Willamette University operates on a semester system. The fall semester begins in late August/early September and continues through mid-December. Spring semester begins in mid-January and continues through mid-May.

The current semester schedule can be found on the Registrar’s website.

President

Dr. M. Lee Pelton

Dean, College of Liberal Arts

Dr. Carol Long

Vice President for Admission and Financial Aid

Madeleine E. Rhyneer

Dean of Campus Life

Dr. Robert Hawkinson

For more information, please visit the Administrative Offices listing.

We understand that it is difficult to summarize a student completely with a few pieces of paper in an application file. An interview lets you meet face-to-face with a member of the admission committee so that we can begin to know the “real” you.

It is also your opportunity to “interview” Willamette and ask questions about the programs, opportunities and characteristics that will be important to your ultimate college choice. Most interviews last between 30 and 45 minutes. We don’t ask trick questions; we aren’t looking for “right” answers. You can expect to be asked questions about your academic preparation and record. We like to know what subjects interest you most and what you do when you’re not in class, studying for class, or eating and sleeping (presuming you find time for the latter activities).

Parents are not generally included in the majority of the interview, but the Willamette admission staff member will invite your parents to join in at the end of the conversation with you so that their questions can also be answered. Most students schedule an interview as part of a campus visit. We also provide opportunities to interview with our staff during their travels to various parts of the country (usually during the fall months) and with alumni admission volunteers if we are not going to be visiting your area.

Since an admission interview is not required, we certainly will not penalize you if distance or an overwhelming schedule prevents you from meeting one of our staff. Alternate arrangements such as phone interviews are certainly useful. However, we do think you will have a much clearer idea of whether or not Willamette is a good match for you (and the same goes for us), if we can sit down together and talk about what it is you expect from your college experience.

Admission to Willamette is selective, with the student’s academic record weighted most in the admission decision. Willamette University values diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, color, national origin, sexual orientation or religion. For a more complete discussion of Willamette’s admission criteria, visit the CLA Catalog.

In addition to a thorough review of an applicant’s academic transcript(s), the Committee on Admission also considers SAT or ACT scores, the quality of the application essay and counselor/teacher recommendations as part of its academic evaluation. Other factors such as creativity, leadership, work experience and exceptional talent in a particular field are also weighed in the admission decisions.

For more information, consult our Keys to the Process.

Advising at Willamette is designed to enhance the traditionally close relationships between students and faculty. The advising function is an important responsibility of every full-time faculty member. First-year student advising is tied to the required College Colloquium (freshman seminar) in that students’ Colloquium professors will also serve as their initial academic advisors. Since first-year students are all classified as “undecided”or “undeclared,” this initial advising is generally designed to support progress toward meeting the University’s general education requirements and to introduce the student to the broadest possible spectrum of choices in the liberal arts curriculum. Once a student declares a major (by the beginning of the junior year), s/he is expected to select a faculty advisor from the appropriate department.

One of Willamette University’s greatest assets is its alumni network. Fittingly, the Willamette Alumni Office plans a variety of events each year for alumni that have spread all across the world. These might include everything from tours of art museums to community service projects or baseball games; Willamette alumni enjoy a host of options for continued involvement.

The various services of the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations are described in detail at the Alumni website.

Willamette does not have an admission appeals process.

Please visit the application instructions page for detailed information.

For fall 2007, 2983 students applied and the entering class numbered 438 students.

A student can learn the status of an admission application by telephoning the Office of Admission toll free at 1-877-LIBARTS. To learn about the status of a financial aid application, a student can telephone the Office of Financial Aid toll free at 1-877-744-3736.

More information is available at the Office of Admission home page and the Office of Financial Aid website.

Applications are generally available by September 1. All deadlines are postmark deadlines for applications submitted in the mail; electronic submissions must be submitted by midnight of that date. For Early Action I (non-binding), applications must be postmarked by November 1. For Early Action II (non-binding), applications must be postmarked by December 1. For Regular Decision, applications must be postmarked by February 1.

Applications are accepted for the spring semester, which normally begins mid-January. The postmark deadline for Spring Semester applications is November 1.

For Early Action I, decisions are mailed by December 15. For Early Action II, decisions are mailed by January 15. For Regular Decision, decisions are mailed by April 1. For Spring Semester, decisions are mailed by December 15. All applicants for fall semester are expected to notify Willamette of their plans no later than the National Candidate Reply Date of May 1. To reserve a place in the entering class, students submit a $350 non-refundable deposit.

For more information, please go to the admission application website.

Willamette participates in the Northwest Conference of the NCAA, Division III. There are ten sports for varsity women (soccer, volleyball, basketball, golf, swimming, cross country, track and field, softball, crew and tennis) and ten for varsity men (football, cross country, soccer, basketball, golf, swimming, track and field, baseball, crew and tennis). Approximately one-third of our students are varsity athletes and we pride ourselves on fielding highly competitive teams that routinely win conference and regional championships. Several teams or individual athletes have also competed at the national level in recent years, in sports including men’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country and track and field, and women’s soccer.

Additionally, Liz Heaston joined the Bearcat football team in 1997 to become the first woman to play in a college football game. Liz was a place kicker.

To learn more about being a Willamette Bearcat, please visit the athletics department website.

Why Attend Willamette University?

Most people come to Willamette because they know they will get a phenomenal liberal arts education here. But what also ends up setting the University apart has do with what our students do with their education once they graduate. Our alumni understand the importance of continuing the growth they started as college students. And their demonstrable successes afterward continually reinforce our mission and our hopes. Moreover, this adds an enormous amount of value to the Willamette experience.

Willamette students are quiet leaders, many of whom have already logged enormous amounts of time performing community service before coming to campus. They are students who flourish in an intimate and demanding learning environment afforded by an 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio. They are students who push themselves. A typical member of the Willamette community not only understands the value of academic growth, but also embodies our University’s mission of applying what can be gleaned through intensive study in tangible, productive ways - though civic engagement, service, and any of myriad other pursuits.

Of the past 18 Carnegie Foundation Oregon Professors of the Year, eight have been Willamette professors. Willamette’s faculty members display and foster the academic and civic commitment that we see from our students. Willamette is, quite simply, built around the relationship between professor and student. Our students expect as much from their professors as their professors expect from them.

Annually, more than half of the student body takes advantage of opportunities to study internationally. We realize that a fulfilling college experience cannot be obtained inside of a bubble, and the opportunities available to students to learn and immerse themselves in locales external to Salem, Ore., reflect this. Studying abroad is but one method through which students reach out; internships and collaborative research projects are a huge focus of most students, whether these occur across the street at the Oregon State Capitol or a thousand miles away.

A visit to campus is, of course, the best way to learn first hand about the things Willamette offers its students. To set up a visit, please call the Office of Admission toll-free at 1-877-LIBARTS, or check out the Office of Admission visit website.

“It seems to me that this campus is heaven on Earth.”That’s how the author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. described Willamette University, and the people who are part of the Willamette community feel the same way. The campus is a microcosm of all that is special about Oregon. The Mill Stream that meanders through Willamette is a perfect habitat for a variety of birds—not to mention students, who enjoy relaxing to the sights and sounds of the water. More than 150 cherry trees and countless ornamental shrubs add color in accordance with the seasons. And five giant sequoias tower above Waller Hall on the west side of campus, forming a perfect star for those who stand in the middle and gaze heavenward.

“The first thing my friends say when they look at pictures of Willamette is, ‘Your campus is so beautiful,’” says Cannon-Marie Green, a recent graduate. “It’s nice to get up in the morning and open your eyes and see this beautiful campus with flowers and trees and ducks and squirrels. It’s a campus where you feel proud to bring your family and your friends.” The best way to appreciate the beauty of the campus and facilities at Willamette is to visit, of course.

