuracy, grace, and persuasiveness. Students are thus encouraged to act on their knowledge.
Responsiveness to Individual Needs: Because the College recognizes that not all people learn in the same way, it provides alternative educational experiences for students. The College also recognizes that different groups hold contrasting values and thus provides models for various styles of life. In addition, the College offers students opportunities to work with others to achieve common goals. In these ways, the College works to foster the physical, mental, social, and aesthetic development of students.
A liberal arts education is only secondarily and indirectly vocational. The primary purpose of a liberal arts education is to foster the process of self-development which finds an ideally encouraging environment in a small, residential college such as Washington College. Students should expect to play an active role as partners in an intellectual dialogue with instructors and fellow students. While the curriculum provides guidance and ensures coherence in the educational process, students should find sufficient flexibility to permit the pursuit of their specific interests. In short, sound structure and necessary flexibility are the foundations of the course of study at Washington College.
An Overview of the Academic Requirements
Three kinds of requirements must be satisfied to earn a Bachelor degree at Washington College: (1) general education requirements, (2) major requirements, and (3) graduation requirements. General education requirements consist of first-year courses, the writing obligation, and distribution courses, which together ensure that students get a balanced introduction to a variety of liberal arts and sciences. Major requirements ensure that students concentrate sufficiently in at least one liberal art or science to become proficient in that area. In sum: general education requirements are for breadth, major requirements are for concentration, and graduation requirements are for uniformity.
General Education Requirements
To ensure a broad foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, all students at Washington College are required to satisfy the following General Education requirements with a passing grade unless otherwise noted:
First-Year Requirements
Global Perspectives: Research and Writing seminar (GRW 101)
Literature and Composition (ENG 101) a grade of “C-” or better must be earned
The Writing Obligation
Two writing-intensive courses beyond GRW 101 and ENG 101
(one each must be taken in the sophomore and junior years)
Distribution Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement
Natural Science and Quantitative Requirement
Humanities and Fine Arts Requirement
Social Sciences Requirement
Transfer students with 32 or more transferable credit hours do not have to take a GRW 101 seminar, but must still take ENG 101 unless they earn transfer credit for an equivalent course taken elsewhere. Students entering the College with Advanced Placement credit may apply that credit toward Distribution requirements up to a total of 32 credit hours; however, this credit does not exempt students from the GRW seminar. More information about Transfer credit and Advanced Placement credit is in the section on Academic Policies and Regulations that follows.
Global Perspectives: Research and Writing Seminars
Being a contemporary citizen requires the ability to consider problems and issues from international and global perspectives. The Global Perspectives seminars (GRW 101 Global Perspectives: Research and Writing Seminar) offer first-year students a range of courses taught in ways that encourage thinking beyond national boundaries. This required first-year course introduces students to library resources, information literacy and presentation techniques in the context of a writing-intensive course. GRW 101 courses will require students to complete at least one assignment that involves extensive use of research skills and resources.
Topics for the courses vary widely and reflect diverse disciplinary and multidisciplinary perspectives, but all consider topics best understood from global or multinational perspectives. Topics may include: Global Warming; World Hunger; Emerging Pathogens; History of Dance; Third World Cinema; Ethnobotany; Post-1945 Revolutions in Art; Traveling the World; Enemies, Terror and Paranoia; Nuclear Proliferation; Post-Colonial Literature; etc. The topics for each semester’s Global Perspectives seminars are posted online prior to the course registration period.
All students are required to complete ENG 101 in one semester of their first year and GRW 101 in the other semester. GRW 101 must be taken at Washington College and both courses are offered in both fall and spring semesters. Each course satisfies the first-year general education requirements and therefore does not satisfy other distribution requirements.
Students may drop one GRW seminar and add another within the Drop/Add period but may not withdraw from a GRW seminar without the approval of the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising. Students approved to withdraw from a GRW seminar must enroll in a GRW seminar in the next possible semester. Students must earn a grade of “C-” or better in ENG 101 in order to satisfy the requirement.
The Writing Obligation
In addition to fulfilling the first year writing requirement, students at Washington College must successfully complete two writing-intensive courses. At least one of these writing-intensive courses must be completed in the sophomore year and another must be completed in the junior year. A student shall not register for second-semester courses in the sophomore year unless he or she has either already successfully completed or is currently registered for one writing-intensive course. Likewise, a student shall not register for second-semester courses in the junior year unless he or she has either already successfully completed or is currently registered for the second writing-intensive course. A student not taking on-campus courses during the relevant semesters shall meet these requirements in the first subsequent on-campus semester, unless he or she can show that a course taken off-campus meets the guidelines of writing-intensive courses.
Writing intensive courses taken during the first year do not satisfy the Writing Obligation.
Writing-intensive courses are noted in the course schedule and on the student transcript by an asterisk. Such courses incorporate frequent and regular writing experiences and provide for appropriate review and revision exercises. Faculty members offering writing-intensive courses will explain on their syllabi the relevant course expectations and activities. Writing-intensive courses may involve specified interactions with the Writing Center.
Students complete their Writing Obligation by earning passing grades in these two writing-intensive courses.
Distribution Requirements
Students are required to complete courses from the four categories listed below, unless a waiver is granted through Advanced Placement credits or Transfer credit equivalency.
The requirements are:
Foreign Language Requirement
Natural Science and Quantitative Requirement
Humanities and Fine Arts Requirement
Social Science Requirement
Foreign Language Requirement (Students must complete one or two courses.)
For students starting a new language or students placed in the 100-level, complete two four-credit courses in the new or placement language.
For students placed in the 200-level or above in French, German, Japanese or Spanish, complete one four-credit course.
Students whose native language is not English may be exempted from this requirement.
Students with learning differences may apply for an accommodation through the Office of Academic Skills. If an accommodation is granted, these students will fulfill the Foreign Language Requirement by substituting language courses with two four-credit courses from a list of eligible International Language and Culture (ILC) courses or other courses approved for this substitution. For more information about accommodations and substitutions, refer to the OAS web page.
Natural Science and Quantitative Requirement(Students must complete three courses—at least one of which must meet the Quantitative component and at least one of which must meet the Natural Science component.)
Natural Science Component: To fulfill this requirement with two Natural Science courses and one Quantitative course, complete either of the following Natural Science options:
(1) Students who: (a) plan to major in biology, chemistry, environmental studies, physics, or psychology or (b) plan to attend medical school must complete one of the following two-course sequences. These sequences are also recommended for students seeking teacher certification or who have a strong interest in the sciences:
BIO 111, 112. General Biology
CHE 111, 112. General Chemistry
PHY 111, 112. General Physics
(2) Students who do not plan to participate in any of the programs listed in section “1” above may complete any combination of the courses listed above with one of the following courses, or any two of the following courses:
BIO 100. Current Topics in Biology
BIO 104. Ecology of the Chesapeake Bay (may not be paired with CRS 240)
CHE 110. Chemistry of the Environment
CRS 240. Estuarine Science (may not be paired with BIO 104)
PHY 100. Concepts in Contemporary Physics
PHY 110. Astronomy
PHY 140. Exploring the Solid Earth
PHY 141. Atmosphere, Ocean, and Environment
To fulfill this requirement with one Natural Science course and two Quantitative courses, complete any one Biology, Chemistry, or Physics course from either list above.
Quantitative Component: To fulfill this requirement with two Quantitative courses and one Natural Science course, complete any one of the following two-course Quantitative sequences listed below:
BUS 203, 204. Quantitative Methods I, II
MAT, CSI Any combination of two Mathematics (MAT) and/or Computer Science (CSI) courses
MUS Any two Music Theory courses taken in sequence (MUS 131, 132, 231 or 232)
To fulfill this requirement with one Quantitative course and two Natural Science courses, complete any one of the following Quantitative courses:
BUS 203. Quantitative Methods I
ECN 215. Data Analysis I
MAT, CSI Any Mathematics (MAT) or Computer Science (CSI) course
MUS Any Music Theory course (MUS 131, 132, 231 or 232)
PHL 108. Logic
PSY 209. Statistics and Experimental Design
Note: ECN 215, PHL 108 and PSY 209 may not be paired with another quantitative course and thus may only be used to fulfill the Quantitative Component by students taking two courses to fulfill the Natural Science component.
Humanities and Fine Arts Requirement (Students must complete three courses—at least one of which must meet the Fine Arts component and at least one of which must meet the Humanities component.)
Humanities Component: To fulfill this requirement with two Humanities courses and one Fine Arts course, complete one of the following options:
ENG Any two 200-level English courses
FLS Any two literature courses listed in the same foreign language department (e.g.
FRS, HPS, GRS, etc.)
ILC Any two International Language and Culture courses
PHL Any two Philosophy courses (except PHL 108)
Fine Arts Component: To fulfill this requirement with two Fine Arts courses and one Humanities course, complete one of the following options listed below:
ART Any two Art or Art History courses
DAN (1) Any two Dance courses from among DAN 113, 203, 204, 213, 227, 228, 233, 313 and 328,
or
(2) one of the courses above plus DAN 106 and 108 (2 credit hours each)
DRA Any two Drama courses (except DRA 105 or 200)
MUS Eight credits of Music courses (except MUS 131, 132, 231 or 232), including applied music (private instruction) and musical ensembles
To fulfill this requirement with one Fine Arts course and two Humanities courses, complete any one of the four-credit courses in the Fine Arts Component or complete a total of four credit hours from the same Fine Arts department or program.
Note: Combining courses from two departments is not allowed unless the Chairs of the two departments involved grant permission and inform the Provost’s Office in writing.
Social Science Requirement (Students must complete three courses selected from two different departments.)
To fulfill the requirement, complete any one of the following two-course sequences plus one additional course from a different department. The additional course must be one of the non-indented courses on this list and cannot be satisfied by any indented courses unless otherwise indicated.
Economics
ECN 111, 112. Macro- and Microeconomics, or
ECN 111 or 112. Macro- or Microeconomics, plus any one of the following:
ECN 117. Introduction to Environmental and Natural Resource Economies
ECN 218. Economics Development
ECN 219. Human Resources Economics
ECN 312. Public Finance
ECN 317. Environmental Economics
ECN 318. Natural Resource Economics
ECN 320. Econometrics
ECN 410. International Trade
ECN 411. International Finance
ECN 415. Government and Business
ECN 416. Law and Economics
Note: Students choosing to take one Economics course and two courses from another department may do so by taking ECN 111, 112 or 117.
Education
EDU 301, 302. Principles of Education, Educational Psychology
History
HIS 101, 102. Early Origins of Western Civilization I, II
HIS 103, 104. Modern World History I, II
HIS 201, 202. History of the United States I, II
Political Science
POL 102, 104. American Government and Politics, Introduction to World Politics, or
POL 102 or 104. American Government and Politics or Introduction to World Politics, plus
any one 200- or 300-level POL course
Psychology
PSY 111, 112. General Psychology I, II, or
PSY 111 or 112. General Psychology I or II, plus any one of the following:
PSY 202. Lifespan Developmental Psychology
PSY 205. Drugs and Behavior
PSY 220. Human Sexuality
Sociology & Anthropology
SOC 101. Introduction to Sociology, plus any one of the following:
SOC 212. Sociology of the Family
SOC 213. Sociology of Gender
SOC 221. Social Inequalities
SOC 240. Criminology
SOC 250. City and Suburb
SOC 341. Variant Behavior
ANT 105. Introduction to Anthropology, plus any one of the following:
ANT 215. Sex, Gender and Culture
ANT 235. Cultures of Latin America
ANT 320. Race and Ethnicity
ANT 255. Myth, Ritual and Symbolism
CRS 242. Society and Estuary
ANT 107. Introduction to Environmental Archaeology, plus any one of the following:
ANT 137. Culture and Environment of the Chesapeake
ANT 208. Doing Archaeology
ANT 234. Human Evolution and Biological Anthropology
ANT 282. Primitive Technology and Experimental Archaeology
CRS 242. Society and Estuary
Note: Sociology and anthropology courses are offered by the same department and may not be combined to fulfill the Social Science Requirement.
Alternatives to General Education Requirements
Students who wish to plan their general education outside of the normal guidelines may write a proposal to this effect and submit it to their advisor as a basis for discussion of the feasibility of the plan. After consultation with the advisor, the student should send the proposal to the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising for final judgment. Approval of such proposals depends on convincing evidence that the desired scheme provides an alternate way of adequately meeting the broad aims of the distribution requirement. Proposals must make provisions for meeting such specific goals as the following: promotion of cultural breadth, introduction to empirical investigation, provision of some basis for aesthetic appreciation or creativity, acquaintance with the nature of language (natural or symbolic), and opportunity to view complex phenomena.
Major Requirements
The concentrated focus of the major balances the broader focus of the distribution requirement and enables students to master a discipline. Detailed knowledge of the facts and terminology of a discipline, development of skill in the use of techniques essential to a discipline, sufficient mastery of the structure and methods of scholarly investigation to engage in independent study in a discipline—such are the objectives of the major in a liberal arts curriculum.
Normally, students will declare a major before the end of the sophomore year, in time for advising for the following fall. Prior to that semester’s registration period, students will receive information about declaring a major. Students should discuss their decision about their major with their current advisor. To declare a major, students take Declaration of Major cards to the chair(s) of their major department(s) for signature and then return the cards to the Registrar’s Office.
Departments may, but are not required, to permit students to declare a major provided they have completed at least 16 credit hours and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better. Transfer and Advanced Placement credit cannot be counted toward the 16 credit hour requirement. Students wishing to declare a major early should obtain Declaration of Major cards from the Registrar, discuss the decision with their current advisors, and make an appointment to meet with the chair of the major department to discuss the decision and obtain the appropriate signature. The chair or a member of the major department becomes the student’s advisor for the junior and senior years. All majors include a minimum of eight semester courses (or 32 credit hours) in the major department. Specified extra-departmental courses in related fields may be included in a major program by special permission of the department.
Policies for Construction of Special Majors
Students who wish to pursue a course of major study other than one of those regularly provided may submit a proposal to this effect in their pre-major advising session. After consultation with the advisor, the student sends the proposal to the Provost of the College, who forms a committee of faculty members from appropriate disciplines to supervise the major. One member of the committee is designated major advisor; the entire committee assists in the selection of a senior project and passes on the completed work. The major program agreed on by the student and the committee will be submitted for final approval to the Provost.
Double Majors, Minors, and Concentrations/Specializations
There are always a few Washington College students who, after sampling a variety of courses during their first two years, find it impossible to limit themselves to a single major—so instead they choose two. Those who double-major are assigned two advisors, one from each discipline, and are expected to complete required coursework and a senior capstone experience for each major. Though challenging, pursuing a double major is possible for those who are willing to plan carefully their course of study in consultation with advisors from each major. Students are not permitted to declare more than two majors. Any two of the majors offered by the College can be chosen as part of a double ma jor.
Pursuing one or more minor areas of study is also an option. Minors require a minimum of five courses, or, alternately, an area of concentration or specialization within a particular discipline. (Math majors, for example, sometimes choose an additional minor in computer science.) The College also offers interdisciplinary programs in American Studies, Black Studies, Environmental Studies, Gender Studies, the Humanities, Human Development, Information Systems, and International Studies. Students are not permitted to declare more than three minors.
Senior Capstone Experience
The Senior Capstone Experience requires students to demonstrate the ability to think critically and to engage in a project of active learning in their major field of studies. In the SCE, required of all graduating seniors, students integrate acquired knowledge and skills in a senior project demonstrating mastery of a body of knowledge and intellectual accomplishment that goes significantly beyond classroom learning.
Senior Capstone Experiences can take several forms. They might involve research papers, comprehensive exams, professional portfolios, and artistic creations or performances. Whatever the design, Senior Capstone Experiences will be informed by the following expectations:
Demonstrated student initiative
Significant preparatory work
Active inquiry
Integration of acquired knowledge and skills
Culmination of previous academic work
Faculty mentor students intensively as they work on the completion of their Senior Capstone Experiences. As part of the process, students are expected to share with the College community in appropriate ways the results of their Senior Capstone Experience. The Curriculum Committee reviews, at regular intervals, departmental policies regarding the Senior Capstone Experience to ensure compliance with the expectations listed above and overall equality of demands across departments. More information about policies governing SCE courses is available in the Registration Policies section in the following chapter.
Excellent work on the Senior Capstone Experience, along with the quality of work done in major courses, can result in Departmental Honors. More information is available in the Graduation Policies section in the following chapter.
Graduation Requirements
A candidate for the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree must complete at least 128 credit hours, of which a minimum of 56 credit hours must be taken at Washington College or in a Washington College-administered program. Students must satisfy the general education requirements which include completion of one Global Perspectives seminar (GRW), ENG 101 (Literature and Composition), two writing intensive courses (one each in the sophomore and junior years), and distribution courses. Students must also complete a major, which includes a minimum of eight courses (or 32 credit hours) in the major and fulfillment of a senior project known as the Senior Capstone Experience (a comprehensive examination, thesis, research project, or the like as specified by the major department).
Students must attain a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 and a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in the major. No more than a total of six “D” grades and no more than two “D” grades in the major may be counted for graduation. A student’s last eight courses (or 32 credit hours) must also be taken at Washington College or in a Washington College-administered program.
Graduation Checklist for Seniors
For further explanation of the following items, consult the appropriate sections of the Catalog.
Coursework: Completed 128 credit hours. A student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00 and at least 2.00 in the major. No more than six “D” grades total, or two “D” grades in the major may be counted toward graduation.
General Education Requirements: Completed one Global Perspectives seminar (GRW), ENG 101 (Literature and Composition), and the distribution requirements.
The Writing Obligation: Received passing grades in two recognized writing intensive courses; one in each of the sophomore and junior years (indicated as such by an asterisk in the course schedule and on the transcript).
