A View from the Hill: A Report from President Will Dudley

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President’s Report 2021-2022

vıew from the hill

Washington and Lee University

Spring 2022

Inside 2 4

14 28 46

A Message from President Dudley Cultivating W&L’s Community 6 8 10 12

Building a Class: A Conversation with Sally Stone Richmond Our Students

A Community of Trust: A Conversation with James Torbert ’ 23 Our Faculty

Programs with Purpose 16 18 20 22 24

A Distinctive Experience: A Conversation with Lena Hill Teaching Excellence Our Curriculum Bringing Learning to Life History is a Great Teacher

Every Student’s Success 30 32 34 36 38 40 44

Supporting Students: A Conversation with Sidney Evans Creating Connections Extracurricular Engagement Finding a Home on Our Campus Space To Thrive Prepare Here, Succeed There Student Satisfaction

Foundation for the Future 48 50 52 54

Fiscal Fitness: A Conversation with Steve McAllister Access and Affordability Sustainability A Timeless Trust: Financial Report

A Message from President Dudley

I have the best commute in America.

Each morning, I walk from Lee House to my office in Washington Hall. The sight of the Colonnade and the people I meet along the way—W&L students, faculty and staff—never fail to inspire.

Those of us who are fortunate to enjoy the view from the hill every day want to share it with you. We’d like you to come visit us in Lexington sometime soon. In the meantime, with this report we hope to give you vivid impressions of Washington and Lee today — the people, the programs, and the place.

The most important elements of the university are timeless: academic excellence, pursued through the free exchange and robust examination of ideas; student self-governance, built on the shared values of honor, integrity, and civility; and personal relationships that help students reach their full potential, make this a rewarding place to work, and foster the passion of alumni for W&L. We focus, each and every year, on providing the best education in the service of our mission. Washington and Lee University exists to prepare our graduates for lifelong learning, personal achievement, responsible leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship in a global and diverse society. Everything we do, inside the classroom and out, equips our students for lives of consequence.

In this report, you will read about our students and faculty, academic programs, student activities, and financial foundation.

We will introduce you to key university leaders who will tell you in their own words how they approach their work.

While our mission and values abide, we always seek opportunities to improve the university by building upon our considerable and distinctive strengths. Our Strategic Plan, adopted by the Board of Trustees three years ago, guides these efforts. We aspire to attract the best students and teachers to Washington and Lee, to enrich

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Washington and Lee University

our curriculum, to support the success of every member of our community, and to provide first-rate facilities in which they can live, work, and play. In the pages that follow, you will learn more about what we have accomplished to date, and about where we will go from here in our quest to provide superlative liberal arts and legal education for the 21st century.

The future of W&L is bright. Admissions are strong. Students love

their teachers and their school. Outcomes for undergraduate and law students are excellent. All of this is possible thanks to the collective generosity of our alumni and parents over more than 270 years.

When I accepted the presidency of Washington and Lee five years ago, it was the love of the people for this place that made me want to be a part of it. The passion of our students and alumni, and the dedication of our faculty and staff, are exceptional. We are bound together by our common intentions and values, the actions they inspire, and the shared memories those deeds create. We are sustained across generations by the continuity of our shared purposes and principles.

The closer you get to W&L, the better you feel. I hope that the pictures, profiles, and facts in this report bring you just a bit nearer to campus, and that they may even inspire your next trip to Lexington.

I will continue my daily pilgrimage along the Colonnade, mindful of my good fortune, and eager to have you join us on the hill. n

,,

We are bound together by our common intentions and values, the actions they inspire, and the shared memories those deeds create.

A View From the Hill

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From the moment students set foot on campus, we seek to foster their connections with one another —— and with the greater Lexington community.

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Washington and Lee University

Section 1

cultivating w&l’s community PEOPLE ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF WASHINGTON AND LEE. WE SEEK TO ATTRACT STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF WHO ARE INTELLIGENT, HONORABLE, COMPASSIONATE, CURIOUS, COLLABORATIVE, AND PASSIONATE ABOUT W&L. —Will Dudley

A CONVERSATION WITH

Sally Stone Richmond

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Washington and Lee University

Vice President of Admissions & Financial Aid Sally Stone Richmond was named

W&L’s vice president for admissions and financial aid in 2015. She directs the university’s recruitment efforts, ensuring prospective students receive accurate impressions of the university and implementing a careful and consistent process of evaluating applicants. She also has responsibility for the Office of Financial Aid and the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity, which administers the prestigious Johnson Scholarships. She has a B. A. degree from Davidson College and an Ed.M. from Harvard University.

Q. What features draw prospective students to W&L?

Prospective students are attracted by W&L’s long-standing reputation for academic excellence, the marriage of the liberal arts and pre-professional options in our curriculum, the extraordinary array of co-curricular and personal opportunities, the tremendous record of alumni success, and our appealing location. They are also drawn to W&L by our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, all of whom are committed to seeing each student thrive here.

Q. What traits make a candidate

Q. What has changed in admissions since

a successful applicant at W&L?

you first began working in the field?

We place particular value on academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, community engagement, participation in extracurricular activities, and authenticity.

We consider the student’s character and interest in Washington and Lee — as revealed through essays, letters of recommendation and our personal interactions, including interviews. Needless to say, our applicant pool is replete with talented individuals who are all successful in their own right. As the current parent of a high school senior, I am keenly aware of how candidates are willing to put themselves out there in their applications — taking risks, revealing vulnerabilities, and expressing their ambitions. We aspire to preserve and honor the trust they place in us.

For starters, my vision has suffered from reading thousands of applications! In the digital age, we’re offering visits and interviews virtually as well as in person, the Common Application is more widely used, and students are applying to many more schools on average. The conversation about access and affordability is also real.

Fortunately, what hasn’t changed is that the people working in admissions, college counseling, and financial aid remain creative, generous, and student-centered. In addition to really enjoying working with high school students, my relationships with these colleagues have kept me in the profession for more than 25 years — and I am very grateful to them.

Q. How do you build an entering class?

you anticipate in the coming years?

We carefully assess each applicant while keeping both the university’s mission and our ultimate enrollment goals in mind.

There is no formula or equation. It’s more like solving a puzzle, where we keep the larger picture in mind while factoring in each student’s strengths and unique contributions. Each year is different since we start with a new set of applicants and conclude with a class that will have an identity all its own.

Q. How would a need-blind policy impact the admissions efforts?

Need-blind admissions simply means that an applicant’s ability to pay for his or her education will not be a factor in our decision. Being need-blind would allow us to focus exclusively on each student’s academic readiness, love of learning, extracurricular engagement, personal character, and enthusiasm for W&L, not on how much the family can afford to contribute to the cost of attendance.

Q. What are some of the challenges Challenges are disguised opportunities.

One of the real silver linings of the last two years was the heightened attention we paid to engaging students with W&L. We couldn’t take their access to campus for granted, so we had to reconstitute the whole notion of a visit. Today, those virtual opportunities remain popular, and we can offer campus visits again. The concern over the cost of higher education will persist, and it is our responsibility to communicate, early and authentically, W&L’s extraordinary value, as well as our generous aid and scholarship resources, to students, families, and counselors. For example, the Johnson Scholarship, W&L’s premiere scholarship for academically talented, integrity-minded student leaders, is awarded to nearly 10% of each entering class.

And we meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need of every admitted student.

MyinTuition, a quick cost estimator available on our website, enables families to understand their expected financial contribution anytime, anywhere. We also invite

students considering Early Decision to complete their aid applications in advance of the ED deadline so they can receive an expected financial aid award before making that ED commitment.

Q. What has been the impact of the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity on W&L?

The Johnson Program’s impact on W&L cannot be overstated. Our ability to award these generous, transformative scholarships to nearly 10% of each class has been invaluable, and we have seen that translate into our application volume from day one of the program’s announcement.

Across campus, faculty, staff, and students applaud and appreciate the contributions Johnson Scholars make to our community. Recruiting and enrolling each new student to W&L is a shared campus effort, and that is especially true for our Johnson Scholars during the finalist selection event each March.

Q. What role do the university’s alumni play in the admissions effort these days?

We rely on alumni volunteers to conduct off-campus interviews with candidates, connect with admitted students from their area, and host admitted students’ receptions around the country. Since our alumni have a firsthand knowledge of the caliber of education we offer and of the many opportunities available, they tell the university’s story in very personal ways, and their enthusiasm is compelling.

It’s one thing for us to describe the features of a Washington and Lee University education and quite another when prospective students (and their parents) can hear about how those features will impact the students from someone who experienced those benefits. Students report that these conversations have a real impact on their decision to apply— or enroll. n A View From the Hill

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Community

Building a Class

{ Meet the Undergraduate Class of 2025 } (WE ASKED, THEY ANSWERED.)

6,621 applications

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37 states represented

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19% admit rate

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median ACT of 33

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(up from 13% five years ago)

(32% increase over previous year) l

33 international students (7% of the class, from 19 countries)

(+ Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia)

(and median SAT of 1460)

23% domestic students of color

12% Pell Grant eligible 10% first-generation college students

MEET THE LAW CLASS OF 2024 n n n n

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2,298 applications (15% increase over previous year) 31% admit rate 164/3.61 (median LSAT/GPA) 33 states + D.C. (with six countries represented)

Washington and Lee University

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18.5% domestic students of color 25% Pell Grant eligible 70% first in family (to attend law school) 10.5% first-generation graduates

Community

Why W&L?

Our Students

(WE ASKED, THEY ANSWERED.)

I didn’t want to be just a number and another student in a class. I wanted the ability to stand out among my peers and have personal faculty relationships that will provide opportunities for me during my time at the university and after.

The close-knit student body and a culture that seeks to build up other students in a collaborative spirit is one that I cherish.

The numerous experiences and connections for a small campus are monumental and easier to access than at a larger institution.