To set up your own campus visit, go to the Office of Admission visit website. If you would just like to take a virtual tour, visit the campus tours and maps section.

You can look up the admission counselor for your region of the country on the Office of Admission home page. Alternatively, if you’re looking for another Willamette administrative office, check out the Administrative Offices listing.

You can always use the site-wide search or the A-Z Index to go directly to the appropriate contact information.

Federal Work-Study Program: The Federal Work-Study (FWS) program provides jobs on or off campus to enable students to earn a portion of their college expenses. Participation in the FWS program is awarded to eligible full-time students as part of a financial aid package based on financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Individual FWS awards range from $500 to $2,000. Students generally work from 5 to 10 hours per week while classes are in session and up to 40 hours per week during semester breaks.

Willamette University Student Employment: While some employment opportunities are limited to students who qualify for Federal Work-Study, many campus employers hire students using Willamette University student employment funds. All Willamette students are eligible to earn these student employment funds. Availability is dependent upon individual department budgets.

Willamette’s campus is in the middle of Salem, and Salem is in the middle of the Willamette Valley. It’s a good spot to be in. A 20-minute drive to the east takes you to the Cascade Range and Silver Falls State Park, where you can walk behind roaring waterfalls and hike through old-growth forest. Throughout the majestic Cascades are resort areas like Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor, where skiers, snowboarders and other winter sports enthusiasts feel at home.

The Oregon coast, widely recognized as one of the most spectacular natural areas in the world, is an hour west. The scenic Columbia River Gorge is just a bit farther away, offering world-class mountain biking and windsurfing opportunities.

Additionally, the city of Portland, Oregon’s largest, is an hour to the north. Portland International Airport is where students fly in to access Salem and the rest of the Valley; it is located approximately an hour and fifteen minutes from Willamette’s campus.

Visit the campus tours and maps section to access the virtual campus tour or download a printable PDF campus map.

Number of Undergraduate Students

1,903

Male

46%

Female

54%

Asian American

7%

Multiracial

6%

Hispanic American

3%

African American

2%

Native American

< 1%

Total multicultural

18%

Oregon Residents

32%

Out-of-state

66%

International

2%

There are 445 freshmen enrolled for the most recent semester.

The average class size is 16.

66% of classes at Willamette have fewer than 20 students.

Over 90% of Willamette’s 301 faculty members have PhD’s. There are no classes taught by teaching assistants.

The student to faculty ratio is 11 to 1.

The goal of the Campus Safety Department is to protect the Willamette University community and to prevent campus crime. Being responsible for your own personal safety and the reporting of suspicious activity is the best way to accomplish this. Campus Safety officers are available 24 hours a day to assist you. All emergencies, suspicious activity, and criminal behavior should be reported immediately to Campus Safety. Campus Safety officers have legal enforcement authority on all Willamette University and Tokyo International University of America property.

Annual crime statistics for the last four years are available on the Campus Safety website.

For more details, please visit the Campus Safety Homepage.

School Colors>

Cardinal and Old Gold

Mascot

Blitz the Bearcat

Nickname

The Bearcats

On the first Saturday of December, the Willamette community invites the Salem community to join it for the annual lighting of the Star Trees, which signals the start of the holiday season. The Star Trees, recently designated as Oregon Heritage Trees and recognized officially as the tallest Sequoias on any college or university campus in the country, are five Sequoias that, when a person stands in the middle of them and looks up at the sky, form a star shape. They stand just northwest of Waller Hall, opposite the south entrance to the Capitol Building on State Street. The lighting ceremony includes holiday caroling and hot refreshments.

Additionally, students are warned to avoid lingering around the Mill Stream that runs through the middle of campus on their birthday. It is a tradition that any unsuspecting birthday person gets thrown into the stream. Interestingly enough, Willamette students still take this quite seriously!

Willamette’s motto is Non nobis solum nati sumus, translated "Not unto ourselves alone are we born".

Prospective students are encouraged to schedule their visit to campus through the Office of Admission so that we can help to make it a productive one. Except for holidays, the Office of Admission is open for visits Monday through Friday. Student-led tours generally depart twice each morning and each afternoon. An interview with an admission counselor and a tour comprise the basic campus visit. Visits to class, appointments with faculty, coaches or other program directors are arranged during the academic year (mid-September through April). Tours of campus are also available during the summer, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

To schedule a visit or just learn more, visit the Office of Admission visit website.

Class visits and overnights are encouraged during the academic year (mid-Sept - April). These are set up through the Office of Admission along with the other components of a prospective student’s visit.

Campus Previews for admitted applicants are scheduled for April each year. At this time, students can attend classes and meet other admitted applicants. All admitted applicants are sent an invitation.

To schedule a visit, call the Office of Admission toll free to 1-877-LIBARTS (the Office of Admission).

Alternatively, visits can be scheduled online via the Visiting Campus website.

The Career Services Office assists students and alumni individually and collectively with career and life planning and works closely with faculty advisors when appropriate. Regularly scheduled workshops and programs are offered throughout the school year covering such issues as resume writing, job search strategies, interviewing skills, choosing a major, and applying to graduate schools. The Career Resource Center (CRC) contains materials on careers, graduate/professional school programs, employers, internships, opportunities abroad and job search advice. Part-time jobs, summer jobs, internships and full-time opportunities are posted in the CRC regularly. SIGI PLUS, a computerized career assistance tool, is housed in the CRC and is used by students to help identify career plans and options. Willamette University is a founding member of the Oregon Liberal Arts Placement Consortium (OLAPC, pronounced O-Lap-See) a cooperative organization of nine Oregon schools founded to serve liberal arts students. A career information and job fair is held every spring to provide information, internship, and employment opportunities for students. Career Services works cooperatively with the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations and the Alumni Board to present annual programs such as “Mentor Day” and “What I Did with My Major In....” It also connects, via the web, to the Alumni Career Network, a service through which students and alumni can seek information and advice from one another.

For further information, please visit the Career Services website.

We ask students and families to think carefully about the actual need to have a car at school. Salem’s downtown shopping area and movie theatres are five blocks from campus. In addition, the city bus service stops on Winter Street next to Willamette’s Goudy Commons and on State Street near Eaton Hall. A Willamette student ID card doubles as a bus pass and enables you to travel throughout Salem at no cost. While all students are permitted to park on campus, they are required to purchase a parking pass from Campus Safety.

For complete details regarding parking fees and regulations, as well as the good alternatives that are available, please visit the Campus Safety parking website.

Every Willamette student has the opportunity to become involved in the 100 or so student clubs and organizations that cover the spectrum from academic honorary, educational/service and media to multicultural, performing arts, religious, social/support and sports/recreational. Student organizations are responsible for planning some of the biggest and most significant events offered at Willamette. Here is just a sampling of what you can expect to see any given year: Black Tie (Willamette Events Board), Wulapalooza (multiple organizations involved, the end of the year 12-hour party), Luau (Hawaii Club), Midnight Breakfast (Willamette Events Board), Halloween Extravaganza (House of Hall Representatives), International Dinner (Willamette International Students Association), Salmon Bake (Alaska Club), Cinco de Mayo (Unidos Por Fin), Jazz Night (Jazz Ensemble), Star Tree Lighting (multiple organizations involved), Mr. Willamette (Interfraternity Council), and Take Back the Night (Women’s Center). At the beginning of each semester, the Office of Student Activities sponsors the Activities Fair, where representatives from each group sponsor a table with information about their organization and how to get involved. The Activities Fair is where most Willamette students begin their co-curricular involvement. It’s easy to start your own organization, too. About 10 new organizations are formed each year.

