• About Willamette
• President Pelton
• History of Willamette
• Mission Statement
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About Willamette: Quick Facts 2008-2009

Willamette is recognized nationally for an academic experience that combines the benefits of an engaged, collaborative learning environment with many opportunities for cocurricular development. Our tradition of service and our location adjacent to the Oregon state Capitol facilitate internships, collaborative research, and other special projects that span a wide spectrum of academic interests.

Overview

Founded in 1842, Willamette is a private, selective, coeducational, residential liberal arts university composed of four schools: the undergraduate College of Liberal Arts, the College of Law, Atkinson Graduate School of Management and the graduate School of Education.

The University and its specific degree programs are accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, University Senate of the United Methodist Church, National Association of Schools of Music, American Chemical Society, Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Committee, American Bar Association, Association of American Law Schools, Association to Advance American Schools of Business, and National Association of Schools of Public Affairs.

Location

Willamette’s 80-acre campus is located across the street from the Oregon Capitol in the urban heart of Salem, the state’s third-largest city. The greater Salem area, which is home to approximately 160,000 residents, lies in the Willamette Valley and is nearly equidistant from Portland to the north, the Oregon coastline to the west, Eugene to the south, and the Cascade mountain foothills to the east. Willamette’s central location contributes to the wide range of social, cultural, volunteer and outdoor activities available to the community. Our location also supports exceptional mentoring, internship and career networking opportunities with alumni throughout the Pacific Rim.

College of Liberal Arts (CLA)

The College of Liberal Arts is committed to excellence in undergraduate scholarship and teaching innovation. Academically rigorous with high expectations for the pursuit of knowledge, the college produces thinkers, creators and leaders. The motto, “Not unto ourselves alone are we born,” reflects the high priority placed on community and service. Graduates are prepared to pursue meaningful work in the public and private sectors, and they are routinely admitted to prestigious graduate and professional schools.  

Students

Undergraduate, full time	1,780
Men	773 (43%)
Women	1,007 (57%)
All graduate programs	786
Multicultural enrollment	17%
Graduation rate	78%
First-year to sophomore retention	87%
Student origins	44 states, 25 countries
National Scholarship winners in the past decade (Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater, National Science Foundation, etc.)	110

Class of 2012 Entering Profile

Number Applied	4,024
Number Enrolling	483
Median GPA	3.74
Median SAT (Critical Reading + Math + Writing)	1850
Median ACT	27

Faculty

Total Faculty	315
Faculty with PhD or terminal degree	96%
CLA Student-Faculty ratio	10:1
Average class size	14

Class Size	Number of Classes
1–9	223
10–15	164
16–20	120
21–30	120
31–47	18
>47	0

Financial

Operating Budget	$75.8 million
Endowment	$283 million
Endowment per Student	$113,792
Tuition and Fees	$33,960
Comprehensive Charges (Tuition, room, board, books & fees)	$42,810
Receiving Need-Based Aid	57%
Average Need-Based Financial Aid Package	$26,604

Off-campus Study

The Office of International Education supports a diverse collection of study abroad and exchange programs in 40 countries on six continents.

Students who earn credit for off-campus study: 57%

Centers for Excellence

Willamette’s Centers for Excellence offer enhanced research opportunities for students and faculty. The centers support student internships, faculty and student fellowships, campus programming and community outreach. The five centers are the Center for Ancient Studies and Archaeology; the Center for Asian Studies; the Center for the Study of Democracy, Religion and Law; the Center for Public Policy; and the Center for Sustainable Communities.

Tokyo International University of America (TIUA)

Every year 100 students from Tokyo International University (Japan) enroll at TIUA/Willamette to study English and the liberal arts. Through campus life programming and classes, Willamette and TIUA students share cultures and learn from each other. Some TIU students enter Willamette as degree-seeking students, and 10–15 Willamette students enroll in the Japan Studies Program at TIU (Japan).

Athletics

NCAA Division III Sports

• Baseball (M)
• Basketball (M, W)
• Cross Country (M, W)
• Football (M)
• Golf (M, W)
• Rowing (M, W)
• Soccer (M, W)
• Softball (W)
• Swimming (M, W)
• Tennis (M, W)
• Track and Field (M, W)
• Volleyball (W)

Community Service

Service and volunteerism permeate the Willamette community. Each year students contribute more than 65,000 hours of volunteer service to 65 local nonprofit agencies and schools. One especially popular program is Take a Break (TaB), through which students spend their spring break serving communities in need throughout the country.

College of Law

The first law school in the Pacific Northwest, Willamette’s College of Law is distinguished by a versatile doctor of jurisprudence (JD) curriculum, a nationally emulated Center for Dispute Resolution, and specialized certificate programs in dispute resolution, law and government, law and business, sustainability law, and international and comparative law. The college also offers a joint degree program in conjunction with the Atkinson Graduate School of Management, through which law students interested in business, government and management may earn both their MBA and JD on an accelerated schedule.

Atkinson Graduate School of Management (AGSM)

Atkinson Graduate School of Management’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is one of only two MBA programs in the world accredited for both business administration (AACSB International) and public administration (NASPAA). Additionally, AGSM maintains a joint BA/MBA program with the College of Liberal Arts that allows students to acquire both degrees within five years, and a joint MBA/JD program with the Willamette University College of Law. AGSM also operates a Professional MBA program for post-graduate working professionals.

School of Education

The School of Education’s master of arts in teaching (MAT) program offers authorizations to teach at the early childhood, elementary, middle and secondary school levels. Full-time and part-time programs are available. Candidates may also earn endorsements in Reading or English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). SOE maintains one of the state’s highest placement rates. 98% last year. The school offers a BA/MAT track with the College of Liberal Arts. The Center for Excellence in Teaching provides continuing education for K–12 teachers and administrators, including an endorsement in Special Education and a license in Educational Leadership.

CLA Majors, Minors and Special Programs (M, m, s)

• American Ethnic Studies (m)
• American Studies (M)
• Anthropology (M, m)
• Art History (M, m)
• Art, Studio (M, m)
• Arts, Technology and Multimedia (m)
• Asian Studies (M, m)
• BA/MBA Business Management (s)
• Biology (M, m)
• Chemistry (M, m)
• Chinese Studies (M, m)
• Classical Studies (M, m)
• Comparative Literature and History of Ideas (M)
• Computer Science (M, m)
• Economics (M, m)
• Education 4-1 BA/MBA
• Engineering 3-2 (s) 
• English (M, m)
• Environmental Science (M, m)
• Exercise Science (M)
• Film Studies (M, m)
• Forestry 3-2 (s)
• French (M, m)
• Geography (m)
• German (M, m)
• History (M, m)
• Humanities (M)
• International Studies (M)
• Japanese (m)
• Japanese Studies (M)
• Latin American Studies (M, m)
• Mathematics (M, m)
• Music (M, m)*
• Philosophy (M, m)
• Physics (M, m)
• Politics (M, m)
• Pre-Law (s)
• Pre-Medicine (s)
• Pre-Veterinary Medicine (s)
• Psychology (M, m)
• Public Management 3-2 (s)
• Religious Studies (M, m)
• Rhetoric and Media Studies (M, m)
• Russian (m)
• Sociology (M, m)
• Spanish (M, m)
• Theatre (M, m)
• Women’s and Gender Studies (M, m)

*Willamette also offers a Bachelor of Music degree.

Academic Excellence