Plus, extracurricular activities, such as Mock Convention, Mock Trial, and the Ring-tum Phi, will allow me to explore all of my interests. n

Luke Fountain ’25 Hickory, NC Major: Undecided

I decided on W&L after being a part of the Diversity and Inclusion Visit Experience program. I got to sit in on Professor Lynny Chin’s Intro to Sociology class and just absolutely fell in love with sociology. Unique aspects of W&L, like the Shepherd Program or the Speaking Tradition, were what really drew me in. I did not have a wide variety of classes to choose from in high school, so being able to take highly specific courses, like Writing 100, Adaptation x2 (which focuses on the process and outcomes of adapting novels into films) and Sociology 180, the Sociology of Conflict, is something I’m excited for. n

Hân Huynh ’25 Kirkland, WA Major: Undecided

I loved what I heard about the balance of work and play.

On party nights you will see everyone out, but every other day you’ll find the same people grinding in the library. The Phi Delt house is my favorite spot on campus because there is always something going on. Hanging out in the main room and seeing the guys filtering through to eat lunch between classes, playing pickup basketball in Red Square or volleyball on the grass court after dinner are the best parts of my day. n

George Biddle ’22 San Diego, CA Major: Business Administration Minor: Philosophy

When I imagined myself at college, I didn’t picture a small, private, liberal arts school, especially one in a different state. When I visited in March 2020, campus was empty because of the pandemic. Yet, the few people I saw introduced themselves, said “Hey,” and offered to show me around. While the pandemic certainly made it difficult to pick a college, it has not made it difficult to experience W&L’s foundations of leading with honor, integrity, and civility.

My first day on campus was filled with intellectual discussions and warm welcomes.

My fellow students are kind, interesting, and talented. n

Madison Karlin ’25 Abington, PA Major: Undecided

I chose to come to W&L because I wanted a school where I could establish relationships with my professors, challenge myself by taking courses outside of my major, and look forward to taking strolls around campus. I am excited to get outside more with the Outing Club and actively pursue the things that terrify me. I am on a journey of personal development, and so far, I have managed to survive being an Appalachian Adventure Trip Leader, so I want to keep the momentum going. n

Tanajia MoyeGreen ’23 Mulberry, FL Major: Sociology Minor: Data Science

W&L was my choice after meeting with a few of the professors on my campus visit, and I was really impressed. You could tell that these faculty wanted to have you here and wanted to learn about you and what you’re interested in. That really spoke to me. Once I enrolled, I found that W&L law is an extremely friendly campus. It’s friendly on your walk to class, whether you’re walking through the streets of Lexington or across the undergrad campus.

It’s friendly once you walk into Lewis Hall.

Everyone on this campus has a smile on their face and really wants to make sure that you do, too.

It’s just a vibrant and bright place full of happy people. n

Scott Ingram ’22L Virginia Beach, VA A View From the Hill

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A Community of Trust

A CONVERSATION WITH

James Torbert ’23 President of the Executive Committee

James Torbert is an Alabama native who excelled in both academics and athletics at The Montgomery Academy, where he not only won awards on the school’s debate and mock trial teams but was also Most Valuable Player on the state championship tennis team.

He is majoring in politics and philosophy with a minor in Law, Justice, and Society.

He has served as an editor for the Mudd Center Journal of Ethics, was a member of the varsity tennis team, and has been a university ambassador. He studied “The Good Life: Philosophy of Happiness” at the Danish Institute for Study Abroad and has worked with and helped develop Dream Court Montgomery, a nonprofit organization that provides an adaptive tennis program for individuals who have special needs.

Q. What role did the Honor System

academic freedoms and the community of trust at W&L. However, these were hard to fully understand until I began visiting the university. I remember coming to W&L as a sophomore in high school, and immediately, I could feel an energy that I had not felt at any other university. My engagement with the current students at the time felt genuine and enthusiastic.

Washington and Lee’s Honor System and community feel absolutely drew me to the university. But it was not until I attended W&L that I truly understood that this sense of community stems from the Honor System. I knew that I would be among students and faculty who would take me at my word and respect the authenticity of my work, and this has definitely been the case. It is hard to realize how much the Honor System pervades everyday life at W&L until you attend, but it has been anything but disappointing.

have in your consideration of Washington and Lee as a high school student? Is it what you expected?

Q. How do you assess the health of

I was very fortunate to have a brother, cousin, and father attend Washington and Lee all before I began my college search.

I grew up hearing incredible stories about the university. Naturally, I was aware of W&L’s Honor System long before I seriously considered attending. I had heard about the unique experience W&L students have not only in the classroom but in everyday life because of the Honor System. My brother told me about his

The best aspect of the Honor System is that was designed to be molded by each new generation of Washington and Lee students. It was created as a system, rather than a code, so that students could work to build up and define their community of trust as they see fit. I believe the Honor System today is as strong as ever.

Students buy into community and understand the importance of respecting each other’s word, property, and work.

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Washington and Lee University

the Honor System today?

QA +

Q. Presiding over the Honor System is a significant responsibility.

What prompted you to run for EC president as a junior?

My first year I served as a hearing advisor.

Hearing advisors are primarily tasked with supporting and advising students accused of honor violations. I enjoyed my work with the Honor System as a hearing advisor, and at the end of my freshman year, I ran for EC representative. I served on the EC when the COVID-19 pandemic was constantly changing the environment at W&L. It was an incredibly difficult year, but I knew from my work as a representative that I wanted my primary focus at W&L to be student self-governance and the Honor System. I decided to run for president my junior year as opposed to running for the position of representative again because I wanted to fully devote myself to student self-governance at W&L. I love and support this university, and I felt that serving as EC president would be the most effective way to demonstrate that support. As president, not only do I preside over the Honor System, but I also have the opportunity to engage with our administration and student leaders on a different level. The EC moved into a brand-new space on the third floor of Elrod Commons this year, and I am thrilled. While the EC room in Early-Fielding was great, the move to the Commons will allow us to communicate more effectively with the student body

Community and hopefully draw more student feedback on our work.

Q. What are some of the greatest challenges and opportunities ahead for the EC to serve the student body?

The COVID-19 pandemic created a number of challenges for W&L, and the EC definitely experienced this. We had an entire year of virtual meetings, and it was frequently difficult to engage with the student body at the level we wanted to. Three of the four current undergraduate classes have not yet experienced an entire normal year at W&L. While this has posed a challenge for continuing the strength of student self-governance, I believe the return to normalcy provides the greatest opportunity for the EC to promote the importance of student self-governance and the Honor System.

We are currently working to create better systems of communication between the EC and student organizations on campus. One of our primary goals as an EC is to help every student club and organization on our campus thrive.

I believe this starts with increased communication moving forward.

Q. You’ve been involved in numerous activities at W&L, from varsity tennis to editor of the Mudd Center for Ethics journal, during your four years. How have you learned to manage your time, particularly with the demands of the EC?

I have had the opportunity to get involved in a number of different extracurriculars at W&L. However, my primary focus since arriving at W&L has been working with and for the Honor System. Taking on the role of president of the EC this

year has caused me to take a step back from a number of things. Fully devoting myself to student self-governance and the Honor System while also trying to keep up my grades has been difficult at times, but it has taught me the importance of time management and delegating. One of the best things about our student government is that we have 13 students on the Executive Committee who are all eager to serve the student body any way they can.

I rely on these people, especially the EC vice president and EC secretary, to make sure we get everything we need to do done. The EC as a whole works together, and I would not be able to effectively do my role without their help and support.

It is always important to remember that everyone on the EC is first and foremost a student who has many other obligations with the university. Therefore, working as a team is essential. n A View From the Hill

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Why W&L?

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ashington and lee today evokes the same emotions it did when you were a student. Walking down the Colonnade fills you with the same reverence and nostalgia. I recently spoke with a first-year who described it perfectly.

She said walking on campus when she visited felt like a dream. I had the same feeling when I visited as a prospective student. Working here now feels like a dream come true. And while this magical

(WE ASKED, THEY ANSWERED.)

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here are many reasons why I feel fortunate to teach at W&L. Our students are extremely smart, hard-working, and ambitious. They excel in the classroom while also engaging in many extracurricular activities. I especially appreciate our small class sizes and opportunities for advising and mentoring, which allow me to really get to know them.

I

am always impressed by how W&L students support one another. I see it in their constructive comments in class and their patience with each other on group projects, in mentoring on sports teams, and in co-curricular groups. I hear amazing stories of how they sacrifice and support each other in times of hardship.

This level of empathy is rare among a population that is also ambitious, career oriented, and competitive. Today’s students

dents are motivated and talented and are also brilliant and benevolent. I have had the privilege to serve on the Fellowships Committee. Reading projects designed by our current students solidifies the fact that we have the most innovative, compassionate, diligent, and intelligent students out there. They see the world changing and are moving with it in a way that still preserves all that makes W&L such a special place. n

From a curricular standpoint, Spring Term enables faculty to offer especially immersive and impactful courses. In geology, we typically travel to show students landscapes and geologic environments, near and far. We can accomplish much in the classroom, but it can’t compare to studying volcanoes in Santorini or coastal processes at the beach. I also love being at W&L because of my colleagues’ constant commitment to improving their teaching.

It is inspiring to work with colleagues at events in the new Harte Center for Teaching and Learning to create meaningful educational opportunities for our students. n

Sybil Prince Nelson ’01

Jeffrey Rahl

Megan Hess ’97

Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Professor of Geology

Associate Professor of Accounting

place feels the same, in truth, it is so much better than when you were here. The stu-

have turned the work hard/play hard mentality into something more transcendent.

They want to know the greater purpose and meaning of things and are excited when you can show them how to connect lessons from their pre-professional classes with history, philosophy, sociology, and psychology. One student told me that W&L was helping her learn how to have a good life. Whether that’s a result of the curriculum, the community, the bucolic setting, or all three, we should be very proud if our graduates go on to lead good lives. n

7:1 / 8:1 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO (LAW AND UNDERGRADUATE) No. 4 BEST LAW SCHOOL PROFESSORS 78% UNDERGRADUATE (Princeton Review)

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hat i value about my experience as a faculty member is the same today as it was on day one: support from the university for my work in class, as a teacher, and outside class, as a researcher and writer. Faculty receive institutional support as we pursue answers to questions that drive us in our discipline;

that fuel our teaching; and that wind up in public forums, from conferences and lectures to journals, newspaper editorials, and every so often a book. Having just returned from a sabbatical, I am reminded how my students love being on campus, being with each other, and conversing with their professors as they wrestle with contested issues. Students in my American government classes are champing at the bit to think about what it means to govern ourselves as a free people; think through the original design and structure and principles of the regime; and wrestle with alternative ways of working through that. n

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n my decades here, I have been continuously struck by the intense desire of W&L students to learn, understand, and probe the depths of what it means to be human. Whether I’m teaching the history of free speech or discussing the concept of separation of powers, I am inspired by students’ courage to encounter ideas, to think through issues, and to participate in a civil, respectful dialogue about the deepest topics. Today’s students are genuine seekers of the good, especially of what will be necessary to preserve and protect the common virtues of the American community. W&L employees — administrators, teachers, and staff — feel united as participants in the educational program.

