University enjoy the benefits of a liberal arts
college dedicated to undergraduate teaching and
academic exploration as well as the benefits of a
major research university engaged in cutting-edge,
knowledge-creating pursuits. Faculty are at the
forefront of the humanities, social sciences and
natural sciences and are truly committed to their
academic vocations and to their students.
Washington University's professional schools
provide countless opportunities to become more
creative in both classroom and research pursuits.
Life outside the classroom or lab offers rich
opportunities for various extra-curricular
activities. Our physical location and proximity to
Clayton, University City, the Central West End,
and Forest Park allows big-city amenities in
a suburban setting.
for the combination of faculty quality and
accessibility; for the ease of exploring multiple
academic majors; and for the opportunities
afforded by our education. the quality of life
at Washington University is high.
been a time of prosperity for arts & Sciences.
Undergraduate applications have increased
significantly, and the students who enroll are
in recruiting excellent faculty members who are
dedicated not only to imparting knowledge, but to
creating it as well. this distinguished faculty has
led to more selective graduate student admissions.
best institutions for students and faculty, but we
are also challenged by the environment in which
we now find ourselves. Within this context, the
time is right for us to move forward with a new
plan and with new ambitions.
issues as part of Washington University's
comprehensive Plan for Excellence, which provided
a broad framework for initial discussions.
We gathered information from: the task Force
on Graduate Education, departmental and
programmatic analyses, faculty meetings and
electronic communications, and in brainstorming
sessions with the academic Planning Committee,
department chairs, program and center directors,
students, administrative staff and the
arts & Sciences National Council.
exceLLeNT fAcuLTy.
must attract scholars who are the best in their field
and who hold the greatest potential for creating
knowledge that will transform the world. to that
end, we must be able to recruit outstanding young
scholars to tenure track positions and attract more
senior, proven academicians who value the unique
learning environment we offer here. Once at
Washington University, we must be able to retain
these faculty members.
ouTsTANdING sTudeNTs.
mission. We have made noteworthy strides in
attracting over 14,000 undergraduate applications
each year in arts & Sciences, with the admission
rate in 2006-07 being 16%. however, our pursuit
of the world's most accomplished students
(undergraduate and graduate) is increasingly
difficult. We must attract an ever-stronger and
diverse applicant pool and provide compelling
reasons for them to matriculate each fall.
AcAdemIc ProGrAms.
plinarity: beside a range of traditional academic
departments, we offer exciting programs that
create intellectual synergy at the intersection of
disciplines. We must continue to build on these
programs, and envision new opportunities, as we
maximize our close physical and intellectual
proximity to the other Danforth Campus schools
and the School of medicine.
Our last planning effort occurred over a decade ago. the Project 21 plan (approved in 1995) served as the
catalyst for arts & Sciences to substantially improve its facilities, its personnel and its scholarly profile.
It guided decision-making and academic priority assessment. as a result, we operate in 2008 from a position
of strength, both on the Danforth Campus and in the broader context of american research universities.
Several elements from our Project 21 report remain essential for current planning. three enduring values
remain a focus.