Major Course Requirements: Completed all major requirements as described in the Catalog. Students who have questions about major requirements should consult the chair of their department(s).
Senior Capstone Experience: Comprehensive exam, thesis, or project.
For those majors which require or allow the comprehensive exam:
Fulfilled all departmental requirements (methodology courses, review sessions, etc.) designed to prepare students for the exams.
Passed the comprehensive exam.
For those majors which require or allow a Senior Capstone or Project:
Selected paper or project topic no later than the fourth week of classes in the fall semester of the senior year.
Submitted outline (if required).
Submitted rough draft of thesis or project by the deadline established by the department.
Submitted final draft of thesis no later than the last day of classes of the semester in which the student is graduating.
Because each department sets its own intermediate deadlines for submission or completion of requirements for the Senior Capstone Experience, students should refer to their department’s established deadlines or consult their department chair.
The Academic Advising Program
The faculty has approved a system for academic advising and has articulated the following aims and goals of effective academic counseling:
To enable students to take responsibility for designing their programs of study.
To encourage and assist the student to explore and articulate interests or career goals.
To encourage the student to take a reasoned, contemplative approach to designing a program of study.
To assist the student in designing a program within the liberal arts framework that is clearly related to interests or career goals.
To ensure that the student has been fully informed about all available options and has been encouraged to examine all options, and that the course of study is designed to meet the student’s individual goals.
To provide advisors who not only monitor the student’s academic program but also speak personally with the student and explore his or her changing interests and goals.
To ensure that all advisors have current and detailed information about course offerings and are aware of the variety of options offered to students.
The Faculty Advisor
New students are assigned to a faculty advisor after they have registered for their first semester classes. Faculty advisors are well-prepared for this task and works with their advisees until they declare a major. The Registrar’s Office will send major declaration information to any student who has completed 48 credit hours and is still undeclared. Once the student selects one or more majors, he or she is assigned as a major advisee to either the major department chair or another member of the department if the chair determines such an assignment appropriate. Students should be particularly careful when arranging their academic programs and consult regularly with their advisor(s), for they must comply with all graduation requirements and fulfill specific prerequisites. The final responsibility for meeting all of the academic requirements rests with the individual student.
Both advisors and students have a responsibility in advising. It is essential that both take the matter seriously if students are to achieve a meaningful and successful program of study. In the dialogue between advisors and students, advisors serve in two capacities: to interpret the College and its goals for students, and to encourage students to gain understanding of their potential and how It may be developed. In a very practical way, advisors are sources of information for students, explaining campus rules and customs, giving clarification about special programs and requirements, and more.
When students have questions or problems, they should feel free to see their advisor. Although the College schedules advising sessions each semester, the real benefits of such an advising system can be realized only through more frequent meetings between student and advisor. It is hoped that good working relationships will develop. However, students and their advisors do not always relate well, and the student is free to ask the Associate Provost for Academic Services for a change of advisor.
Among the faculty, students will find friends as well as advisors, and they are urged to foster such friendships. Herein lies the great value of a small, liberal arts college and the education it provides. The benefits of personal attention and assistance under the advising system of Washington College derive from close association among students, faculty, and administrative officers — an association rarely possible at large colleges or universities. The academic advising system is under general direction of the Office of the Provost and Dean of the College. The Associate Provost, the Registrar, and the student’s instructors are also on hand to help with advising.
Academic Policies and Regulations
Academic Policy
The primary objective of the College’s academic policy is to support the direct relationship between student and instructor. Academic policy is formulated by the faculty, who determine the requirements for admission, academic standing, and graduation; the organization of the curriculum; and the provisions covering academic probation and dismissal. Administrators interpret and apply the rules so as to carry out the intentions of the faculty, subject to the policies established by the Board of Visitors and Governors. Students play an important role in determining academic policy. They serve as voting members on both the Curriculum Committee and Committee on Academic Standing and Advising, where major academic policies are formulated, subject to full faculty approval.
Academic Records Policies
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. These rights include:
The right to inspect and review the student’s education record within 45 days of the day the College receives a request for access.
Students should submit to the Registrar written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The Registrar will make arrangements for access and notify the student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the College official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the student of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed.
The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the student believes are inaccurate.
Students may ask the College to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the College official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. This request should be delivered to the Registrar, who will forward it to the proper College official.
The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
An exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational Interests. A school official is a person employed by the College in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position; a person or company with whom the College has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record In order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Washington College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-5901
Transcript Requests
In compliance with FERPA, all transcript requests must be made in writing with the signature of the inquiring student. Please print, complete, and mail the Transcript Request Form or send a letter with the following information to the Registrar’s Office:
Full name at the time of attendance
Social Security Number
Dates of attendance or year of graduation
Degree program and major(s)
Home address and telephone number
Address where the transcript should be sent
Transcripts are generally sent out within 24 to 48 hours. Additional time may be required during registration, grading periods, and holidays. Transcript requests may be accepted via fax or scanned e-mail attachment but must carry the signature of the actual requesting student in order to be valid. The Transcript Request Form is available in the Registrar’s Office or on its Web page.
Students who are in financial arrears with an office of the College (Business Office, Library, Bookstore, etc.) will be unable to have transcripts sent out until payment or until satisfactory arrangements have been made to clear debts.
Enrollment Verification Requests
In compliance with FERPA, all enrollment verification requests must be made in writing with the signature of the inquiring student. The Registrar’s Office will gladly write a letter to any third party stating the student’s academic status and verifying any other information contained on the student’s education record, provided it is factually accurate.
Directory Information and Privacy
Washington College students are granted an automatic expectation of privacy for their education records through FERPA. However, certain information is considered directory information under this law. The College may release the following directory information without prior consent:
Student name Graduation dates Awards
Campus box number Expected graduation dates Honors
Campus phone number Previous institutions attended Honor Societies
Hometown and State Cell phone number
Permanent address Home phone number For Athletes:
Email address Major(s) and Minor(s) Participation in officially recognized
Class year Concentration(s) sports
Dates of attendance Specialization(s) Photograph
Full/part-time status Degrees Height
Weight
The College also publishes in the student directory each student’s name, email address, campus box number, and campus phone number.
FERPA provides an opportunity for students to restrict the dissemination of directory information. Information on how to restrict the dissemination of their directory information is supplied to all entering students, along with a waiver in which the student may choose to allow specific access to education records by parents/guardians. Should the student decide to withhold Directory Information, all future requests from non-Washington College persons and organizations will be refused (e.g. requests from future employers, discount ticket agencies, loan or credit card companies, hometown newspapers and insurance discount programs). The decision made at this stage remains in effect for the duration of the student’s status at Washington College unless otherwise revoked by filing a written request with the Registrar’s Office.
Registration Policies
Registration is an agreement with Washington College to attend and pay for the courses listed unless the courses are dropped by an approved method. Payment is always due by the start of the semester in which the course takes place. Bills for tuition and other services will be sent to the student’s legal, permanent address on file before the semester of study. Note: It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Registrar’s Office of any change to the legal, permanent address immediately upon making such a change.
Registration Periods
First-year and transfer students register prior to the beginning of the semester while meeting with a faculty advisor or the Associate Provost for Academic Services. Once matriculated at Washington College, all students register online during the mid-semester registration period for the courses they plan to take the following term. The registration period is in October for the subsequent spring semester, and in March for the subsequent fall semester. Registration priority is determined by the student’s class standing, i.e. the number of credits completed at the time of registration.
Registration Holds
Prior to the registration period, students will find specific registration instructions available on the Registrar’s Office Web page. These instructions remind the student to complete several tasks prior to the start of registration, including a review of any active holds on WebAdvisor. Possible student holds may include a “no registration” hold from the Business Office, Health Services, the Provost’s Office or Student Affairs. Any of these holds will prevent registration for new courses until the hold is lifted by the originating office.
Course Load
Normally, students take four four-credit courses each semester, for a total of 16 credit hours. However, students may plan a course of study, with the approval of their advisor(s), that involves three courses during some semesters and five during others. The maximum number of four-credit courses a student may take in a single semester is five. Students may also enroll in no more than two additional credits through any combination of one- or two-credit courses. (This includes any courses that take place during the second half of the semester.)
For the purposes of federal student loan deferments and NCAA requirements, full-time student status is defined as being enrolled for at least 12 credit hours per semester. Half-time student status is defined as 8 credit hours but not more than 12 credit hours. The total number of credit hours for which a student is enrolled in a given semester is planned by the student in consultation with the academic advisor. The course load must not exceed 22 credit hours. There are two general exceptions to this rule:
First semester first-year students are not ordinarily permitted to take more than 18 credit hours.
Students on academic probation may not take more than 18 credit hours in any single semester.
Eligibility for Student-Athletes
Washington College is committed to developing students who excel in both academics and athletics. All athletes must satisfy the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Centennial Conference, and Washington College eligibility rules, which are as follows:
Student-athletes must be enrolled for 12 or more credit hours in the semester of participation and must be making satisfactory progress toward the baccalaureate degree to be eligible.
Student-athletes have ten semesters to complete four years of athletic eligibility.
Student-athletes who are on academic probation may be scheduled for a conference with the Athletic Director or coach and the Associate Provost for Academic Services to determine whether it is appropriate for the student to continue athletic participation.
Class Standing
Normally, class standing is determined by the following credit-hour formula, based on the expectation that a student will take 16 credit hours each semester:
Freshman class standing fewer than 32 credit hours
Sophomore class standing 32-63 credit hours
Junior class standing 64-95 credit hours
Senior class standing 96 or more credit hours
When a student has accumulated 48 credit hours, the Registrar’s Office sends information requesting that he or she declare a major.
Check-In Procedures
General check-in takes place at the beginning of each semester. Students not returning to Washington College must notify the Provost’s Office of their intent to withdraw as soon as possible. More information on withdrawing from Washington College is available in the following section.
Drop/Add
Students may make changes in their course registrations from the end of the registration period through the Friday before the semester begins. This is accomplished using the online WebAdvisor system and does not require advisor approval. Registration changes made during the first ten days of the semester must be made using the Drop/Add form available in the Registrar’s Office and on its Web page. Drop/Add forms must be used even if changing from one section of a course to another. Students changing courses without filing proper forms may lose credit for work taken. Adding a course requires the signatures of the student, advisor, and instructor; dropping a course requires the signatures of the student and advisor only.
Students registered in a course who do not attend the first class meeting may be dropped from the course by the instructor. Students wishing to enroll in a course at or after the first meeting are admitted only at the discretion of the instructor.
Courses that begin after the first day of the semester are typically one- or two-credit courses that only meet for seven weeks. Students should register for these courses during the normal registration period. Students are permitted to add or drop such a course through Friday of the same week that the class begins to meet. Late enrollment in a half-semester course is at the discretion of the instructor and the student must use a Drop/Add form.
Withdrawal from Courses
Students may withdraw from one or more courses, with the exception of a Global Perspectives (GRW) seminar (see below), at any time without penalty until the Friday following the mid-semester advising day. A “W” grade will be noted on the student’s transcript when the withdrawal takes place after the Drop/Add period. Withdrawal from a course (as distinct from withdrawal from the College) shall take place only after the student has discussed it with the advisor or, if the student prefers, with the Associate Provost for Academic Services. The student must submit a signed withdrawal form to the Registrar no later than the Friday after the mid-semester advising day.
Students may not withdraw from a GRW seminar without the approval of the Committee for Academic Standing and Advising. Students who are approved to withdraw from a GRW seminar must enroll in an appropriate GRW seminar in the next possible semester. Withdrawals from GRW seminars follow all other rules for course withdrawals.
The option to withdraw from a course is limited to three courses during a student’s Washington College career. Course withdrawals that take place in a semester where the student completes at least 16 credit hours do not count toward this limit.
Pass/Fail Option
Of the 128 credit hours required for graduation, juniors or seniors may elect to take a total of four courses for a Pass/Fail grade. Only one course may be elected as Pass/Fail in any one semester. Courses in which all students are graded on a Pass/Fail basis do not count toward this total. The following policies govern the Pass/Fail elective option:
Any junior or senior who is not currently on academic probation may register for a Pass/Fail course.
Pass/Fail courses may not be used for distribution requirements, the major field of study, major-related requirements, or the minor field of study.
Students must indicate to the Registrar on the Pass/Fail Option form which course is to be taken as Pass/Fail. At the end of the third week of classes, this status becomes permanent. Students may not shift from a Pass/Fail basis to a letter grade basis or vice versa after this deadline except as outlined below.
New Pass/Fail forms must be filed each semester even if the student is continuing a two-semester course sequence. Students are urged to keep their copy of Pass/Fail form until final grades are posted.
Professors assign a final grade to all students according to the normal procedures outlined in the course syllabus. For students who have elected Pass/Fail grading, the final grade is then translated by the Registrar to a Pass (“D-” or above) or Fail (“F”) and recorded as such on the student’s transcript. A failed course is computed into the grade point average as would any other grade of “F.” A passed course has no effect on the grade point average.
Courses that were failed previously may not be retaken on a Pass/Fail basis.
To change a major or minor to a field in which the student has previously taken a course for Pass/Fail credit, these options exist:
The letter grade the student would otherwise have received in the course may be reinstated; in the case of a minor, this conversion takes place only after all minor requirements are met.
The student may select another course in the major department.
Auditing Courses
Matriculated undergraduate students may audit one or more courses without fee, with the permission of the instructor(s). Students must formally register for courses they wish to audit, to ensure the accuracy of course enrollment lists and that classroom capacity restrictions are upheld. To audit a course, the student, instructor or advisor will list the course on a Drop/Add form, followed by the notation: AUDIT.
If the student wishes to change a course to audit after it has begun, the student must make this request using the Drop/Add form before the end of the Drop/Add period. Students auditing a course should consult with the instructor about his or her requirements for auditors. Instructors will assign a grade of “AU” on the student’s transcript only if attendance is frequent enough to warrant it. Students who fail to attend enough class sessions will be dropped from the course.
Independent Study
Students interested in pursuing a course of study not offered within the standard curriculum (e.g. a reading course, independent project, or its equivalent) may undertake an independent study with a faculty member of their choosing. Independent studies may be credit or non-credit bearing. The Department Chair must approve independent study courses taken for academic credit.
Internships for Academic Credit
Internships for academic credit may be part of an already existing program or they may be independent internships proposed by the student and a faculty member. Before beginning the internship, the student must secure a faculty member as advisor for the internship and submit all required paperwork to the Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives by the appropriate deadline. The internship must meet the following criteria to be eligible for four credit hours:
The internship must consist of a minimum of 112-140 hours of supervised work experience.
The internship must continue over a minimum of an eight to ten week period of supervised experience, entirely or mostly completed onsite. Exceptions may be given for supervised work at virtual sites with proper documentation.
Academic credit for an internship will not be entered on the student’s transcript until the student has completed all requirements of the internship, including all work required by the faculty advisor for the internship and any reports required by the Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives.
Internships for academic credit may count toward the degree, but no more than 16 credit hours of the 128 credit hours required for graduation may be internship credits. Credit may be awarded for either paid or unpaid internships. Students may choose to take an internship for academic credit for a letter grade or as a Pass/Fail course. With the approval of the Department Chair and academic advisor, internships for academic credit may satisfy course requirements in a major or minor, but must be taken for a letter grade in this case. Internships may not be used to satisfy Distribution Requirements or to fulfill the Senior Capstone Experience.
Credit for Study Abroad Programs
Students participating in an approved study abroad program, at an institution with whom Washington College has a contractual arrangement, receive Washington College credit and grades for their coursework. Because the assignment of credits and grades is different in other countries, the College follows a set of standards and best practices when converting and transferring grades and credits from overseas institutions. The Office of International Programs provides students applying for study abroad with information on how grades and credits earned at their specific host institution will be transferred upon their return to Washington College. The following policies apply:
Students should take the equivalent of 16 credit hours per semester abroad in order to return with a full course load equivalent at Washington College. Students must take the equivalent of 12 credit hours to maintain full-time student status.
All courses must be pre-approved by appropriate department chairs and by the student’s faculty advisor using the Study Abroad Course Approval form available in the Office of International Programs and on its Web page.
If course registrations change while the student is abroad, he or she must contact his or her faculty advisor, the appropriate department chair, and the Director of the Office of International Programs to communicate these changes in a timely manner (not later than the host institution’s Drop/Add deadline).
Students may only take courses on a Pass/Fail basis with permission of their faculty advisor.
When the official transcript from the foreign institution is received by the Registrar’s Office, the courses are given equivalent Washington College course numbers based on the approvals on the Study Abroad Course Information form. All grades and credits become part of the student’s Washington College transcript.
Only courses equivalent to three or more credit hours in Washington College’s curriculum may be counted toward major, minor and distribution requirements. Some institutions offer courses/modules for fewer than the equivalent of three credit hours. With permission of the department chair, two courses worth fewer than three credit hours each may be combined to count toward these requirements.
Students should retain a copy of the syllabus and other supporting documentation from the host institution if they feel a course taken abroad meets the requirements of a Writing Intensive course and discuss this with the Director of Writing when they return.
Students participating in non-approved study abroad programs, at an institution with whom Washington College does not have a contractual arrangement, are not guaranteed transfer credit for their coursework. For those students seeking transfer credit for such courses, the following policies apply:
All courses must be pre-approved by the department chairs and by the student’s faculty advisor using the Transfer Course Permit available in the Registrar’s Office and on its Web page.
When the official transcript from the foreign institution is received by the Registrar’s Office, the courses are given equivalent Washington College course numbers and credits per the approvals on the Transfer Course Permit. Only courses earning a grade of “C-” or better will become part of the student’s Washington College transcript. Grades earned in these courses will not become part of the student’s cumulative grade point average.