We see our roles as the same. Each day is an opportunity to keep the learning experience positive and vibrant. We are connected by

an amazing thread. I have felt it for a very long time, and it contributes to the sense of trust and collaboration. n

Our Faculty

Community

Our distinguished scholars are dedicated to cultivating close relationships with students and delivering an unparalleled classroom experience.

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hen i arrived at W&L in 1987, teaching was clearly more than a job; it felt like a high calling to work with very bright, indeed pioneering students, and in a department of mentors — Minor Rogers, Harlan Beckley, Richard Marks — deeply committed to the profession, to coeducation, and especially to students. The sense that we were navigating something important together remains the mainstay and inspiration of my career.

Many things have changed for the better over the years, especially our increasing diversity. I experience the gifts of this change most keenly in the classroom where students generously engage in respectful inquiry and critique, shared humor, and humility across every sort of difference.

Together, we take up the challenge to see the world differently, in more depth and dimension. The mutual care and purpose I sensed in 1987 remains the strong core of this place and promise of the better place W&L may yet become. n

Lucas Morel

Brian Murchison

Alexandra Brown

John K. Boardman Jr. Professor of Politics

Charles S. Rowe Professor of Law

Fletcher Otey Thomas Professor in Bible

CLASSES WITH < 20 STUDENTS

20 OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARD WINNERS 27 FACULTY FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS IN THE LAST 20 YEARS (State Council on Higher Education in Virginia)

A View From the Hill

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W&L’s Associate Provost Paul Youngman ’87 takes advantage of the outdoor classroom’s contemplative Woods Creek environment to teach a first-year seminar.

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Washington and Lee University

programs wıth purpose

Section 2

W&L PROVIDES A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION TO PREPARE GRADUATES FOR LIVES OF RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP IN A GLOBAL AND DIVERSE SOCIETY. —Will Dudley

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QA +

Lena Hill became provost of W&L in

A CONVERSATION WITH

Provost and Professor of English and Africana Studies

2021. She previously served as dean of the College and professor of English and Africana studies since 2018. She is the university’s chief academic officer and oversees all three academic units — the College, the Williams School, and the School of Law — as well as the University Library, the University Registrar, Athletics, the Mudd Center for Ethics, the Center for International Education, and the Office of Community-Based Learning. She holds a B. A. from Howard University and a Ph.D. in English from Yale University.

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Lena Hill Q. What characteristics do you think allow Washington and Lee to stand apart in the higher education landscape?

W&L’s academic structure and institutional culture continue to distinguish us amid the higher ed landscape. Our strong science, humanities, and arts core — together with robust programs in commerce and journalism and a highly regarded law school — create exciting academic opportunities for our students and faculty.

When you combine these opportunities with our Speaking Tradition and Honor

System, you get an educational experience like no other. This is particularly striking at a moment when many lament the widespread cultural effects of remote education and work associated with the pandemic.

Q. How would you describe the teacher-scholar model as it exists today at W&L, and how does it benefit our students?

The teacher-scholar model is as robust as ever and assumes many forms at W&L. Our faculty’s commitment to students

defines our academic experience. Even as faculty take seriously their classroom pedagogy, this is only one aspect of their instructional method. The time faculty spend with students — in office hours (these meetings happen all across campus as well as on faculty porches and decks), in labs and performance halls, on site visits and field trips, on athletic fields and in countless other spaces we may not always associate with the traditional classroom — gives our students a deeper, richer educational experience. Our faculty support students in their competitions, take them to conferences, provide study abroad opportunities, open their homes over winter break, and simply take time to talk. Faculty know their students at W&L. They are also leaders in their fields.

From our newest faculty to our wellestablished stars, our faculty continue to win fellowships and honors that recognize their research. This ensures our students encounter the most current ideas and connect to lively academic and creative communities. The teacher-scholar model at W&L is a jewel that shines brightly but not always conspicuously: Faculty do not seek accolades for their enduring work that spills beyond the workday.

This is who they are.

Q. The Strategic Plan calls for the university to continue cultivating engaged citizenship. As provost, what initiatives might you pursue in this area?

We have some fantastic programs in place to continue cultivating engaged citizenship. Our Community-Based Learning (CBL) office is guiding our effort to provide academic coursework throughout the university that supports the needs of local nonprofit organizations. In fact, our CBL director, Professor Sascha Goluboff, is currently leading our pursuit of the prestigious Carnegie Elective Community Engagement Classification. This designa-

tion will achieve national recognition for our efforts. The Shepherd Program has long been a leader in developing opportunities for students who are passionate about impacting the community in positive ways. It has been encouraging to see other departments and programs develop additional partnerships rooted in their disciplines. For instance, a recent Engineering Capstone Design project conducted a downtown Lexington traffic study and made recommendations to improve traffic flow. Students in a CBL course researched and developed a digital map of historic Black-owned business for the Lexington Visitor Center. We are also supporting students pursuing fellowships that allow them to study, intern, and volunteer across the country and the world.

Q. As dean you were instrumental in the development of two interdisciplinary programs. Given W&L’s distinctive curriculum and structure, do you envision pursuing additional such programs?

The Law, Justice, and Society Program and the Data Science Program draw on our distinctive structure and are rooted in our Strategic Plan. Looking ahead, we are most immediately focused on ensuring existing academic programs are sufficiently supported and staffed to meet current needs. In some instances, re-structuring programs may enhance interdisciplinary opportunities not fully realized. Our new Entrepreneurship minor offers a good example. We have seen healthy student interest in this area, and we want to ensure it enables non-business majors to access a course of study that includes core business courses. We are working to make the program more interdisciplinary so that it includes courses beyond business and draws on our strengths in the sciences, arts, and humanities.

Our academic centers also represent incredible opportunities for students,

faculty, and staff alike. We are in the midst of launching the DeLaney Center, and Community-Based Learning is undergoing exciting program enhancements.

The Harte Center opened this year, offering resources to support student learning and professional development for faculty.

The Center for International Education is constantly adapting and innovating to meet student needs. At this point, I am thinking less about adding new programs and more about supporting the innovative leadership and vision of academic leaders across the university. Together, we are poised to take our curricular and cocurricular opportunities to new heights on behalf of our students.

Q. As W&L’s chief academic officer, what do you consider our greatest opportunities for growth and innovation in the future?

Our greatest opportunities for growth and innovation stand squarely on the strength of our foundation: our people and our academic structure.

Our progress in diversifying our students, faculty, and staff will continue to infuse our community with new ideas and additional networks necessary for us to thrive in the 21st century.

Nothing is more impactful than the community our students find in the classroom and across our campus.

I am particularly excited about our new focus on strengthening the humanities and arts by thinking more aggressively about career opportunities associated with these disciplines; our commitment to creating interdisciplinary opportunities that respond to our students’ passions and connect their studies across the College, Williams School, and Law School; and our plan for enhancing Williams School programs and the sciences with new facility projects that will bolster work in these areas. n A View From the Hill

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Programs

A Distinctive Experience

The Houston H. Harte Center for Teaching and Learning provides opportunities and flexible spaces for students and faculty to exchange ideas and learn together.

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Washington and Lee University

Education is at the heart of what we do. our commitment to our students demands that we stay current on the most effective methods of teaching and learning: investing in the professional development of our faculty; providing resources and support for our students; and incorporating impactful practices like undergraduate research, clinical experience, community-based learning, internships, and study abroad that deepen student engagement with their coursework.

Recent investments include: The Houston H. Harte Center for Teaching and Learning, which helps great faculty teach and talented students learn even more effectively; the Office of Community-Based Learning, which supports the development of courses that provide faculty and students a real-world complement to theoretical material discussed in the classroom; and the Kenneth P. Ruscio Center for Global Learning, which is home to the Center for International Education, classrooms, offices for world language faculty and international scholars, and inviting spaces for students to gather and enjoy cultural programming throughout the year. Legal clinics, externships and practicums create unique opportunities for our law students to learn in context, developing client contact and advocacy skills, and speeding the transition from law student to legal professional. n

enhanced educational resources e pride ourselves at W&L on a curriculum that offers students the opportunity to explore topics of interest in small classes and in innovative ways. Over the next 10 years, we plan to expand our undergraduate faculty by approximately 10%, enriching our course offerings while keeping our class sizes small. We will also add two new law faculty positions —— exceptional professors who will also contribute to interdisciplinary

community partners supported by students participating in community-based learning

75% of students participated in service-learning opportunities, domestically and abroad, in 2018-19

No. 3 W&L’s School of Law’s current ranking for Great Community Impact

by National Jurist

40+ countries visited by our students for study, internships, research or travel

STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

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DATA DIGEST 40+

Programs

Teaching Excellence

150+ undergraduate courses available during W&L’s four-week Spring Term

endeavors including the DeLaney Center and the Law, Justice, and Society Program.

Great teaching also requires adequate and flexible space. We aspire to expand and enhance academic spaces in the Williams School, the Science Center, Wilson Hall and Lewis Hall, and to create more comfortable, flexible outdoor teaching spaces that take full advantage of our mild climate and natural setting.

98 students performed summer research on campus with faculty in 2021

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37 MAJORS,

13 interdisciplinary programs NEW INTERDISCIPLINARY MINORS Law, Justice, and Society W&L’s Law, Justice, and Society Program is a collaboration among the School of Law, Williams School, and the College that no other liberal arts college can offer. The program focuses on the philosophical, historical, and cultural elements of law and on the legal dimensions of civic, commercial, and professional life. Courses range from art history to chemistry, classics to journalism, and they include seminars taught by law professors in which undergraduates learn alongside second- and third-year law students.

