About Whitworth University

Our Mission

Whitworth University is a private, residential, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian church. Since 1890, Whitworth has provided its diverse student body an education of mind and heart, equipping its graduates to honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity. This mission is carried out by a community of Christian scholars committed to excellent teaching and to the integration of faith and learning.

Our Core Themes

Since 1890, Whitworth University has held fast to its founding mission to provide its students an education of mind and heart characterized by rigorous and open intellectual inquiry and the integration of Christian faith and learning. Anchored in the Reformed tradition and enriched throughout its history by strong evangelical and ecumenical currents, Whitworth's mission is carried out by a diverse community of dedicated Christian scholars and staff members who are called to a variety of vocations to serve and support students. Whitworth believes that the best learning occurs in the context of relationship – inside and outside of the classroom – where faculty and staff members alike invest in the lives of students. Whitworth is committed to modeling the highest standards of integrity and fairness and to being a trusted and valued member of the community.

Whitworth's three core themes flow from our mission statement and guide our community. As a comprehensive and residential Christian liberal arts university, Whitworth strives to fulfill our mission through the following:

  • a community of Christian scholars integrating faith and learning and promoting worldview development in our graduates;
  • an academically excellent education firmly rooted in the liberal arts and sciences equipping our graduates for reflective lives, careers, and professions; and
  • an inclusive university community fostering in our graduates intercultural competencies and civic engagement for lives of service in an increasingly diverse world.

Our Heritage

In 1853, George Whitworth, a minister in the Ohio Valley, convinced 15 families to join him in a wagon train heading from St. Louis to the West. Whitworth's was the only family to complete the brutal five-month journey and reach the Puget Sound area.

An ordained Presbyterian minister, Whitworth had initially set out on the Oregon Trail to follow his calling to serve as a missionary. He would go on to found at least 15 Presbyterian churches across the Pacific Northwest. He also served as president of the University of Washington and as superintendent of schools in Thurston and King counties.

In 1883, Whitworth opened Sumner Academy in the village of Sumner, in Washington Territory, under the charge that "No effort will be spared to elevate the character of the school and to make it an institution of learning of the highest grade." On Feb 20, 1890, the school's trustees signed resolutions to increase the curriculum and stature of the academy, which would be known as Whitworth College.

The catalog from 1890 defined the vision for Whitworth College: "It is intended to give both sexes a thorough course of education...ever directing them in pursuit of that learning and culture of mind and heart that make the finished scholar....While it is denominational, it does not aim to be sectarian, opening its doors to all lovers of truth and learning."

In 1899, the college had outgrown the rural community of Sumner and moved to Tacoma. Fifteen years later, Whitworth moved a final time: In September 1914, classes began in Spokane at its current campus. In 2007, after 117 years as Whitworth College, the board of trustees approved changing the school's name to Whitworth University. The change was prompted by trends in the higher-education marketplace that led the board to clarify Whitworth's standing as a four-year liberal-arts institution.

Scott McQuilkin, Ph.D., became the 19th president of Whitworth University in 2022. An alumnus and longtime employee of the university, McQuilkin earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at Whitworth and has dedicated his professional life to the university and its enduring mission.

In response to present-day opportunities and challenges, Whitworth, under McQuilkin's leadership, is implementing a strategic plan that focuses the university's work for 2023-28. The plan contains 22 objectives organized under four broad goal areas: Innovation & Learning; Human Flourishing; Financial Flourishing; and Story. Through the execution of this plan, Whitworth will hold fast to its Christ-centered identity while advancing in a host of programmatic, systematic, relational and financial ways.

As a community, we move forward together with anticipation and confidence in advancing our service to our students, our faculty and staff, our alumni and supporters, our external constituencies, and to the God in whom we have our life, breath and being.

Accreditation

Institutional Accreditation

Whitworth University is a member institution with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Whitworth's accreditation status is "Accreditation Reaffirmed." The NWCCU's most recent action on the institution's accreditation status on July 24, 2018, was to reaffirm accreditation. NWCCU is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

Accreditation of an institution of higher education by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities indicates that it meets or exceeds criteria for the assessment of institutional quality evaluated through a peer review process. An accredited college or university is one which has available the necessary resources to achieve its stated purposes through appropriate educational programs, is substantially doing so, and gives reasonable evidence that it will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Institutional integrity is also addressed through accreditation. Accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is not partial but applies to the institution as a whole. As such, it is not a guarantee of every course or program offered, or the competence of individual graduates. Rather, it provides reasonable assurance about the quality of opportunities available to students who attend the institution. Inquiries regarding an institution's accredited status by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities should be directed to the administrative staff of the institution. Individuals may also contact:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
8060 165th Ave. N.E.
Redmond, WA 98052 425.558.4224
www.nwccu.org

Whitworth is also a member of the Association of American Colleges & Universities, the American Council of Education, the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities, the Council of Independent Colleges, the CIC Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Programmatic Accreditation

In addition to our institutional accreditation which applies to all programs at Whitworth University, the following is a list of programs at Whitworth that are also accredited by other external programmatic accrediting agencies.

