Washburn University facts for kids
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Former names
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Lincoln College (1865–1868) Washburn College (1868–1941) Washburn Municipal University (1941–1952) |
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| Motto | Non Nobis Solum (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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"Not for Ourselves Alone" |
| Type | Public university |
| Established | February 6, 1865 |
| Accreditation | HLC |
| Endowment | $155.3 million (2020) |
| President | JuliAnn Mazachek |
| Provost | John Fritch |
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Academic staff
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1,000 |
| Students | 5,663 (fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 4,930 (fall 2023) |
| Postgraduates | 733 (fall 2023) |
| Location |
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United States
39°02′02″N 95°41′56″W / 39.033786°N 95.698975°W |
| Campus | Midsize city, 160 acres (0.65 km2) |
| Colors | Yale Blue and White |
| Nickname | Ichabods |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II – The MIAA |
| Mascot | The Ichabod |
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Washburn University (WU), also known as Washburn University of Topeka, is a public university in Topeka, Kansas. It offers many different study programs. Students can earn bachelor's degrees and advanced degrees. The university also has special programs for law and business.
About 5,000 undergraduate students attend Washburn. Around 700 graduate students also study there. Since 2008, Washburn University has also helped oversee the nearby Washburn Tech.
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History of Washburn University
Washburn University started in Topeka, Kansas, in February 1865. It was first called "Lincoln College." The state of Kansas and local churches helped create it. The land for the college was given by John Ritchie, who was against slavery.
How Washburn Got Its Name
The school changed its name to "Washburn College" in 1868. This happened after Ichabod Washburn promised to donate $25,000. Ichabod Washburn was a church leader and a successful businessman. He also believed in ending slavery. He lived in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Washburn College used a design similar to the Washburn family's old family symbol. They changed the colors to match the school's colors. Now, the university uses a stylish "W" as its main symbol. However, the school's mascot, "The Ichabod," is still used today.
The Ichabod Mascot
"The Ichabod" mascot honors Ichabod Washburn, who helped the school a lot. For many years, "The Ichabod" was just a name. Then, in 1938, a former student named Bradbury Thompson created the mascot's look. It's a smart-looking figure wearing a tailcoat.
The university's sports teams are called the "Ichabods." For a long time, only the men's teams used this name. But since the 2013–14 school year, all women's teams also use the "Ichabods" nickname.
Important Moments in Washburn's Past
In 1913, the medical department at Washburn College closed. Before it closed, there was a big public concern. It was discovered that some bodies used for learning about the human body had been taken from local cemeteries without permission. This caused a lot of trouble. The governor even called in state troops to protect the school.
During World War II, Washburn Municipal University helped the country. It was one of many colleges that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program. This program helped students become officers in the Navy.
On June 8, 1966, a powerful tornado hit Topeka. It destroyed much of the Washburn campus. Many trees were also lost. Luckily, the university had recently insured all its buildings. Just one week after the tornado, summer classes started again at Topeka West High School. It took several years to rebuild the campus. Students had to attend classes in temporary buildings until the early 1970s.
Washburn used to be funded mainly by city property taxes. In 1999, its main funding changed to county sales tax. The university is still a public part of the state. A special group called the Board of Regents manages Washburn.
How Washburn University is Run
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Washburn University is managed by a group of nine people called the Board of Regents. Three members are chosen by the governor of Kansas. Three members are chosen by the mayor of Topeka. One member is the mayor or someone chosen by the mayor. The Shawnee County Commission chooses one member. Finally, the Kansas Board of Regents chooses one of its own members to join the board each year. Most members serve for four years.
University Presidents
Here are the people who have led Washburn College, Washburn Municipal University, and Washburn University over the years:
| Title | Name | Years |
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| Horatio Q. Butterfield | 1869–1870 | |
| Peter McVicar | 1871–1895 | |
| George M. Herrick | 1896–1901 | |
| Norman Plass | 1902–1908 | |
| Frank Knight Sanders | 1908–1914 | |
| Parley P. Womer | 1915–1931 | |
| Philip C. King | 1931–1941 | |
| Arthur G. Sellen | 1941–1942 | |
| Bryan S. Stoffer | 1942–1961 | |
| Harold E. Sponberg | 1961–1965 | |
| John W. Henderson | 1965–1980 | |
| John L. Green | 1981–1988 | |
| John Duggan | 1988 | |
| Robert L. Burns | 1988–1990 | |
| Hugh L. Thompson | 1990–1997 | |
| Jerry Farley | 1997–2022 | |
| Marshall Meek | 2022–2023 | |
| JuliAnn Mazachek | 2023–present | |
| 15 presidents; 3 interims | 154 years | |
Washburn Law School
The Washburn School of Law started in 1903. It was one of the first law schools to have a "legal clinic." This means students could practice law in real situations. The Washburn Law Library has over 380,000 books and is the biggest in Kansas. Famous people who went to Washburn Law include Bob Dole, Roy Wilford Riegle, Dennis Moore, Kay McFarland, and Bill Kurtis.
Washburn Athletics
The sports teams at Washburn are called the Ichabods. The university is part of NCAA Division II. This is a group of colleges that compete in sports. Washburn mainly plays in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). They have been part of the MIAA since the 1989–90 school year.
Washburn has 16 different sports teams. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track & field. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
The Ichabods Nickname
The "Ichabods" nickname comes from Ichabod Washburn, who helped start the university. He also founded another school called Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Before the 2013–14 season, the women's sports teams were called the "Lady Blues." On May 24, 2013, the university president announced that all sports teams would be known as the Ichabods. This was the first time in history that all teams shared the same nickname.
Student Life at Washburn
| Race and ethnicity | Total | ||
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| White | 62% |
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| Hispanic | 15% |
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| Black | 8% |
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| Two or more races | 7% |
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| International student | 5% |
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| Unknown | 2% |
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| American Indian/Alaska Native | 1% |
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| Asian | 1% |
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| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income | 37% |
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| Affluent | 63% |
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Greek Life
Washburn University has had Greek Life groups since 1909. These are social clubs called fraternities for men and sororities for women. There are several of these groups on campus.
Fun Places on Campus
- Crane Observatory has a very old telescope from 1898. It was made by Warner & Swasey Company.
- Mulvane Art Museum opened in 1924. It has a collection of art, especially by artists from Kansas and the Midwest.
- Walking Bods are seven cool steel sculptures. They were made by an artist named Barrett DeBusk.
Famous People Who Went to Washburn
