Weimar Institute becomes Weimar University

During graduation weekend May 14-16, leaders from Weimar Institute, a private college in Weimar previously offering associate and bachelor's degrees, unveiled the institution's official name change to Weimar University. The college was accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in 2019. The evaluation team commented on how the college incorporated wellness into its curriculum and especially recognized its community enhancement program, Total Community Involvement (TCI). In the two years since receiving WSCUC accreditation, the institution was approved for and then began offering a bachelor's degree in Nursing in August 2019 and a new graduate program in Counseling Psychology and Wellness in fall 2020. This MA has two tracks: Marriage and Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Counseling. This program is approved by WSCUC and California's Board of Behavioral Science for licensure of graduates who successfully meet the requirements. Another graduate level master's program, Biblical Mission and Wellness, was recently submitted to WSCUC for approval, and more graduate level programs are under consideration. Noting the institution's focus on physical and mental health and its expansion into graduate-level education, a WASC peer reviewer suggested the name change. After receiving student, faculty and staff input, the board of directors voted in December 2020 to change the name to Weimar University. Regarding the community enhancement aspect noted by WSCUC, Weimar University has run TCI, its weekly community service program, for four years. Every week, students and faculty assist individuals in the community who need help with yard work, de-cluttering, moving, health education, healthy cooking and other areas of life. Teams have given more than $2.5 million in free medical care and other services to the communities between and including Auburn and Colfax since TCI began. When COVID-19 protocols restricted the TCI teams from helping in person, students and faculty stayed in touch remotely. They also began work on a new community trail last semester. As COVID-19 restrictions eased, the trail was unveiled in March. For more information about TCI, visit https://tciweimar.com/. Weimar University's intentional and practical ways of serving its communities have also impacted its on-campus community. Students point to TCI as an integral part of their decision to attend Weimar University and subsequently stay. Increasing numbers of international students and students from out of state have come to the campus as a result. This diversity has helped create a unique global culture that filled the dorms to over capacity the past two years. While leaders purposefully maintain a small in-person student-to-faculty ratio to better nurture students, they have added online education in the past two years to meet the increased interest in the university's programs. Weimar Institute was founded in 1978. It's the former Weimar Sanitorium, a treatment center for tuberculosis in Placer County since 1919 and one of four such centers in the United States. "Though the name has changed, the vision remains the same, 'To Heal A Hurting World.' Its mission remains to provide higher education that is unapologetically Biblical and uncompromisingly scientific where students can learn hands-on with patients who have come to Weimar for healing to the NEWSTART™ program, Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program™ and the medical/dental clinics on campus," noted Neil Nedley, Weimar University president. Weimar University offers undergraduate majors in business management, education, health care administration, pre-professional natural science, nursing (associate and bachelor's programs), religion, theology and an interdisciplinary studies major with emphasis in psychology, education and/or music. Graduates of the pre-professional natural science program have been accepted to medical school, dental school, graduate-level engineering schools and other allied health fields. Its nursing program has been recognized as one of the top 50 nursing schools in California and among the top 100 nursing schools in an 11-state region by the Nursing Schools Almanac with a 96.6% NCLEX first-time pass rate. Additionally, a one-semester certificate program for health coaching, "Health Evangelism and Leadership Training for Him" (HEALTH), is available on campus and online. Weimar University also operates Weimar Academy, Weimar Natural Food Store, Weimar Inn, Weimar NEWSTART™ program and lodge, Weimar Cafeteria (a whole-food, plant-based food service), and Weimar Elementary. Weimar University faculty and students have published multiple abstracts and studies in peer-reviewed journals and have presented at several major universities, including Harvard, and multiple medical/health conferences. According to a campus climate survey this academic year, Weimar University has a 99% student satisfaction rate regarding educational quality. University leaders look forward to further growing this and other areas while mentoring young adults in improving their communities through wellness and service. For more information about Weimar University, go to www.weimar.edu.