WASHINGTON COLLEGE

Established in 1782, Washington College is a coeducational liberal arts and sciences college in historic Chestertown (Chapter 8, Acts of April Session 1782). Unlike many other institutions of a similar vintage, Washington College has remained committed to the primacy of the liberal arts. The College offers 24 majors in the liberal arts and sciences and supplements its core curriculum with internships and research projects, special programs in environmental science and public affairs, and opportunities for student involvement as volunteers within the community. The College also has a literary press, a forum for guest speakers, and lecture series bringing noted writers and other public figures to campus.

Washington College may be best known for its Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest undergraduate literary prize in the nation, awarded to the graduating senior who shows the most promise for a literary career. The College also has earned national recognition for its sophisticated academic computing program that features a campuswide network, direct access to the Internet, an on-line library catalog, and the State's first totally electronic classroom.

Graduate degrees in psychology, history, and English, and accreditation courses for teachers are offered by the College. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and the American Chemical Society.

The College is governed by a board of thirty-seven members named The Visitors and Governors of Washington College in the State of Maryland. The Governor appoints twelve members. Alumni of the College elect twelve additional members, and the Board of Visitors and Governors itself chooses another twelve. Elected by the Board, the final member is the College President. Members serve six-year terms (Chapter 594, Acts of 1986).