Washburn University is a four-year college in Topeka, Kansas. Washburn University also operates a law school.

Washburn University was established in February 1865 as Lincoln College by a charter issued by the State of Kansas and the General Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches of Kansas. The school was renamed Washburn College in 1868 after receiving a $25,000 donation by Ichabod Washburn, a church deacon and resident of Worcester, Massachusetts.

The school's mascot, the "Washburn Ichabod", is named after the university's benefactor and was drawn by noted graphic artist Bradbury Thompson when he was an undergraduate. Only the men's athletic teams use the Ichabods nickname; the school's women's teams are known as Lady Blues. Washburn is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, MIAA and The National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II, NCAA.

On 26 March 2005 the Washburn Lady Blues won the NCAA division II national basketball championship, defeating Seattle Pacific University 70-53. The 2004-2005 set the school record for wins, going 35-2 on the year.

Through the College of Arts and Sciences and Schools of Applied Studies, Business, Law and Nursing, the University's 7,350 students have access to over 190 programs of study.

Washburn is the last municipally chartered University in the country. Primary funding for the University is from a county-wide sales tax. Washburn operates public television station KTWU, Channel 11.

Institutional Partnerships with Washburn

• University of Orebro , Sweden
• Denmark International Studies Program, Denmark
• University of Klaagenfurt , Austria
• University of Cantabria , Spain
• Conahec, Canada and Mexico
• Magellan, Western Europe
• Blaise Pascal University , France
• Fukuoka University, Japan
• Zhejiang Normal University , China
• Cambridge University, England

Washburn sponsors English language programs in England, Denmark, Sweden, China, Japan, Belgium, Austria, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain..

Notable graduates

• Bradbury Thompson - graphic artist
• Bob Dole - politician, senator
• Dennis Moore - US House of Representatives.
• Bill Kurtis - television journalist and producer
• Larry Niven - Science Fiction Author

External link

• Washburn University Web Site
• Washburn University Law School