Entrepreneurship

Our Curriculum

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ashington and lee has long prided itself on the breadth and depth of our curriculum, which integrates pre-professional subjects with the liberal arts. While we remain firmly committed to traditional disciplines, which develop intellectual abilities and personal traits that will serve our students well, we also embrace interdisciplinary inquiry in the sciences, humanities, arts, business, and journalism.

In the past three years, we have added three new interdisciplinary minors, which augment already existing interdisciplinary programs that teach students to approach complex problems from multiple perspectives. These programs benefit from our distinctive curricular structure to provide critical insights into the complex challenges our graduates will face in the future.

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Washington and Lee University

A liberal arts university is an ideal setting in which to foster entrepreneurship.

Students are immersed in a course of study that emphasizes analytical thinking, qualitative and quantitative reasoning, creativity, and innovation.

W&L students excel at synthesizing research from a variety of fields, and the entrepreneurship minor offers students from across the university the necessary tools to transform their ideas into reality.

Data Science Data science is a rapidly expanding, multidisciplinary field that draws on statistics, computer science, and mathematics, with applications in a variety of academic disciplines and industries. The Data Science minor, which offers a separate track in business analytics, allows students to complement their discipline-specific skills and knowledge with a deeper understanding of how to analyze and extract meaning from data to learn more about the world.

Additional interdisciplinary offerings Africana Studies; East Asian Studies; Education Studies; Environmental Studies; Latin American & Caribbean Studies; Medieval & Renaissance Studies; Middle East & South Asian Studies; Neuroscience; Poverty & Human Capability; Russian Area Studies; Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies

41 MINORS, along with 12 world languages

ROGER MUDD CENTER FOR ETHICS

J. LAWRENCE CONNOLLY CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Mudd Center focuses on issues of public and professional ethics across the entire university.

• W&L’s annual Undergraduate Ethics Conference is the only undergraduate conference in the country solely dedicated to the academic study of ethical issues.

• The Mudd Journal of Ethics publishes undergraduate work in a wide range of topics in ethics.

• An annual lecture series with distinguished speakers addresses ethical issues centered on a particular issue or theme.

Programs

, W&L s interdisciplinary academic centers complement our 37 majors and 41 minors by bringing faculty and students with shared interests together across multiple disciplines to advance dialogue, teaching, and research on important issues.

THEODORE DELANEY CENTER Announced in 2021, the DeLaney Center will be an academic resource that is distinctive among top liberal arts institutions, offering teaching and research on Southern race relations, culture, and politics.

The Connolly Center offers courses leading to an entrepreneurship minor, as well as programs that help students learn how to turn their creative ideas into successful business ventures.

• Students will produce original work supported by W&L’s Special Collections & Archives, archaeology collections, and surrounding sites.

• Student opportunities will complement programs offered by Institutional History and CommunityBased Learning.

• The annual Entrepreneurship Summit draws alumni from around the world to discuss their own experiences.

• The Connolly Entrepreneurship Society (CES) consults for startups, hosts guest speakers, and learns valuable business skills through club projects.

• A Student Pitch Competition hosted by the CES invites students to present their business ideas and compete for cash prizes.

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Bringing Learning to Life Allie

Allie Stankewich ’23

Zahin

Guilford, CT Majors: Sociology, Environmental Studies Minor: Poverty and Human Capability Studies W&L has really nurtured my personal and academic

Taylor

growth. Last summer I received a Center for International Education Summer Grant to participate in the Public Health in the Tropics Internship in Jinja, Uganda, through School for International Training. The experience gave me a great deal of independence and the opportunity to study the well-being of people and the environment in different cultures. My time at W&L has taught me how to advocate for myself, communicate with adults, and lean into my natural curiosity. Small class sizes and personal relationships with professors have allowed me to ask lots of questions, and I’ve grown more comfortable seeking answers beyond what is in the syllabus. I have learned the value of interdisciplinary thinking and approaches to global issues through my liberal arts experience, and I am grateful for the opportunities

I’ve had to explore my passions.

Chris

Jules

Troy

n

Taylor Garcia ’22

Mandeville, LA Major: Politics • Minor: Law, Justice, and Society During Spring Term 2021, I interned for House Minority

A true W&L education extends well beyond the classroom walls — students take part in programs that put their newfound skills and knowledge to work while providing practical experience that prepares them for future careers.

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Washington and Lee University

Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA-01) during W&L’s Washington Term Program. My experience was unique, as I completed it in the middle of varsity tennis season. The office wanted to limit the number of people there at one time due to COVID, so I got the best of both worlds, splitting my time between D.C. and Lexington. Some days I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to drive to D.C., where I researched current legislation, ran errands to and from the congressman’s Capitol office and personal office, conversed with constituents, and helped office staff. Then I’d jump back in the car to get to Lexington for tennis practice. I’ll cherish my experience on the Hill and memories with fellow Whipterns and Washington Term students forever — it was the opportunity

of a lifetime. n STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

enhancing career exploration &

Zahin Reaz ’22

Troy Larsen ’22

During my internship at the World Bank’s Treasury, I had

As a sophomore, I took a course taught by Professor Alan McRae called The Geometry of Spacetime and Black Holes, and it completely changed my perspective of what pursuing a career in math could look like. He encouraged me to apply for a summer research position at W&L, and that summer I worked with Professor Elizabeth Denne studying geometric knot theory.

the opportunity to work with the central banks of 147 nations, developing analyses of their Reserve Advisory and Management (RAMP) policies by valuing the individual securities in their portfolios. My experience in the Williams Investment Society and in optimizing portfolio returns in my Investments class helped with conducting the analysis. In addition, I developed a research

paper on the current status of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and presented on the World Bank’s potential role in cross-country transactions. CBDCs are very relevant in today’s context as countries with trade sanctions are seeking to conduct cross-border transactions without the oversight of SWIFT. Seeing how central banks operate differently in each country demonstrated the importance of understanding the local context when dealing with cross-country transactions between sovereign funds. n

West Chester, PA Majors: Classics, Mathematics

That experience completely sold me on a career in research and prompted me to pursue other opportunities in mathematics,

both on and off campus. In my junior year, I worked on a project in algebraic number theory with Professor Cory Colbert, won a nationally competitive Barry Goldwater Scholarship, and participated in a summer research program studying topology at the University of Virginia. Those accolades both qualified me for and funded the ongoing honors thesis that I’m writing with Professor Aaron Abrams on projective configurations. I hope to pursue a doctorate in mathematics and become a professor. n

Chris Tucker ’23

Jules Seay ’24

I’ve had a keen interest in birds since elementary school,

Winning the Student Pitch Contest increased my confidence

and I had an opportunity for an internship in ornithology at the University of Arizona thanks to the help of Molly Steele ’04 in the Career and Professional Development Office and Jessica Rosarda ’10, who is studying at Scripps Research. During my internship, which was funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, I took blood samples from nestlings, banded birds, found new nests, and collected data. I gained experience with the tools and methods that are commonly used in the field of ornithology and discovered the challenges and responsibilities that accompany independent research. The difficulty of the W&L classes I’ve taken prepared me well for the workload, and I enjoyed seeing the concepts that have fascinated me in classes like zoology and herpetology come to life. n

in presenting my company, Global Ozone Environmental System (GOES), for a patent. GOES builds specialized greenhouses, combining photosynthesis with industrialization, to reduce factories’ CO2 emissions. The greenhouses are customizable and can add new revenue streams for companies that attach their greenhouses to buildings emitting carbon dioxide.

Fairburn, GA Major: Undeclared

Katy, TX Major: Biology

student outcomes

I’ve been developing the business for almost three years, so it was reassuring for people to see my vision in GOES. Professor

Marc Junkunc helped me make my presentation more visual instead of making it an in-depth lecture. When I pitched my idea to a patent lawyer, he understood it completely. I look forward to receiving my provisional patent, networking with other businesses, and conducting research for the implementation of GOES. n

We aspire to guarantee funding for an internship or equivalent experience for every student, ensuring graduates are prepared to apply their skills and knowledge to solve problems in real-world settings.

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Programs

Dhaka, Bangladesh Major: Accounting Minor: Data Science, Business Analytics

History is a Great Teacher 272 years provide a special opportunity to examine, teach, and interpret institutional stories that intertwine with those of the nation. Through coursework, student and faculty research, public lectures, guided history tours, museum and virtual exhibits, and community partnerships at the local, regional, and national levels, we have expanded the stories we share about the people and events that have shaped the university.

{ Student Research } Our students conduct independent research focused on elements of the institution’s history. Recent topics include histories of philanthropy, the Mathematics Department, the Jewish community, and the Student Association for Black Unity (SABU).

Hadley Foulk ’25 had developed an interest in institutional history at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and began her examination of philanthropy at W&L in her first year: “I find that institutional history is one of the most fascinating ways to learn more about any given community.

Philanthropy is particularly cool because it provides unique insight into our traditions and heritage.”

Math major Eric Gazin ’23 conducted a project on the history of W&L’s Mathematics Department, including past professors and curriculum changes. “My biggest surprise was how, throughout the 19th and 20th

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Washington and Lee University

centuries, math was taught through rote memorization instead of application.

Amber Morrison ’23 and Lauren Hayes ’23 have explored

Students memorized equations and the processes of solving problems instead of conceptualizing the processes through application.”

the history of the Student Association for Black Unity (SABU) to understand how its founders contributed to the integration of the university. Morrison was “amazed by how those students were able to go to school and advocate for inclusion and Black culture while constantly under attack, mentally and physically.” Hayes, meanwhile, was intrigued by the way documents from the university's collections and interviews with Black alumni on campus both enhanced and challenged what the other had to say.

“I was able to see a piece of history go from a one-sided story to something rich and multi-dimensional,” she said.