The Senior Capstone Experience
Students in their senior year will be advised to register for a Senior Capstone Experience course worth four credit hours. With departmental approval, students who double major may complete an integrated Senior Capstone Experience worth four credit hours. When such integration is not advisable, double majors will register for two SCE courses worth two credit hours each. Double majors cannot gain more than four credit hours in fulfillment of their Senior Capstone Experience.
The four total credit hours gained through the successful completion of the Senior Capstone Experience course(s) will be part of the 128 credit hours required to graduate from the College. At the same time, the four credits of the SCE will have a special status because they cannot be replaced by credits gained through regular coursework.
Departments determine whether to assign a letter grade or designate Senior Capstone Experiences in their department with honors or a Pass/Fail grade. Senior Capstone Experiences receiving a grade of “A-” or better qualify for honors.
Evaluation And Grading Policies
Attendance
It is the responsibility of students at Washington College to attend promptly each class meeting scheduled in every course in which they enroll. Students on probation are expected to attend all classes without exception and should contact the Provost’s Office about any absences that are truly unavoidable.
Each faculty member is requested to have a clear policy regarding class attendance and to adhere to it. The instructor’s policy may include failure of the course for excessive absences. The instructor should explain the attendance policy to each class at the beginning of the semester. If instructors fail to explain it, students may ask them to do so. Each faculty member must provide in writing to each student a statement of his or her attendance policy. A copy of that statement will be forwarded to the Provost.
Members of the faculty are under no obligation to accept any student who misses the first day of class. Students are expected to inform their instructors promptly, as a matter of courtesy, of the reasons for any absence.
Students may occasionally be excused from other College obligations if they are involved in a field trip regarded as an integral part of the work of a particular course. The Provost’s Office or faculty member involved will send out to the faculty an advance listing of those students participating in such a field trip. Field trips should be arranged as far ahead of time as practicable.
As soon as arrangements have been completed, and in any event no less than one week before the trip, the Provost of the College should be informed of the date and inclusive hours of the trip and of the names of those students participating. If actual attendance differs from what was anticipated, a revised list of names should be sent to the Provost’s Office immediately upon conclusion of the trip.
A student who is repeatedly absent, or whose attendance continues to be unsatisfactory following a warning from the instructor, will be reported by his or her instructor to either the Registrar or the Associate Provost for Academic Services to investigate cases of prolonged absence in which the reasons are unknown to the instructor.
When an instructor is more than ten minutes late to a class, the students may leave without penalty.
Attendance Policy for Student-Athletes
Because travel to athletic events may result in missed class time, class attendance at all other times is expected. The student-athlete is responsible for notifying professors in advance and arranging to make up missed work if the student-athlete misses class because of regular and post-season contests. Practices, scrimmages, and off-season athletic events are not valid reasons for missing classes; student-athletes should attend the class and arrange with the coach to make up missed practice time.
To facilitate faculty awareness and cooperation with students regarding absences, the varsity sports offered at Washington College and their competitive seasons are as follows:
Fall Winter Spring
MEN Soccer Swimming Baseball
Sailing Basketball Lacrosse
Tennis
Crew
WOMEN Volleyball Swimming Softball
Field Hockey Basketball Lacrosse
Soccer Tennis
Sailing Crew
Sailing
Faculty Office Hours
Information about the office hours of individual members of the faculty is available from the Provost’s Office.
Regular Examinations
Instructors may give quizzes and tests with sufficient frequency to enable students to have a reasonably accurate measure of their level of work in a course as the semester proceeds. This rule applies with special force to first-year and sophomore courses.
Final Examinations
Normally, examinations are given at the end of a course as well as at other points during the semester. The final examination is to be given during the final examination period, which is the week following the last day of classes, at the time scheduled officially by the Registrar, whether this is a traditional final, that is, an examination testing the entire course, or simply the last in a series of written exercises.. Examinations that conclude a series may be given toward the end of the semester only if there is a comprehensive final during the final examination period as well. Instructors retain the right to give quizzes at any time they find it useful to do so.
The duration of final examinations should not exceed two and one half hours. Take-home examinations may be distributed at the last class meeting for submission to the instructor during the final examination period. Occasionally, the final examination schedule prepared by the Registrar creates unusual difficulties for a faculty member or for individual students. Change in the established time of a final examination may be made, in very exceptional cases only, by permission of the Registrar.
Final examinations are retained by the faculty at least until the middle of the semester following their administration in order to permit students to review them if they are interested in doing so.
Making Up Work
Responsibility for handing in all announced papers, reports, and projects on time rests entirely with the student. Instructors may penalize late work.
A student who has missed an examination or test is responsible for making it up and must take the initiative in making arrangements to do so with the instructor. Instructors are not obliged to prepare make-up exams unless the student’s absence was occasioned by serious and unavoidable reasons. Students who are members of varsity sports teams and who must miss an exam because of a scheduled sports event may make up exams. In such cases, responsibility for informing the professor of an absence for an exam and for scheduling a make-up exam date rests solely with the individual student.
If illness or some other emergency prevents the completion of course work, the student’s work in that course may be temporarily graded “I” (Incomplete). Notice of necessary absence from an examination must be given by the student, or the Associate Provost, to the Registrar and to the instructor of the course within 24 hours of the scheduled time of the examination. See the section on The Incomplete below for additional details.
Grading System
Washington College uses the following letter grades which, except for the “F” grade, may be modified by a plus or a minus:
A Excellent
B Good
C Fair
D Passed
F Failure
The following system is used to determine a student’s grade point average:
A/A+ 4.00 C 2.00
A- 3.67 C- 1.67
B+ 3.33 D+ 1.33
B 3.00 D 1.00
B- 2.67 D- 0.67
C+ 2.33 F 0.00
Other notations used on student records include:
W Withdrawal from course
P Pass, in courses graded by this method or where the student elects to use the Pass/Fail
option
I Incomplete
AU Audit
R Replaced course
H Honors course
* Writing Intensive course
Parents of dependent students may submit written requests for grade information to the Registrar. The communication of all grades to parents is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (as amended).
Interim Grades
Instructors report interim letter grades for all first-year students, students on academic probation, and transfer students near mid-term. Interim grades are issued to enable students to assess their progress through several weeks of the semester; they are not recorded on the student’s transcript. Although letter grades at interim are not required for other students, it is College policy that students are entitled to information about their progress as fully and as frequently as a particular course structure permits.
The Incomplete
If a student is prevented from completing any required coursework by illness (as shown by a physician’s certificate) or some other valid circumstance, the instructor may assign the temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) to the assignment or examination. Notice of necessary absence from an examination must be given by the student, or the Associate Provost, to the Registrar and to the instructor of the course before the scheduled time of the examination if possible.
Under no circumstances should a student be given an Incomplete as a substitute for failure. When a student, through negligence or procrastination, fails to complete the work of a course on time, and where there are no extenuating circumstances, the student will receive a grade of “F” for that course.
Students who receive a temporary Incomplete grade in a course should remain in contact with the instructor(s) of the course(s) for which they have an Incomplete and must submit the work of the course by the deadline established by the instructor. The deadline for instructors to submit final grades to replace Incomplete grades is the Friday of the third week of classes in the subsequent semester from when the grade of Incomplete was recorded. If students do not finish the work of the course, the Incomplete grade is automatically changed to an “F” after this deadline. Extenuating circumstances (long illness, for example) may make it necessary to grant an extension of the Incomplete. The student should consult with the instructor and the Associate Provost for Academic Services, who notifies the Registrar if an extension should be granted.
Failed Courses
In case of failure in any graded course (except a GRW seminar), the student may correct the deficiency using one of the following methods:
If the course is a graduation requirement (major, minor, or distribution requirement), then a suitable course may be taken at another institution and transferred back to Washington College. Before enrolling in a course at another college, the student must obtain pre-approval from the department chair and the faculty advisor using the Transfer Course Permit. The student will receive transfer equivalency for the course taken at another institution, provided he or she earns a grade of “C-” or better, and may apply this course toward the graduation requirement. However, the original grade will remain on the transcript and will be part of the GPA calculation.
Repeating a failed course: See the following section on Repeating Courses below.
Students who fail a GRW seminar must take a GRW seminar in the following semester and receive a passing grade. Please refer to the section on GRW seminar requirements.
Repeating Courses
Courses taken at Washington College, in which a student earns a grade of “C-” or better, may not be repeated for academic credit. Courses taken at Washington College in which a student earns a grade of “D+” or lower may be repeated for academic credit if the student repeats the course at Washington College or in a Washington College-administered program and in compliance with the following guidelines:
The student will repeat the same course; substitution of another course is not permitted.
Not all courses may be repeated (e.g., special topics courses and courses not taught on an annual basis, etc.).
Special topics courses and independent studies may not be offered as a substitute to courses from the main curriculum.
Courses may be repeated only once unless otherwise stated in the course description.
Courses being repeated may not be taken on a Pass/Fail basis unless it was the grading method for the first attempt.
Under special circumstances, a student may petition the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising to repeat a course in which a grade of “C-” was received.
The student receives the credit and the grade earned in the second course. The original grade remains on the transcript but no longer is a part of the semester or cumulative grade point average calculation. Credit for the repeated course is given if the course is passed.
ENG 101 must be repeated by any student earning below a “C-”; the course must be retaken in the subsequent semester.
Dean’s List
Students who achieve outstanding academic records during the semester may be named to the Dean’s List. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, a student must complete a minimum of three courses (12 credits) in a given semester and have no “D” grades. The minimum semester grade point average for Dean’s List is 3.50.
Changing Grades
An instructor wishing to change a student’s grade for valid reason, following the recording of the grade in the Registrar’s Office, may do so by requesting the change in writing through the Associate Provost for Academic Services, who must approve all such changes.
The instructor’s records are authoritative in all matters of course requirements, grades, and class attendance. The College, however, recognizes the right of the student to appeal a grade. The student has until the end of the Drop/Add period of the semester following that in which the final grade for the course was received to file a written appeal of the grade with the instructor. If the student is not satisfied with the written decision of the instructor involved, then the student has two weeks after the instructor’s decision to file a written appeal of the grade with the chair of the department involved. If the student is not satisfied with the written decision of the chair of the department involved, then the student has two weeks after the chair’s decision to file a written appeal of the grade with the Provost of the College. If the instructor involved and the chair of the department involved are the same individual, then the student may appeal directly to the Provost after the instructor’s decision. The written decision of the Provost, in consultation with the Chair and instructor involved, is final.
Students have the prerogative of knowing and having explained to them the reasons for the grade on all examinations and term papers. Even though the instructor may wish to retain the examination or paper, the educational value of the exercise cannot be achieved unless the student has the opportunity to discuss in specific detail the reasons for his or her grade.
Final examinations are retained by the faculty at least until the middle of the semester following their administration in order to permit students to review them if they are interested in doing so.
Grade changes are not possible regardless of circumstance after a student has graduated or while a student is withdrawn from the College.
Academic Standing
In order to graduate from Washington College students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 and a grade point average of at least 2.00 in the courses they offer to fulfill their major requirements. All students are required to attain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average or better by the end of four semesters at the College, typically the end of sophomore year for students who enter as first year students. Students who transfer to the College with fewer than 32 credits are required to attain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average or better by the end of their fourth semester at Washington College. Students who transfer to Washington College with 32 or more credits are required to attain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average or better by the end of their second semester at Washington College.
The Committee on Academic Standing and Advising reviews the academic record of any student whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00 at the end of four semesters (or at the end of the appropriate semester for transfer students) to determine if the student will be allowed to continue at the College.
The Committee on Academic Standing and Advising also reviews the academic progress of any student who earns a grade point average below 2.00 in a semester or earns one “F” grade or two “D” grades in a semester or whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.00 in their junior or senior year. With the exception of a student in his or her first semester at the College, the Committee may suspend students earning a semester grade point average of less than 1.75. Suspended students may be required to take courses elsewhere in order to demonstrate sufficient academic readiness for college-level work before requesting reinstatement at Washington College.
First semester first year students earning a semester grade point average of less than 1.75 will be placed on academic probation and required to participate in appropriate academic support activities in recognition of the challenges that may occur in the transition from high school to college-level work.
Withdrawal from the College
Before the Withdrawal Deadline: Students may withdraw from the College before the course withdrawal deadline (normally the end of the tenth week of the semester) for any reason. A student who wants to withdraw voluntarily from the College before the course withdrawal deadline must complete a Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form available in the Provost’s Office and obtain the required signatures from representatives of the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Student Affairs, the Business Office, the Provost’s Office, and the Registrar before he or she leaves campus. The Provost’s Office informs the faculty that the student has withdrawn.
A student who wants to withdraw from the College before the course withdrawal deadline but is not on campus at that time must contact the Provost’s Office. The Provost’s Office helps the student contact the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Student Affairs, the Business Office, and the Registrar and completes the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form and informs the faculty that the student has withdrawn.
After the Withdrawal Deadline: After the course withdrawal deadline, in order to withdraw from the College for any reason other than a documented medical condition, a student must submit a written request to withdraw to the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising, including evidence of an emergency or other extenuating circumstance that would prevent the student from completing course requirements. A withdrawal from the College after the course withdrawal deadline usually necessitates a withdrawal from all courses. If the request is granted, the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising informs the Provost’s Office of their decision. The Provost’s Office helps the student contact the Office of Financial Aid, the Office of Student Affairs, the Business Office and the Registrar and complete the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form and informs the faculty that the student has withdrawn.
A student who needs to take a medical withdrawal at any time must present to Health Services or Counseling Services evidence of a documented medical diagnosis that would prevent the student from completing course requirements. Health or Counseling Services advises the Provost’s Office and the Office of Student Affairs about whether the student qualifies for a medical withdrawal. A student may be required by the College to withdraw if his or her medical condition presents a risk to him or herself or others. In either case, Health or Counseling Services advises the student, the Provost’s Office, and the Office of Student Affairs, in writing, about what the student must do in order to return to the College after treatment of the medical condition. The Provost’s Office helps the student contact the Office of Financial Aid, the Business Office, the Office of Student Affairs and the Registrar and complete the Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form and informs the faculty that the student has withdrawn.
Withdrawal from the College, regardless of circumstances, is indicated on the student’s transcript by “W” grades as final grades in all courses for which the student was enrolled that semester.
Withdrawal from the College can affect a student’s eligibility for private health insurance and other insurance coverage. The College assists students with the process of withdrawal, as outlined above. But it is the student’s responsibility to inform him or herself about the effects of a withdrawal.
Leave of Absence
Students may take a temporary leave of absence from the College when medical or other personal circumstances require that they be away from campus for more than a few days. In the case of a leave of absence for other than medical reasons, the student must contact the Associate Provost for Academic Services. The Provost’s Office informs Student Affairs and the faculty of the student’s leave of absence and helps the student contact faculty about keeping up with course work.
In the case of a medical leave of absence, a student must consult with Health Services or Counseling Services about the problem that necessitates the leave. Health or Counseling Services advises the Provost’s Office and the Office of Student Affairs about the student’s request for a leave and, if the request is granted, advises the student, the Provost’s Office and the Office of Student Affairs about what he or she must do in order to be approved to return to classes. A student on medical leave of absence may not return to classes until approved by Health or Counseling Services to do so.
A leave of absence is usually granted for two weeks (14 calendar days). If at the end of two weeks, the student has not returned to classes or been approved by Health or Counseling Services to return to classes, the Provost’s Office reviews the student’s situation, consulting with Health Services or Counseling Services when appropriate, to determine whether the student’s leave should be extended. Students who are not able or approved to return to classes at the end of four weeks are generally advised to withdraw from the College. In these cases, the withdrawal is retroactive to the last day the student attended classes and is indicated on the student’s transcript by grades of W in all courses in which the student was enrolled that semester.
A student who is not in good academic or social standing and who takes a leave of absence or a withdrawal for any reason does not thereby return to good standing. A student’s reinstatement of enrollment or readmission may be conditional, pending the resolution of any alleged academic or social violations of the Honor Code.
Reinstatement of Enrollment and Readmission
A student who has voluntarily withdrawn from the College in good standing academically and socially and wishes to return, and who has not taken courses at another institution during the time away from Washington College, must contact the Provost’s Office and request Reinstatement of Enrollment. He or she is then reinstated. A student who has voluntarily withdrawn from the College and, while away, has taken courses at another institution without prior approval from the Provost’s Office must apply to the Admissions Office for Readmission as a transfer student. A student who has been on a medical withdrawal and wishes to return to the College must demonstrate that he or she has complied with the recommendations made by Health or Counseling Services when the student withdrew and must have the approval of Health Services or Counseling Services to return. Health or Counseling Services advises the Office of Student Affairs and the Provost’s Office in writing that the student is eligible to return. The Provost’s Office then reinstates the student. Students who have been on a medical withdrawal do not have to apply for readmission.
Merit-based scholarships are not reissued to students who withdraw from the College and subsequently apply for readmission. Students who withdraw and apply for readmission are considered for all appropriate need-based aid programs if they meet the College’s need-based aid application deadlines.
Students who receive merit-based scholarships and withdraw, but do not require readmission, have their merit-based scholarships reissued provided their cumulative grade point average was at least a 3.00 at the time of their withdrawal. However, students who receive merit-based scholarships and who have been approved for an official medical withdrawal and did not have a 3.00 cumulative grade point average at the time of their withdrawal are allowed the benefit of one additional semester of merit-based scholarship aid before any adjustment to the award is determined.
Readmission After Suspension
Students who have been suspended for academic reasons and wish to be readmitted must write a letter to the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising requesting readmission. In order to be considered for readmission a student must:
Present evidence of further academic progress, which includes completing at least two courses with a grade of “C” or better and having a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or better at the institution where the courses were taken. Students should contact the Associate Provost for Academic Services before selecting courses at another institution.
