Waynesburg University

Waynesburg College was a result of combining two existing educational institutions, Greene Academy and Madison College. The Greene Academy was founded in 1810 to open education to students with limited means. Connected to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the Greene Academy had a focus on teaching those who wanted to engage in Christian ministry. Around the same time, Madison College was established in Uniontown, PA by the Methodist Church. The College was short lived, however, and by the 1830s Madison College was largely defunct. In 1838, three Cumberland Presbyterians ministers—John Morgan, A.M. Bryan, and Milton Bird—took over and reconstituted Madison College and it operated until 1846.

In April 1849, the Pennsylvania Presbytery decided to establish a new college and organized a committee of Rev. J.H.D. Henderson, General Jesse Lazar, and Samuel Moredock, Esq. to choose an appropriate location. The men chose Waynesburg, PA and named Greene Academy’s Rev. Joshua Loughran as the new college’s first president. Classes began in September 1849 in the Hayes Building (at High and Washington Streets). Waynesburg College was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 25, 1850 and later that year began construction on the first campus building, Hanna Hall. Also in 1850, a Female Seminary connected to the college began holding classes in the Baptist Church. Waynesburg was one of the first two colleges in Pennsylvania to grant degrees to women and offer coeducational services. Construction of Hanna Hall was complete in autumn of 1851 and Waynesburg College moved into their new building in November.

The Cumberland Presbyterians founded twelve colleges in the antebellum period, but Waynesburg College was the only one to survive the Civil War. After the Civil War enrollment increased, forcing the college to expand and start construction on their next campus building (Miller Hall).

In 1905, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church merged with the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America, connecting Waynesburg College with that larger church. Christian faith remains a large part of Waynesburg’s mission. Along with academics and faith, Waynesburg is highly committed to volunteer service. Students complete more than 50,000 service learning and community engagement hours per year and the university is one of 22 Bonner Schools in the United States. In 2007, Waynesburg College became Waynesburg University to allow for more growth and diversity of programs. 

“History.” Waynesburg University. Accessed April 21, 2021. https://www.waynesburg.edu/catalog/university/history.

“National Register of Historic Places Inventory: Nomination Form—Miller Hall.” Accessed April 21, 2021. https://gis.penndot.gov/CRGISAttachments/SiteResource/H000661_01H.pdf.

“Our Story.” Waynesburg University. Accessed April 21, 2021. https://www.waynesburg.edu/our-story.

Schackner, Bill. “Waynesburg losing ‘college,’ gaining university status.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 16, 2007. Accessed April 21, 2021. https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2007/08/16/Waynesburg-losing-college-gaining-university-status/stories/200708160377.