For more information or to see a complete list of clubs, please visit the Office of Student Activities website.

Willamette University is comprised of a College of Liberal Arts (undergraduate), School of Education (Master of Arts in Teaching), Atkinson Graduate School of Management (MBA) and College of Law (JD).

For more detail, please visit the academics website.

Community Service Learning at Willamette University promotes and facilitates opportunities to build partnerships between our campus and community through service. Willamette’s Community Service Learning office houses both the co-curricular Community Outreach Program as well as the academic Service-Learning Program.

The opportunities and resources that we offer with regard to each program operate on the premise that university-community collaboration is mutually beneficial and adheres to Willamette University’s motto “Not unto ourselves alone are we born.”For example, the Community Service Learning office assists students in the organization of one-time volunteer projects or other co-curricular volunteer activities, plans campus wide events to raise awareness of social injustices that members of our community face and works with faculty to integrate service as a pedagogical tool into academic course curriculum.

The overall goal of the Community Service Learning office is to encourage a sense of civic responsibility among students through critical engagement and participation in one’s community. Most Willamette students exemplify these values.

For more information, please visit the Community Service Learning website.

Willamette has general access labs, as well as departmental facilities with computers available to students. Smullin Hall and Collins Hall house two computer labs that are accessible to students 24 hours a day.

For the complete list of facilities and hours, please see the listing of computer and technology facilities.

Computer Ethernet connections are available in all rooms and service is free of charge. In addition, most of campus is wireless. This includes academic buildings; the library; dining halls; and, as of the 2006-2007 academic year, residence halls.

Students don’t need their own computer, but having one is certainly a benefit and we strongly encourage bringing one. The computer labs get crowded during midterms and finals and it can sometimes be difficult to get a computer at a time that meets your schedule. For the past few years, the large majority of entering students have brought computers to campus. However, if you’re not sure about what you want or need, don’t worry. There’s plenty of time to make a decision after you arrive and there is no disadvantage to doing so.

All the dorm rooms are wired for access to the Willamette University network, which includes the resources of the Hatfield Library and the Internet. Having your own computer allows you to do your research and homework in the privacy of your dorm room and as your schedule requires rather than in the communal atmosphere of the computing lab and only when computers are available.

The Willamette Store (the bookstore) is one place students can purchase computers. The Computer Shop specials and recommended systems can be viewed online. Ordering through the bookstore, students can receive a discount.

Office of Admission

Office of Admission
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, OR 97301
Telephone: (503) 370-6303
Toll free telephone: 877-LIBARTS
Email: libarts@willamette.edu

For further information, please visit the Admission website.

Office of Financial Aid

Willamette University Office of Financial Aid
900 State Street
Salem, OR 97301
Telephone: (503) 370-6273
Toll free: (877) 744-3736
Email: finaid@willamette.edu

Please visit the Office of Financial Aid website for further information.

Loans and Student Accounts

Willamette University Office of Student Accounts
900 State Street
Salem, OR 97301
Telephone: (503) 370-6728

Please visit the Loans and Student Accounts website for more information.

Registrar

Office of the Registrar
Willamette University
900 State Street
Salem, OR 97301
Telephone: (503) 370-6206

For further information, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

Willamette offers broad liberal arts curriculum, which means that a wide variety of subjects and fields are assessable to all students, regardless of their major course of study. Some of the most popular subjects at Willamette tend to be politics, laboratory sciences, social sciences, economics, and English. The theatre and music departments also garner much recognition for their breadth and accessibility. A reference of popular courses among freshmen students can be found on the Selected Courses listing.

The current course catalog is available online. It can also be sent to prospective students by contacting the Office of the Registrar or by calling toll free 877-LIBARTS.

All entering first-year students are considered “undecided” or “undeclared” upon matriculation to the University. Typically, most students declare a major by the end of their sophomore year at Willamette by completing a Declaration of Major Form (available from the Office of the Registrar) and securing the signature of the department chair. Entering transfers are given the opportunity to declare a major prior to initial course registration to allow the university to assign a faculty advisor from the student’s major department in advance of academic advising and course selection.

An admitted applicant who wishes to defer admission to Willamette may do so according to the following conditions:

• Submit the non-refundable $350 Advance Deposit accompanied by a letter requesting a deferral with a description of what the applicant plans to do during the upcoming year.
• Deferments are generally granted for students who wish to study abroad, travel or work (volunteer or paid) for up to one year at a time. If a deferment is not granted, the Advance Deposit will be returned, along with a letter of explanation.
• A student who chooses to attend another U.S. college or university is not eligible for a deferment. These students should withdraw their applications for admission.

Since all application files are retained for two years, within that period of time any file may be reactivated and the student will be re-considered for admission as a transfer applicant, with consideration for the additional academic work and achievement included in the decision.

The on-campus dining program has been designed with flexibility to meet the unique needs of each student. Every meal includes many options, some of which are tailored with particular diet preferences in mind, including Vegetarian and Vegan. While most students find that they can regularly find the “standbys” of grill food, salads, soups, sandwiches, etc., Willamette’s food service strives to offer meals representative of many regions and cultures.

The Willamette meal plan (part of the housing contract) consists of “all you can eat”meals (dinners Sunday through Friday and brunch on Saturday) and Meal Plan Points for use on an “a la carte”basis (breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, dinner Saturday and brunch on Sunday).

The University operates a comprehensive food program available with a choice of four Meal Plan Point choices for the “a la carte”meals. These options allow students to select the meal plan best tailored to their needs. Meal Plan Points are honored at Goudy Commons, Kaneko Dining Hall, Cat Cavern and the Montag Convenience Store. If students find that they would like to change your meal plan, they may do so by notifying the Office of Residence Life during the first two weeks of each semester. Points carry over from fall to spring semester if you remain and on campus resident (sororities, Haseldorf, University Apartments and students going abroad excluded). Points remaining at the completion of spring semester are non-refundable. No credit or refund is issued for “all you can eat”meals not taken.

Meal Plans

• Plan A — 7 AYCE meals a week + 330 points/semester
• Plan B — 7 AYCE meals a week + 400 points/semester
• Plan C — 7 AYCE meals a week + 500 points/semester
• Plan D — 7 AYCE meals a week + 630 points/semester

For more information, visit the Office of Residential Services website.

Willamette University is committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to its academic and social programs. The Office of Disability & Learning Services is a resource center for students with disabilities within all four colleges of the University. The office works to assess students’ needs and provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations. This office also provides academic services to all Willamette University students.

For more information, visit the Disability and Learning Services website.

Diversity in student body, faculty and administration facilitates the greatest benefit from a liberal arts education. Since President M. Lee Pelton’s arrival at Willamette in 1998, the percentage of students of color has increased by seven percent. This past year, over 35 states and 16 countries were represented in the College of Liberal Arts. Willamette’s reach stretches the globe.

Diversity itself also comes in different kinds. Cultural and ethnic diversity, socio-economic diversity, political and ideological diversity, and religious diversity are but a few types that enrich our learning and living environments. All students at Willamette benefit from interaction with people from walks of life different from their own. Fittingly, clubs on campus that celebrate diversity are extremely popular, and campus-wide events continually reinforce the priority placed on maintaining and utilizing a diverse environment.

One example of Willamette’s emphasis on facilitating diversity is The Willamette Academy. The Willamette Academy was created for students historically underrepresented in higher education who have academic and leadership potential in the years leading up to college. The students admitted must demonstrate academic potential and have an ambition to attend a four-year institution of higher education; a majority of these students will be the first in their family to attend college. The program includes a curriculum based on developing students’ critical thinking skills and engaging their drive to be leaders. Students utilize Willamette University services through visits to campus and time spent working in the library and computer lab. Tutoring and help with things like internships and college applications are offered as well.

