Despite a difficult start to the decade, Washburn University sees momentum toward 2030

Rafael Garcia, Topeka Capital-Journal
·4 min read

Stephanie Johnson couldn’t help but tear up as she helped her daughter Emma move her things into Washburn’s Living Learning Center residence hall.

“My baby girl is leaving me, but for a good thing,” Johnson said. “It’s her college education.”

Johnson and her husband had driven with Emma from Basehor, about an hour east, to the university residence hall, where Emma and her roommate had found a place they are confident they’ll be able to make a lot of memories.

“I never wanted to go to a big school,” Emma Johnson said. “I wanted a small-town, small school environment.”

The Johnsons are one of hundreds of families beginning college life for the first time at Washburn University this year.

Many of their freshman students moved into the residence halls this past week, and Washburn University president JuliAnn Mazachek said campus life is finally starting to feel mostly normal after the pandemic disruptions of the past three years.

“This is the first year since the fall of 2019 that we’re not talking extensively about masks and delivering education online,” Washburn University president JuliAnn Mazachek told The Capital-Journal. “We’re pretty much back to normal, and you can sense that. People are thrilled to be back and get an education like we always have provided.”

Washburn University president JuliAnn Mazachek laughs Thursday with student move-in crew members at The Villages. Mazachek went to the various residences around campus to talk with students and staff for her first move-in day in as president.
Washburn University president JuliAnn Mazachek laughs Thursday with student move-in crew members at The Villages. Mazachek went to the various residences around campus to talk with students and staff for her first move-in day in as president.

Washburn seeing some positive enrollment momentum in 2023

Washburn, like most other colleges and universities across Kansas, suffered drops in enrollment in recent years, as many more Kansas high school seniors opt against pursuing a college degree.

University officials said they can't yet share precise numbers on enrollment and other measures, citing state regulations on higher education.

But Mazachek said there’s reason to be optimistic based on broad, preliminary figures.

“We have more students living in our residence halls than we’ve had in many, many years,” she said. “We know that we have more student athletes than we’ve ever had before. We anticipate a positive impact from all of the scholarship programs we’ve implemented, and we’re excited about that.”

Washburn Move Crew members help facilitate students moving in to Lincoln Hall on Thursday morning by carrying items, helping them find resources and being friendly faces.
Washburn Move Crew members help facilitate students moving in to Lincoln Hall on Thursday morning by carrying items, helping them find resources and being friendly faces.

In May, Washburn announced a “momentous” scholarship program for local students. Under the Shawnee County Promise Scholarship program, students from low- to moderate-income backgrounds in Shawnee County are guaranteed virtually free tuition to Washburn, with the university picking up the tab for any remaining costs after other scholarships and grants are applied.

Specific numbers on Promise Scholarship recipients, like other enrollment data, won’t be available until later this fall. Historically, about half of Washburn students have been from Shawnee County.

More: Washburn University to guarantee free tuition for Shawnee County students, with conditions

Anecdotally, though, Mazachek said the program is making the biggest difference for students who need it the most.

“The thing that’s most exciting is that we’ve had a lot of interest from students who weren’t going to college in the first place — who thought that it would never be possible for them to achieve a dream they had,” Mazachek said. “I’m exciting to tell more of those stories later this fall.”

JuliAnn Mazachek has eyes set on Washburn in 2030

Now out of COVID’s shadow and under Mazachek’s leadership since February, Washburn is looking forward through a campaign to transform the university’s campus over the next seven years.

Officials in late July kicked off that plan with the opening of the long-planned and awaited Robert J. Dole Hall, which is the $33 million new home of the Washburn School of Law.

Extensive renovations, demolition and additions are coming for most of Washburn’s other buildings as well.

Mr. Ichabod gives a tip of his hat Thursday morning to those moving into the Living Learning Center at Washburn University.
Mr. Ichabod gives a tip of his hat Thursday morning to those moving into the Living Learning Center at Washburn University.

Beyond the university’s physical footprint, Washburn is also doubling down on student-support initiatives. As a local and municipal university, Washburn has historically had a teaching-first mission, with a goal of improving access particularly for first-generation students.

Last year, Washburn reached its highest-ever graduation rate. But Mazachek sees opportunity to grow that number, especially as Washburn begins to see more new students who dealt with most of their high school years in COVID.

More: Nearly half of Washburn students are first-generation. It's been a decade in the making.

“It’s exciting to be talking about the future again, and the possibilities, not just about how to make it through,” Mazachek said. “You can sense that energy on campus.”

Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at ‪785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Washburn University returns for 2023-24 school year