Washington Adventist University to Open Massachusetts Campus

Washington Adventist University students will soon get a chance to study away from the Takoma Park campus, without leaving their university.

Last week, the trustees of Washington Adventist University voted to work toward an agreement with Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Massachusetts to establish a branch of WAU at Atlantic Union College. This comes a year after the New England Association of Schools and Colleges announced the discontinuation of AUC’s 65-year accreditation as of July 31, 2011.

According to president of WAU, Weymouth Spence, talks have been in the works since late 2010. This comes after 30 percent growth in enrollment between 2008 and 2010 at WAU, which he attributes to the change from a college to university status.

Spence was clear to decipher that this will be a new branch campus and not a partnership between the schools; the wording is essential to the passage of Memorandum of Understanding. If business plans are passed, Atlantic Union College will cease to exist, though faculty and staff will stay on.

“We’re hoping to double their enrollment and expand curriculum,” Spence said. He also noted that because of the increase in students overall at WAU, their financial stability would also increase. “Institutions at 2,000 or less have a challenge of sustaining themselves. With this expansion, it increases our financial viability.”

Maintaining financially viable was especially made relevant in 2007, after the then Columbia Union College considered a deal to pay down about $5 million in debts and to increase its endowment of $4 million by selling its nonprofit radio station, Christian-music station, WGTS (91.9).

“Our growth is due to status change from college to university, more communications and marketing strategy,” Spence said of WAU’s growth, which was renamed in 2009 from Columbia Union College. Pending the approval of Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools , WAU’s board and both states, WAU will open a branch campus at Atlantic Union College, all within the next few months.

“We’re grateful that our enrollment growth and financial position enables us to continue to provide accredited higher education to the community and constituents that Atlantic Union College serves,” said Spence. “Our desire is to build upon the rich heritage they’ve established with a focus on the future.”

Founded in 1904, Washington Adventist University, a liberal arts institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, offers eight graduate and 32 undergraduate programs for 1,300 students of all faiths. Atlantic Union College had 444 students for spring enrollment.

“We’re excited about this because it expands our market area from Maine to Virginia and gives us the ability to impact more lives,” Spence said.