For more information, please visit Willamette Academy.

Willamette is a residential campus; the majority of students live on campus at any given point in time. All freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus unless they are married, over 21, or living with parent(s) within a commutable distance of 25 miles. Release from the residency requirement is by application only per contract terms and conditions. After their sophomore year, students have the option of moving off campus if they would like to. If they elect to remain on campus, housing and board plans remain available to them until they graduate.

Within Willamette’s residences, theme housing provides students the opportunity to situate themselves within a more focused residential environment. Willamette’s theme programs include substance-free living (Baxter and Shepard); celebration of international culture (WISH); environmental awareness and outdoor adventure (Terra); wellness, which focuses on the holistic approach to health and wellness (Kaneko 4th); and fraternities and sororities. Each program provides special activities and the opportunity to interact with faculty and friends who share common interests.

Salem has a varied selection of rental housing, some very close to campus and some within a 15 or 20-minute drive. Rental announcements can be found in local area newspapers, but many students learn of housing opportunities through word-of-mouth or on-campus advertising, since many local houses and developments are occupied by consecutive groups of Willamette students.

More information about living off-campus can be found at the Office of Residential Services website.

On average, around 70% of undergraduate students live on-campus in University-owned residence halls or apartments.

For more information, please visit the Residence Life website.

Willamette University abides by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, Public Law 101-226, as a condition of receiving funds or any other form of financial assistance under any federal program, to certify that it has adopted and implemented a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by students and employees. At a minimum, the University must annually distribute the following to each student and employee:

1. Standards of Conduct that clearly prohibit, at a minimum, the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of drugs and alcohol by students and employees on University property or as any part of University activities;
2. A description of the applicable legal sanctions under local, State, and Federal law for unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol;
3. A description of the health risks associated with the use of illicit drugs and the abuse of alcohol;
4. A description of any drug and alcohol counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation programs that are available to students and employees; and
5. A clear statement that the University will impose sanctions on students and employees (consistent with local, State, and Federal law) and a description of these sanctions, up to and including expulsion or termination of employment and referral for prosecution for violations of the Standards of Conduct.

For more information, please reference the Selected Policies Manual.

Willamette offers two Early Action (non-binding) application cycles, in addition to Regular Decision. The postmark deadline for application for Early Action I is November 1, with notification by December 15. The Early Action II postmark deadline is December 1, with notification by January 15. Admitted candidates have until May 1 (the National Candidate Reply Date) to submit a non-refundable Advance Deposit to reserve their place in the entering class.

Importantly, Early Action does not bind a student to attend Willamette if accepted, nor does it preclude correspondence and/or application to other institutions. It is used in the interest of early notification.

For further information, visit the CLA Catalog website.

Applying to Willamette involves submitting a personal essay and a short answer response as part of the application form. These writing sections are good ways to highlight aspects of your achievements, character, and personality that aren’t always made clear in the other pieces of your application credentials, such as grades and test scores.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when getting started:

• Be sure you understand and answer the question(s) being asked. Read the instructions carefully before you begin and one last time before you submit the final product.
• Use correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling—and avoid relying too heavily on spellcheckers. These tools check for spelling, but not necessarily for proper use of vocabulary. Automated software programs do not replace a sound ability to articulate your ideas.
• The essay should be neatly typed or word-processed.
• Don’t just talk about the “what.” Tell us the “how” and “why.” For example, a description of the community volunteer work you do at a local senior center only goes so far (the what). Tell us why you got involved in this activity and how it has affected you.
• Do not submit your first draft. You need to leave time to rewrite and revise. Start early and leave yourself plenty of time.
• Put away your thesaurus! If you have to use a dictionary (other than to check the spelling of a word), you are probably not going to write something that will convey your authentic voice. Professors will tell you that the best essays are the ones that effectively use small words to convey complex ideas, as opposed to using big words to articulate things that don’t require them. The college essay is no different.
• Finally, do your own essay. It is certainly okay (and recommended, actually) to ask others like a parents, teachers, or friends to read your essay and give you their comments and suggestions. It is not okay to submit someone else’s work as your own. Plagiarism is cause to deny your application on the spot.

Total Number of Faculty: 301

Over 90% of Willamette Faculty members have Ph.D.s.

Of the past 15 Carnegie Foundation Oregon Professors of the Year, eight have been Willamette professors. Willamette’s faculty members display and foster the academic and civil commitment that we see from our students. Willamette is, quite simply, built around the relationship between professor and student. Fittingly, our students expect as much from their professors as their professors expect from them.

Willamette University has successful alumni in virtually every vocational field. Here are a few examples:

• Mark O. Hatfield ’43 — Served 30 years in the U.S. Senate
• Sam Farr ’63 (CA) — Current member of the House of Representatives
• Jay Inslee L’76 (WA) — Current member of the House of Representatives
• Vic Snyder ’69 (AR) — Current member of the House of Representatives
• Jim Albaugh ’72 — President & CEO, Boeing Space and Communications
• Lin Sue Cooney ’80 — TV anchor, KPNX in Phoenix
• Jim Cuno ’73 — Director, Harvard Museums
• William MacDougall ’52 — Former Managing Editor, U.S. News & World Report
• Sue Leeson ’68 L’81 — Supreme Court Justice, State of Oregon
• William Laughlin ’41 — Noted Anthropologist
• Tony Hopson ’77 — President & CEO, Self Enhancement, Inc., a ‘Point of Light’ program for under-privileged youth
• Bruce Harmon ’66 — 4-Time Emmy award winner for screenwriting
• Mark Harmon ’66 — Prosecutor, UN International Criminal Tribunal
• Gwen Harper ’49 — Former national officer, Girl Scouts of America
• Leopold Pospisil ’50 — Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, Yale
• Nancy Bearg Dyke ’69 — Director, Int’l Peace & Security program, Aspen Institute

For more information, please visit the Alumni Relations website.

The application fee is $50. Willamette accepts the Fee Waiver form of the College Board (available from high school counselors) or a letter from the high school counselor requesting the fee waiver due to financial hardship. Additionally, for all applications submitted electronically, the application fee is waived.

92% percent of all undergraduates receive some form of financial assistance (2005-2006).

54% of entering students receive a combination of need-based and merit-based aid from Willamette (2005-2006).

28% of entering students receive only merit-based scholarships from Willamette (2005-2006).

57% of entering students have their need fully met (2005-2006).

The average total need-based financial aid package for entering students is $23,497 (2005-2006).

For more information, please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

Early Action

• December 1 — Postmark deadline for submitting Application for Admission
• December 1 — Submit CSS Financial Aid PROFILE (for need-based aid applicants)
• By January 15 — notification of Early Action admission decisions
• By February 1 — notification of merit-based scholarships and estimated need-based aid packages
• February 1 — need-based aid applicants should submit the FAFSA (even if they have previously completed the CSS PROFILE)
• May 1 — National Candidate Reply Date (postmark deadline for submitting Advance Deposit)

Regular Decision

• February 1 — Postmark deadline for Regular Admission application for admission
• February 1 — Recommended deadline for filing FAFSA
• By April 1 — Regular Decision admission letters mailed
• By April 15 — Regular Decision scholarship and need-based aid packages mailed
• May 1 — National Candidate Reply Date (Advance Deposit postmark deadline)

For more information, please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

Early Action Admission Candidates

• By December 1 — Apply for Early Action Admission and submit a College Scholarship Service PROFILE. The CSS PROFILE is required for students wishing to be considered for financial aid before the standard April 1 notification date.
• By February 1 — Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Regular Decision Admission Candidates

• By February 1 — Apply for Admission and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (the College Scholarship Service PROFILE is not required for Regular Decision Candidates).