  • Whitworth University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. 
  • The B.S. Engineering major is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET.
  • In the School of Continuing Studies, the Operations Management and Six Sigma Certificate is accredited by the Council for Six Sigma Certification.
  • The Whitworth School of Business is an accredited member of AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
  • In the School of Education, the teacher certification programs, school counseling program and school administration program are approved by the State of Washington Professional Educator Standards Board.
  • The M.Ed. in School Counseling Program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of December 2020 through December 2028.
  • The Whitworth Marriage & Family Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
  • Effective July 19, 2022, Whitworth University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 509.777.4442 or email dpt@whitworth.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation. Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; phone 703.706.3245; accreditation@apta.org, is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
  • The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at: 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTAand its web address is acoteonline.org. Loriann Helgeson OTD, OTR/L, CLA (lhelgeson@whitworth.edu) is the department chair.

State Authorization – Washington State

Whitworth University qualifies as "exempt" (WAC 250-61-060) from requiring degree authorization in the State of Washington according to the Washington State Degree-Granting Institutions Act, Chapter 28B.85 RCW. The Washington Student Achievement Council recognizes Whitworth University as a legal degree-granting institution under these exemption criteria. Specific degree programs at Whitworth University are approved by the Washington Student Achievement Council's State Approving Agency for veterans' education and training benefits under Section 3675, Chapter 36, Title 38, U.S. Code.

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA)

Whitworth University is a participating institution of SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) which is a voluntary, regional approach to provide oversight of postsecondary distance education. Under the provisions of SARA, Whitworth is authorized to provide distance education to students residing in other SARA member states. A list of SARA states and participating institutions can be found on the NC-SARA website.

State Authorization - Oregon State

Master of Education in Montessori education programs (M.Ed.) delivered in the State of Oregon are considered a "physical presence" by SARA, thus state authorization is required for conferral of these degrees in other SARA member states. Whitworth University has been granted initial authorization for these degree programs in the State of Oregon.

This school is a business corporation authorized by the State of Oregon to offer and confer the academic degrees and certificates described herein, following a determination that state academic standards will be satisfied under OAR 583-030. Inquiries concerning the standards or school compliance may be directed to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission Office of Degree Authorization, 3225 25th Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97302, or info.pps@hecc.oregon.gov.

Academic Affairs

(Academic Programs, Accreditation)

Deanna Ojennus, Accreditation Liaison Officer
509.777.3441
alo@whitworth.edu

www.whitworth.edu/academics

Program Review

In addition to the programs listed above that are accredited by external agencies, all of Whitworth's academic programs undergo an internal systematic review managed by the faculty-led Teaching, Learning and Assessment Committee (TLAC). TLAC reviews the student learning outcomes and assessment results of each area on a three-year cycle. The purpose of these reviews is to support continuous improvement in all of our programs. In addition to reviewing its programs regularly, Whitworth also regularly assesses its shared curriculum programs for effectiveness.

Review of Accreditation, State & Federal Approval

Enrolled and prospective students have the right to review the documents describing the institution's accreditation, approval or licensing documents. If you wish to review these documents, please contact the Whitworth Director of Assessment and Accreditation (alo@whitworth.edu, 509.777.3441).

The 4-1-4 Calendar

In 1969, Whitworth became one of the first educational institutions in the country to adopt the 4-1-4 academic calendar. This calendar is now favored by many liberal arts colleges and universities due to its flexibility and its potential for innovative short-run and off-campus courses.

Whitworth's fall semester begins in early September and ends with Christmas Break. During Jan Term, Whitworth's one-month winter term between semesters, students take one intensive course. Many students participate in internships, independent studies or study abroad programs during this month. Whitworth has developed a number of tuition-reciprocity agreements with other colleges and universities on the 4-1-4 calendar, which allow students to experience another college or university during January without upsetting tuition or financial aid arrangements. The spring semester begins in early February and ends in mid-May. A 12-week period of summer instruction is also offered in varied formats, from weekend workshops to online and traditional lecture courses.

Academic Calendar

2024-2025

Fall Semester
Saturday Aug. 31 Residence Halls Open for New Students
Monday Sept. 2 Residence Halls Open for Returning Students
Tuesday Sept. 3 Advising and Registration
Wednesday Sept. 4 Day and Evening Classes Begin
Friday-Monday Oct. 25-28 Fall Break
Wednesday-Friday Nov. 27-29 Thanksgiving Vacation
Monday Dec. 2 Classes Resume
Tuesday-Friday Dec. 10-13 Final Examinations
Jan Term
Wednesday Jan. 1 Residence Halls Open
Friday Jan. 3 Classes Begin
Monday Jan. 20 Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday
Friday Jan. 24 Last Class Day
Spring Semester
Monday Jan. 27 Residence Halls Open for New Students
Wednesday Jan. 29 Advising and Registration
Thursday Jan. 30 Day and Evening Classes Begin
Monday-Friday March 24-28 Spring Break
Monday April 21 Easter Holiday
Tuesday-Friday May 13 - 16 Final Examinations
Saturday May 17 Graduate Commencement
Sunday May 18 Undergraduate Baccalaureate and Commencement
Summer School Dates

Summer school dates extend from May 20-Aug. 9, 2024. Whitworth offers three-week, six-week, nine-week and 12-week course options during this time period.

Note: Whitworth's Adult Degree Program and Master of Business Administration program operate on a different academic calendar than the one that applies to the rest of the university. For the most up-to-date adult degree calendar information, see https://publicforms.whitworth.edu/dynamic/school-of-continuing-studies/classschedule.aspx. To view the academic calendar for Whitworth's Master of Business Administration program, go to https://www.whitworth.edu/cms/academics/graduate-studies-in-business/mba/curriculum-and-course-schedule/.