When Jake Winston ’24 was asked by Maggie Shapiro Haskett, director of Jewish Life, to start the Jewish Oral History Project, he readily agreed. “One thing I did not know before my research was that two Jewish fraternities — Zeta Beta Tau and Phi Epsilon Pi — once thrived at W&L. ZBT was also important as the only fraternity to allow Black students when the university integrated.”

Programs

A Living Laboratory

W&L’s back campus remains an active achaeological site where our students can study the history of the university and its many connections to our nation’s history.

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Our professors use the university’s four centuries of rich history to explore interests in their specialties. { Faculty Research at W&L }

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tefan Fafatas, associate professor of accounting, has examined 18th-century financial reporting practices, focusing on the James River and Kanawha Canal Company. George Washington donated stock from that company to Liberty Hall Academy in 1796, and Fafatas is using the company’s connections with the university to explore its accounting practices.

Faculty in W&L’s Department of Sociology and Anthropology

QA +

are reassessing the Liberty Hall landscape and associated buildings, learning more about the lives and contributions of enslaved people, telling their stories, and restoring and protecting the archaeological sites that remain, such as the stone foundation of what was once the steward's house.

The ongoing project has informed course offerings such as Donald Gaylord's Laboratory Methods in Archaeology, as well as Ethnohistory of W&L, a Spring Term class taught

by Lynn Rainville.

Lynn Rainville is W&L’s first

director of Institutional History.

She earned her doctorate in anthropology and archaeology from the University of Michigan and has written four books on Virginia history and culture.

Q. What is your vision for an institutional history museum?

The museum will make everyone aware of our full history, including stories not widely known, and will connect our community to events, biographies, struggles, and successes that comprise the university’s historical trajectory. The museum will be a history lab where students and faculty engage in multidisciplinary research, and members of local communities, alumni, and others can share memories of W&L.

Q. What are some of the new efforts that have been introduced to highlight the university’s history?

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Washington and Lee University

We have introduced a Historic Trivia Scavenger Hunt for first-year orientation, added information about the chapel’s history online, and are supporting student projects in cooperation with Special Collections and digital humanities professors. An African American genealogy specialist is assisting research into Black employees who worked at W&L for generations, and we are working with the African American Working group and the Native American and Indigenous Peoples Cohort to develop and support their activities.

Q. What can W&L students and alumni learn from the university’s history?

The history has not been a straight line.

Many of our forebearers fought hard to create, sustain, and improve the school from one generation to the next. We should appreciate how many individuals made an impact in ways large and small, including many whose contributions were behind the scenes and away from view. n

the board of trustees announced in June 2021 that the University Chapel auditorium would be restored to its original, unadorned design. The architectural firm of Quinn Evans is designing a plan to distinguish the 1868 auditorium from the 1883 annex containing the Lee memorial sculpture.

“Setting the Stage,” a new exhibit in the Chapel Galleries, presents the ways the chapel has been decorated over the more than 150 years of its existence and displays portraits that have graced its walls. The exhibit features the 1796 Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington –– painted in the year that he made his gift to Liberty Hall Academy –– and the 1866 J. Reid portrait of Robert E. Lee –– painted while he served as president of Washington College.

There is no better college in the country at which to study history and do institutional history research.

,, —Jake Winston ’24

STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

A

telling our stories

t Washington and Lee, we aspire to construct and endow a comprehensive, modern university museum located steps from Lexington’s historic downtown.

The new facility will display our most important historic artifacts with rotating exhibitions highlighting different aspects and eras of the university’s history.

The central location will allow the material to be more easily incorporated into classroom discussions, academic research, first-year orientation, campus tours, and additional educational programming.

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Programs

University Chapel

,,

A Living Laboratory

At W&L, each student has the opportunity to engage in a rich array of extracurricular activities, competitive athletic teams, stimulating classes, fulfilling internships, and valuable leadership roles.

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Washington and Lee University

Section 3

every student’s success THE FUTURE IS BEST SERVED BY EDUCATION. AT W&L WE ARE DEVOTED TO CULTIVATING THE CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL OF OUR STUDENTS, SO THEY MAY CONTRIBUTE POWERFULLY TO MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE. —Will Dudley

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A CONVERSATION WITH

Sidney Evans

Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students

Sidney Evans began her W&L career

in the School of Law as director of law admissions and later as associate dean for law student services. She was named vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students in June 2011. She leads a comprehensive program that includes all aspects of student life, including residence life, student activities, Greek life, and the first-year experience.

She is responsible for Student Affairs, Career and Professional Development, Inclusion and Engagement, Public Safety, the Student Health Center, and the University Counseling Center.

She received her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt and her juris doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law.

Q. After more than two decades working with Washington and Lee students, what changes have you observed?

One thing that hasn’t changed is how great our students are. Just when I think I will never see a student leader as outstanding as the one who just graduated, I am fortunate enough to get to work with a new one who is every bit as outstanding, though different in personality, background, and interests.

They have had a wide variety of experiences and are interested in so many

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Washington and Lee University

different things. Every year we have new student organizations form, even though I can’t fathom there is an interest or activity we have not already covered.

Our students have always been serviceminded, but I see even more of that today.

Students are involved in giving back not only to the W&L community but also to the Lexington and Rockbridge County communities and to the broader nation and world. They’re also connected to their parents, and parents are more involved in students’ daily lives.

Q. Throughout the pandemic, much

time chat support.

Several years ago, we also reorganized the Dean of Students Office to provide designated deans for each of the four undergraduate classes. This was to create clearer lines of support for individual students and for the developmental needs of each class. While the class deans do not provide mental health counseling, they do provide important support and collaborate closely with the academic associate deans in the College and the Williams School. We also work closely with the associate dean for Law Student Affairs.

was said about its impact on mental health. How have you seen that manifest

Q. W&L has historically emphasized

among W&L’s students, and what has the university done in response?

and the value of offering leadership opportunities to students. During your tenure, how do you assess this element of student life?

The demand for mental health services has increased significantly nationwide among college students, and W&L is no exception. In response, we have increased the number of counselors in our University Counseling Center (UCC) and have hired a dedicated director of UCC to provide more direct management and strategic vision for that office. Dr. Jeff Rutter joined us in June, and he hit the ground running. UCC has added several programs, including free access to My SSP, a confidential online counseling service with 24/7 telephone and real-

the importance of student self-governance

I think student leadership defines who we are. Our student leaders take on tremendous responsibility in all facets of student life. It is impossible to list them all or to describe fully the work that they do.

We continue to have our first-year residence halls staffed by live-in upper division students who serve as resident advisers. Students also staff Woods Creek, the Village and theme houses, serving as community assistants. These are incredibly important and demanding roles.

While these students are well-supported by our director and associate director of residence life, our Public Safety staff, and our Student Affairs dean-on-call, they are often the first point of contact in a challenging situation.

The students who serve as president of the Executive Committee are managing a full-time unpaid job in addition to their rigorous academic schedule. While everyone knows the EC is responsible for the management of the Honor System and student government, few understand what the reality of that means for the EC president. I’ve had the great fortune to work closely with these students over the last 10-plus years.

I’m also struck by the students who lead in less conspicuous ways. Students organizing the club volleyball team or leading an Outing Club trip or planning the Black FLEX Conference or serving as an officer in a Greek organization are all leaders, and they are all learning very valuable skills and building connections that for many will last a lifetime.

Q. How does W&L prepare students for success after graduation?

The academic rigor of the classroom, the small size of our community, the many opportunities for true student leadership experience, the access to faculty and staff — all of these combine to provide students with a space where they can learn, grow, and sometimes even fail, which I would argue is one of the best ways to prepare for success after graduation. We build in plenty of support along the way, but we also give students freedom and responsibility. Some projects turn out splendidly; some new events bomb in spectacular fashion. Either way, our students are gaining important skills for life after W&L — how to think analytically, solve problems creatively, and communicate effectively.

Q. What are your goals for the renovation of Elrod Commons?

First, the project will create The Class of 1994 Center for Inclusion and Engagement on the second floor. This will enhance the work the Office of Inclusion and Engagement does to educate and support students. In addition to offices for the OIE staff and members of our team who work closely with Student Activities, the LEAD program and Greek life, the center features a multipurpose room for meetings and lectures and a sacred space for meditation and religious services. It will also house a maker space

for student organizations and publications. The center will allow us to offer more programs that explore and celebrate the increasingly diverse backgrounds of our campus and provide great space for informal student interaction.

The renovated third floor will house the class deans, residential life, and the dean of students offices and will be home to the Executive Committee and Student Judicial Council offices, and the EC meeting room. The third floor also has an open space with comfortable seating for students to study or hang out. The renovation is enhancing the Commons’ role as a center of student life and activity. n A View From the Hill

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Students

Supporting Students

Creating Connections

First-Year Programs our community is built on trust and mutual respect. The Honor System establishes this shared trust, which endures through lifelong connections among students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Through a series of programs and events, we help new students understand both the advantages and obligations of living and working together during their four years on our campus. n

AIM PROGRAM Advanced Immersion and Mentoring was introduced in 2016 and invites students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to conduct summer research with faculty in the summer prior to their first year. Participants also learn about academic opportunities and resources, take part in leadership development programs, and receive tips and tools to increase their sense of belonging and overall well-being at W&L.

ORIENTATION WEEK

THE LEADING EDGE More than half of W&L’s first-year students participate in our Leading Edge pre-orientation programs. Entering students select from among six programs, each of which provides a memorable and meaningful experience to begin their college careers: Appalachian Adventure: A five-day hike along the Appalachian Trail.

Volunteer Venture: A service-learning trip in nearby cities.

Archaeology: An archaeological field excavation and laboratory analysis of the 18th- and 19th-century institutions that developed into W&L. Freedom Rides: A bus journey through cities with rich connections to the Black freedom struggle in Virginia, Georgia, and North Carolina.

Sustainability: A program focused on sustainable development.

Diversity First: An interactive educational experience engaging participants in cross-cultural collaboration and communication.

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Washington and Lee University

Intentional programming during the week before classes begin introduces the newest members of the community to central aspects of the W&L experience, including the Honor System, the Speaking Tradition, student self-governance, institutional history, and student life.