Please visit the CLA Catalog for further detail.

The FAFSA is required to apply for financial aid. All other financial aid consideration is automatic with the submission of an application for admission and acceptance to Willamette. The only exception to this is the Hatfield Scholarship (Willamette’s full-tuition, service-based award), which requires a supplemental application.

For questions, please email the Financial Aid Office at finaid@willamette.edu or call (503) 370-6273, Toll Free 1-877-744-3736. A good first resource is the Financial Aid website.

The Process

Early Action Applicants

Once we have received your processed PROFILE from the College Scholarships Service, the Office of Financial Aid will review your eligibility for all need-based federal, state, and institutional funding. If we receive your PROFILE by January 1, an estimated offer of financial aid will be mailed to you by mid-January. To finalize this estimated offer, you must submit a FAFSA by February 1.

Regular Decision Applicants

Once we receive your processed FAFSA from the Federal Student Aid Processors, we will review your eligibility for all need-based federal, state, and institutional funding. If your file is complete by our preferred deadline of March 1, your financial aid award will be mailed on April 1. Offers of financial aid will be mailed on a rolling basis after April 1 for students whose files are completed after March 1.

Please note that we cannot offer you any estimate of financial aid until you have been accepted for admission and your application for financial aid (the FAFSA) is complete and has been reviewed.

For more information, please visit the Financial Aid and Application Process website.

Willamette University recognizes that cost may be a concern as you plan to invest in your educational goals. Addressing how you can finance a quality education may at first seem overwhelming. Taken one step at a time, however, the process does not need to be mysterious or confusing. The staff of the Office of Financial Aid is committed to making the process as simple as possible. We are available to assist you with any questions you may have, help you understand the financial aid programs available, and guide you through the application process.

As the primary beneficiary of the investment in your college education, we believe that you and your family are ultimately responsible for financing your education. Understandably, many families cannot afford the entire cost of college. Financial aid, therefore, is available to help fill the gap between what you and your family are able to provide and what it will cost to attend Willamette University. We believe that our generous merit and need based scholarships programs, combined with student loans and part time employment, can make a Willamette University education affordable.

Loan Options

• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Stafford Loan
• Federal PLUS Loan (for Parents)

For specifics on Loans, please visit the Financial Aid website.

Scholarships

• Private Scholarships
• Institutional Scholarships
• Black United Fund of Oregon Scholarship
• United Methodist Loan & Scholarship Programs

Grants and Awards

• Need Based Grants
• Music Scholarship Awards
• Forensics Scholarship Awards
• Theatre Scholarship Awards

Student Employment

• Federal Work Study Program
• Willamette University Student Employment

For more information, please visit the Office of Financial Aid website.

Missionary Jason Lee came to Oregon to begin a school for Native American children in the Willamette Valley in 1834. Within a few years the slowly growing group of missionaries felt the need for a school to serve their own children. Jason Lee organized a series of meetings in his home and, on Feb. 1, 1842 — now celebrated as the founding date for Willamette University — bylaws were adopted and a board of trustees was appointed.

As the first university in the West, Willamette takes pride in its pioneer heritage, not just because it was founded in the early days of the Oregon Territory, but because, like those early pioneers, it has had an important place in the development of the West.

When Willamette was founded the cities of Portland, Seattle and Tacoma did not exist. Thus the University is closely associated with the beginning of law and government in this vast region, which now comprises Oregon, Washington, Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming.

The College of Liberal Arts offers the baccalaureate degrees Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music. To earn a degree, a candidate must successfully complete the General Education Program, specific degree, and major program requirements.

All candidates for graduation with the Baccalaureate Degree must:

1. Satisfactorily complete 31 credits, of which no more than 2 may be earned in internships. At least 15 of these credits must be earned in residence. The final year of study shall be spent in residence or in Willamette-approved off-campus study programs. (Note: One Willamette credit is equal to 4 semester hours or 6 quarter/term hours).
2. Apply no more than 10 credits in a single department and no more than 14 credits in any major program toward the minimum of 31 credits required for graduation. Internship credits are exempted from this limitation.
3. Satisfactorily complete the General Education Program which includes:
   • College Colloquium (freshman seminar)
   • Four writing-centered courses (including College Colloquium)
   • Two Quantitative and Analytical Reasoning courses
   • Study in a language other than English
   • In addition, students will complete work in each of six broadly defined Modes of Inquiry that encompass crucial elements of a general education:
     • Understanding the Natural World
     • Creating in the Arts
     • Analyzing Arguments, Reasons and Values
     • Thinking Historically
     • Interpreting Texts
     • Understanding Society
     Please see the CLA Catalog for a more complete description of these individual requirements.
4. Satisfactorily complete an approved major program, including the Senior Year Experience.

For more information, please visit CLA Catalog website.

The following symbols are used for grades included in the calculation of the Grade Point Average (GPA): A (4.0), A- (3.7), B+ (3.3), B (3.0), B- (2.7), C+ (2.3), C (2.0), C- (1.7), D+ (1.3), D (1.0), F (0.0). The above terms represent the following assessments of a student’s performance: A = Excellent; B = Good; C = Satisfactory; D = Below Standard; and F = Failing.

At the conclusion of each semester, the academic records of all students working for undergraduate degrees are reviewed by the Academic Status Committee, a standing committee of the undergraduate faculty. In the cases of students whose work does not meet the University’s expectations, the committee determines whether an individual student is: (1) warned about academic progress; (2) placed on academic probation; or (3) dismissed for academic insufficiency. The criteria used in these determinations include the following academic deficiencies: GPA below 2.00 (semester or cumulative), completion by a full-time student of fewer than three credits, or serious academic difficulty as determined by the Academic Status Committee.

For more information, please visit the CLA Catalog website.

Willamette University is a small university built around a commitment to the liberal arts, but three dedicated graduate programs compliment the undergraduate college. The College of Liberal Arts (undergraduate program) is both the largest and oldest college in the University. The institution’s well-known College of Law is the oldest in the Northwest and the second oldest in the West. The Atkinson Graduate School of Management recently celebrated its twenty-seventh anniversary and has already developed a strong reputation for its innovative program of exceptional quality. The newest school is the School of Education, providing a strong teacher training program leading to an M.A.T. degree.

Below is a quick break-down of our academic programs.

College of Liberal Arts

• Bachelor of Arts in over 30 different departments
• Bachelor of Music
• BA/MBA combined degree program (with Atkinson Graduate School of Management) for Willamette University students
• Senior Year Studies - Interdisciplinary senior seminars and expanded internship and other off-campus study opportunities for seniors
• Internship and research programs, including Carson Undergraduate Research Grants and the Science Collaborative Research Program (SCRP)
• CLA Catalog

Atkinson Graduate School of Management

• Full-time, part-time, and accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA) for Business, Government and Not-for-Profit Management
• MBA/JD joint degree in management and law
• BA/MBA combined degree program for Willamette University students
• MBA and Certificate of Dispute Resolution
• Certificate of Public Management
• Executive Development Center

College of Law

• Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.)
• JD and M.B.A., Master of Business Administration for Business, Government and Not-for Profit Management
• Certificates offered in:
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Law and Business
  • Law and Government
  • International and Comparative Law
• Study Abroad Programs

School of Education

• 10-month Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree for the preparation of early childhood, elementary, middle and secondary school teachers.
• For more information, please visit the academics section.