Submit to the Office of the Registrar an official transcript of all coursework taken during the period of suspension. Students may not be readmitted for the semester immediately following their suspension, but may resume study at the College (if approved) after one full semester has passed.
Exit Interview
Students who plan to withdraw either temporarily or permanently for reasons of transfer, employment, or personal circumstances must complete a College Withdrawal/Leave of Absence form and schedule an exit interview with the Associate Provost for Academic Services. The purpose of this exit interview is to explore factors behind the withdrawal decision, to find out how the College can assist the student through his or her transition, and to gain feedback on the student’s experiences at Washington College.
Refund Schedule
The College must make financial commitments to its faculty, staff, and service contractors on an annual basis and, thus, depends on tuition and other dollars to meet those commitments. If a student withdraws from the College during a semester, the student is responsible for all non-refundable amounts. When the student withdrawal results from a disciplinary action, the College makes no refund of any kind. Tuition refunds or credits will be allowed according to the following schedule:
Before classes begin 100%
During the first two weeks of semester: 75%
During third week of semester: 50%
During fourth week of semester: 25%
After the fourth week of class there will be no refund.
Fees for other services are generally not refundable after the start date of the semester.
Places in residence halls are assigned for the full semester; therefore, no refunds or credits for rooms are given for a student withdrawing after classes begin.
Board refunds or credits are determined on the same basis as the tuition refunds except for students who officially withdraw for medical reasons.
Parents wishing to insure against the financial losses associated with non-disciplinary withdrawals after the beginning of classes may purchase insurance, which is available through the College.
Transfer and Advanced Credit Policies
Transfer Credit
Students attempting to accelerate their education to graduate in less than four years must take care to accumulate the proper number of courses and credits required for graduation, which is generally 128 credit hours. Where possible, students should take courses worth four credit hours at another institution, i.e. the equivalent of one Washington College course, so as not to deviate from the four-course system. However, if a student receives transfer credit for either one or two courses worth three credit hours, the student will be permitted to graduate after accumulating either 127 or 126 credit hours (respectively).
Students at Washington College may receive transfer credit for courses taken at another college or university only if they abide by the following policies:
The institution must be fully accredited by a regional accrediting agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
The course must be comparable in content and academic level to courses offered at Washington College.
Transfer credit is only accepted for courses in which the student earned a final grade of “C-” or better. Courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis at another institution will not be considered for transfer credit under any circumstances.
To receive transfer credit for a course taken at another college or university, students should consult their faculty advisor and then secure pre-approval for the proposed course(s) from the chair(s) of the relevant department and/or departments that offer a similar course within Washington College’s curriculum. It may be necessary to provide a course description or syllabus for the course(s). Each department sets its own policies about whether to approve transfer credit for courses taught online or in other non-traditional formats. To approve a course for transfer credit, the department chair must sign a transfer course permit form, provided by the student and available in the Registrar’s Office and on its web site. Students should return the signed transfer course permit form to the Registrar’s Office before enrolling in the course.
Students may need to apply for admission to the other college or university where they want to take the transfer course(s) If needed, the Registrar’s Office at Washington College will write a “letter of good standing” to the other institution stating that the student has permission to take outside courses.
At the completion of the course, the student should request an official transcript from the other college or university and have it sent directly to the Registrar’s Office at Washington College. The transfer credit and the course grade will not be posted on the student’s Washington College transcript until the Registrar’s Office has received both the signed transfer course permit and the official transcript from the other college or university.
Transfer Students
To earn a degree at Washington College, no more than 72 credit hours of the total credits required for the degree may be fulfilled by transfer credits from another institution. Therefore, a minimum of 56 credit hours must be taken at Washington College or in a Washington College-administered program. Every candidate for a degree at the College must meet all graduation requirements as outlined in the Catalog from the academic year in which the student matriculated.
Transfer students with a completed A.A. degree from community colleges with whom Washington College has a “Direct Transfer” agreement will be granted junior standing upon matriculation at Washington College. Therefore, a minimum of 56 hours of credit must be taken at Washington College. The last eight courses must be taken at Washington College or in a Washington College-administered program. Exceptions to these rules can be granted on appeal to the Committee on Academic Standing and Advising.
Transfer students from colleges with whom Washington College does not a have a “Direct Transfer” agreement, even though the students may hold an associate degree, will have their course work evaluated and will be granted appropriate transfer credit for individual courses.
Advanced Credit
The College may grant credit up to 32 credit hours for advanced credit. Students may be awarded advanced credit toward graduation by presenting satisfactory scores on the following standardized tests:
CEEB (Advanced Placement) in certain subject areas
All departments require a minimum score of “4” or “5” to award equivalent course credit. Department chairs review the examinations offered by the College Board, in consultation with the faculty in their department, to determine the number of credits and course equivalency that should be offered to entering students. Credit for advanced placement scores is given to transfer students with Advanced Placement provided that documentation of the Advanced Placement scores from the College Board is received within one semester of enrollment at Washington College.
Students entering Washington College with Advanced Placement credit may apply that credit toward distribution requirements as specified on the following table. Advanced Placement credit does not exempt students from ENG 101 or GRW seminars.
AP Exam Score WC Equivalent Distribution Area
Art - History 4, 5 ART 200 Fine Arts
Art - Studio subject to portfolio review by Art Dept. Fine Arts
Biology 4 BIO 112 Natural Sciences
5 BIO 111 & 112 Natural Sciences
Calculus AB 4, 5 MAT 201 Quantitative Studies
Calculus BC 4, 5 MAT 201 & 202 Quantitative Studies
Chemistry 4, 5 CHE 111 & 112 Natural Sciences
Computer Science A 4, 5 CSI 201 Quantitative
Economics - Macro 4, 5 ECN 111 Social Sciences
Economics - Micro 4, 5 ECN 112 Social Sciences
English Language/Literature 4 ENG 211 Humanities
5 ENG 211 & 212 Humanities
Environmental Science 5 ENV 101 Interdisciplinary (non-distribution)
French Language/Literature 4, 5 FRS 201 & 202 Foreign Language
German Language/Literature 4, 5 GRS 201 & 202 Foreign Language
Government/Politics - U.S. 4, 5 POL 102 Social Sciences
History - European 4, 5 HIS 103 & 104 Social Sciences
History - U.S. 4, 5 HIS 201 & 202 Social Sciences
History - World 4, 5 HIS 101 & 102 Social Sciences
Latin - Vergil 4, 5 FLS 300 & 400 Foreign Language
Music Theory 4, 5 MUS 131 & 132 Quantitative Studies
Physics B 4, 5 SCI 100 Natural Sciences
Physics C - Electricity/Magnetism 4, 5 PHY 112 Natural Sciences
Physics C - Mechanics 4, 5 PHY 111 Natural Sciences
Psychology 4 PSY 112 Social Sciences
5 PSY 111 & 112 Social Sciences
Spanish Language/Literature 4, 5 HPS 201 & 202 Foreign Language
Statistics 4, 5 MAT 109 Quantitative Studies
CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
This test is normally used by adults who have been out of school for some time, veterans, or those who have never taken college-level work, but have acquired a solid background through their own broad experiences and efforts. A score placing the student in the 50th percentile or better is required in the various sections of the general test.
Graduation Policies
Preparation for Graduation
Once the student has accumulated 80 credit hours toward graduation (usually after the fall semester of the junior year), the Registrar’s Office supplies both the student and the faculty advisor(s) with a degree completion audit. This audit is an evaluation of the student’s progress toward completion of the general education and distribution requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The student should review this audit with his or her faculty advisor(s) and use it to determine an appropriate course of study for the senior year, such that the student earns enough credits and fulfills all general education and distribution requirements in time to graduate.
Graduation Application
Students must apply for graduation in the fall semester of the senior year. The deadline for submitting the application is October 15 (or the following Monday if this date falls on a weekend). During the first month of the fall semester, the Registrar’s Office reminds students nearing graduation of this application deadline.
Clearance to Graduate
Upon receipt of the completed graduation application and after seniors have registered for their spring semester senior year courses, the Registrar’s Office runs periodic evaluations of the student’s eligibility to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. For more information, see the Graduation Requirements section in the preceding chapter.
In November of the senior year, in response to their graduation application and their registration for spring classes, the registrar either clears seniors as eligible to graduate (meaning that assuming they successfully complete their fall and spring courses, they will be able to graduate) or tells them that they are not eligible to graduate and sends them another degree completion audit indicating what changes they need to make to their spring course schedule or what other deficiency they need to address in order to graduate. The Registrar sends degree completion audits on a regular basis to any seniors still not cleared as eligible to graduate until the end of Drop/Add in the spring semester.
The Registrar’s Office sends copies of the degree completion audit and the Graduation Clearance letter to the student’s advisor(s). Department faculty verify that the student has completed the requirements of his or her majors, minors, specializations or concentrations prior to graduation.
If the student’s academic record indicates that he or she will complete all general requirements by the end of the fall semester, the student’s advisor(s) and department chair are notified, and the student becomes eligible for the completion of his or her degree in December upon verification from the department that all major, minor and concentration/specialization requirements have been fulfilled. Students who have completed all degree requirements in the fall semester may participate in the Commencement at the conclusion of the spring semester.
Students with outstanding graduation requirements are not cleared to graduate until they make changes to course registrations for the upcoming semester. If registration deficiencies are not addressed by the end of the Drop/Add period of the spring semester, the student’s application to graduate is denied due to ineligibility. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with the Registrar to discuss any concerns or questions they may have about their degree completion audit prior to or during their senior year.
Participation in Commencement
Only students who have completed all requirements for the degree, as verified by the Registrar and the department chair(s), are eligible to participate in Commencement. These requirements must be completed no later than the Tuesday before Commencement. Some departments and programs may have earlier deadlines for the completion of requirements. The college-wide deadline for the submission of all work for the Senior Capstone Experience is the last day of classes of the spring semester.
Students who complete the requirements for the degree after Commencement but prior to the first day of the next fall semester’s classes receive a diploma dated with the previous academic year and have the option of participating in the next year’s Commencement. Any student with an outstanding financial obligation at the time of Commencement will remain eligible to graduate but will not receive a diploma or official transcript until the Business Office hold is cleared.
During the final semester of study prior to Commencement, the graduation eligibility of all students expected to graduate is periodically reviewed by the Registrar’s Office. If at any time a student’s record indicates that he or she has become ineligible to graduate, the student, faculty advisor(s) and the Associate Provost for Academic Services will be notified of this change in status.
Students’ transcripts are finalized when the degree is awarded. No majors, minors, specializations or concentrations can be added to the transcript after the awarding of the degree.
Students who do not intend to participate in Commencement must notify the Registrar’s Office by the Tuesday before Commencement. The degree is awarded to the student “in absentia” and the diploma is mailed to the student. Students who choose not to participate in Commencement must still pay the graduation fee with no exception. In part, payment of this fee guarantees the students free official transcripts for life.
College Honors at Graduation
Each student’s cumulative grade point average, rank in class, and honors are calculated upon graduation and become part of the student’s permanent academic record. Only the academic work completed at Washington College or in a Washington College-approved program is eligible for consideration as part of the student’s accumulated credit hours.
The College Honors will be awarded at or above the following thresholds for students graduating during the 2012-2013 academic year:
summa cum laude 3.875 cumulative grade point average
magna cum laude 3.625 cumulative grade point average
cum laude 3.437 cumulative grade point average
Beginning with students graduating during the 2013-2014 academic year and beyond, the cumulative grade point average thresholds will be:
summa cum laude 3.875 cumulative grade point average
magna cum laude 3.75 cumulative grade point average
cum laude 3.625 cumulative grade point average
Departmental Honors at Graduation
Departmental honors, which are appropriately noted on the student’s permanent record and on the Commencement program, are determined by the quality of work done both in major courses and in the Senior Capstone Experience. The minimum requirements are Dean’s List average in course-work and honors level work in the Senior Capstone course.
College Awards at Graduation
College and departmental awards that are academic in nature will also be noted on the student’s permanent record and on the Commencement program. The criteria for each College and departmental award is listed in a later chapter of this Catalog.
The Honors Program
Washington College offers a variety of challenging courses designed to widen the intellectual perspectives of honors-caliber students. Lower-division courses are usually formulated as honors sections of existing courses; upper-division courses frequently are cross-disciplinary courses.
Entering first-year students need to have a high school GPA of at least 3.5, or the permission of the instructor, to enroll in honors courses. All other students must have a college GPA of at least 3.4, or permission of the instructor, to register for such courses.
The following Honors classes were offered in recent years. For Honors classes during academic year 2011-2012 please consult the course schedule.
ANT 105 90. Introduction to Anthropology
This course will focus on anthropological perspectives of the human condition and provide students with an introduction to the fundamental concepts, methods, and theories of the discipline of cultural anthropology. Readings by professional anthropologists will present students with a variety of viewpoints and an awareness of some of the controversial issues in the field. This course is centered on four research projects that will provide honors students with the opportunity to learn some of the elementary skills of qualitative research, a ritual analysis, analysis of a workplace, analysis of a family, and an oral history of an immigrant. For each of these projects, students will interview informants, do participant observation, and interpret their data within a theoretical framework of cultural anthropology.
ART 405 90. Rembrandt
This course, which has as its subject the life and art of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-69), not only opens a window onto the culture of the Netherlands in the seventeenth century, but also serves as an introduction to the methodology of art history, from the scientific examination of paintings to theories of interpretation, for few artists raise so many fundamental issues as to what it is we do as art historians—indeed resist traditional methods of interpretation—as does Rembrandt.
The format of the course is that of a seminar, with students giving presentations, aimed at honing their ability not only to tackle tough art historical questions but also to articulate their ideas in both oral and written forms. McColl
BIO 111 90. General Biology
An introduction to living systems. Topics studied include biomolecules, cell structure and function, metabolism, genetics, and molecular biology. Lectures on selected topics will be supplemented with problem-based learning opportunities as well as discussions of current events and selected papers from recent scientific literature.
The laboratory complements the lecture and provides an introduction to experimentation and communication of experimental results. Students also conduct an independent research project. Opportunities to attend research presentations and visit outside research facilities are provided.
This course will be limited to an enrollment of 16. BIO 111 is designed for students with a strong interest in the biological sciences and is a prerequisite for upper-level biology courses. Verville
BIO 112 90. General Biology
An introduction to living systems. Topics studied include diversity of life, physiology of plants and animals, evolution, and ecology. Lectures on selected topics will be supplemented with problem-based learning opportunities as well as discussions of current events and selected papers from recent scientific literature.
The laboratory complements the lecture and provides an introduction to experimentation and communication of experimental results. Students also conduct an independent research project. Opportunities to attend research presentations and visit outside research facilities are provided.
This course will be limited to an enrollment of 16. BIO 112 is designed for students with a strong interest in the biological sciences and is a prerequisite for upper-level biology courses. Prerequisite: Biology 111. Ford
BUS 302 90. Organizational Behavior
Multidisciplinary examination of research and theory in organizational behavior. A managerial perspective on individuals, groups, and organizations, and on topics like leadership, culture, communication, and change. In this honors course, students will read and discuss selected classic texts in organizational behavior theory. Writing intensive. Harvey
CHE 111 90. General Chemistry I
Offered as separate lecture and laboratory sections of the first half of the introductory General Chemistry sequence, this course is for students majoring or having an interest in physical and biological sciences. Topics include atomic and molecular structure, stoichiometry, chemical bonding, and energy, with an emphasis on molecules and reactions important in biological systems. Laboratory work complements lecture and provides hands-on experience with modern analytical instrumentation, such as Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Emphasis is placed on effective communication of experimental procedures and results. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. Marteel-Parrish or Sherman
CHE 112 90. General Chemistry II
Offered as a separate lecture and laboratory sections of the second half of the introductory General Chemistry sequence, this course is for students majoring or having an interest in physical and biological sciences. Topics include kinetics, chemical equilibria, chemistry of solutes and solutions, acids and bases, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry, as well as an introduction to organic chemistry. Laboratory work complements lecture and provides hands-on experience with modern analytical instrumentation, as well as exposure to products of the future such as biodiesel and solar-powered fuel cell cars. Emphasis is placed on effective communication of experimental procedures and results. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory per week. Marteel-Parrish or Sherman
CHE 201 90. Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
The honors laboratory section will allow students to study the chemical reactivity and physical properties of organic substances through the extensive use of molecular modeling software (CAChe and Spartan), infrared, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. Throughout the laboratory sessions each student will have access to a laptop computer that is part of a wireless LAN. A. Amick
CHE 202 90. Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
The honors laboratory section will involve the multi-step synthesis of a limited number of complex molecules and the characterization of these substances by infrared, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. Molecular modeling will be used to predict stereochemical parameters and mechanistic pathways for these reactions. Throughout the laboratory sessions each student will have access to a laptop computer that is part of a wireless LAN. A.Amick
DRA 494 90/GEN 494 90. SpTp: American Women Playwrights
The course will involve reading and discussion of a selected group of plays by American women writers, with the goal of acquiring aesthetic and critical perspective on the individual and collective voice of this group and an appreciation for their place in American theatre and letters. In addition to the plays, students will read a variety of critical reviews on individual writers and on American drama. Students will be required to submit four pieces of original work for grading. These may be formed as an essay or creative project, both involving some form of in-class presentation. Each submission must explore, through independent research, a connection between the dramatic and the aesthetic, social, political, or philosophical milieu that informs and is informed by the dramatic. Maloney
HIS 418 90. Historical Film Genres
In this honors course, a selection of film genres will be presented for comparative analysis, including four or five genres such as gangster films, “film noir” detective films, westerns, musicals, or films that depict and characterize professions such as journalism or jurisprudence. Films will be selected within each genre that offer different commentaries on recurrent social themes in American history. This course will also incorporate a significant amount of reading and research in primary-source documents relating to the historical periods and themes represented in the films. It will also include new secondary-source and interpretive texts. The course will thus extend the student’s repertoire of analytical skills in the field of history to more sophisticated intellectual challenges. Striner
PSY 320 90. Health Psychology
This honors course will take a close look at the human physiological response to cognition, emotion, and stress. Electromyographic, dermal temperature, and cardiac measures will be studied and the body’s autonomic nervous system response to stress and relaxation will be examined. Topics such as sports psychology, headache, systemic pain, cardiac illnesses, blood pressure, psycho-neuroimmunological activity, alcohol abuse, smoking, and chronic illness will be explored. Students will be expected to team up to develop original research on a topic pertinent to the course, and be willing to present those results at a regional professional psychology conference. Prerequisite: Psychology 201, 202. Siemen
Special Academic Opportunities
Washington College offers several opportunities for students to enhance their academic experience and to take full advantage of resources available beyond the classroom.