FYE 100 (First-Year Experience 100) This one-credit course is offered to all first-year students to foster a sense of belonging, articulate the expectations of the university, familiarize students with campus resources and opportunities, and help them clarify their purpose and direction in college.

The Center for Inclusion & Engagement This strategic initiative represents a major enhancement for the Office of Inclusion and Engagement’s programming and activities, which celebrate the increasingly diverse backgrounds of our student body, faculty, and staff.

Students

Carole Bailey, project manager, shares blueprints with student leaders. The space, located in the John W. Elrod Commons, opened this spring.

STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

fostering engagement We aspire to enhance programming in the Office of Inclusion and Engagement and to expand the number of students and departments participating in our Advanced Immersion and Mentoring (AIM) program.

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DATA DIGEST 120+ student clubs and organizations across campus at W&L

No. 1

“College for People who Love the Great Outdoors” —Money magazine

100+

Extracurricular Engagement From the Outing Club to Campus Kitchen, Greek life to club sports and intramurals, our students find many ways to stay active and to strengthen the bonds that were formed during their first year.

STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

expanding our reach

music, dance, theater, and other performing arts events on campus each year

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national, local, and historically Black Greek organizations on campus

$5,627

raised to tackle local childhood hunger through the Campus Kitchen’s 2022 Souper Bowl

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Mock Conventions held since William Jennings Bryan was the correct prediction in 1908

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Washington and Lee University

B

eginning with Washington and Lee's pre-orientation Appalachian hike for entering first-years, the Outing Club offers a variety of exciting outdoor adventures that encourage students to connect with nature through healthy recreation, spark and build lasting friendships, and explore the beauty and natural assets of Rockbridge County. During

the pandemic, the Outing Club developed new trails on the back campus and added innovative programming to enhance our students’ physical and mental health and prevent isolation.

We aspire to maintain and expand our Outing Club resources so that more students can benefit from these experiences in the future.

28%

undergraduates participating on 24 varsity athletic teams

2 and 20

National championship teams and individual national champions

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W&L athletes who have won All-American Honors since 1970

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Intercollegiate Athletics at W&L washington and lee celebrates a proud 155-year-old tradition of intercollegiate athletic competition, which contributes to our students’ educational experience by enhancing academic learning with health, physical fitness, and wellness. Our student-athletes are motivated by their love of the game and desire to

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners since 1969

19 years in a row that W&L has won the ODAC all-sports trophy

excel in competition, but also by the camaraderie that they develop with their teammates. In addition to our 24 varsity athletic teams, W&L students enjoy competition in an extensive intramural program

and on 22 different club teams, ranging from ice hockey to squash to fly fishing. n

STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

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W&L teams that won ODAC championships in the fall of 2021: football, field hockey and volleyball

Students

BY THE NUMBERS

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enhancing the experience

e are currently the only member of the ODAC that does not offer varsity softball, one of the most popular sports in the country. We aspire to create more opportunities for women athletes by adding softball as W&L’s 25th varsity sport.

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Common Ground

Finding a home

W&L students find themselves in physical spaces — and extracurricular

I have found my home in the Ruscio Center for Global Learning thanks to the diverse, engaging, and meaningful experiences that I have had in this multidisciplinary building. Academically, over the course of my four years, the CGL is the place where I have developed my knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of education (pedagogical methods and theories), politics (international and American), and languages (French, Spanish, and Arabic). Professionally, the CGL is the location of the Global Discovery Laboratories where I work as the lead technology and learning specialist, a job in which all my interests interconnect. n

As a first-year student, I was quickly drawn to the calm, artistic environment of Friday Underground (FUDG), the weekly coffeeshop and live student performance event. Before long, I was on the FUDG executive team, helping to make sure live performances and a welcoming space to make friends were available to everyone else, too. It was through FUDG that I made some of my closest friends and developed skills I never expected to need. I learned to mix live sound and make a dirty chai latte. This year, two spectacular tri-leaders and I run FUDG, and I am a community assistant living in the Arts, Recreation and Culture House, which hosts the program every Friday night. n

The place I’m most at home on campus is the Red House. Every time I’m there, I’m struck by how much work queer students have put into creating a space and community for themselves on campus where we can be fully comfortable being ourselves. That loving dedication really shows in the space we’ve cultivated, and the Red House does ultimately feel like a home, with touches like art by students on the walls and bookshelves that students help curate. The various rooms in the house are good for studying, having meetings, and just passing time in community, and we’re constantly working to help develop the house into a space that students love spending time in with friends. n

David Gálvez ’22

Rose Hein ’22

Andrew Claybook ’22

The Plains, VA Major: Romance Languages Minor: Education Policy 36

Washington and Lee University

New Hill, NC Major: English

Advance, NC Major: English Minors: Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Poverty Studies

on our campus

The Hearing Advisor Program

(HA) has been my niche since I joined as an HA my first week on campus.

They provided me with an active role in upholding the Honor System, while supporting peers who are going through what is likely the most challenging time of their W&L career. Hearing advisors work with the Executive Committee, Student Judicial Council and the Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Board by serving as a mentor to students accused of an honor violation or conduct unbecoming. In addition to guiding students through the often-complicated process, HAs provide emotional support and direct students to other important resources. n

My membership on the women’s basketball team has been particularly meaningful. Over the past two years, we have made fundamental shifts in our mission and vision to ensure that we emphasize team culture, inclusivity, and community engagement. We’ve engaged in difficult conversations among ourselves and with other groups on campus, and I think we have demonstrated how sports can be an incredible starting place for necessary and productive dialogue. Through this work, we have made our team a place where I, and everyone in our program, can show up fully and authentically. My team has become my family and my home on campus, and I’m forever thankful. n

When I arrive at the Outing Club Barn, I feel at home. The barn has been the genesis and the terminus for many adventures past and will be for many to come. The walls of the barn are filled with history: old backpacks and blue bikes no longer in service, names of bouldering routes set long ago, and signatures of generations of students who have experienced the same adventures I have. Beside the history lies the present: twice weekly practices with the Crux Climbing team, the tent and the backpack I took to the Smoky Mountains last spring break, and my own signature on the wall. When I’m at the barn, I truly feel connected to the spirit of past, present, and future W&L students. n

Elizabeth Grist ’22

Tahri Phillips ’23

Marko Suchy ’24

Lexington, VA Majors: Classics and Chemistry Minor: Poverty Studies

Wrightsville, PA Majors: English; Cognitive and Behavioral Science Minor: Africana Studies

Syracuse, NY Major: Undecided

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Students

activities — that enrich their college experience. Here are six of their stories.

Space to Thrive

The Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center opened in Fall 2020. Take a tour: go.wlu.edu/duchossois-center.

Duchossois Athletic & Recreation Center The new indoor facility for athletics, intramurals, and recreation houses three separate gymnasiums; an expanded and updated fitness center; regulation-size racquetball and squash courts; and improved locker rooms. It is also home to enlarged golf practice facilities, multipurpose rooms for group exercise, offices for coaches and athletics staff, and a showcase for the Athletic Hall of Fame.

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Washington and Lee University

Taking Care

STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

Under the leadership of Jan Hathorn during the past 15 years, W&L’s varsity teams have won more than 60% of their athletic contests and 109 Old Dominion Athletic Conference championships. Prior to becoming director of athletics, she coached women’s soccer and lacrosse, earning 11 ODAC Coach of the Year Awards and leading her teams to nine conference titles.

Q. What does “student-athlete” mean at W&L?

QA +

We want you to be a great student and play your sport at the highest level.

Academics come first. For example, when a class overlaps with a team practice, you finish class, then go to practice. The phrase is unambiguously accurate here.

Q. What has the Duchossois Athletic and Recreation Center meant to the campus community?

Physical Education and Athletics is the only department at W&L that every student passes through during their college career. We all do better when our minds

A

new wellness center will house our student health and counseling services, offering expanded services to every student who needs them while promoting a more nurturing and supportive community. The space will be designed to promote a more holistic approach to student thriving.

and our bodies are active and in shape.

PE classes develop lasting experiences that allow you to have a life of health and well-being, and the recreational spaces in Duchossois Center — including an expanded fitness center and a recreational gym where the pool used to be — have made it possible for varsity student athletes to work out and practice alongside all students and employees.

There’s no more fighting for space!

As I’ve experienced the new building, there has been an ah-ha moment every day. We still have Doremus, with its own spirit and its own history, and the designers captured some of the elements from Warner Center and made it part of the new building, creating a bridge between the past and future of Washington and Lee athletics. Whether it’s the stateof-the-art HVAC system, which has been such a blessing during the pandemic; the new gym, which is capable of hosting NCAA volleyball and basketball tournament play; or the new athletic training clinic — it’s just been transformational for our community. I’m so thankful that I work at a place that allowed us to do this the right way. n A View From the Hill

39

Students

T

he Student Health Center, which has worked overtime during the COVID-19 pandemic, provides outpatient care for students and offers a seven-bed infirmary.

The university physician and nurses provide comprehensive primary medical care to W&L students, including evaluation and treatment of illness or injury, as well as preventive health services.

In recent years, we have expanded our University Counseling staff to help students with issues that might impact not only their academic work but also their overall sense of well-being. University Counseling provides psychotherapy services and assessment of academic problems, and staff collaborate with faculty, administrative personnel, and parents to provide necessary support for struggling students.

In addition to in-person counseling at the center, students can seek assistance in two new ways: by attending casual sessions at satellite locations around campus through a new program called Let’s Talk, or by using My Student Support Program (My SSP), an app-based mental health service that offers private, round-the-clock support.

fostering student well-being

Prepare here, Our commitment to students begins the moment they step on campus — we ensure they have the resources and support to pursue their interests and flourish in their chosen professions.

W&L’s notable recent undergraduate employers Accenture, Adobe, Amazon, Bain & Company, BCG, Bloomberg, Booz Allen Hamilton, Boston Children’s Hospital, Box, Citi, CNBC, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Edelman, EY, The Federal Reserve, Fulbright, Goldman Sachs, Google, IBM, Johnson Development Associates, JPMorgan Chase, Marriott, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, Oracle, PWC, S&P Global, Saks Fifth Avenue, SC Johnson, Smithsonian, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Senate, Walker and Dunlop, The Washington Post, The White House, The Wall Street Journal

our undergraduate Office of Career and Professional Development engages with students early and often to explore their individual passions and abilities and to equip them with the skills and confidence to achieve success. Students are assigned a career adviser in their first year for oneon-one discussions about interests and postgraduate plans, establishing a relationship that lasts throughout their four years on campus and beyond.

