Washington Adventist University Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Accelerated Evening Degree Program
Among the first to offer programs designed to accommodate working adults
Takoma Park, Md. (May 1, 2015) Washington Adventist University (WAU) faculty, staff and alumni recently gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the university’s accelerated evening degree program – one of the first adult evening programs in the nation — and to pay tribute to its founder, Gladstone Gurubatham, Ph.D. — one of Washington Adventist University’s longest-serving faculty members with 50 years of service. He continues to teach psychology courses in both the traditional day program and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Gurubatham was presented with an award at the April 9 event, which took place during the university’s annual Alumni Weekend. He was honored for designing and launching the evening program at what was then known as Columbia Union College. Although Gurubatham’s proposal for the program was not immediately embraced by the Board of Trustees at the time, it was approved after the third presentation of the proposal and considerable effort by Gurubatham, who is a self-described life-learner and strong supporter of adult education.
Thirty years ago, Gurubatham saw opportunity in the confluence of university’s empty classrooms in the evening and the lack of convenient educational opportunities for working adults. He proposed an evening program that offered undergraduate degrees in business administration, psychology and organizational management. Thirty-five students registered for classes in that first session, and the programs enabled students to earn a degree in 18 months with once-a-week evening or Sunday classes and accelerated six-week sessions.
Over the years, the evening program has grown to become what is now WAU’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS), offering eight graduate programs and 11 accelerated undergraduate programs. In addition, online classes have been added, and two of the master’s programs are now offered fully online.
From the initial 35 students, participation has expanded to the record number of graduate students enrolled last fall, 181, reflecting a 67 percent increase in the number of graduate students just five years ago.
“It’s nice that so many working adults in the Washington metropolitan area are discovering the convenience and accessibility of the classes, and the caring and supportive environment that we offer,” said Nicole Currier, dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. “We intentionally take a holistic approach to education that nurtures mind, body and spirit, which is something that most busy adults value, particularly those who are earning their degrees while holding full-time jobs and raising families.”
Gurubatham earned his Ph.D. in geoscience education and psychology from Catholic University of America, and he holds three master’s degrees – one each from Catholic University, University of Michigan, and Andrews University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Spicer Memorial College in Aundh, Pune, India, and is an honorary alumnus of Washington Adventist University.
A licensed professional counselor, Gurubatham is nationally certified as a crisis intervener and addictions specialist. He is also a licensed professional Diplomate of the American Academy of Health Care Providers in Addiction Disorders, American Academy of Pain Management, and a member of the American Society of Behavioral Medicine. Gurubatham teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in psychopathology, health psychology, group therapy and individual counseling, along with sociology and geography.
The first session of SGPS summer classes begins the week of May 10, and it’s not too late to register. For more information, call 301-891-4092. The SGPS office is open Mondays through Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Information about the degree programs is available on the SGPS website.
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Washington Adventist University is Montgomery County’s only four-year private college. Part of the Seventh-day Adventist system of higher education, Washington Adventist University has been educating college students since 1904 on a 19-acre campus in suburban Takoma Park, close to the nation’s capital. A total of 1,100 students of all faiths participate in the university’s eight graduate and 32 undergraduate programs. The 2014 edition of U.S. News & World Report ranked Washington Adventist University among the best regional colleges in the north.
Media Contacts:
Angie Crews, 301-891-4134, acrews@wau.edu
Donna Bigler, 240-286-1169, dbigler@wau.edu