The American Chemical Society Student Members Chapter
The Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society Chapter are strongly committed to the celebration and promotion of chemistry education on campus and in the community through various events including lectures, field trips and the celebration of National Chemistry Week. They also take part in an annual “Chemistry Magic Show” at local elementary and middle schools. Other outreach activities include food and toiletry drives each fall. The Student Affiliates are striving to become a “Green” chapter, focusing on ways to make chemical products and processes safer for human beings and the environment. The club is not strictly for students who major or minor in chemistry, but is open for anyone who is interested in learning more about the field. Aaron Amick, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, serves as faculty advisor.
The Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows
The Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows, established in 1990, provides special opportunities for academically outstanding students. Its purpose is to foster intellectual exchange beyond the classroom and to encourage creative and independent projects beyond particular course requirements. The Society funds independent projects designed by its membership and meets regularly throughout the year to exchange student works-in-progress. Students become eligible for membership at the end of their sophomore year. Nominations to the Society are made twice each year. The Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows is directed by Austin Lobo, Associate Professor of Computer Science.
The Louis L. Goldstein Program in Public Affairs
The Louis L. Goldstein Program in Public Affairs was established in 1990 to encourage students to enter public service by introducing them to exemplary leaders both in and out of government. The Goldstein Program sponsors lectures, symposia, visiting fellows, student participation in models and conferences, and other projects that bring students and faculty together with leaders experienced in developing public policy.
Recent speakers have included Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO of the NAACP; Jeff Birnbaum, Washington Bureau Chief for Fortune magazine; Anita Perez Ferguson, former president of the National Women’s Political Caucus; Christian Parenti, author of Lockdown America; and James Lindsay, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, and Jack Spencer, Policy Analyst for Defense and National Security, Heritage Foundation, in a Symposium on National Missile Defense. The Goldstein Program is directed by Christine Wade, Associate Professor of Political Science.
The John Toll Science Fellows Program
Named in honor of the College’s 25th president, the program supports the academic and research activities of students and faculty who belong to the College’s vibrant community of natural sciences and mathematics scholars. Students who have expressed an interest in pursuing a major in the sciences or mathematics and have demonstrated nascent research abilities are initially invited to be program apprentices. As early as the end of their first academic year, accomplished apprentices are invited to apply to become a John S. Toll Science and Mathematics Fellow (JSTF). These fellowships provide funding to undergraduate majors in the sciences and mathematics who are engaged in campus-based research projects under the direct supervision of a faculty mentor during the academic year or in the College’s ten-week summer research program. John S. Toll Science and Mathematics Fellows must major in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Physics, or Psychology. These majors can be pursued in conjunction with the Premedical Studies/Pre-Vet program, 3+2 Engineering program, 3+2 Nursing program, or 3+4 Pharmacy program. All Apprentices and Fellows must maintain full-time enrollment at Washington College, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 - 4.00, and abide by the Washington College Honor Code in the pursuit of all endeavors, both academic and social.
The Sophie Kerr Program
With income from a handsome endowment created in 1967, this program brings to campus a succession of distinguished writers, editors and literary scholars. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, Joseph Brodsky, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lucille Clifton, James McBride, Peter Matthiessen, Toni Morrison, and Bobbie Ann Mason are just some of the writers and scholars who have come to Washington College in the last decade to teach, lecture, and conduct writing workshops.
The Sophie Kerr Fund also supports the Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest undergraduate award in the United States and one of the largest literary awards in the world, totaling approximately $60,000 in 2011. The prize is awarded annually to a graduating senior “having the best ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor.” The Sophie Kerr Fund also provides scholarships for entering English majors who show promise in English or American literature.
The Joseph H. McLain Program in Environmental Studies
The Joseph H. McLain Program in Environmental Studies was established in 1990 to focus attention on and augment study in the fields of aquatic and environmental studies. The Program supports lectures and symposia featuring visiting scientists and other professionals on matters of environmental interest, particularly relating to the Chesapeake Bay. Past speakers have included Sylvia Earle, an underwater explorer and chief scientist at NOAA; environmental writer Tom Horton; Stephen Leatherman, Director, Laboratory of Coastal Research, University of Maryland; Edward Hoagland, author and editor, Penguin Series on the Environment and Natural History; Herman Daly, Senior Economist, Environmental Department, the World Bank; Christopher D. Clark, internationally recognized sporting artist; Simon Levin, Director, Princeton University Environmental Institute. The McLain Program is directed by Donald Munson, the Joseph H. McLain Professor of Environmental Studies and Professor of Biology.
The C. V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience
This Center, located in the historic Custom House on the Chester River, builds on Washington College’s national tradition as the first college founded in the new nation under the patronage of General George Washington. The Center seeks to trace the evolution of modern American thought from its roots in the ideas of the nation’s founders. One of its signature programs is the George Washington Book Prize, launched in 2005 in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The Prize awards $50,000 annually to an author of a published work contributing to a greater understanding of the life and career of George Washington and/or the founding era. Director: Adam Goodheart
The Center for Environment & Society
This Center is the natural outgrowth of the College’s environmental setting, its partnerships with regional environmental centers, and its own environmental studies program. The work of the Center addresses the academic and policy issues in the earth sciences as well as cultural archaeology and cultural resource management. This Center is located in the Custom House. Director: John Seidel
The Rose O’Neill Literary House
The Rose O’Neill Literary House stands at the center of Washington College’s thriving literary community. With support from the Sophie Kerr endowment, some of the nation’s most distinguished writers, editors, critics, and scholars have given readings and broken bread with Washington College writers on the Literary House’s wraparound porch or within its poster-clad Victorian walls. Students handset their own poetry broadsides in the Literary House’s pressroom annex or perfect their prose in one of the student writing rooms on the upper floors. The Rose O’Neill Literary House is both physical space and a programmatic center within a campus environment in which all students, regardless of discipline, are expected to develop the arts of writing and speaking well. Director: Jehanne Dubrow
Academic Resources
Clifton M. Miller Library
Miller Library is a dynamic place where active teaching and learning occurs at all times. The library provides: a rich collection of resources befitting the curriculum; technology to facilitate innovative forms of electronic delivery of our resources and services any time and from anywhere; a research instruction and reference program designed to empower students to become independent learners and to cope with the rigors of research papers, projects, and the culminating senior thesis; an environment equipped with teaching and learning spaces and workstations for individual and group study, research and computing; and librarians and staff who are confident, innovative, and dynamic facilitators and communicators. The library faculty encourages in students a sense of curiosity and a desire to explore a wide range of information, fosters their critical thinking skills, and teaches them how to select, evaluate, and organize information. The staff strives to support faculty in their individual intellectual endeavors and to foster a total community of active learners.
More than 500,000 books, periodicals, newspapers, government documents, microform, and multimedia resources comprise the library’s collection. A fully networked integrated library system provides access to more than 20,000 electronic periodicals, 25,000 e-books, and numerous links to Internet sources. Furthermore, any resource not available in Miller Library’s collection can be obtained through interlibrary loan. Course materials are reserved in electronic format and therefore can be viewed and downloaded remotely from the library’s home page at any time. State of the art technology enables students to use wireless laptops anywhere in the library.
Through a collaborative initiative with the Office of Information Technology and Academic Resources, the library environment is greatly enriched with the addition of the Multimedia Production Center, the Beck Instructional Technology Laboratory, the Math Center, and the Office of Study Skills and Learning Differences.
Academic Computing
Computers and technology play a very important role in all aspects of college life. Students, faculty, and staff rely on e-mail and the Web to communicate and share important information. Increasingly, library resources, academic and course information are accessible online. To benefit from the College’s academic environment, students must have the tools to access and work with digital resources. Therefore the College provides high speed Ethernet access in all residence halls, the computing centers, and in all public access areas. Wireless access is also available in the residence halls and in all academic buildings. Students have access to Windows or Macintosh computers in the computing centers, Miller Library, and in the public access locations in the residence halls. Every classroom has Internet access and about half have computer-assisted capabilities. The 75-seat lecture hall in Goldstein Hall is equipped with individual network connections to accommodate a personal laptop.
Using Blackboard, the College’s course management system, professors can place their course materials, instructional activities, assignments, grades, interactive presentations, and assessments on their Blackboard course Web site. With Blackboard, students can participate in synchronous and asynchronous online class discussions. Blackboard helps faculty to enhance the student learning experience.
In the Multimedia Production Center (MPC), faculty, students, and staff can create multimedia projects using industry standard applications running on state of the art equipment. With a variety of programs and services, the campus community can learn to enhance their communications using multimedia technologies. Users can learn digital video production, create graphics and animations, and develop web or CD-ROM based interactive presentations. To complement the MPC’s multimedia workstations and laptop computers, a comprehensive loaner pool allows faculty, students, and staff to borrow equipment including digital video camcorders and digital still cameras. The Multimedia Production Center is located on the ground floor in Miller Library.
The Writing Center
The ability to write clearly and concisely is essential to professional success— for business people writing reports, teachers creating curricula, or scientists drafting grant proposals. Thus, Washington College is deeply committed to cultivating a student’s expository writing skills. To this end, in addition to offering a curriculum rich in opportunities to write, the College requires that students enroll in writing-intensive courses during their freshman year.
The Center, located in Goldstein Hall, provides resources for students who wish to sharpen their writing skills, to generate new ideas through discussion, and to review their work with a tutorial instructor in writing. The Center offers individual conferences and small group instruction. The Writing Center is also an important resource for all students completing their two writing-intensive courses.
Beyond helping students meet these formal requirements, tutorial instructors are available to anyone in the College community—freshmen through graduate students—desiring to schedule individual conferences at any stage in the writing process. In a supportive, non-evaluative atmosphere, students may reflect on their ideas as they emerge in writing, measuring, and testing their clarity and power.
The Quantitative Skills Center
The Quantitative Skills Center is located on the main floor of Miller Library. Students who desire assistance with quantitative skills in Math, Computer Science, Business, Economics, and other disciplines will find friendly, well-trained peer tutors available to help them on a drop-in basis. The Quantitative Skills Center is open Monday through Thursday, between 12 noon and 5 p.m. Evening hours and other times are available by appointment. The Quantitative Skills Center posts tutoring hours and other helpful information on their Web site at http://www.mathcenter.washcoll.edu.
The Office of Academic Skills
The Office of Academic Skills, on the second floor of Miller Library (http://offices.washcoll.edu/academicskills/), is available to all students who wish to acquire additional learning strategies and support for academic success at Washington College. Through individual and small group instruction and discussion, the Director of the Office of Academic Skills assists students in acquiring strategies and techniques necessary to excel academically in college. These skills include discipline-specific study strategies, strategies for time management, test-taking, and managing test anxiety, and reading skills for comprehension and retention.
Peer Tutors in a variety of subjects are also available in the Office of Academic Skills. Students are strongly encouraged to request tutors early in the semester. The Office of Academic Skills can assign an individual tutor in the appropriate discipline within two weeks of a student’s request.
Students with Special Needs
The Office of Academic Skills also accommodates the curricular needs of students with documented learning disabilities and special needs. Students with documented special needs or learning disabilities who seek accommodation from the College should provide copies of appropriate documentation to the Director of the Office of Academic Skills. The Director will meet individually with students to discuss their needs and their choices about disclosure and to help them approach professors about accommodation. Students who suspect they may have learning disabilities can consult the Director about a preliminary evaluation.
The Center for Career Development
This center, located on the first floor of Caroline Hall, assists students in defining and achieving their goals by providing counseling, assessment, and career and graduate school information.
The Office of International Programs
This office, located at 508 Washington Avenue, serves as a resource center for students contemplating study abroad, and for international students. Staff members provide study abroad advising, application guidance, and preparation for student experiences abroad. International students are offered a full range of services and find support for their academic, social, personal, and cultural adjustment to Washington College.
College Honors and Awards
Phi Beta Kappa
The Phi Beta Kappa Society was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary as the nation’s first academic honor society. Over two centuries later the Society’s mission continues to be to honor and advocate the ideals of a liberal arts education. Society members prize freedom of inquiry and expression, rigorous scholarship within and among the disciplines, breadth of intellectual perspective, the cultivation of skills of deliberation and ethical reflection, and the pursuit of wisdom. Among the programs of the national Society are academic and literary awards, lectureships, fellowships, visiting professorships, and publication of The American Scholar, an award-winning quarterly journal.
Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is widely considered to be the most highly regarded mark of academic distinction for undergraduate students in liberal studies. Only about ten percent of the nation’s institutions of higher learning shelter chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, and only about ten percent of those institutions’ graduates in liberal studies are offered membership. Washington College’s chapter, the Theta Chapter of Maryland, was founded in 2007.
Invitations to join Phi Beta Kappa are extended each spring to Washington College students, usually seniors, of exceptional academic achievement in liberal studies, the area of focus of the Society. To be eligible for consideration for membership, students must complete at least 96 credit hours in courses deemed by the national Society to be “liberal studies” (as opposed to “vocational” in nature). The diversity of one’s college program, academic excellence, and exceptional character are the primary factors considered in deliberations among Phi Beta Kappa resident members (faculty and staff) who vote by secret ballot on candidates for membership.
In addition to sponsoring campus events that are consistent with the overall mission of the Society, each fall Washington College’s Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa recognizes students who achieved the highest cumulative grade point average in their first year at the College, and each spring presents the Gerda Blumenthal Award to a first- or second-year student for special scholarly work in the Humanities.
Fellowships
A number of fellowships are awarded for summer research, internships, and other specialized educational opportunities.
The Roy Ans Fellowship in Jewish American Studies is open to students of all religious backgrounds and beliefs. It offers a stipend for the student to pursue a research project related to the Jewish-American experience in any area of study offered by Washington College. Research will normally be conducted by a sophomore or junior working in the spring semester and presented during the month of May. Applications will be judged by a faculty committee and awarded competitively. The Ans Fund is administered by the Provost.
The Bennett International Studies Fund supports students’ internships with the U.S. State Department, the United Nations, and other agencies with an international focus and funds student participation in Model U.N. programs, national conferences on world affairs, and summer study abroad opportunities. The Bennett Fund is administered by the International Studies Program.
The Gerda Blumenthal Phi Beta Kappa Award is given to a student who best exemplifies the ideals and aspirations of Phi Beta Kappa and Washington College. The award is given to a rising sophomore or junior to support special scholarly work in the humanities, such as collaborative faculty-student research or study abroad. The award is overseen by the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Washington College.
The Douglass Cater Society of Junior Fellows is the College’s flagship academic enrichment program, rewarding creativity, initiative, and intellectual curiosity with competitive grants to support self-directed undergraduate research and scholarship anywhere in the world. Requiring a GPA of 3.60 or better, membership in the Society is offered to students who achieve distinction among the school’s top scholars. Grants are highly competitive and awarded by the Junior Fellows Advisory Council.
The Comegys Bight Fellows Program offers funding for research-based summer internships (or independent research projects) related to American history, culture, politics, art, music, or literature. Grants are offered on a competitive basis to sophomores and juniors from all academic majors. Comegys Bight fellowships are often, but not always, related to a thesis project. The program is administered by the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.
The Frederick Douglass Fellowship Program supports sophomores or juniors to work on a spring semester research project related to African-American studies or related fields (women’s studies, gay studies, Latino studies, etc.). The Douglass Fellowship Program is administered by the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.
The Goldstein Program in Public Affairs supports internships, participation in student conferences, and other projects. It is administered by the Curator of the Goldstein Program in Public Affairs.
The Richard L. Harwood Fellowship in Journalism is awarded annually to the editor-elect of the Washington College student newspaper, The Elm, and other editors-elect as funds permit. The fellowship helps to underwrite summer internships at newspapers selected by the student editors and approved by the faculty advisor to The Elm. Typically the newspaper of choice is a small-town paper willing to match the Harwood Fellowship Program stipend. The fellowship program is administered by the Board of the Rose O’Neill Literary House Press.
The Clarence Hodson Prize rewards creativity, initiative, and intellectual curiosity with a competitive grant to support an internship, undergraduate research project, or other form of study anywhere in the world. Requiring a GPA of 3.40 or better, the prize is offered to a sophomore, junior, or senior majoring in the fine or performing arts, with a preference for a major in music, who has achieved distinction among Washington College’s top scholars. A report on the funded project internship must be made before graduation.
Hodson Science Scholarships fund student-faculty collaborative summer research in the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science. The fellowships are awarded to incoming freshmen on a competitive basis who are carrying a GPA of 3.80-4.00 and SAT scores of 1200-1600. The fellows may elect to use their stipend between their sophomore and junior or their junior and senior years, provided they have declared a qualifying major and will undertake a research assignment in that discipline. Individual projects are overseen by members of the faculty of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
The Simon Hultman Travel Award honors Simon Hultman ‘04, who embodied the very essence of International Studies. In addition to studying abroad at Pécs University in Hungary and Meiji Gakuin University in Japan, Simon was active in the International Studies Council and a regular participant in Washington College’s Model U.N. programs. He was also devoted to raising awareness of cultural diversity on campus and a genuine source of support for international students studying at the College. The award is given to an international sStudies major to support study abroad. Selection criteria are based on academic merit and a spirit of adventure.
