The University of the West (formerly known as Hsi Lai University, commonly known as UWest) is a university in Rosemead, California. The first Buddhist-funded university in the United States, it was founded in 1991 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, founder of the Taiwan-based Buddhist order Fo Guang Shan and Hsi Lai Temple. It moved from the Hsi Lai Temple complex in Hacienda Heights to its current location in 1996. The date of establishment or date of founding of an institution is the date on which that institution chooses to claim as its starting point. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... A private university is a university that is run without the control of any government entity. ... University President is the title of the highest ranking officer within a university, within university systems that prefer that appellation over other variations such as Chancellor or rector. ... For other uses, see Student (disambiguation). ... Location of Rosemead in California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1959-08-04 [2] Government  - Mayor John Tran[1] Area  - City  5. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... School colors are the colors chosen by a school to represent it on uniforms and other items of identification. ... The athletic nickname, or equivalently athletic moniker, of a university or college within the United States of America is the name officially adopted by that institution for at least the members of its athletic teams. ... The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. ... The Fo Guang Shan emblem, used by all FGS affilated branch temples and organizations. ... The Path To Buddhahood, linking both the Bodhisattva hall and the Main Shrine. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... Location of Rosemead in California Coordinates: Country United States of America State California County Los Angeles Incorporated (city) 1959-08-04 [2] Government  - Mayor John Tran[1] Area  - City  5. ... Statue of the Venerable Master Hsing Yun. ... The Fo Guang Shan emblem, used by all FGS affilated branch temples and organizations. ... The Path To Buddhahood, linking both the Bodhisattva hall and the Main Shrine. ... Hacienda Heights is an unincorporated census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, USA. As of the 2000 census, the community had a total population of 53,122. ...

History

View of campus

UWest is a private, non profit campus accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Although founded by a Buddhist organization, UWest is not a Buddhist college, which is a term typically used for monasteries or schools that train people for the monastic order. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 4779 KB) The campus of University of the West. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3072x2304, 4779 KB) The campus of University of the West. ...

UWest students are not required to subscribe to the Buddhist faith or practice Buddhism in any form. Indeed, UWest's undergraduate and graduate programs in Business Administration garner higher enrollment numbers than its undergraduate and graduate programs in Religious Studies. UWest's Religious Studies and Buddhist Studies Departments are world renowned and attract monastics and students of Buddhism from across the world.

President

Dr. Allen M. Huang was installed as President of University of the West on June 28, 2007. Dr. Huang left the position of Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs at University of Northern Colorado to take UWest's helm. Dr. Huang spent 29 years at UNC in many different capacities. His areas of specialization include leadership and management in higher education, development and management of grants and contracts, as well as issues and trends in special education. Dr. Huang is also editor of "New Waves: Educational Research and Development" and associate editor of "Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disorders." For more than 20 years, Dr. Huang has served on the National Council for Accreditation on Teacher Education and the U.S. Department of Education Grant Competition.

Dr. Huang graduated from Colorado State University with a post-doctoral degree in computer technology and education; and from the University of Alabama with an Ed.D. in special education.

Dr. Huang is the fifth UWest president. The first president of UWest was Venerable Master Hsing Yun, who founded the school in 1990. Venerable Hsing Yun was followed by presidents Nai-Chen Chen, Dr. Lewis Lancaster, Roger Schmidt and finally Dr. Allen Huang, who was installed as president on 8 July 2007. This page may meet Wikipedia’s criteria for speedy deletion. ... is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

Mission

The mission of University of the West is to

• Educate students in a context informed by Buddhist wisdom and values.
• Facilitate cultural understanding and appreciation between East and West.

Academic programs

UWest currently offers degrees in the following majors:

• Bachelor's in Business Administration - with concentrations in Marketing; Accounting; Information Technologies and Management; and International Business.

• Master's in Business Administration - with concentrations in Information Technologies and Management; International Business; Finance; and Non Profit Organization Management.

• Executive MBA (EMBA).

• Bachelor's in Religious Studies - with concentrations in Comparative Religious Studies and Buddhist Studies.

• Master's in Religious Studies - with concentrations in Comparative Religious Studies and Buddhist Studies.

• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Religious Studies.

• Bachelor's in English.

(UWest also offers courses in Biblical Hebrew, Sanskrit, Pali, Canonical Chinese, and Tibetan. Graduate students in the Religious Studies Program are required to take 6 units from one of the languages just mentioned. Students already fluent in these languages can waive this requirement if they pass a written test.)

• Bachelor's in Psychology.

• Master's in Psychology with concentrations in Buddhist psychology and multicultural counseling.

• UWest also has ongoing English as a Second Language program.

Enrollment

UWest enrollment stood at just over 252 students at the start of the Spring 2008 semester. The campus has seen a significant growth in population since accreditation in 2006. The student body is still primarily international in character. Aside from U.S. students, the student body is made up of students from China, Taiwan, Tibet, Indian, Sri Lankan, France, Germany, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Korea, Nepal and other countries.

Research centers

• International Academy of Buddhism (IAB)
• The Center for the Study of Minority and Small Business (CSMSB)
• The Institute for Advanced Research of Chinese Buddhism

Accreditation

UWest was accredited in February, 2006, by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The process took six years to complete. According to WASC's new accreditation procedures and 2001 issued Handbook, degrees issued by University of the West since July 2002 will be fully recognized. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. ...

Financial Aid

UWest is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to disburse Federal Financial Aid. Other financial aid options include the Stafford Loan, Plus Loan, Pell Grants, Perkins Loan Program, etc. UWest also offers institutional financial aid, such as scholarships, tuition waivers and tuitionships (a form of work study) to students who qualify.

Fo Guang Shan Universities

• Fo Guang University
• Nanhua University
• The African Buddhist Seminary, ABS
• Nan Tien Buddhist College

Foguang 佛光 University is in Ilan, Taiwan. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

See also

• Buddhist universities in the United States and Canada

There are several Buddhist universities in the United States and Canada, including: Dharma Realm Buddhist University - located in Talmage, California University of the West - located in Rosemead, California Soka University of America - located in Calabasas, California Category: ...

External links

• Official website