Some of the information provided is introductory; please check the Student Handbook for details.
ACADEMIC LIFE AT WAU
Academic Advising
Each student is assigned an adviser who will assist in program planning and scheduling of courses from semester to semester.
Academic Support Program
Washington Adventist University provides services for those students who may need to improve verbal, quantitative and reading skills. The goal is to enroll these students in appropriate developmental/remedial courses and to plan realistic schedules suited to their needs. Placement is made on the basis of ACT/SAT scores, secondary school performance and placement tests given before registration.
Career Counseling
Career counseling is provided by the Betty Howard Center for Student Success.
Computer Facilities
Computer facilities for word processing are located in the Betty Howard Center for Student Success, in the Weis Library, the residence halls and in the computer labs. Access to the Internet is also available in the computer labs. The campus is fully equipped with Wi-Fi capabilities to facilitate individuals with computing devices.
FYE: First-Year Experience
All new students with less than 30 credit hours of college credit are expected to enroll in INTD 105 - First-Year Experience .
The FYE program begins during the week of New Student Orientation each semester (see ACADEMIC CALENDAR ) and continues as a class for the first semester a student enrolls. Co-curricular activities continue throughout the student’s entire first year. The program is designed to assist students in their adjustment to university life.
Opportunities are provided for students to engage with the community, become familiar with the campus learning resources, meet the faculty and staff, form social bonds with their peers, be celebrated on their achieved milestones, and get to know the campus facilities and surrounding area. All first-year students are required to attend and pass the class. Students who fail the FYE course must register for the course the following semester and must repeat it until they receive a passing grade.
Honor Societies
The Betty Howard Center for Student Success is the home of Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Chi national honor societies. The Center for Student Life is the home of Omicron Delta Kappa and SALUTE national honor societies. See NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETIES for names and descriptions.
Professional School Recruitment
Appointments with graduate and professional school recruiters are made through the Betty Howard Center for Student Success.
Tutoring
Tutoring is coordinated and managed for the individual programs and departments by the Betty Howard Center for Student Success.
Weis Library
Weis Library supports the learning community of Washington Adventist University by providing information resources and services for students, faculty, and staff that sustain excellence in education and service.
The library offers 24/7 on- and off-campus access to more than 800,000 information resources through its online database subscriptions, including scholarly journals, streaming media, and over 700,000 e-books. The library website provides additional tools for identifying and locating information resources, including the library catalog, library orientations, and multidisciplinary research guides. Library staff also conduct orientation and instruction sessions upon request.
Students, faculty, and staff can access library resources, services, and support in person, by phone or email - library@wau.edu - and on the library website. The library is typically open at least 40 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. Current operating hours are always posted on the library website.
Weis Library is a member of OCLC, a cooperative that includes over 16,000 libraries around the world. Through this membership, the library can request books, articles, and other resources through interlibrary loans on behalf of students, faculty and staff from a network of hundreds of libraries throughout the United States.
DAILY LIFE AT WAU
Dining
To promote and support student health and wellness, WAU operates a completely plant-based-dining service during the school year, located on the second floor of Wilkinson Hall. The dining hall is a center of social life and community at the university and service by the dining hall staff is available for the many student and faculty social functions. Meeting facilities are available for various student or faculty organizations. A shortened schedule is maintained during most breaks. Hours are posted at the dining facility and in the Student Handbook.
Health Services
The university is concerned for the health and well-being of each student. All WAU students have free access to virtual health services 24/7 through WAU Telehealth if you log in using your WAU email address.
Students may contact a physician for physical health needs and/or a counselor for emotional/mental health concerns. WAU Telehealth is powered by Uwill and can be accessed by going to https://app.uwill.com :
The deadline to submit a record of vaccinations and to show proof of insurance or to sign a waiver for the fall semester is September 30 and the deadline for the spring semester is January 31.
For detailed information regarding Health Services, please see the Student Handbook.