The William B. Johnson Business Internship Awards fund summer internships for students interested in careers in business. The award is open to all majors, but recipients should possess the three values that motivated William Johnson to achieve great success in business and industry: scholarship, service, and character. Selection is made by the Chair of the Department of Business Management.
The SJK Fund for International Studies funds summer study abroad opportunities and internships. It is administered by the International Studies Department.
The Sophie Kerr Fund offers to incoming freshmen merit awards that may be renewed for four consecutive years. The program is administered by the College president and English faculty.
The Louise and Rodney Layton Fund supports summer research internships for upperclassmen who are science majors. It is administered by the faculty of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
The Robert W. and Louisa C. Duemling Presidential Study Fellowship in Washington is a non-residential, part-time, year-long opportunity to study the U.S. Presidency, the public policy-making process, and the Chief Executive’s relations with Congress, allies, the media, and the American public. One junior or senior each year is supported to go to The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in Washington, D.C., on several occasions during the year for briefings by policymakers, journalists, and leading scholars. In addition, with the help of a mentor drawn from the public policy community and/or government, each fellow researches, writes, presents, and publishes an original paper on an issue of the modern Presidency. The Robert W. and Louisa C. Duemling Presidential Study Fellowship is administered by the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience.
The Summer Science Research Program funds research projects in the natural sciences, mathematics, and computer science during a 10-week summer session. Poster presentations of the results are given in the summer and frequently during the academic year at national and regional meetings of scientific societies and organizations. The Summer Science Research Program is administered by the faculty of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.
Honorary Fraternities and Societies
Phi Beta Kappa, Theta of Maryland, sheltered at Washington College, is the oldest undergraduate honors organization in the United States. It celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.
Omicron Delta Kappa is a national leadership honor society recognizing and encouraging the achievement of exemplary character and superior quality in scholarship and learning. ODK identifies, honors and develops leaders in collegiate and community life; encourages collaboration among students, faculty, staff and alumni to advance leadership; and promotes, publicizes and enhances its ideals. ODK expects adherence to the highest standards of Scholarship, Service, Integrity, Character and Fellowship.
Order of Omega is the national Greek leadership honor society for juniors and seniors who attain a cumulative grade point average above the All-Greek average and who embody a high standard of leadership.
Beta Beta Beta, Rho Iota Chapter, is a national honor society for students dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending the boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research.
Sigma Beta Delta is a national honor society in business, recognizing students in the top 20% of their class who aspire toward personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by honorable service to humankind.
Gamma Sigma Epsilon, Gamma Eta Chapter, is the national honor society in chemistry recognizing outstanding students demonstrating exceptional ability and interest in the field of chemistry.
Nu Delta Alpha is a national honor society recognizing high scholarship and personal interest in the field of dance.
Omicron Delta Epsilon is an international honor society recognizing high achievement and strong personal interest in economics.
Pi Lambda Theta is a national honor society recognizing high standards in the study of education.
Sigma Tau Delta is an international honor society whose central purpose is to confer distinction upon outstanding students of the English language and literature.
Pi Delta Phi is the national honor society recognizing outstanding scholarship in the French language and its literature. Its purpose is to increase the knowledge and appreciation of the French-speaking world and to stimulate and encourage French cultural activities. Students must be either a French studies major or minor, have a minimum 3.00 GPA in French courses, and demonstrate a commitment to the study of French language and literature.
Phi Alpha Theta is an international honor society recognizing high standards in the study of, or writing of, history.
Phi Sigma Tau, Delta Chapter, is a national honor society recognizing high scholarship and personal interest in philosophy.
Pi Sigma Alpha is a national honor society in political science recognizing students in the upper third of their class who have demonstrated productive scholarship and personal interest in government, international relations, or public administration.
Psi Chi is a national honor society in psychology awarding distinction to students in the upper 35% of their class who have demonstrated productive scholarship in psychology.
Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, was founded in 1886 as an honor society for science and engineering. Today, Sigma Xi is an international research society whose programs and activities promote the health of the scientific enterprise and honor scientific achievement. In addition, Sigma Xi also endeavors to encourage support of original work in science and technology and promote an appreciation within society at large for the role research has played in human progress. Among its chief mission Sigma Xi seeks to foster worldwide interactions among science, technology and society. Membership is awarded to students who have accomplished substantive research achievements and, in the judgment of the members of the Washington College Chapter of Sigma Xi, have demonstrated exceptional promise as research scientists.
Sigma Delta Pi, Sigma Zeta Chapter is a national honor society in Spanish recognizing students in the upper 35% of their class who have demonstrated superior academic achievement and commitment to the study of Spanish language and Hispanic literature and culture.
Lambda Alpha is the National Collegiate Honor Society for Anthropology. It was founded for the purpose of encouraging and stimulating scholarship and research in anthropology by recognizing and honoring superior achievement in the discipline among students, faculty and other persons engaged in the study of anthropology.
Alpha Kappa Delta is an international honor society dedicated to the investigation of humanity for the purpose of service and the acknowledgment and promotion of excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology.
Individual Awards
A number of awards honor individual members of the College community for special achievements in scholarship, athletics, and leadership. The following are awarded at commencement or appropriate occasions during the academic year:
Academic Honors and Prizes Conferred By the Entire Faculty
The Louis L. Goldstein ‘35 Award is awarded to a graduating senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, has demonstrated unusual interest, enthusiasm and potential in the field of public affairs.
Eugene B. Casey Medal is awarded to a senior woman voted by the faculty to be outstanding in the qualities of scholarship, character, leadership and campus citizenship.
Henry W.C. Catlin 1894 Medal is awarded to a senior man voted by the faculty to be outstanding in the qualities of scholarship, character, leadership and campus citizenship.
Clark-Porter Medal is awarded to the student whose character and personal integrity, in the opinion of the faculty, have most clearly enhanced the quality of campus life. Created by Charles B. Clark ‘34 in memory of Harry P. Porter, Class of 1905.
George Washington Medal and Award is awarded to the senior who shows the greatest promise of understanding and realizing in life and work the ideals of a liberal education.
Other Academic Honors and Prizes
The First-Year Scholarship Medal is awarded to the first-year student who attains the highest academic average in the class.
The American Studies Program Senior Capstone Experience Award is awarded to a graduating American studies major with the most outstanding senior research project.
The Alumni Medal is awarded by the alumni of the College to the member of the sophomore class who attains the highest cumulative average in the class.
The Lynette Nielsen Art Award is given annually to acknowledge excellence in art.
The Art History Award is presented annually to acknowledge excellence in the field of art history.
The Department of Biology Professional Award is awarded to the graduating biology major who has demonstrated academic excellence, is pursuing a professional degree, and has a strong potential for success in a professional field.
The Department of Biology Research Award is awarded to the graduating biology major who has demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to undergraduate research, who is pursuing a higher academic degree with a research component, and who shows great promise for success in biological research.
The Department of Biology Award of Special Recognition is awarded on special occasion to the graduating biology major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and exceptional depth of understanding in the field of biology.
The Department of Biology Teaching Award is awarded on special occasion to the graduating biology major who has demonstrated academic excellence and exceptional dedication to science education.
The Department of Business Management Award is given to a graduating business major who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of scholarship, character and leadership.
The Department of Business Management Senior Capstone Experience Award is awarded to a graduating business major with the most outstanding senior research project, demonstrating high scholarship and analytical skills.
The Stanley A. Schottland Business Leadership Award is presented annually by the Department of Business Management to a Washington College senior in any major who has demonstrated outstanding academic ability and leadership potential for business. The prize includes a cash award upon graduation, and an additional award for tuition expenses for an accredited business school entered after at least two years of employment in a participating or approved company. Two additional finalists will each receive a cash award.
The Joseph H. McLain ‘37 Prize is awarded to the graduating senior who shows the greatest promise for making a future contribution to human understanding of chemistry. Endowed in 1982 by members of the American Pyrotechnics Association.
The James R. Miller ‘51 Award for Excellence in Chemistry is given annually to an outstanding senior majoring in chemistry or a premedical senior student who has demonstrated special interest and high academic achievement in chemistry.
The Stewart Drama Award is given annually to a senior who has made outstanding contributions to the College through dramatic and speaking ability. Endowed by Pearl Griffin Stewart, Class of 1905.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Award is given in recognition of outstanding achievement in the study of economics.
The Economics Department Award is awarded for outstanding academic performance and the potential for high achievement in the field of economics.
The Dr. Davy H. McCall Prize in International Economics is awarded to a graduating senior majoring in economics who has demonstrated special interest, high academic achievement and superior oral and written abilities in international economics.
The Rachel Scholz Leadership Award is awarded to a graduating senior who, in the judgment of the Education Department, has demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and dispositions of an outstanding teacher-leader.
The Sean O Connor Teaching Award is awarded to a graduating senior who, in the judgment of the Education Department, has consistently displayed outstanding performance in teaching and authentic student engagement.
The Education Department Award is awarded to a graduating senior who, in the judgment of the Education Department, has shown the promise of meaningful contributions to diversified pedagogy, cultural sensitivity, and global awareness within the fields of education and the liberal arts.
The Maureen Jacoby Prize is given to the graduating senior who has demonstrated dedication to student publications at Washington College, and has strong potential for a future in the field of editing or publishing.
The Anna Melvin Hague 1905 Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a student whose demonstrated qualities of scholarship, character, and dedication will make the most effective contribution to the field of public education.
The Veryan Beacham Prize is awarded to a junior or student who is two semesters from graduation who has produced a body of writing on any intellectual subject or in any creative genre. The prize is the publication of that manuscript in a fine edition, which will be distributed by the College and others to professionals and alumni who are interested in exceptional students graduating from Washington College.
The Emil J. C. Hildenbrand Memorial Medal is awarded to the senior who attains the highest average in English during the four years of study. Given by the Washington, D.C. Chapter of the Alumni Association.
The Sophie Kerr Prize is awarded to the senior having the best ability and promise for future fulfillment in the field of literary endeavor.
The Writers’ Union Award is given for outstanding service to the Writers’ Union. A gift of Robert L. Chamberlin, Jr. ‘48 in memory of Mary Lou Chamberlin ‘49.
The Environmental Studies Award is given to the graduating environmental studies major who, through academic accomplishment and extracurricular involvement, shows the greatest potential for making significant lifetime contributions to helping solve the world’s environmental problems.
The Gender Studies Award is awarded to a graduating senior who has displayed unusual interest and/or scholarship in the field of gender studies.
The Arthur A. Knapp ‘39 Memorial Prize in History is awarded to the graduating history major who, in the opinion of the Department, has displayed unusual interest, enthusiasm and ability in the field of history.
The Phi Alpha Theta Award is presented to a graduating history major for excellent historical scholarship.
The Jane Huston Goodfellow Memorial Prize is awarded to a graduating senior, majoring in a natural science (biology, chemistry or physics), who has an abiding appreciation of the arts and humanities and has shown scholastic excellence.
The Norman James Humanities Award for Excellence is given by the James family to the senior majoring in humanities who has shown academic distinction and represents the ideals of humanistic society.
The Inter-Fraternity—Pan Hellenic Loving Cups, given annually to the fraternity and sorority with the highest scholastic index for the preceding year, are inscribed with the names of the current winners.
The International Studies Award is given to a graduating major who, in the opinion of the Department, demonstrates an exceptional understanding and interest in international affairs.
The Simon Hultman Senior Award is awarded to the graduating senior who best embodies the spirit and enthusiasm for international studies and travel.
The Tai Sung An Memorial Prize is awarded to the graduating international student who, in the opinion of the faculty of the international studies interdisciplinary major, has exemplified in an exceptional manner the benefits of inter-cultural education on our campus.
The Erika and Henry Salloch Prize is given by the Department of Modern Languages, in memory of Erika and Henry Salloch, to the student whose achievement and personal commitment have contributed to the understanding of other cultures.
The Department of Modern Languages Service Award is given to a graduating senior for outstanding service within the department.
The German Studies Alumni Award is given annually to the senior who, in the opinion of the faculty of Modern Languages, has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a depth of understanding in the field of German studies.
The William Gover Duvall ‘30 Prize is awarded to a graduating senior who, in the judgment of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, has demonstrated outstanding achievement and shows great promise in the field of mathematics.
The Alpha Chi Omega Music Award is given to a senior in recognition of excellence in music.
The Clarence Hodson Prize — please see Fellowships section.
The Gold Pentagon Awards are awarded to one senior and one alumnus, faculty or friend of the College, selected by the Omicron Delta Kappa Society, in recognition of meritorious service to Washington College.
The Department of Philosophy and Religion Award is given annually to a graduating senior majoring in philosophy, recognizing outstanding ability in, and engagement with, the field of philosophy and religion.
The Holstein Prize for Ethics is awarded each year to the graduating senior whose senior thesis, in the opinion of the selection committee, best demonstrates an interest in ethics and the application of ethics to his or her area of interest.
The Department of Physics Award is given to a graduating physics major who has demonstrated academic excellence and who shows promise for success in the physical sciences.
The Political Science Award is given to a graduating major who in the opinion of the Department, demonstrates a superior theoretical and practical understanding of political life.
The Daniel L. Premo Award is given annually to the graduating senior in political science or international studies who shows the most promise in the field of public diplomacy.
The Psychology Department Award is given to the senior psychology major who shows outstanding promise in the field of psychology.
The Psychology Department Capstone Experience Award is presented to the graduating senior majoring in psychology who, in the opinion of the Department, should be recognized for successful completion and presentation of an exceptional capstone project.
The Virginia M. Conner ‘85 Psychology Award is presented annually to the outstanding graduating senior or seniors majoring in psychology who, in the opinion of the Department, have demonstrated superior scholarship and service to the Department and College.
The Psychology Department Outstanding Achievement Award is given to senior psychology majors in recognition of exceptionally high levels of performance in the field of psychology.
The Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society Award is presented to students who have accomplished substantive research achievements and, in the judgment of the members of the Washington College chapter of Sigma Xi, have demonstrated exceptional promise as research scientists.
The Anthropology Award is given to the graduating major or majors who have shown exceptional understanding of anthropology and other cultures, past or present.
The Anthropology Service Award is given to the graduating major who demonstrates the greatest dedication to public service in anthropology at Washington College.
The Lambda Alpha Gamma of Maryland Chapter Senior Award is awarded to the graduating senior in Anthropology for demonstrating the most outstanding formal writing skill as the chapter’s candidate for the National Lambda Alpha Scholarship.
The Margaret Horsley Award is given to the graduating major or majors who, in the opinion of the faculty and students of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, have shown in his or her work the clearest understanding of human social behavior.
The Sociology Service Award is awarded to the graduating senior who, in the opinion of the Department and its students, has made, through service, the greatest contribution to the sociology program and to Washington College.
The W. Dennis Berry ‘87 Leadership Award is presented annually to the senior or seniors who most clearly exhibit those characteristics of charismatic leadership that distinguished Mr. Berry’s service to Washington College.
The Karen Kaitz Emerick Award is awarded to one or more senior students, chosen by the Executive Committee of the Student Government Association, who have demonstrated strong character and good academic standing, and who have been leaders in community and volunteer service.
The Penny J. Fall Award is given annually by the Washington College Student Government Association to the female athlete who most successfully continues, through service to the College, the tradition and legacy set by Professor Fall. The recipient is chosen for her leadership on campus and her ability to conceive, organize and execute academic and extracurricular activities that have benefited the entire Washington College community.
The Jonathan A. Taylor, Jr. Leadership Award is given to the member of the Washington College Student Government Association who diligently and effectively incorporates progressive thought when addressing the needs and demands of the modern collegiate environment.
The Non-Traditional Student Award was established in 1991 to celebrate academic success by a non-traditional student in the graduating class.
Outstanding Community Service Recognition is awarded to senior students who have committed themselves to community service.
The Visitors and Governors Medal, given by the trustees of the College, is awarded to the junior with the highest cumulative average in the class.
Athletic Honors and Prizes
The Doris T. Bell ‘50 Award is given to the senior woman with the highest cumulative average who has won a varsity letter during the year.
The Alfred Reddish Award is given to the senior man with the highest cumulative average who has won a varsity letter during the year.
The Thomas Reeder Spedden ‘17 Medal is awarded to graduating students for academic standing and achievement in athletics.
The Eldridge Eliason Award is given annually to the male student and female student who, with scholastic standing in the upper half of the class, have accomplished the most in the field of athletics.
The Senior Athletic Award is given annually to the male student and the female student who, in the opinion of the Department, achieved the most in athletics at Washington College.
Sho’men Club Award is given annually to the male student and female student who, in the opinion of the department, by cooperation, loyalty, sportsmanship, spirit and industry, contributed the most to the development of athletics at Washington College.
Faculty Awards
The Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching encourages and recognizes outstanding teaching at Washington College.
International Programs
Global awareness is a major goal of a modern liberal-arts education. Overseas experiences enhance students’ capacity for global understanding through an examination of the ways history, culture, politics, economics, commerce, science, and the arts shape our world and our world views. The College is committed to the philosophy that a student’s education is enriched by spending one or two semesters in a foreign country as a participant in our international programs. The Office of International Programs coordinates academic semester and year study abroad and exchange programs. Any student considering study abroad should talk with their advisor, attend an information session on study abroad, and meet with the director of international programs. Reviewing information on the Office of International Programs’ Web page is a great first step in exploring the College’s study abroad options: oip.washcoll.edu.