Career Services provides a wealth of information concerning career options/choices, decision-making, technical skills like resume and letter writing, job listings, and graduate school possibilities. Additionally, the Center houses SIGI+ (a computerized career assistance tool) and offers interest-testing to be used as a gauge of potential career paths.

Regular workshops are offered throughout the school year to assist with writing resumes, cover letters, personal statements, graduate school applications, graduate entrance exam preparation, determining a major, job searches, and interviewing. Career Services also provides Credential Files, serving as a student’s “central collection agency”for letters of recommendation, current resumes, course listings, etc.

Each semester, alumni come to campus to discuss their careers based on their majors. Anyone may attend these visits. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to participate in November’s Alumni Career Mentor Day.

Every spring semester, the Career Services office, in cooperation with the Oregon Liberal Arts Placement Consortium (OLAPC), participates in a two-day Career Information and Job Fair. Students at all levels (Freshmen-Seniors and first year alums) can talk and even interview with employers for summer, internship and full-time job opportunities.

For more information, please visit Career Services.

Willamette University’s Greek system is comprised of four national men’s fraternities and three national women’s fraternities, often referred to as sororities. These organizations offer friendship and camaraderie through brotherhood and sisterhood, leadership opportunities, philanthropic and community service work, scholastic support and encouragement, and lifetime membership in the organizations, which provide benefits and support long after college. Approximately 27% of Willamette students are members of a Greek organization.

Willamette University has a deferred rush policy. This means that first-year students are eligible to join Greek organizations beginning in their first spring semester. The recruitment process, referred to as Rush, is open to all students. Rush is organized by the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council.

Men’s Fraternities

• Beta Theta Pi
• Phi Delta Theta
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon
• Sigma Chi

Women’s Sororities

• Alpha Chi Omega
• Delta Gamma
• Pi Beta Phi

For more information, please visit the Greek Life website.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services is part of the Bishop Wellness Center, which is located in Baxter Hall. The Willamette Health Services staff provides health care for acute illnesses and minor injuries as well as medical care for men’s and women’s reproductive health. Students with special health care needs will receive assistance in developing a plan of care and referral assistance to medical specialists during their time at Willamette University.

Students are seen by appointment between the hours of 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday. Urgent Care hours are available each day for acute illness and injury. Health Services does not charge an office visit fee to be seen; there are, however, charges for lab work, prescriptions, and some supplies.

Student Insurance Services

All students attending Willamette University half-time or more are required to have health insurance. The student health insurance plan provides coverage for part of the cost of emergency care and some outpatient medical, mental health, and drug and alcohol care. This policy is an excess policy and will be secondary to any other coverage the student holds. The policy covers the student for 12 months from the first day they are required to be on campus in the fall.

For more information, please visit the Heath Services website.

Willamette currently has no campus-wide honor code. For the most part, individual university groups and/or offices come up with their own guidelines or codes of conduct based on their own circumstances. However, ASWU (Willamette’s student body government) has established an Honor Code Task Force which will be looking into establishing a more overarching honor code. An honor code of this type would require the complete support of faculty, students, and administrators.

A student may graduate with University Honors as determined by the College of Liberal Arts faculty. These are designated as summa cum laude (with highest honors), magna cum laude (with high honors) and cum laude (with honors).

A student may graduate with department honors in the major field of study by distinguished completion of a thesis, research project, performance or creative exhibition, by attainment of a departmentally specified cumulative grade point average for courses within the major, or by completing other requirements as prescribed by the major program faculty.

A student may be named to the College Honors List for any semester during which the student earns a GPA of 3.75 or better with no fewer than three credits of graded coursework. The Honors List is widely published and a notation of this achievement is made on the student’s transcript.

Transfer students will be considered for University Honors based on the lower of the following: (1) Willamette University GPA.; or (2) GPA for combined Willamette and transfer grades.

Students may also be selected to be a part of Phi Beta Kappa, which is a society based primarily on scholarly achievement, good character and broad cultural/academic interests. Our chapter nominates the top 2% of each junior class and the top 10% of each senior class (including those nominated as juniors). Juniors must also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 to be considered for membership. Seniors must have at least a 3.5. Aside from GPA, weight is given to breadth of academic program (number and variety of courses taken outside the major), faculty recommendations, service to the department or university, good character, academic awards and achievements, and extracurricular activities.

Broadly speaking, civil and appropriate behavior in residence halls implies exercise of courtesy, honesty and integrity and encouragement of these practices in others. All members of the Willamette University community are expected to practice and promote civility.

Each residence hall has the option of tailoring its quiet hours or courtesy hours, along with other certain policies. Typically, quiet hours start at 11pm and last until 7am. Often, courtesy hours last all day and night as a measure to encourage residents to consider their neighbors when playing instruments, watching movies, listening to music, etc.

All University buildings and residences (including Kaneko balconies) are designated “No Smoking”areas. Some residence hall governments have devised their own guidelines as to where residents may smoke outside their building (e.g. to prevent smoke from rising into windows outside a doorway). Furthermore, a non-smoking resident will not be paired with a smoking roommate unless the non-smoker gives consent.

Hot pots, popcorn poppers and coffee pots may be used in rooms, provided that they operate with an enclosed heating element. Refrigerators under three cubic feet are permitted as well. However, no open grills or exposed heating elements are permitted inside student rooms because of obvious fire hazards. Most residences have easily accessible lounge and/or kitchen areas where these appliances may be used.

Most pets are not permitted, though residents may keep fish in their rooms in a tank not to exceed 15 gallons in capacity.

Further policies can be found by viewing the Residence Life Handbook on the Residence Life website.

Willamette University welcomes the diversity and richness that international students contribute to the campus and encourages applications from well-qualified citizens of other countries. Evaluation of an international student’s credentials focuses on prior academic achievement as demonstrated by transcripts and examination results administered in the students’ home country.

Evidence of strong English language skills is also an important part of the admission decision for international students. The Willamette academic program requires considerable reading and is very writing intensive. Most classes are conducted in a seminar format, so student contributions to class discussion are also pivotal to full participation in the academic program. The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is the preferred method for demonstrating English proficiency. However, students who have completed a considerable portion of their prior education in an English-speaking school may submit the SAT or ACT in lieu of the TOEFL.

Additionally, international students are required to submit financial documentation of personal, family and other resources that are available to finance a Willamette education. While there are limited merit-based scholarship dollars awarded to the most academically accomplished international applicants, all international students must be prepared to finance the majority of their educational expenses; in many cases, the student and his/her family will be responsible for the entire amount. Without complete financial documentation, the Committee on Admission cannot review the Application for Admission nor can the necessary immigration forms (I-20) be issued for the student visa.

For more information, please visit International Education.

Internships can be an important part of the Willamette educational experience. Internships offer students the opportunity for supervised work experience allowing them to apply concepts learned in the classroom and bring new questions back to their studies. Through their involvement in government, business, research, community agencies, schools, and other groups and institutions, students earn academic credit, explore career choices and provide service to the community.

The heart of the academic internship is the opportunity for the student to work with an off-campus supervisor at the internship site while meeting regularly with an on-campus supervisor. On-campus supervisors are Willamette faculty members who will assist students in analyzing and learning from the internship experience and are responsible for assigning a grade for the internship; elements of evaluation may include a journal, an essay, a visit to the internship site or a letter from the off-campus supervisor. Students and their supervisors define the expectations and evaluation framework for the internship.

Willamette has a well-developed, ongoing program of internships. Many of the University’s academic departments cooperate in these programs taking full advantage of Willamette’s location in Oregon’s state capital. While some half-credit and two-credit internships are available, internships normally offer one credit (equivalent to one standard academic course) and are taken as part of the student’s regular academic load.

