Community

Washington and Lee enrolls students with exceptional academic ability who demonstrate outstanding leadership and character. Thanks to programs such as the Johnson Scholarship and the W&L Promise, the university meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. W&L seeks to grow endowments for scholarships in order to admit the strongest students every time, regardless of families’ financial circumstances.

• The Full W&L Experience: Student Opportunities
  While classroom excellence remains a hallmark of Washington and Lee, many students and alumni cite the university’s unparalleled opportunities as a defining part of their experience. Applying and reflecting upon one’s academic lessons in a real-world setting is invaluable and irreplaceable. Whether it is immersion in another culture and language, a rigorous internship or an eye-opening research opportunity alongside a faculty expert, we aspire to ensure that every student has access to the full W&L experience, regardless of their financial means.
• The Full W&L Experience: Office of Inclusion and Engagement Support
  The quality of higher education is determined in part by the variety of perspectives in classrooms, living spaces, performance halls and athletic arenas. The Office of Inclusion and Engagement (OIE) fosters a culture in which all members of the Washington and Lee community feel welcome to participate in everything that the university has to offer. This endowment will support the development of programs and initiatives that explore, promote and celebrate the increasingly diverse backgrounds of our students, faculty and staff.
• The Full W&L Experience: Career and Professional Development Enhancements
  Student engagement with the Office of Career and Professional Development (CPD) begins in a student’s first year and goes well beyond one-time appointments: it is an ongoing relationship between staff and undergraduate students that helps students discover, navigate and achieve their professional goals. CPD also helps young alumni as they transition into graduate school or new jobs. This endowment will support additional programs and staff so that CPD can continue to meet the demand for services as students graduate and maintain professional relationships with the office.
• The Full W&L Experience: Student Health and Counseling Services
  More than a third of first-year college students across the nation struggle with a mental health disorder. Between 25 and 30 percent of Washington and Lee’s student body, both undergraduate and law, use the university’s mental health services in any given year, and approximately 40 percent seek out services during their four years on campus. This endowment will help W&L meet the unprecedented demand for comprehensive, compassionate counseling services and promote a nurturing and supportive community for all.
• The Full W&L Experience: Academic Immersion and Mentoring (AIM) Initiative
  Since 2016, the Advanced Immersion and Mentoring (AIM) program has engaged incoming first-year students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in faculty-led summer research experiences and programming designed to strengthen their leadership potential. Connecting students with campus resources and introducing them to prospective career pathways early in their W&L experience promotes a sense of belonging and increases their success. Funds to support this program will allow AIM to continue nurturing talented students as they pursue majors across the curriculum.
• The Full W&L Experience: Outdoor Education Opportunities
  Beginning with the Appalachian Adventure Leading Edge backpacking trip for entering first-year students, the outdoor education program organizes more than 250 classes and adventures each year, from sunset hikes on House Mountain to kayaking on the Maury River. These programs introduce students, faculty and staff to the region’s natural beauty, connect them with nature through healthy recreation and spark lasting friendships. This endowment will support robust Outing Club programming and invest in the equipment and resources necessary for safe, enjoyable experiences that nurture well-being and create a lifelong affinity for the university.
• The Full W&L Experience: Leading Edge Pre-Orientation Program
  Leading Edge is at the beginning of first-year student orientation. The programs are small and inviting, a testament to the atmosphere of Washington and Lee. Leading Edge provides incoming first-year students with the opportunity to begin their college career with friends, a sense of community, sharpened teamwork skills and a memorable, meaningful and challenging experience. This endowment will support programs that engage students from the start of their undergraduate experience, emphasizing the community aspect of college life.
• The Full W&L Experience: Fall, Winter and Spring Term Study Abroad
  International study programs offer transformative educational benefits, enriching students’ academic lives. By immersing themselves in different cultures, students gain global perspectives that enhance their understanding of international issues and foster cross-cultural communication skills. These experiences cultivate adaptability, resilience and problem-solving abilities, highly valued in today’s interconnected world. Additionally, studying abroad encourages language acquisition and broadens intellectual horizons, often leading to improved academic performance and career prospects. Alumni support is crucial to sustaining and expanding these programs, ensuring more students have access to such valuable opportunities. By investing in international education, alumni help develop globally-minded graduates equipped to lead and innovate in an increasingly globalized society.

Washington and Lee is the only member of Old Dominion Athletic Conference that does not offer softball, one of the most popular sports in the country. Endowment funds to recruit a team and add coaching staff for W&L’s 25th varsity sport will enrich our overall athletic offerings and provide more opportunities for female student-athletes.