Washington College Exchange and Study Abroad Programs
In this section you will find an overview of the exchange and study abroad programs available at Washington College. These programs have ben vetted by the Washington College faculty and administration. Second-semester sophomores are eligible to study abroad granted they meet the academic requirements of the host institution and are in good academic/disciplinary standing at the College. The College reserves the right to withdraw and/or prevent students from attending programs due to any situation that may negatively impact the students’ well-being. All exchange and study abroad programs provide on-site orientations, and have an office dedicated to working with visiting Washington College students. For policies pertaining to credit and grade transfer, please see the section on Policies Concerning Credit for Study Abroad Programs.
Argentina: Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires
One of the finest and largest private universities in Argentina, Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA) is located in Puerto Madero, an architecturally-acclaimed US$2.5 billion urban-renewal project in the old port of Buenos Aires. Since its foundation in 1958, UCA has been a pioneer in many fields and attracted leading scholars in each academic discipline to its faculty. The University offers courses and degrees in: Economics, Commerce, Marketing, Business, Political Science, International Relations, Law, Engineering, Computer Science, Philosophy, Literature, History, Music and Musicology, Education, Journalism, Institutional Communications, and Advertising. Students choose from different types of accommodations: home-stay, student residences, or flats. All courses at UCA are taught in Spanish, so Spanish language skills must be at the strong intermediate or advanced level. Advisors: Stein and Wade
Australia: Bond University, Gold Coast
Students can take courses in a wide variety of subjects including business, humanities, social sciences, information technology, and languages. Bond’s small class sizes and low student:staff ratio are a real strength and a distinguishing factor between it and most, other Australian universities. Advisor: Harvey
Australia: Monash University, Melbourne
Monash University’s overall size allows for a vast breadth of course offerings. Students will be able to take courses in the following disciplines: Koorie (Aboriginal) studies, Australian studies, anthropology and sociology, Asian languages, history, politics, computing, business economics, and the natural sciences. Advisor: Harvey
Brazil: Pontifícia Universidade Católica, Rio de Janeiro
PUC-Rio is a private non-profit Catholic University created in 1941, now recognized as one of the top five universities in Brazil. Located in the exciting city of Rio de Janeiro, PUC-Rio offers courses taught in English along with Portuguese Language courses for the beginner through advanced level. Courses in English are offered in the following areas: Art and Design, Business, History, International Relations, Literature, and Sociology. The International Office at PUC-Rio provides a week-long orientation for newly arrived international students, and arranges housing for the students in a family homestay for their period of study. Advisor: Stein
Denmark: University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest university in Denmark and has fostered many prominent scholars. Although the city of Copenhagen is a relatively small capital, it is characterized by the large number of young people living and studying there. Courses are primarily taught in the native Danish language, however, students will be able to take courses taught in English in the humanities, social sciences, media and communication, law, natural sciences, and computer sciences. Advisor: Sorrentino
Ecuador: Universidad San Francisco De Quito, Quito
The University is located in historic Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Students must have an intermediate proficiency in Spanish as most courses are taught in that language. By living with a host family, students may greatly improve their language skills. USFQ’s International Programs Office will assist students with family placements. Students may take courses in art, sciences, economics, business management, mathematics, humanities, music, philosophy, political science, international studies, psychology, and environmental studies. Advisor: Stein
Egypt: The American University in Cairo, Cairo
The American University in Cairo was founded in 1919 as an English-language based college that would provide an opportunity for a liberal arts education as well as develop awareness for the needs of Egypt and the region. AUC has become a leading institution in the Middle Eastern region by emphasizing the importance of studying humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences in becoming an educated student and future leader. AUC has completed a larger, newly constructed campus located in an area known as New Cairo located 35 km east of Tahrir Square. All of the buildings are beautiful examples of traditional Islamic architecture with the added bonuses of modernity and state of the art educational resources. Students are able to take courses in a wide range of topics including Arabic Language and Arabic Studies. AUC housing offers air-conditioning, computer labs, cafeterias, study rooms, wireless high-speed internet, satellite TV, and a fitness facility in all of the residence facilities. Advisor: Shad
England: The Hansard Scholars Programme, London
Washington College has a special arrangement with the Hansard Society for Parliamentary Government that enables students to spend a semester or summer in London. Hansard Scholars are assigned to work as assistants to members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the political parties, public and social policy and research institutes. All placements involve responsible work and are closely supervised by the Hansard Society. The internship placements are accompanied by three courses at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Students take Politics and Public Policy, Politics and Parliament, and a supervised research project. The Hansard Scholars Programme is affiliated with the London School of Economics. Eligibility: Juniors and first-semester seniors in good academic standing (GPA 3.0 and above) who have an appropriate background and the approval of the program’s advisor. Advisors: Shad, Deckman
England: University of Hull, Hull and Scarborough
The University of Hull has a long tradition of enhancing the education of students from overseas. Located in northeast England, Hull, is an attractive city of 350,000 with a rich history and excellent transport links to major cities in the UK. Students have the choice of studying at the main Hull campus (15,000 students) or at the smaller Scarborough campus (1,500 students) located in a scenic coastal town 40 miles north of Hull. The teaching staff value and encourage the University’s mix of UK and international students as one that creates a positive and enriching learning environment; and the International Student’s Association is one of the largest and most dynamic of the Students’ Union societies organizing numerous trips and social events. Students may choose classes from a long list of departments: Archaeology, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Coastal Studies, Drama, Economics, English, History, Languages, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Politics and International Relations, Sociology and Anthropology and more. Students are housed in University accommodations, adjacent to the campus. Advisors: Daniels, Munson, Volansky
England: Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham
Royal Holloway is a unique blend of history, tradition and innovation. Famous for its Founder’s Building, one of the most spectacular university buildings in the world, the College also enjoys an international reputation for the highest quality teaching and research across the sciences, arts and humanities. Royal Holloway is renowned for having a friendly environment—home for a vibrant community of 6,600 undergraduate and postgraduate students of all ages and backgrounds from more than 120 countries. The spacious 135-acre campus provides an impressive range of modern academic and social facilities in a parkland setting in Surrey, close to London. Students may choose classes from a long list of departments: Biology Sciences, Classics, Computer Science, Economics, English, European Studies, French, German, Hispanic Studies, History, Italian, Management, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Politics and International Relations, and Psychology. Advisors: Shad, Sorrentino, Vowels
Finland: University of Oulu, Oulu
Oulu is a modern and rapidly growing university in northern Finland’s cultural and commercial center. Courses offered in English include Scandanavian studies, northern cultures and societies, northern women’s studies, Japanese studies, American studies, and northern nature and environmental studies. Finland’s relatively remote geographical position in northernmost Europe has helped the country remain rich in vegetation and wildlife. Advisor: Harvey
France: American Business School Paris, Paris
The American Business School, Paris was established in 1985 and is one of the first English-speaking business schools in France modeled on American undergraduate business education and has established links with several renowned American universities. A U.S. accredited Bachelor of Business Administration curriculum is taught entirely in English by professors who are American, or who have trained in America, but who all have their own unique international experience and career paths that they bring into the classroom. Course offerings include but are not limited to: Accounting, Business, Economics Finance, Mathematics, and Marketing. French language courses are taught in the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Advisor: Harvey
France: Université d’Artois, Arras
Students in any major who have a strong background in French language may study at the Université d’Artois. The University is located in a small town about 100 miles north of Paris. Students may take classes in foreign languages, history, geography, business, computer science, sociology, and more. Advisor: Pears
France: Université Pierre Mendes, Grenoble
This university is one of three located in Grenoble, France, and the only one that concentrates specifically on the social sciences. Students must have a strong background in the French language as all classes are taught in French. Students are able to take courses in law, political science, philosophy, music, social sciences, history, and art. Advisor: Pears
Germany: Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen
Tübingen Universitat, established in 1477, is one of the most respected universities in Europe. Students can take a wide range of courses in different disciplines including business, economics, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, geography and the arts. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated and independent students with strong language skills (ability to succeed in 300-level German courses at Washington College is a prerequisite). Advisor: Martin
Germany: Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz
JGUM was founded in 1477 and is located near Frankfurt in the central region of Germany. Because of its prime location, JGUM offers easy access to airline routes, rail links, and motorways to other parts of the country, such as Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Bonn. JGUM has 30,000 students with 10% of the student body being international students. The city offers many spectacular tourist sites including museums, monuments, churches, and theatres. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated and independent students with strong language skills (ability to succeed in 300-level German courses at Washington College is a prerequisite). Students will be able to take courses in the following disciplines: Arts, Business Management, Drama, Economics, Education, English, History, Humanities, Mathematics, Foreign Languages, Music, Philosophy, Environmental Science, Political Science, International Studies, Sociology, and Psychology. Advisor: Martin
Hong Kong: Lingnan University, Tuen Mun
One of the few liberal arts institutions in Hong Kong, Lingnan University offers a unique combination of eastern and western traditions. Located in the New Territories, Lingnan University provides a campus environment that promotes self-learning and maximizes opportunities for social, cultural, and extracurricular activities, as well as sharing the belief of the importance of their bilingual society: English and Chinese. Students can choose from a variety of courses taught in English in the following faculties: contemporary English studies, cultural studies, business administration, social sciences, history, and philosophy. Advisor: Oros
Hungary: University of Pécs, Pécs
This university of 4,000 students is located in the south of the Transdanubia region. Students may take courses in criminology, politics, sociology, philosophy, foreign languages, history, business management, economics, art, biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and education. A broad range of classes are taught in English. Advisor: Black
Ireland: University College Cork, Cork
Founded in 1849, the university is located in Ireland’s second-largest city on the south coast, 160 miles southwest of Dublin. It is one of three colleges that constitute the National University of Ireland. Students may take courses ranging from the natural sciences to social sciences and humanities. All of the university’s facilities will be available to students from Washington College, including specially designed programs for students from the USA. Advisor: Gillin
Israel: The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva
For students with an interest in Israel, a semester or academic year at Ben-Gurion can be arranged through the New York City office of this top Israeli university. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is the only Israeli university created to fulfill a unique nation-building mandate: to develop the Negev, its land, and its people. As Israel’s fastest growing institution, it is gaining international repute for its innovative research, its dynamic student body, and its modern campus. BGU offers courses in anthropology, pre-medicine, international relations, environmental studies, and linguistics and literatures, along with many opportunities for experiential learning. Advisor: Shad
Italy: Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Milan
Since its founding in 1921, the university has become a central point of reference for the Milanese intellectual community. It’s a true campus, offering everything that makes this university a unique and unrepeatable experience: study, research, the chance to meet the lecturers and to become part of the dialogue of an academic institution, contact with the outside world, and the opportunity to extend the personal development it offers through cultural and recreational extracurricular activities. The University offers courses and degrees in: Communication and Performance Sciences, Economics and Business Administration, Foreign Languages and Literature, History, Humanities, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology. Approximately 25 courses are offered in English each semester in these various faculties. An Intensive Italian Language and Culture course is offered both prior to and during each semester. Advisor: Shad
Japan: Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo and Yokohama
Meiji Gakuin has two campuses and a student population of 10,000. Students can take Japanese language courses. Courses in economics, politics, culture management, and history are offered in English. Advisors: Oros, Narita
Morocco: Al Akhawayn University, Ifrane
Located in the resort town of Ifrane, nestled in the Middle Atlas Mountains, Al Akhawayn University is set in the heart of a region known for its beautiful forests, mountains, lakes, and waterfalls. This small university offers programs in business administration, humanities and social science, and science and engineering. The language of instruction at the university is English. Advisors: Scout and Shad
Peru: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru, Lima
The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru (PUCP) is a highly prestigious world-renowned academic institution. Founded in 1917, the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru is the oldest-established private higher educational institution in Peru. Lima is the cultural center of Peru and offers entertainment for young people in the form of theaters, cinemas, cafes, bars, and discotheques, which are to be found especially in Miraflores and Barranco, the city’s two foremost cultural districts. Exchange students enroll at the School of Special Studies. The University offers courses and degrees in: Fine Arts, Management and Accounting, Science and Engineering, Social Sciences (Anthropology, Sociology, Economics), Law, Arts and Humanities (Archaeology, Philosophy, Geography, History, Literature, Psychology), Communication Arts and Sciences, Education. Overseas students live with Peruvian families and are immersed in the social and family life of Peru as well as the Spanish language. Students must demonstrate a strong intermediate or advanced knowledge of the Spanish language, as all courses at PUCP are taught in Spanish. Advisor: Stein
Scotland: St. Andrews University, St. Andrews
Founded in 1411, St. Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland. With 6,000 students and faculty, the university comprises approximately one-third of the total population of the city of St. Andrews. Local and university events in the town blend to offer a rich cultural and social life for students and townspeople alike. Washington College sends students to St. Andrews University to study a broad range of subjects including philosophy, sociology, psychology, mathematics, and the natural sciences. A minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrated ability to work independently and creatively in a tutorial educational system are prerequisites to recommendation for the program. Advisor: McColl
South Africa: Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Located in the beautiful and historic city of Grahamstown, Rhodes University is nestled in the hills of the city, just 45 minutes from unspoiled beaches. Rhodes University is one of South Africa’s oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education. Students participating in this program are housed on campus in single rooms in residence halls equipped with a dining hall, washer/dryer, TV, and lounge area. During the spring semester at Rhodes, Washington College students attend a special interdisciplinary course on South Africa and the Eastern Cape Region. All students attending Rhodes may choose from a wide range of courses in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. Advisor: Shad
South Korea: Yonsei University, Seoul
The oldest university in Korea, Yonsei celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1985. Yonsei sits quietly in a well-wooded area outside Seoul, a city of 11 million people. Yonsei has provided many opportunities for foreign students to learn more about the Korean language, history, and culture. The University is recognized not only in Korea, but also the Asia-Pacific area and the international community as the most forward-looking, internationalized, and comprehensive university in Korea. Courses offered in English fall under three main areas of study: East Asian Studies, International Relations, and International Business. The Korean language is also taught. Dormitory housing is available for students accepted to the program and there are 100+ student clubs and organizations, all covering a variety of interests. Advisor: Oros
Spain: Universidad De Nebrija, Madrid
Nebrija University is located in the university district of Madrid. The Hispanic Studies Program at UN offers exchange students various cultural activities such as lectures, films, and guided visits to major museums, monuments, and other sites of interest. With the assistance of the International Office, students are placed in homestay living arrangements. Students who have an elementary Spanish level take courses in the Spanish studies program. Those who are proficient in Spanish may also enroll in courses that are part of the normal curriculum for Spanish students. Students choose courses from the following disciplines: Spanish studies, business administration and economics, advertising and journalism, computer science, modern languages, political science and international studies, history, and English. Advisor: Casado Presa
Turkey: Bogazici University, Istanbul
This university grew out of the long history of Robert College, the first American college to be established outside the United States. With a distinguished academic tradition, Bogazici has five campuses, six institutes, a school of foreign languages, a school of applied disciplines, and a school of advanced vocational studies. Its historic Kandilli Observatory is the center of a nationwide network of seismic stations and a prominent research center. The Kilyos Campus is situated on the shores of the Black Sea. Students may take courses in the arts, sciences, economics, political science, international studies, and education. All classes, except Turkish language, are taught in English. Advisor: Shad
Faculty-Led Short Term Programs
Washington College faculty run a variety of short-term programs during the summer and winter months. Faculty-led programs are open to all students. Recent trips include summer programs in Denmark, Ecuador, England, and Tanzania. The academic departments sponsoring the faculty-led programs have additional information on these study abroad opportunities.
Cooperative Study Abroad Programs
Washington College offers students the opportunity to study at additional programs through our cooperative study abroad agreements.
The Washington Semester and World Capitals Programs
The Washington Semester and World Capitals Programs conducted by The American University are open to students who are in either semester of the junior year or in the first semester of the senior year. The Washington Semester Program is an opportunity to observe government in action and includes study with government officials and exposure to government bureaus, agencies, and departments. A Washington Semester student will be able to earn a full semester of credit by pursuing a course of study in one of the following seven areas: American Government and Public Law, Foreign Policy, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Economic Policy, International Environment and Development, Justice, and Journalism. Preparation of a major research paper is assigned as partial fulfillment of the semester’s requirements. The World Capitals Program provides an opportunity for students seeking to combine internship experience and study abroad. This program is administered by the International Studies Program: Beijing, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Madrid, Mexico City, Poznan, Rome, and Vienna.
Eligibility: Juniors and first-semester seniors in good academic standing who have an appropriate background and the approval of the program’s advisor. Advisor: Deckman
Billing and Payment Terms
See Fees and Expenses, Off Campus Study Fees
Special Sessions
Washington College offers several intensive travel/study experiences, conducted under the guidance of professors during times when classes are normally not in session. Successful completion of these summer sessions earns academic credit.