Interns are regularly placed with agencies of the Oregon state government, the Salem city government and the Oregon State Legislature. Other facilities include the Oregon School for the Blind, the Oregon State Hospital and the Salem public schools. Majors in economics, politics, sociology and psychology frequently undertake internships in such sites. Rhetoric and media studies majors often intern with local radio and television stations; English majors often intern with the local newspaper or with art organizations; exercise science majors with parks and recreation programs; and others in a variety of settings. Students seeking an internship experience can find a suitable one within the curriculum.

For more information, please visit the Career Services website.

Willamette University currently offers opportunities for over 30 different team and individual intramural (IM) activities throughout the year. Activities are organized in divisional play for men, women and co-ed play. Current leagues for the fall include flag football, soccer, volleyball, and 3-on-3 basketball. Spring leagues include 5-on-5 full court basketball, racquetball, grass volleyball, tennis, and ultimate frisbee. Various tournaments are scheduled throughout the year. Students can continue their leadership development by either being elected as an IM representative for your living community or acting as an IM manager for a team. Intramural activities are open for all undergraduate, graduate faculty and staff to participate.

For more information, please visit the Campus Recreation website.

The Mark O. Hatfield Library overlooks the Mill Race and Jackson Plaza, near the heart of the campus. It provides a well-chosen collection of more than 360,000 volumes, 1500 journal subscriptions, and a rapidly growing DVD and video collection of classic motion pictures, documentaries, and instructional films. An extensive collection of online research databases is available to Willamette students and can be accessed from anywhere on campus at any time of day or night. A computer lab and comfortable study areas make the Library a popular place for private study and group projects. During the semester the Library is open from: 7:45 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:45 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m.-1 a.m. on Sunday. For help with research, contact the Library’s Reference Desk at (505) 370-6560.

For more information, please visit the Mark O. Hatfield Library website.

Willamette offers 34 majors, 33 minors, and seven Special Programs (Pre-med, 3-2 Engineering, etc.).

A complete list and more detailed information can be found at the majors and departments listing.

Our admission decisions are made without regard to demonstrated or perceived need. However, the awarding of need-based aid does reward the strongest academic records with stronger grant and scholarship amounts and greater likelihood that an applicant’s need will be met.

You may apply online using the Common Application. This is accessible via Willamette’s Admission website and carries no application fee.

Opening Days (OD) is Willamette’s freshman orientation program. It is designed to introduce new students and their families to the Willamette campus and community, as well as Salem and the surrounding area. Opening Days is a student-run four-day program of activities that occupies students both academically and socially while giving parents the opportunity to learn more about the university structure and the transition their child will be making into the Willamette family.

The social side of Opening Days consists of various group sessions and programs held throughout the program. In order to offer a broad overview of the opportunities for social life at Willamette, each new student is placed in a group with 12-14 other new students and led by 2 current Willamette students who have been carefully selected and trained as Opening Days leaders. This diverse group of leaders plan and implement nearly all of the events during Opening Days with the new students and their parents in mind, striving to make sure that everyone feels comfortable on and off campus. Groups meet on a daily basis to receive important Willamette-specific information and to participate in various activities such as tours of Salem, volleyball tournaments, and dances.

The academic side of Opening Days is our freshman seminar program, called College Colloquium. College Colloquium serves as an overall introduction to the goals, purposes and the rigors of the liberal arts tradition in which Willamette University is firmly rooted. The course is built around the skills of critical reading, informed discussion, and cogent writing—the same skills that are the foundation for most academic programs on campus.

For more information, please visit the Opening Days site.

The Office of the Registrar can assist students with in several ways, most of which pertain to the maintenance and execution of transcripts and registration. Students can use the Office of the Registrar website to view the current course catalog, view a course schedule and get forms to change advisors.

To receive a transcript, students must submit a request in writing to the Office of the Registrar. As required by the Family Education and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA), all students are required to submit signed and dated requests for copies of their transcript of record. The fee for official transcripts is $4 per transcript, or $2 for any additional copies of the transcript ordered at the same time.

Preference for first-year applicants is given to those who have completed a minimum of four years of college preparatory English and mathematics and three years each of foreign language, laboratory science and social studies (history). It is expected that a student’s work in academic subjects will include Honors, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses where those are available in the secondary school curriculum.

The record of a transfer applicant is reviewed in much the same way except it is the college record that is given greatest emphasis. Successful transfer applicants should present previous college coursework suitable in subject matter and level of challenge for transfer to a rigorous liberal arts and sciences program.

While there are no specified minimum GPA or test score figures, admission to Willamette is selective and preference is given to students who have met with demonstrable success in their prior educational experience. Naturally, grades and standardized test scores play a prominent role in the selection process. The Admission Committee also actively seeks to enroll a student body demonstrating interesting personal qualities, social awareness and ethnic, religious, socioeconomic and geographic diversity.

Other factors such as creativity, leadership, work experience, significant travel and exceptional talent in a particular field are also weighed in admission decisions.

Because Willamette University is a private institution, there is no difference in base tuition for in-state and out-of-state students. However, some particular grants and/or scholarships may be awarded on the basis of local residency.

For example, Oregon Private Awards, funded by private donors, are administered by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission and awarded to Oregon residents who meet specific eligibility requirements. These range from $500 to total educational costs. The FAFSA and Oregon Scholarship Application are required.

Residents may either request a roommate or be assigned one. Roommates are matched on the basis of interest and the information provided on the Housing Preference Card. Roommate requests are honored if they are mutual and received by the published deadline.

Returning students select their room in April for the upcoming academic year. Priority for first-year applicants is established by the date that the $200 advance deposit was received by the Office of Admission.

For more information, please visit the Residence Life website.

Although most rooms on campus are double occupancy, there are a limited number of single rooms available. These carry an additional cost per year. In general, the assignment of single rooms operates as part of the standard housing lottery; however, for specific information regarding single room assignment priority, visit the Office of Residential Services website.

Financial aid is pivotal to the families of most students who attend Willamette. For entering students, most sources of institutional aid do not require a separate application. The exceptions are talent scholarships in Music, Theatre and Forensics and the Mark O. Hatfield Scholarship for Public Service (full-tuition). For more complete details about scholarship and financial aid programs at Willamette, please see the Office of Admission and Office of Financial Aid websites.

Students are encouraged to apply for national, regional and local scholarships to supplement Willamette institutional scholarships and financial aid.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report publishes a ranked list of colleges and universities in the country. Schools are ranked on such things as academic reputation, retention and graduation rates, alumni giving, etc.

In the 2006 issue of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges,”Willamette University ranked 61 in the top tier of national liberal arts colleges.

While this ranking places Willamette among the best colleges in the country, we caution students and parents to view this ranking as only one of many tools available to assist them with the complicated process of selecting a college or university.

One tool Willamette recommends above all others is the campus visit. Come to Salem, Oregon, meet members of the Willamette community, and make your own judgment.

Willamette University is a small university built around a commitment to the liberal arts. The College of Liberal Arts is both the largest and oldest college in the University. The institution’s well-known College of Law is the oldest in the Northwest and the second oldest in the West. The Atkinson Graduate School of Management recently celebrated its twenty-seventh anniversary and has already developed a strong reputation for its innovative program of exceptional quality. The newest school is the School of Education, providing a strong teacher training program leading to an M.A.T. degree.

For more information, please visit About Willamette.

Willamette University is interested in enrolling students from diverse educational institutions and backgrounds, including those who have received much or all of their education in non-traditional settings.

