W&L At A Glance

W&L is the ninth-oldest school in the country. Its namesakes are George Washington, whose 1796 gift kept the fledgling institution alive, and Robert E. Lee, whose visionary presidential leadership greatly expanded and enriched the school. With an enrollment of 1,750 men and women, classes are small and discussion-focused. The historic but continually updated 55-acre campus is in Lexington, Virginia, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains.

W&L is a university in a liberal arts college setting. Students build programs from more than 1,100 courses, 39 majors and 20 minors, a rich array seldom found at a small college. Core studies reveal multidisciplinary ways of thinking. Approximately 25 percent of all students major in the natural sciences; courses in the arts and humanities are nationally recognized. W&L's Williams School offers programs in accounting, business, economics, and politics. And students may choose the accredited journalism program or, as undergraduates, take advantage of academic opportunities available through the top-ranked School of Law.

Educating students in a climate of learning that stresses personal responsibility and integrity is central to Washington and Lee's mission -- an emphasis reflected in the University's renowned Honor System. Student-administered and acknowledged to be among the strongest of its kind in the nation, the Honor System creates a safe and trusting environment, influencing W&L students' lives long after graduation.

Critical national and international issues are addressed across disciplines at W&L. Some examples: The Society and the Professions Program in Ethics focuses on social responsibility in business, law, medicine, journalism, and the environment. In the nationally recognized, interdisciplinary Shepherd Program, students apply studies of poverty to real-world solutions through service and reflection. Dozens of other student organizations thrive on campus and benefit local, national, and even global communities.