INFORMATION | Cindy Ming, Center for Student Life | cming@wau.edu | 301-891-4525
Mailroom
The mailroom is located just behind the University Bookstore. Students may send and receive USPS, UPS and FedEx mail and packages from the mailroom.
Married Student Housing
The university has available for rent a limited number of housing units for married students.
INFORMATION | Dacia Barnwell | dbarnwel@wau.edu | 301-891-4551
Personal Property Loss
The university cannot accept responsibility for any losses or damage to personal property of any student. It is highly recommended that students obtain personal insurance while enrolled at the university.
Recreation Facilities
WAU’s facilities include a gym, recreational room, weight room and outdoor turf athletic fields. All are free to students with a current WAU ID card.
Residence Halls
Morrison Hall (for men) and Halcyon Hall (for women) house students who live on campus. The university requires single students not living with their parents to reside in one of the residence halls if they are enrolled for six or more hours and are under 21 years of age.
Safety and Security
The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is of utmost importance to WAU. The Public Safety Department is manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to safeguard campus residents, property and facilities. It offers an array of services, including information on campus security and safety, security escort assistance and engraving of personal valuables as protection against theft. Details are outlined in the Student Handbook.
University Bookstore
The University Bookstore is located in the main lobby of Wilkinson Hall. The Bookstore sells textbooks, WAU clothing, gifts and souvenirs, snacks and beverages, stamps, over-the-counter medication and office and school supplies.
The Bookstore offers photocopying and faxing services as well.
RELIGIOUS LIFE AT WAU
Campus Ministries
Campus Ministries, located in the Center for Student Life, is a vital component of religious life on campus, serving as an umbrella organization for a number of prayer, study and service ministry opportunities, including praise services, preaching opportunities, discussion groups, talks by special guests, student-led worship experiences, health and music ministries, prayer breakfasts, traveling drama ministries and student mission trips.
Chaplain’s Office
A campus chaplain coordinates religious activities and spiritual support. Counseling is available to traditional students at no cost. Undergraduate students in the traditional programs may access UWill 24/7 for therapy or a referral for a variety of issues. Counseling and spiritual support are also available through the Chaplain’s Office. Please refer to the Student Handbook for details.
Religious Services
Religious activities and services are an important part of the life of the university. The university church, Sligo Seventh-day Adventist, is located on campus and students have access to many other churches within the metropolitan area.
Worship services for resident students and weekly convocation for the entire student body serve educational and religious purposes. They also provide an element of unity for the university family.
A Week in Spiritual Emphasis (W.I.S.E.) is conducted during the fall and spring semesters. Students are required to attend these special occasions that are designed to enrich and broaden their understanding of the world, its challenges and its opportunities.
Convocation and residence hall worship attendance policies are detailed in the Student Handbook.
SOCIAL LIFE AT WAU
Area Attractions and Entertainment
The Washington, D.C., area provides unparalleled opportunities for students to visit historical sites, monuments and museums. They are also able to experience world-class musical, theatrical and sporting events and enjoy outdoor recreation and national parks.
Campus-sponsored field trips and excursions are offered throughout the year. Access to Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia from the WAU campus is easily attained via public transportation.
Social Activities and Organizations
The university offers many clubs, organizations and honor societies to its student body, all with faculty/staff advisers. Students may organize and join associations to promote their common interests, goals and missions as long as they are compatible with the mission of WAU. Membership in campus clubs and organizations is open to all WAU students.
Campus organizations include the African Student Union, Black Student Union, Caribbean Student Union, ENACTUS Team, Filipino Student Union, International Student Association, Latino Student Union, Nursing Student Association, Pre-Law Club, Southern Asia Student Association and men’s and women’s clubs, as well as associations and clubs for premedical/preprofessional, music, and religion students.
Nationally recognized academic and honor societies have active chapters on the WAU campus.
Detailed information on how to join these organizations is outlined in the Student Handbook.
Student Association
The Student Association (SA) organizes social and religious activities and represents students’ concerns to the university administration. Every WAU student taking six hours or more per semester is automatically a member of the SA. Information on leadership opportunities within SA is provided throughout the school year.
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