Weimar Center of Health & Education, historically known as Weimar Institute, is a private educational facility in Weimar, California, which operates an unaccredited high school and college. It highlights traditional Seventh-day Adventist principles of health and education, especially as espoused by early Seventh-day Adventist founder Ellen G. White, who wrote extensively on health and education. Although founded by Adventists, it has never been legally affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Although it is spelled like a German word, the name "Weimar" is derived from the name of a Native American chief named "Weemah" and is pronounced like "Weemer" (IPA wiːmər).[1]
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In 1919, Weimar Institute opened as a small tuberculosis sanatorium. It was later used for the care of the mentally ill. In 1957, it changed focus to the Weimar Chest Center, treating other pulmonary diseases. It was then renamed the Weimar Medical Center in 1960 and in 1966 Weimar Medical Center developed into a general community hospital. The hospital was closed 1972 due to financial cuts by the state and counties. Following the closure, the property changed hands several times and in 1975 it reopened as Hope Village, a temporary relocation center for Vietnamese refugees.[1]
In May 1977, a group of Seventh-day Adventists purchased the 457 acres (1.85 km2). In 1978 it was registered as the nonprofit organization, Weimar Institute of Health & Education, and Weimar College was opened. In 1981 Weimar Academy was established as a private four-year Christian boarding high school.[1]
In early 2008, Weimar Institute announced that it would close Weimar College at the end of June 2008.[2] Later that year, however, the institute merged with Amazing Facts and a combined board was established to oversee the operations of Weimar Institute and its divisions.[3] An announcement stated:
The NEWSTART Program is part of Weimar.[5] NEWSTART stands for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest and Trust in Divine Power.
In 1978, Weimar College opened on the semester system, offering degrees and certificates in Religion and various Personal Ministries. Weimar College is not accredited.[6] The college does have approval from the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, but this is not the same as accreditation.[7][8] Although the College is not accredited, the Weimar College Academic Bulletin describes an affiliation with Griggs University,[9] a Seventh-day Adventist distance learning institution accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council.[2][6][10] According to the Adventist Review, credit earned by Griggs courses at Weimar appear on Griggs University transcripts.[11][12] Weimar College reports that it is actively pursuing accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.[13][14] The college has a state-approved pre-nursing program and plans to start an associate's degree program in nursing in 2012, with state approval expected.[14]