W&L’s efforts in career and professional development are complemented by the active participation of alumni. Not only do alumni participate in a variety of career panels and alumni-in-residence programs, but they also host career exploration trips to cities like New York and Washington, D.C., where students can explore a wide variety of industries and professions.

The School of Law also has a comprehensive career program that extends through all three years of law school. The Office of Career Strategy begins in the first year with individual appointments complemented by panel discussions and programs designed to acquaint students with legal specialties and practice settings, as well as provide them with professional connections. Many law alumni recruit and interview our students in our on-campus and regional interview programs on behalf of their law firms and organizations. n

{ Top Industries } Undergraduate Class of 2020

Finance Consulting Health care Real estate Government Marketing*

* includes advertising and communications 40

Washington and Lee University

20% 9% 7% 5% 5% 5%

Post-Graduation

Students

succeed there.

Our students benefit from the mentorship of alumni during career exploration trips and hands-on internship experiences in a wide variety of fields.

A View From the Hill

41

Post-Graduation

{ Graduate Fields of Study 2020 }

Business * * Law Medical/Health Math/Sciences Social Sciences Engineering Education includes accounting

37% 22% 15% 7% 6% 6% 4%

{ Law School Employment Areas 2020 }

Law Firms Clerkships Government Business/Industry Public Interest

51% 28% 14% 4% 3%

BY THE NUMBERS 93% four-year average of undergraduate students employed or enrolled in graduate school six months after graduation

93% three-year average of law students employed within 10 months of graduation

4,576 undergraduate student appointments with Career and Professional Development during the 2020-2021 academic year

44% increase in undergraduate student appointments over the past five years

100+ undergraduate students participate annually in career trips

93% School of Law Class of 2020 bar passage rate

Notable recent law school employers

4x

Alston & Bird; Bradley; Clifford Chance; Cooley; Covington & Burling; Davis Polk & Wardwell; DLA Piper; Federal Trade Commission; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Jones Day; Judge Advocate General (Army, Air Force, and Marines); K&L Gates; King & Spalding; Kirkland & Ellis; Latham & Watkins; NASA; National Cancer Institute; National Security Agency; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison; Reed Smith; Shearman & Sterling; Sidley Austin; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Sullivan & Cromwell; US Department of Education; US Department of Justice, Antitrust Division; Weil, Gotshal & Manges

W&L has been named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students four years in a row and had a record number of fellowship winners during the 2020-21 academic year

42

Washington and Lee University

A Record of Fellowship Success

l l l l l l l l l l l l l

145 Fulbright Grantees (including nine in the past year) 45 NCAA Postgraduate Fellows (including one in the past year) 33 National Science Foundation Fellows (including two in the past year) 19 Gilman Scholars (including seven in the past year) 19 Goldwater Scholars (including one in the past year) 19 Critical Language Scholars (including six in the past year) 17 Rhodes Scholars (including two in the last five years) 17 Davis Projects for Peace Recipients (including one in the past year) 8 Boren Scholars (including two in the past year) 6 Truman Scholars 6 Luce Scholars 6 Beinecke Scholars (including one in the past year) 3 Schwarzman Scholars (including one in the past year) A View From the Hill

43

Students

W&L Rhodes scholar Rossella Gabriele ’19 is pursuing graduate work in politics, philosophy, and economics at the University of Oxford, U.K., with a focus on space law.

Student Satisfaction

DATA DIGEST

97% of W&L students who entered in the fall of 2019 returned for their second year — one of the highest rates in the country.

91%

How should we calculate the value of a W&L education? first, there is the experience of four incomparable years in Lexington. Students make lasting friendships with, and learn an extraordinary amount from, an exceptional group of peers and professors. They take classes that expand their horizons, discover and pursue their extracurricular passions, and take full advantage of the natural beauty of the Shenandoah Valley.

Then there are the lifelong advantages of the time spent at W&L, when students develop their intellect and internalize our core values of honor, integrity, and civility.

Their personal growth offers long-term value to themselves, their families, and their communities.

Beyond the intangibles, we measure our success in real and direct ways, including whether students complete their degrees, their level of engagement and satisfaction with their education, and their placement in jobs or graduate school. n

44

Washington and Lee University

W&L’s four-year graduation rate ties it for third place among the nation’s four-year colleges and universities in 2020.

The school’s six-year graduation rate, the federal reporting standard, was 94%.

Washington and Lee’s ranking among all colleges and universities for return on investment according to a study by The Economist in 2015.

The data concluded that, 10 years after graduation, the median income of W&L alumni was $22,377 higher than predicted.

A

‘‘ +

in alumni and student satisfaction.”

NATIONAL SURVEY OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT (THE NSSE) In the 2020 survey, Washington and Lee outperformed top liberal arts college peers on effective educational practices and the quality of students’ undergraduate experience. Here’s what our seniors said:

98% 97%

rated their overall experience as “excellent” or “good” (peer average: 92%). reported participating in two or more “high-impact” practices such as study abroad, service-learning, research with faculty and internships (peer average: 90%).

94% 91% 82%

indicated the university emphasized spending significant time studying and on academic work (peer average: 92%). would “definitely” or “probably" attend their chosen college again (peer average: 83%). of W&L seniors "very often" or "often" had discussions with people with different political views than their own (peer average: 48%).

Students

1 #

Bragging Rights

TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION / WALL STREET JOURNAL W&L students ranked us among the nation’s top liberal arts institutions on several key factors:

#1 it’s worth the cost #6 choosing W&L again #9 inspired by classmates GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY CENTER ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE

$1.83 million

is the 40-year net present value of a W&L education, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. W&L ranked third among more than 200 liberal arts peers.

The net present value of attending a liberal arts college is 25% higher than at other types of institutions.

—Above the Law

A View From the Hill

45

The financial return on a W&L education is especially outstanding considering that no family pays the full cost of educating their child here, thanks to the support provided by our endowment and annual giving.

46

Washington and Lee University

Section 4

foundation for the future OVER THE CENTURIES, W&L HAS BEEN A CAREFUL STEWARD OF ITS RESOURCES. THE UNIVERSITY’S FUNDAMENTAL ASSETS —— OUR PEOPLE, OUR CAMPUS, AND OUR FINANCIAL STRENGTH —— ARE THE KEY TO FULFILLING OUR EDUCATIONAL MISSION. —Will Dudley

QA +

A CONVERSATION WITH

Steve McAllister

Vice President for Finance and Administration, University Treasurer Steve McAllister joined the staff at

W&L in 1993 as assistant treasurer and served in various positions in financial administration before being appointed vice president for finance and treasurer in 2002. In that role, he oversees the Business Office, Human Resources, Auxiliary Services,

48

Washington and Lee University

Facilities Management and Capital Planning, Information Technology Services, Budget and Financial Planning, Investment Support, and Energy Management and Conservation. He received his M.B. A. from Lynchburg College and his B. A. in economics from Roanoke College.

Fiscal Fitness endowment play in the university’s success moving forward?

For the past six years, the income that has been generated by our endowment has surpassed tuition revenue in our annual operating budget. Endowment currently accounts for 43% of our annual operating costs while tuition payments account for 38%. The combination of endowment revenue and annual giving pays for nearly half of everything the university does, enabling us to provide an intensely personal educational experience that connects accomplished teacher-scholars with talented students in pursuit of the university’s mission.

Q. How much of our endowment do we spend annually —— and why don’t we spend even more?

Our endowment has existed for centuries and supports both current and future generations of students and faculty.

The current value of our endowment is in excess of $2.09 billion, which includes almost $600 million in trusts held by others. Each year we spend up to 5% of the total — a cap that is based on our expectation that the endowment will earn 5% above inflation in the long run.

The cap enables us to spend as much as we can on the education of current students without diminishing the real value of the endowment for future generations. We use a spending formula that smooths spending through periods of market volatility, so our payout rate in any given year fluctuates between roughly 4 and 5%.

Q. What is the endowment’s impact on the cost of a W&L education?

W&L spends about $71,000 a year per student in educational expenses while our

price is just under $58,000 in tuition.

The endowment and spendable gifts cover that $13,000 gap between the true educational cost and our price.

That means every family, including those paying full tuition, receives a discount because of the endowment.

Endowment income also provides additional financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants for families unable to pay full tuition. That’s why W&L is consistently on lists of best values in college education — we are one of fewer than 20 colleges and universities that promise to meet 100% of our undergraduate students’ demonstrated need without requiring student loans.

Q. What are the main goals of the Strategic Plan, and what will it cost?

The 2018 Strategic Plan includes several initiatives that will require additional endowment funds, which is typical.

Through the Honor Our Past, Build Our Future campaign, which ended in 2015, we received $330 million in new endowment. Those funds were used to support priorities that had been identified in the 2007 Strategic Plan. Our current plan includes aspirations to become need-blind in admissions, which will enable W&L to evaluate every applicant based entirely on the student’s talent and qualifications without considering the family’s ability to pay. We are also looking to build endowments that allow for greater curricular innovation and enhancement, as well as ensure that every student can pursue internships, research opportunities and other co-curricular experiences that enhance their classroom education. Beyond these, we hope to raise funds to expand and renovate the Williams School and the Science Center, augment rehearsal spaces for the performing arts, construct a center for admissions and financial aid, and create a museum of institutional history.

Q. Why do costs grow faster than inflation at colleges and universities?

Inflation is a measure of the price change of a static good. But a W&L education has been far from static. Enhancing the curriculum, expanding co-curricular activities, and meeting the needs of today’s students require ever-greater investment in people.

Ours is a people-intensive business, and the majority of W&L people have highly specialized skill sets. We pride ourselves on the interpersonal relationships and experiences that students have on this campus.

Q. From your perspective, what are some of the biggest opportunities for the university moving forward?

Two opportunities are in the areas of financial aid and sustainability.

