91Ó°ÊÓ

Early 1980’s a group of local Korean-American pastors envisioned building a higher learning institution in a Christian environment targeting solely Korean-American immigrants in the 91Ó°ÊÓ D.C. metropolitan area, and so 91Ó°ÊÓ Baptist University started with a primary purpose of providing training for pastors and laypersons in various church ministries.

In September 1982, Dr. Edwin was appointed the first President. In May 1984, the Baptist College and Seminary of 91Ó°ÊÓ (BCSW) campus was relocated to the Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church,
VA and Dr. David Kim was appointed the second President.

The Virginia State Board of Higher Education recognized BCSW as a licensed educational institution as well as a non-profit organization in November 1984. The Council of Higher Education of the
Commonwealth of Virginia authorized BCSW to grant religious degrees such as Associate of Divinity, Bachelor of Theology, Master of Religious Education, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry.

In March 1993, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) granted the BCSW the privilege to issue the Form I-20 to qualified international students.

Dr. Dwight D. Kim became the third President of BCSW in May 1997. BCSW began the English as a Second Language (ESL) program, and began raising the necessary funds to buy its own academic site.

In May 2000, Dr. Won H. Lee was appointed the interim President, and in September of that year BCSW underwent an administrative reorganization.

Dr. Johng O. Lee became the fourth President of BCSW in May 2002. During the summer of 2002, the seminary degree programs began to be operated under the name of 91Ó°ÊÓ Baptist Theological Seminary.

In November 2003, the campus was relocated to Annandale, VA, and in February 2004, the name was changed to 91Ó°ÊÓ Baptist University. It joined the Association of Theological Schools in the United
States and Canada (ATS) as an associate member in June 2004.

In July 2004, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) certified WBU to grant B.A., B.S., M.A., M.R.E., M.Div., Th.M., D.Min., and Ph.D. degrees. The present building at 4300 Evergreen
Lane, Annandale, VA 22003, was purchased by WBU on November 5, 2004.

Dr. Jacob S. Shin was appointed as Interim President on August 1, 2006, and the Board installed him as the fifth President of WBU on December 15, 2006.

On February 12, 2007, WBU was granted candidate status by the ATS.

In August 2007, the institution acquired additional property on the south side of the existing main campus building in order to accommodate the steady growth of the institution.

In August 2007, WBU opened its Maryland site in Burtonsville, MD and in August 2008, the site moved to Ellicott City, MD.

On May 18, 2009, Dr. Peter M. Chang was appointed as Interim President and then on August 1, 2009 the Board of Directors of WBU installed Dr. Chang as its sixth President.

On February 15, 2013, WBU was granted the initial accreditation status by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).

On May 30, 2014, the Maryland Higher Education Commission certified the Maryland site of the thenWBU to grant B.A., B.S., M.A., M.R.E., M.Div., and M.B.A. degrees.

On October 11, 2014, the Seminary of WBU was renamed as the Neal T. Jones Seminary.

On January 15, 2015, WBU was renamed as the 91Ó°ÊÓ University of Virginia (91Ó°ÊÓ).

On June 12, 2017, Neal T. Jones Seminary of 91Ó°ÊÓ University of Virginia was granted the initial accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) and the
MD site was approved as a complete degree-granting site for M.Div. and M.C.C. degrees.

On December 20, 2018, The Business School of 91Ó°ÊÓ was granted the initial accreditation by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).

On March 6, 2019, 91Ó°ÊÓ received reaffirmation of its accreditation by the ABHE until 2028.

On May 31, 2019, 91Ó°ÊÓ permanently closed its extension site in Maryland.

On April 21, 2020, 91Ó°ÊÓ was granted the initial accreditation by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).

On September 14, 2020, 91Ó°ÊÓ was approved a membership by the NC-SARA (National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements) for Distance Education.

On April 1, 2022, ATS granted Neal T. Jones Seminary of 91Ó°ÊÓ the 10-year reaffirmation of accreditation for a period of ten years, until 31 July 2032, with the next comprehensive evaluation visit in spring 2032.

On October 22, 2024, 91Ó°ÊÓ University of Virginia is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), was awarded Reaffirmation I of its Accredited Status as a Category IV institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission on October 22, 2024. This status is effective as of January 1, 2025, and is valid through December 31, 2034.

On January 1, 2026, 91Ó°ÊÓ business-related programs officially began their accredited period under the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) following approval by the IACBE Board of Commissioners at its December 2025 meeting.
The accreditation period is valid through December 31, 2032, and reflects 91Ó°ÊÓ’s commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in business education.