About
The Westminster Story
Westminster College was born January 21, 1852 in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, with an affiliation with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) from the very beginning. As one of the earliest coeducational colleges in the nation, Westminster was founded to promote the spirit and values of Christianity while focusing on the development of the individual – intellectually, spiritually, and socially – which still rings true today.
Westminster is proud of its heritage, and optimistic about its future. Serving the needs of students has enabled Westminster to become one of the nation’s finest liberal arts colleges.
Recognized for its high level presence, Westminster College is a top-tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 379 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President"s Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.
Presbyterian Heritage
Since its beginnings in 1852, Westminster College has been a church-related institution. We are related to the Presbyterian Church (USA) by covenant with the Synod of the Trinity which states: “Students at Westminster are enrolled in a college sustained through the decades by what was the United Presbyterian Church of North America. This heritage has at its core those ideals exemplified by Jesus Christ. Today the College strives continually to understand and express the relationship between its religious heritage and the liberal arts ideals and values in ways relevant to a rapidly changing world. Westminster embraces the whole church with its many traditions and the human race in its diversity. The College is open to the moral and spiritual character of different religious traditions and resolves to continue its participation in both ecumenical and interfaith endeavors." Covenant Agreement with Synod of the Trinity, 2008.
Westminster Traditions
Faculty Gauntlet
Each year at opening convocation, students catch a glimpse into their future academic world by proceeding through the Westminster Faculty Gauntlet — a lineup of Westminster leaders on both sides of a walkway, hundreds of people long. Four years pass by and those same proud faces are cheering in the lineup as students proceed through the gantlet once again on graduation day.
The Rock
The Westminster Rock is located in front of Brittain Lake, adjacent to the Amphitheater. Covered with hundreds of layers of paint and memoirs, the Rock symbolizes a frontline for campus organizations to claim their campus fame.
Opening Doors
Westminster College is a community of door openers. Metaphorically…and literally. Years ago, it was noticed by a member of the Board of Directors that every time he approached a building throughout campus, a student or an employee would go out of their way to open the door for him. Stepping on Westminster’s campus, you'll immediately witness this tradition of civility.
The Duff-Armington Memorial Carillon
The Westminster College Carillon originated as a twelve bell chime in 1935. Since that time, the instrument has been expanded to include forty-two bells. As of November 2016, the campus now also has a Student Guild of Carillonneurs, whose goal is to promote the instrument and keep a regular ringing schedule of the bells.