Home-schooled students whose goals and values compliment the mission and philosophy of the university, and who are therefore likely to benefit greatly from their experience on campus, are encouraged to apply. Students who are successful at Willamette are typically self-directed, creative, and service-minded. Any information you can present to us that demonstrates the aforementioned qualities will allow us to make more informed comparisons to other applicants.

For more information on applying as a home-schooled student, please visit Instructions for Home-Schooled Applicants or contact the Office of Admissions at libarts@willamette.edu.

The best college experiences are not limited strictly to what happens in the classroom. Instead, the most fruitful experiences also utilize a rich and rewarding campus life.

Like other colleges, Willamette University is home to serious athletes, accomplished artists and political activists. But Willamette also caters to students who take a more casual approach to life—or who simply enjoy watching the drama unfold.

There is an artistic side of the Willamette Community. The University Playhouse is home to everything from one-act plays to full operas. The Mary Stuart Rogers Music Center is an ideal venue for musical performances. And the Hallie Ford Museum of Art speaks to students who have a taste for the visual arts.

It is also important to note that Willamette has a place for people who enjoy alternatives to traditional college fare. It has a place for Ultimate Frisbee players and flag football fanatics. It has a place for connoisseurs of fine cuisine and aficionados of fine coffee. And, of course, it has a place for people who enjoy all of the above.

For more information, please visit the Student Life website.

Median high school GPA (2005)

3.76

Median SAT (Math plus Critical Reading scores)

1240

Students are required to complete 31 credits at Willamette, at least 15 of which must be earned through Willamette (i.e. transfer students can enter with no higher than a junior class standing). Among the 31 credits, students must complete the College Colloquium (freshman seminar), four writing-centered courses (College Colloquium counts as one), two quantitative and analytical reasoning courses (at least one must be QA*), study in a language other than English (the minimum requirement is through the second semester of the second year), and one course that samples from each of the following Modes of Inquiry: Understanding the Natural World, Creating in the Arts, Analyzing Arguments, Reasons and Values, Thinking Historically, Interpreting Texts, and Understanding Society.

The College of Liberal Arts Catalog is available online by visiting the CLA Catalog website. In addition, incoming students receive a hard copy for reference.

Off-campus study provides an opportunity for students to test the theories and abstractions of the classroom in “real world” settings, and more than half of Willamette students take advantage of their access to off-campus education. Students from every major are strongly encouraged to consider the exceptional value of studying abroad, which may occur in any of dozens of countries or elsewhere in the United States.

Study abroad experiences typically occur during a student’s junior year and last for either a semester (the most common) or a full year.

For more information, please visit the Office of International Education website.

Students spend an average of $800 per year on textbooks, varying based on a student’s courses.

The Willamette Bookstore carries all of the books a student will need for class and it sells many of these used, which can save money. Students can find a list of the books needed for their particular course, arranged by department, in the bookstore itself at the beginning of a semester.

The term “Title IV funds”refers to the Federal Financial aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and includes the following programs: unsubsidized FFEL loans, subsidized FFEL loans, subsidized Federal Direct Stafford loans, FFEL PLUS loans, Federal Direct Stafford loans, Federal Perkins loans, FFEL PLUS loans, Federal Direct PLUS loans, Federal Pell grants, and Federal SEOG.

The university’s Federal School Code is 003227.

Willamette University encourages student participation in the Advanced Placement (AP) program in high school. All AP scores of “4”and “5”will be granted a minimum of one credit (4 semester hours). For more information, see the current listing of AP course equivalencies.

The University also encourages participation in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program as offered in many schools overseas and, increasingly, in the United States. Willamette will grant one credit (4 semester hours) for each IB Higher Level examination passed with a score of “5”and two credits each for Higher Level exams passed with a score of “6”or “7.”For more information, see the current listing of IB course equivalencies.

A maximum of eight credits total may be earned from the AP and IB programs. This credit may be applied to major and minor programs with the approval of the academic departments concerned. Credit earned based on AP or IB scores may not be used to satisfy Mode of Inquiry (MOI) requirements.

College credits earned prior to secondary school graduation in concurrent enrollment programs may transfer to Willamette University if the credits are earned in regularly scheduled college classes taught by college professors to classes of primarily degree-seeking college students. College credit is not awarded for college courses that are taught at the high school or go towards a student’s high school transcript/graduation requirements (credits that apply to the secondary school diploma cannot be applied a second time to the baccalaureate degree).

Secondary school students should consult the Office of Admission or Office of the Registrar with any questions regarding the transferability of college credits earned prior to high school graduation.

In the case of transfer students, most courses taken at accredited colleges will receive full credit if they are comparable to courses offered at Willamette. Courses with grades below a C will not receive credit. Six quarter hours or four semester hours of transfer credit equal one Willamette credit.

Although students admitted with an Associate of Arts degree from an accredited Oregon community college will be automatically granted 15 Willamette credits (Junior standing) upon entrance, satisfaction of specific general requirements and major requirements will be determined on the basis of a course-by-course evaluation of the transcript(s). Once a student has accumulated a total of 15 Willamette credits (60 semester or 90 quarter hours), including any transfer work, no further credit from a two-year college will be accepted toward the degree, although such courses do remain part of the official record.

For more information, please visit the Office of Registrar website.

Transfer students enter Willamette from a myriad of different colleges and programs, and the transfer process is fittingly accommodating. Applicants should present previous college coursework suitable in subject matter and level of challenge for transfer to a rigorous liberal arts and sciences program. The most advantageous coursework to complete prior to transferring is work in the “core subjects”—mathematics, lab sciences, English, history, language, etc.—because the likelihood that credits will transfer depends on the course’s correlation to options at Willamette.

Opening Days is Willamette’s orientation program for new students, which includes transfers. The transfer specific orientation program has been designed in an attempt to integrate transfers into the Opening Days process.

Tuition, including fees, costs $31,760 per year (2007-08).

Room and Board costs $7,550 per year (based on the middle level meal plan, 2007-08).

Books and personal expenses typically cost around $1,800 to 2,000 per year.

Tutoring is available for all students. Students can contact their professor(s), who can find a tutor for them and make appropriate suggestions. In addition, The Writing Center has set hours in which students can seek editing and assistance with writing papers.

Special tutoring arrangements can be made for minority students, nontraditional, international students and students who have identifiable disabilities.

For a complete list of tutoring options and to see who to contact, please visit the Learning Enrichment Resource Center website.

The western half of Oregon State is temperate, with moderate temperatures through the year. Summertime high temperatures in the Willamette Valley usually hover in the 70’s or low 80’s, while daytime temperatures in the winter months do not often fall below the high 30’s.

Western Oregon is very green, which brings the obligatory rain. The Willamette Valley averages anywhere from about 36 to 40 inches of rain annually, the vast majority of which comes during the winter months. Wintertime snowfall is limited; in the past few years, the Willamette campus has seen notable accumulation a couple of times, but it is unusual for any snow that does fall to stay around. Most winter activities occur in the nearby mountain ranges.

The Federal Work Study (FWS) program provides for jobs on or off campus that enable students to earn a portion of their college expenses. Participation in the FWS program is awarded to eligible full-time students as part of a financial aid package based on financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Individual FWS awards range from $500 to $2,000. Students generally work from 5 to 10 hours per week while classes are in session and up to 40 hours per week during semester breaks.

While some on-campus employment opportunities are limited to students who qualify for Federal Work Study, many campus employers hire students using Willamette University student employment funds. All Willamette students are eligible to earn these student employment funds. Availability is dependent upon individual department budgets. The Office of Financial Aid can assist students in identifying departments that have Willamette University student employment funds.

For more information, please visit the Financial Aid Student Employment website.