Through the careful stewardship of our endowment resources and the generous philanthropic support we continue to receive, it is realistic for us to aspire to give an even greater number of talented students with financial need the chance to attend W&L. Achieving our goal of becoming need-blind in admissions, while continuing to meet 100% of demonstrated need without expecting students to take out loans, will place W&L among a very small group of institutions leading the way on affordable access to high-quality education.

Our updated Climate Action Plan lays out some exciting opportunities to expand the many important sustainability initiatives that are underway on campus.

We hope to eliminate nearly half of our emissions through a renewable energy partnership and to dramatically reduce or eliminate single-use plastics. We’ve seen substantial cost savings through the careful implementation of our sustainability programs over the past decade, as well as significant reductions in energy consumption and waste. n A View From the Hill

49

Future

Q. What role does the university

Meeting Student Need

Access and Affordability W&L is one of only 20 colleges in the country that meets 100% of each student’s demonstrated need through grants and student employment — without requiring students to take out loans. In other words, we make sure every student who is admitted to W&L can afford to attend.

{

Average Family Contribution Toward Total Cost of Attendance by income, Class of 2025

INCOME RANGE

}

CONTRIBUTION

RECEIVES AWARD

$0-$29,999

$1,703

100%

$30,000-$59,999

$2,976

100%

$60,000-$89,999

$7,270

100%

$90,000-$119,999

$13,686

100%

$120,000-$149,999

$16,593

100%

$150,000-$189,999

$28,439

100%

$190,000-$249,999

$41,584

90%

$250,000-$349,999

$61,536

73%

$350,000-$500,000

$74,615

31%

Note: The amount that families are asked to contribute is scaled to their income.

Families with complex financial situations sometimes have contributions that fall above or below the average for their income range. Total cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, room, board, books and materials, travel, and personal expenses.

50

Washington and Lee University

BY THE NUMBERS

57% first-year

students receiving grants

from the university

$56,979 financial aid award

(on average) for members of the Class of 2025

$49 m awarded in

need-based financial aid

annually

10%

students in each incoming class awarded Johnson Scholarships (Including full tuition, room, and board, and as much as $7,000 to support internships, community-service projects, faculty-supervised research, international experiences, and leadership projects during the summer.)

financial aid & scholarships NEED-BLIND ADMISSIONS While W&L already offers generous and competitive financial aid to admitted students, a family's ability to afford the cost of a W&L education is still a factor in about 10% of our undergraduate admissions decisions.

To compete successfully for the most talented students, we are committed to becoming need-blind in admissions while maintaining our policy of meeting full need without requiring loans –making us one of just 12 colleges in the nation to do so.

LAW SCHOLARSHIPS In the current highly competitive market for legal education, sufficient scholarship resources are necessary to attract students of the highest caliber. W&L Law prides itself on providing a cutting-edge legal education within a close-knit community and on the reputation of its alumni in professional circles.

We aspire to offer additional scholarships to attract and support law students who possess exceptional academic and personal promise.

W&L’s gateway The Admissions and Financial Aid offices are the front door for prospective students. We plan to build a new Admissions and Financial Aid Center, located strategically near Lexington’s historic downtown, to facilitate interviews, tours, and group information sessions, while incorporating much-needed conference room spaces at the university.

0 ZERO DOLLARS. THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF TUITION CHARGED TO UNDERGRADUATES

from families with incomes below $125,000 and typical assets — thanks to the W&L Promise.

We Partner to Promote Success

we have developed partnerships with community-based organizations to assist in our efforts to identify underrepresented and first-generation students with an interest in W&L. These national partnerships include: Questbridge: A national nonprofit that matches the nation’s most exceptional,

low-income youth with 45 of the nation’s leading colleges and universities.

W&L has expanded its QuestBridge commitment by 67% since 2018. We now enroll 20 QuestBridge Scholars annually.

College Greenlight: A free national college and scholarship search tool for first-

generation and underrepresented students, their schools, and community organizations.

The American Talent Initiative: A growing alliance of more than 120 top colleges

and universities dedicated to substantially expanding opportunity and access for low- and moderate-income students. n A View From the Hill

51

Future

STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

Sustainability

Washington and Lee’s Green Initiatives In 2007, we joined the national Campus Climate Commitment, pledging to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Guided by our Climate Action Plan, which was adopted in 2010 and updated in 2019, we have made measurable progress toward reducing negative environmental impacts and cultivating an environmentally aware and responsible campus community.

42 reduction

00

IN GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS SINCE ’07 52

Washington and Lee University

DATA DIGEST $8.4 m

costs avoided through the university’s Energy Education Program over the past decade

121,370

pounds of dining waste composted by the 29 students on the university’s Compost Crew in 2020

617,979

MMBTUs energy usage avoided through the university’s Energy Education Program over the past decade

No.1

energy efficiency in 2021 EPA Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative

No.2

water usage efficiency in 2021 EPA Higher Education Benchmarking Initiative

1,508

kWH reduction in monthly electrical usage after installing LED lighting in the Davidson Park parking area, alone LED lighting is also in use in the Science Center, Lewis Hall, the Harte Center, Elrod Commons, Hillel House, Watt Field, all sororities, the parking garage, and all outside campus lighting.

Our sustainability initiatives have garnered national recognition, including a silver ranking from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and inclusion in the Sierra Club’s list of Cool Schools, as well as the Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Schools.

STRATEGIC SPOTLIGHT

W&L is committed to having all of our new projects certified at a standard of U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver or higher.* l

We are actively exploring a renewable energy partnership to address our total electricity load at Washington and Lee, which will eliminate approximately 47% of our emissions. l

Future

going forward The university has begun work to eliminate single-use plastic in all of our campus retail operations and to expand the number of electric vehicles in the university’s fleet. l

*or an equivalent independent third-party certification standard

A View From the Hill

53

Financial Report

A Timeless Trust With our endowment at an all-time peak, a strong credit rating, and the highest annual giving ever in the past four out of five years, W&L is well-positioned to advance our ambitious Strategic Plan. We are committed to meeting the needs and expectations of today’s students and families — international programs, internships, modern science labs, information technology, health and counseling services — and to delivering the highest quality education as efficiently as possible.

$158 MILLION

Raised to date in support of the Strategic Plan adopted in 2018

54

Washington and Lee University

A MARK OF STRENGTH

$19.5 MILLION

Total commitments from July 1 to Dec. 31, 2021, 41% above the same period last year and 20% above our nine-year average for the first half of the fiscal year. This year’s total surpasses the amount raised during the same period in the final year of the Honor Our Past, Build Our Future Campaign.

ENDOWMENT VALUE

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 0M

.3 M

.6 M

.9 M

1.2 M

1.5 M

1.8 M

2.1 M

Endowment per student

1.2 M

Value of endowment (June 30, 2021)

ENDOWMENT PER STUDENT

1M

TOP 25

.8 M

$2.09 billion

.6 M

.4 M

$958,800

.2 M

20 19 20 20 20 21

TOTAL ANNUAL FUND DOLLARS, 2001-2021 $12M

$10M

$8M

$6M

$4M

$2M

20 21

20 17

3 20 1

20 09

5 20 0

20 01

0

Sustaining Momentum: In the last campaign, the Annual Fund grew from $6 million per year to $10 million per year, a milestone first achieved in 2015. Thanks to the generosity of alumni and parents, the Annual Fund reached $10 million six years in a row, with 2017-2020 being the four best Annual Fund results in the university’s history. The fund was down 10% in 2021, a significantly better result than expected given the pandemic and discussion of the university’s name.

At the halfway point of the 2021-22 Annual Fund year, total commitments were 10% higher than last year.

71%

Increase in endowment per student in last 10 years

Future

7

8 20 1

6

5

20 1

20 1

4

20 1

3

20 1

20 1

20 1

2

0

Endowment per student among all colleges and universities

A View From the Hill

55

Financial Report EXPENDITURES PER STUDENT

UNIVERSITY OPERATING REVENUES, 2021-22 $178.4 MILLION

Ratings by Moody’s and S&P

Auxiliaries

Gifts and Grants

2016

Aa2 and AA:

12%

2017

10%

EXPENSES PER STUDENT

2018

2019

41%

37%

Endowment Payout

Net Tuition

Supplies and Services

18.4%

K

$6

$8 0

0K

0K $4

$0

K

$2 0K

2020

W&L Educational Expenditure per Student

W&L Total Expenditure per Student

Top 25 Educational Expenditure per Student

Top 25 Total Expenditure per Student

For the fiscal year 2020, W&L spent $3,300 more per student on educational expenditures while spending $9,500 less in total expenditures on average than those in the top 25.

Sustained by philanthropy Endowment earnings and annual gifts account for 53% of our annual operating revenue while tuition and fees provide 37%.

$71,257 Costs

PRICE & COSTS-UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATIONAL AND GENERAL Value added: W&L charges less than it costs to educate our students. Even families paying full tuition receive a substantial subsidy from the endowment.

Families eligible for financial aid receive additional discounts.

Facilities Costs

14.2%

$58,260 Sticker price

$25,194 Net price

Personnel Costs

67.4%

Spending on what matters: W&L has the third-lowest ratio of administrative costs to educational expenditures among the country’s top 25 liberal arts colleges, spending 32% less than the median of the group.

ADMINISTRATIVE COST RATIO

06 .5 .4 .3 .2 .1

n Ha ard v of erfo Ri r ch d m on Po d Sw mo na ar th m or e Va ss ar M ea Bo n w do in M ed ia Co n lg a Am te he W rst el le sl ey Co W lo ill ia ra m do Co s lle ge Sm ith Ba t Ha es Ha mil t rv on ey M ud d W &L Ca rle to W n es le ya n

by Co l

iv er si

ty

Ba r

ll ds on

Da vi

ne in

Gr

Un

Cl

ar em

on tM

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0

56

Washington and Lee University

People intensive: Two-thirds of W&L’s annual operating budget goes to compensating the faculty and staff who teach and support our students.

204 W. Washington St. Lexington, VA 24450-2116 www.wlu.edu

a report from president will dudley

Spring 2022