{{Short description|Private university in Babson Park, Florida, US}} {{Use American English|date=November 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox university |name = Webber International University |native_name = |image = Webber Seal.PNG |image_size = 150 |caption = |latin_name = |motto = A Tradition in Business Education |mottoeng = |established = {{Start date and age|1927}} |closed = |type = Private university |affiliation = |endowment = $4.9 million |officer_in_charge = |chairman = |chancellor = |president = Nelson Marquez |vice-president = |superintendent = |provost = |vice_chancellor = |rector = |principal = |dean = |director = |head_label = |head = |faculty = |staff = |students = 800 |undergrad = |postgrad = |doctoral = |other = |city = Babson Park |province = Florida |country = U.S. |coor = {{Coord|27.8398|-81.5359|display=inline,title}} |campus = {{convert|110|acre|km2}} |former_names = Webber College (1927–2001) |free_label = |free = |sports = |colors = Forest Green & Gold<br>{{color box|#234f33}} {{color box|#ae831f}} |sports_nickname = Warriors |mascot = |athletics_affiliations = NAIA – The Sun |affiliations = |website = {{url|https://webber.edu/| webber.edu}} |logo = Webber internat univ logo.png | logo_size = 200 |footnotes = }}
'''Webber International University''' ('''Webber''' or '''WIU''') is a private university in Babson Park, Florida.
==History== Webber International was founded as "Webber College" by Roger Babson, an entrepreneur and business theorist in the first half of the 20th century. Established in 1927, it was the first private college chartered under Florida's then new charitable and educational laws, and one of the nation's first business schools for women. Webber International University now hosts men and women from some 48 different nations.
In February 2011, Webber announced a merger with St. Andrews College in Laurinburg, North Carolina.<ref>{{cite news|title=Webber International University Plans to Take Over N.C. School|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20110202/news/102025036|access-date=19 February 2014|newspaper=The Lakeland Ledger|date=11 February 2011}}</ref> In January 2014, Webber announced the acquisition of Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia,<ref>{{cite news|title=Virginia Intermont College, with dwindling enrollment, intends to merge with Fla. school|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginia-intermont-college-with-dwindling-enrollment-intends-to-merge-with-fla-school/2014/01/31/5ef28ffc-8aa3-11e3-916e-e01534b1e132_story.html|access-date=19 February 2014|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=31 January 2014}}</ref> but these efforts were abandoned later the same year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Merger Statement Issued Today by Dr. Phillips|url=http://www.vic.edu/merger-statement-issued-today-by-dr-phillips/|publisher=Virginia Intermont College|access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref> In late April of 2025, it was announced St. Andrews University was closing effective May 5 for both in-person and on-line classes, due to financial difficulties.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/st-andrews-university-to-close-on-may-5/ |title=St. Andrews University to Close on May 5|publisher=the Assembly, April 25, 2025|accessdate=May 1, 2025}}</ref>
==Academics== The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award degrees at the associate, bachelor's, and master's levels.
==Athletics== {{Main|Webber International Warriors}} thumb|left|120px|Webber athletics logo The Webber International athletic teams are called the Warriors. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),<ref>{{cite web|title=Schools|url=http://www.naia.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27900&ATCLID=205322922|website=NAIA.ORG|publisher=NAIA|access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref> primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) for most of its sports since the 1990–91 academic year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://thesunconference.com/sports/2012/7/2/members.aspx|website=Thesunconference.com|access-date=11 November 2015}}</ref> Its football team formerly competed in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) until after the 2021 fall season.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Michael|title=Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20160225/SPORTS19/160229601|access-date=27 February 2016|publisher=The Lakeland Ledger|date=25 February 2016}}</ref> They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level.
==Notable alumni== * Vince Anderson, former NFL defensive back<ref>Coffey, Lisa. (Apr 28, 2009). [https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20090428/News/608138729/LL Vince Anderson Is First Webber Player to Sign With NFL Team]. ''theledger.com''. Retrieved Sep 6, 2020.</ref> * Verity Crawley, professional bowler in Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) * Bo Dallas, professional wrestler * Gary Faulkner Jr., ten-pin bowler, competes on PBA Tour * Taula "Hikuleo" Fifita, professional wrestler * Daria Pająk, ten-pin bowler in Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA) *Leandro, Brazilian professional soccer player
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * [https://webberathletics.com/ Athletics website]
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Category:Webber International University Category:Universities and colleges established in 1927 Category:Universities and colleges in Polk County, Florida Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Category:Private universities and colleges in Florida Category:1927 establishments in Florida