Summer Session In Bermuda
Students spend 15 days at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences in Bermuda. Major concentration is on environmental issues associated with the impact of ecotourism and population growth, fisheries management, and coral reef ecology. Also included are historical, archaeological, and cultural analyses of the Bermuda islands. Participants earn four credits in this bi-yearly program. Advisor: Munson
Summer Program In Ecuador
Students interested in environmental studies, the impact of ecotourism, and global conservation issues have a rare opportunity to participate in a three-week environmental course in Ecuador, offered jointly by Washington College and the Universidad De Quito. This bi-yearly course entails 40 hours of formal classroom instruction and more than 50 hours of field experience. Students visit the Tiputini Biodiversity Station and explore Yasuni National Park in the Amazon, visit a shrimp factory and fishing village on the Pacific Coast. The highlight of the trip is a weeklong visit to the Galapagos, home of the Charles Darwin Station and some of the most distinctive species on earth. Advisor: Munson
Summer Session At Kiplin Hall
During a three-week summer excursion to North Yorkshire, students experience the poetic landscape of England. Hiking the remote hills of the Lake District and exploring the moors, students literally follow the footsteps of Romantic poets as they study the literature of that period. Students stay at Kiplin Hall, the ancestral home of Maryland’s Calvert family. Participants earn four credits. Advisor: Gillin
Oxford Research Seminar on Religion, Politics, and Culture
Students interested in the intersection of religion, politics, and culture are encouraged to apply for a two week study program conducted at the University of Oxford in June. Students reside on campus in the heart of Oxford University, engage in a structured program of study directed by Oxford faculty, develop an independent research project using the vast resources of Oxford libraries, and conduct tutorials under Oxford faculty. For more information please contact Joseph Prud’homme, director, the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture. Advisor: Prud’homme
Summer International Business Experience
Washington College offers a 15-day travel course in international business. For five summers the course was based at the University of Leiden, Holland’s oldest university. The course concentrated on the economic aspects of the European Union and compared businesses in Europe to businesses in the United States. Following are the European Union sites normally visited: Information Desk of the European Union, Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the U.S. mission to the European Union. Following are the businesses visited in 2004: ABN-AMRO, Heineken, Nike’s Euro-pean headquarters, Porceleyn Fles which makes Delft, an international flower market at Aalsmeer, a diamond cutter in Antwerp, Belgium, a chocolatier in Belgium, and Villerroy & Boch in Luxembourg. For the past two summers the course took place in China. In January 2010, the course was conducted in India. In both China and India a variety of businesses were visited. Advisor: Scout
Summer Program In Tanzania
Washington College offers a 15-day summer course on politics, culture, economy, and sustainable development in Tanzania. The course focuses on the familiar problems associated with Africa: poverty, unemployment, health, debt, and the conflicts between tradition and the lures of a changing world. Traveling to one of Tanzania’s national parks, to traditional Maasai communities, to coffee co-ops, government agencies, and health care centers, students come face-to-face with local communities and their diverse problems and challenges. Advisor: Shad
Summer Archaeological Field School
This five-week summer program is an introduction to archaeological fieldwork methods and to the theoretical concerns of anthropological archaeology. It includes participation in archaeological survey and excavation as well as lectures, readings, and writing assignments. A minimum obligation of 20 hours per week is required. Sites will focus on North American native people and colonial U.S. history in Maryland. Prerequisite: ANT 105, ANT 107 or HIS 201; or permission of the instructor. May be repeated once for credit. Advisor: J. Seidel
Summer Session In Maine
During a three-week summer session at Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, Maine, students study coastal community ecology within geological and oceanographic contexts. Advisor: Connaughton
Billing and Payment Terms
See Fees and Expenses, Off Campus Study Fees.
Internships
At Washington College students have multiple opportunities to become engaged in experiences designed to enhance their learning outside the classroom. Our proximity to the major cities of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia as well as the Delmarva Peninsula makes it possible for students to gain experience as members of premier governmental, commercial, scientific, and artistic organizations while undertaking internships, research, and participation in a variety of model programs. These experiences enhance and expand theoretical knowledge obtained through traditional coursework. Internships provide experience that students may apply to their degree by earning up to 16 credits.
Students pursue internships for a variety of reasons. Working under the close supervision of seasoned professionals provides a unique opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities of a particular field. Potential experiences are reviewed according to rigorous criteria involving engagement in a substantive experience, availability of an on-site mentor or supervisor, and relationship of the experience to the student’s academic program of study. Some students do internships solely for the valuable experience they provide. With the addition of an academic plan of study, internships may be done for academic credit. Internships for academic credit are administered by Dr Andrea Lange, Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives.
Although academic credit for internship experiences may vary, the majority of students may earn between 4 and 16 credits upon successful completion of approximately 140 to 500 hours of applied experience. Learning goals are established prior to the beginning of each internship and evaluated by the faculty advisor upon completion. Internships are open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors in good academic standing with the approval of their academic departments. Examples of internship opportunities that provide academic credit to participants are listed below. In addition, students may develop internship experiences on their own and petition the department for academic credit prior to the start of the experience. Internships not for academic credit are administered through the Center for Career Development. The staff of the Center for Career Development and the career library have information on the wide range of internships available nationwide. The Center also maintains a file of competitive internships such as those offered by the State Department.
Internship Opportunities By Major
Anthropology
Rock Hall Museum is a museum displaying the history of watermen of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Students interested in Anthropology have participated in a series of ethnographic interviews with descendents of families of watermen and been instrumental in cataloging the growing collection of artifacts and memorabilia.
Art
Art internships allow art history students to work one day a week at either The Baltimore Museum of Art or The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. Students work under the supervision of museum professional staff and gain firsthand experience in a wide variety of museum activities. Seniors who are pursuing a concentration in art history are eligible. To earn academic credit, participants must submit to the Art Department a paper that summarizes their experience. Advisor: McColl
Biology
Biology students have the opportunity to conduct summer research and to engage in academic internships. Recent student experiences have included the National Institute on Aging, Baltimore City Police Department Crime Lab (CSI), Kent County EMS, local health departments, and various medical practice specialties. Advisors: Ford, Verville
Business
Business students participate in many local and national internship programs according to their field of interest. Internships are available with major financial providers such as Merrill Lynch as well as local, regional, and national banks. Chester River Hospital Center offers internships in human resources and finance. Benchworks, Inc., a marketing firm, offers internships in management. Dixon Valve, a multi-national corporation with headquarters and manufacturing in Chestertown, provides internship opportunities in human resources, international business, and accounting. Prerequisite: Junior standing, appropriate course work to benefit from such an experience, and prior written approval of a faculty internship advisor and the department chair. Advisor: Scout
Chemistry
Faculty members in the department of Chemistry welcome students every year to participate in the summer research program as well as in credit-bearing internships during the academic year. The broad range of projects undertaken is the product of the areas of expertise carried on by chemistry faculty. Students have the opportunity to tackle NMR spectroscopy and numerous characterization techniques, to embrace the field of soil chemistry, to discover new organic reactions in the synthesis of bowl-shaped molecules and to realize the power of more environmentally benign and sustainable chemistry. Advisor: Any faculty member in the chemistry department
Education and Writing Center Internship
The Washington College Department of Education and the Writing Center offer a one-semester internship in writing pedagogy. The internship gives students the opportunity to learn what research reveals about writing, to reflect on their own experience as writers, and to identify and practice strategies for responding effectively to the writing of others. Interns will observe and practice the interpersonal skills necessary to the writing conference. To be selected, students from all disciplines—sophomores through seniors—may submit a faculty recommendation and a writing sample, then be interviewed by the Writing Center instructors. Advisors: Counihan, Boyd
English
The Department of English offers a journalism internship on campus each year. Students work with a professional journalist in conjunction with the publication of the Elm and the Collegian. Each week students conduct a critical evaluation of the previous week’s publication. Sessions on what constitutes effective work in various areas of news writing, such as feature articles, editorials, sports, and campus announcements, as well as how to lay out an interesting and communicative page, occur on a regular basis. The internship is open to all students interested in working on the Elm or the Collegian.
Environmental Studies
Internships in environmental science education, wildlife management, and non-profit management and marketing are available at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, Wildfowl Trust of North America, to students with a background in ecology, biology, or environmental studies. Advisor: Munson
Modern Languages
Students utilize their Spanish language skills while working with local Hispanic families who participate in programming provided through the local Kent Family Center. Students provide translation, support, and Spanish to English communication skills. They may also provide language and translation assistance with cases attached to the District Court of Kent County. Advisor: Pears
History
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Saint Michaels, Maryland, offers occasional internships in organization and documentation of collections. Student interns also have opportunities at the Historical Society of Kent County to organize archival resources, participate in preparing displays, and do research in government records and family papers. The Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore offers various internships involving research and administrative opportunities, including assistance with publication and publicity projects. Advisor: Wilson
Political Science and International Studies
Political Science and International Studies Internships are available for qualified juniors and seniors in Washington, D.C. and abroad through the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Hansard Society for Parliamentary Government.
Most federal government internships are in Washington, D.C., but some opportunities occur each year for interns to serve abroad as Junior Foreign Service Officers. Depending on the needs of the agency, interns are assigned junior-level professional duties, which may include research, report writing, correspondence, analysis of international issues, and assistance in cases related to domestic and international law. The department and program advisors help students prepare applications and find internships with government agencies. Students from Washington College have served in Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Switzerland, Venezuela, and Washington, D.C. Advisor: Shad
The Department of Political Science administers the Maryland General Assembly Internship Program, open to majors and non-majors. These internships offer a firsthand glimpse into the world of Maryland politics. Interns work for a state legislator in Annapolis for two days each week throughout the spring legislative session, which stretches from January through mid-April. Interns also meet on campus for a weekly seminar, which includes reading assignments and written work. Two course credits are awarded for successful completion of the internship. Juniors and seniors who have a GPA of 3.0 are eligible. (Political Science 311 or 391 is recommended.) Legislators provide interns with a stipend to cover expenses; however, students must arrange their own transportation to and from Annapolis. The faculty program director evaluates each intern’s work in consultation with the legislator to whom the student has been assigned and the Assembly’s intern coordinator in Annapolis. Advisor: Deckman
Political Science and International Studies majors also frequently attend the program of the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (see below).
The Psychology Practicum
The Psychology Practicum enables students to take courses at the College and work part-time at the nearby Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center, or at some other local community agency that provides psychological services. Student interns work closely with a therapy team comprised of a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric social worker, occupational therapist, members of the nursing staff, and ward personnel, and participate in all aspects of treatment, both within the hospital and in an outpatient clinic. In addition to the clinical work, participants undertake a supervised study of the literature on mental disorders. Those who have completed the practicum have found it a valuable step toward a career in clinical psychology or allied health and medical sciences.
Students in either semester of their junior or senior year are eligible. Both a member of the mental health agency’s staff and a faculty member in the Psychology Department supervise all work. Students complete a lengthy written evaluation of their experience and submit it to the Psychology Department, which awards a final grade. Academic credit earned through the practicum counts toward the major and graduation. Advisor: Siemen
Social Work
This program offers students the opportunity to work directly with clients in a variety of community settings and under the supervision of agency professionals. After a one-semester introduction to the field of social welfare, students are placed in a community agency. The internship lasts for two semesters, and participants earn credit for one course each semester. In addition to the field work, students attend a weekly seminar.
Students who have completed courses in introductory sociology and psychology may enroll in Introduction to Social Welfare, the prerequisite for the field experience. The fieldwork usually takes place in the senior year. Advisor: Barrell
Theater
Internships in professional theater allow drama majors to work full-time as resident interns for professional theater companies. In past years students have interned for Arena Stage in Washington, DC, Center Stage in Baltimore, Philadelphia Theatre and the Play Penn in Philadelphia, and the Hartford Stage Company in Connecticut. Locally, they also work in the Church Hill Theatre and the Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre. Drama majors in either semester of their junior or senior year who have been accepted by a theater company, and who have received approval from the drama department, are eligible. Interns are supervised by the department faculty and by a designated member of the theater company. All credits earned in the internship count toward the Washington College degree. Advisors: Daigle, Volansky
Internships Open To Various Disciplines
The Comegys Bight Fellows Program
The Comegys Bight Fellows Program offers funding for research-based summer internships (or independent research projects) related to American history, culture, politics, art, music, or literature. Grants are offered on a competitive basis to sophomores and juniors from all academic majors. Comegys Bight fellowships are often, but not always, related to a thesis project. The program is administered by the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience. Advisor: Goodheart
The NATO Internship
The NATO internship provides a summer internship at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium for one Washington College student. The intern will work in the U.S. Mission to NATO providing service to one of four areas: Civil Emergency Planning, Office of the Defense Advisor, Political Affairs, or Public Affairs. Advisor: Lange
U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence, Suitland, MD
The U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence offers internships for students interested in intelligence gathering, historical research, document organization, and interpretive work. Interns work with regular Naval officers. Security clearance is required. Majors or students with substantive coursework in History, Computer Science, Business, and Mathematics may apply. Advisor: Lange
National Security Agency Internship, Odenton, MD
Internships within NSA and the national security community are available to students who are awarded the National Security Scholarship through a competitive application process. Students must have an interest in a career in a national security field, a minimum GPA of 3.0, U.S. citizenship, completed a minimum of 30 semester hours toward the baccalaureate degree, and pass rigorous security clearance. Students with majors in political science, computer science, mathematics, physics, history, business management, and languages and linguistics may apply. Advisor: Lange
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
Full-time, semester-long internships with a federal government, political, business, or non-profit agency in Washington, DC, are available for qualified students through the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. In addition to working 35 hours per week as an intern, students participate in an academic seminar of their choosing and a forum designed to help them understand the connection between their academic and professional goals and the special educational opportunities available through living and working in Washington, DC. Students earn a full semester of academic credit in this domestic off-campus experience. Sophomore status and a 2.8 minimum cumulative G.P.A. is required. U.S. citizenship and a security clearance are required for appointments at certain government agencies. Advisors: Chairs of departments of art, business, economics, political science, and sociology and anthropology. Campus Liaison: Lange
Additional Internship Programs
Other internships include opportunities at sites such as Lombardi Cancer Research Center and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Washington College students also intern with the Maryland Governor’s Internship Program, Maryland Department of Transportation, Kent County United Way, Kent County Chamber of Commerce, Easter Seals of MD and DE, Naval Research Labs, Chestertown Bank of Maryland, the Delmarva Foundation, Space Telescope Institute in Baltimore, and Public Interest Video Network in Bethesda, Maryland.
Students interested in additional internships for academic credit may consult Dr. Andrea Lange, Assistant Dean for Academic Initiatives, about the process necessary to receive academic credit. Additional information can also be found at http://internships.washcoll.edu/.
Collaborative Research Opportunities
Student/faculty collaborative research projects supported by research grants are available for academic credit during the summer months in most departments in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. At the conclusion of the summer, student researchers present their findings at a Summer Research Day and in the fall at the Student Academic Showcase.
Model Programs and Student Conferences
Model United Nations
Site: McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Students interested in learning about the UN have the opportunity to participate in the National Model UN. Participating increases the students’ awareness of the role, organization, and performance of the UN. Student delegates participate in the various committees of the UN and represent a member state. Advisors: Oros, Shad
Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN)
Site: Washington, DC
Each year the Department of Political Science and the International Studies Program nominate one or more women to attend the Women & Congress Seminar and the Women and Public Policy Seminar, organized by PLEN. Participants meet with women in government relations, observe sessions of the House and Senate or the Supreme Court, visit executive agencies, meet with representatives of the media and interest groups, and discuss public issues. Advisor: Deckman
Air Force Academy Assembly
Site: Washington, DC
Each fall the Department of Political Science and the International Studies Program nominate two of their majors to attend the Air Force Academy Assembly. The conference brings together undergraduates with leaders from business, government, and academe over four days to discuss an issue of domestic or international significance. Advisors: Shad, Deckman
Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference
Site: U.S. Air Force Academy, Boulder, CO
Each spring the Department of Political Science and the International Studies Program nominate one of their majors to attend the annual Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference. The conference plenary sessions feature speakers of international repute. Delegates attend roundtable discussions on a special topic area, and are expected to prepare, with the guidance of a designated faculty advisor, a 2,500-word paper on some aspect of the year’s conference topic. Advisors: Shad, Deckman
West Point Conference On United States Affairs
Site: U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY
Each fall the Director of the International Studies Program nominates one student to attend the annual Student Conference on United States Affairs (SCUSA). The conference brings together undergraduates over three days of roundtables, plenary discussions, and addresses to debate major issues of American foreign policy. Advisors: Shad, Deckman
Security Council Simulation at Yale
Site: Yale University, Stanford, CT
Each October a small delegation attends the Security Council Simulation. Representing a member state and sitting on committees of the Security Council, students discuss foreign policy issues in terms of international law and crisis resolution. The four-day simulation, grounded in parliamentary procedure and committee structure, is solid preparation for the Model UN Conference in January. Advisor: Shad
Honor Code
All students entering Washington College agree thereby to conduct themselves in a manner above reproach and to refrain from any action which, in the opinion of the officers of the College, might bring disrespect on the College or any of its members. They are expected to observe the laws of the state and the community. The College reserves the right to require the withdrawal of any student whose conduct on or off campus is considered detrimental to the welfare or reputation of the College as determined by proper procedure.
The Washington College Honor Code
We at Washington College strive to maintain an environment in which learning and growth flourish through individuals’ endeavors and honest intellectual exchanges both in and out of the classroom. To maintain such an environment, each member of the community pledges to respect the ideas, well-being, and property of others. Thus, each member of the Washington College community abides by its Honor Code.
The Spirit of The Honor Code
The Washington College Honor Code was established by vote of the faculty and students in 1976 and was studied and reaffirmed in 1987. In 1994 it was redrafted to reflect student and faculty sentiment that a single code should address both academic and social conduct.
The Washington College Honor Code sets standards for the entire College community. The intention of the Honor Code is to encourage honest academic achievement and the highest standard of social conduct in all members of the institution. Those who agree to this honor system promise to uphold it and abide by it. All students are required to sign the Honor Code upon enrollment at Washington College, signifying that they have read and understood the Honor Code, that they are willing to abide by its principles, and that they understand the penalties they may incur if they violate the Code.
There are two kinds of Honor Code violations: academic and social. A complete description of the implementation of the Washington College Honor System can be found online in the Washington College Student Handbook.
The Student Pledge
In support of the spirit of the Honor Code faculty members are expected to have students attach the following statement (or an abbreviation suggested by the instructor) to any credit-bearing work: “I pledge my word of honor that I have abided by the Washington College Honor Code while completing this assignment.”
Table Of Contents
