Randolph-Macon College will welcome 469 new students – its largest entering class ever with 422 freshman and 47 transfer students – for fall 2018, with an overall historic enrollment of more than 1,480 students. 

This is the fourth consecutive year that enrollment numbers have exceeded 1,400. Athletes returned to campus beginning August 9, freshmen will move in on August 30 and all other students will return on August 31. Classes begin on Monday, September 3. 

“We extend a heartfelt welcome to the Class of 2022,” says President Robert R. Lindgren. “The Randolph-Macon College community is delighted that our newest Yellow Jackets are joining the family. The excellence of our incoming class underscores the attraction to this wonderful college and its reputation for preparing our students to succeed in life.”

During Welcome Week (August 31 – September 2) the campus will buzz with activity as the newest hive of Yellow Jackets settle into their new home. Lindgren will be on hand to greet new students on August 30 as they arrive at the Brock Sports & Recreation Center to check in.

Class of 2022
The Class of 2022 represents 22 states and 14 foreign countries; 47 percent of the students are male and 53 percent are female. In addition, 24 percent are ethnically diverse. Many are Presidential Scholars, recipients of RMC’s signature scholarship that recognizes students who demonstrate the highest levels of academic achievement and leadership.

Legacy Students
Seventeen percent of all new students are Legacy freshmen—Yellow Jackets with family members who are either current students at RMC or who are alumni of the college. Family connections have long been an important part of the success of Randolph-Macon College. The Alumni Office, which supports the Legacy Program, will welcome Legacy Freshmen with special “goodie bags” when they arrive on campus.

The EDGE
During New Student Orientation, which was held during the summer, incoming freshmen were introduced to the EDGE, RMC’s four-year career preparation program. With help from dedicated staff at the EDGE Career Center and RMC’s extraordinary faculty, students acquire a competitive advantage in reaching their career or graduate school goals. Some of the many resources provided to students include workshops, advising, internships and access to an engaged, global alumni network.

Students will be introduced to the EDGE in more detail and will take their first assessment using a tool called Focus 2 during their first semester. They will also become familiar with Career Connector, a virtual hub where students can schedule appointments with EDGE staff; build a résumé; and search for jobs and internships.

Four-Year Degree Guarantee
The Class of 2022 and their parents signed RMC’s Four-Year Degree Guarantee during orientation sessions held during the summer. This agreement pledges that students who meet all necessary requirements will graduate within four calendar years, or RMC will waive tuition costs for RMC courses needed to complete the degree. Lindgren and other representatives from the college met with each student and family to discuss and jointly sign the Four-Year Degree Guarantee.

New and Noteworthy Programs
The college is proud to announce several exciting new programs and initiatives:
• A proposed BSN program will integrate the college’s rigorous liberal arts education with a four-year nursing program that will prepare graduates for a nursing career after graduation.
• eSports Program: eSports is a form of competition that is facilitated by electronic systems, particularly video games; the input of players and teams as well as the output of the eSports system are mediated by human-computer interfaces.
• Show Choir will launch in fall 2019. Show Choir uses vocals, choreography, staging, costuming and production to synthesize an artistic experience.
• Men’s volleyball was recently added to RMC’s roster of athletics. The team will begin play in January 2019 and will compete in the Continental Volleyball Conference.
• The Randolph Macon Ensemble, a musical organization dedicated to performing a broad spectrum of instrumental music, will be formed in fall 2018 and formally launched in spring 2019.
• The Equestrian Program at Coventry Farm: RMC’s thriving equestrian program includes a club, an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team, and an Eventing team. Riders board their horses and train at nearby Coventry Farm, which the college recently purchased.

Pre-med Program
Randolph-Macon’s pre-med program continues to flourish. RMC has a Guaranteed Admission Agreement with the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Nursing Program and the George Washington University School of Nursing, and an Early Assurance Program with the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) Physician Assistant program. In addition, the college has medical school partnerships with George Washington University, EVMS, and VCU.

Transfer Students
RMC also has an exceptional program for transfer students and a Guaranteed Admissions Agreement with Reynolds Community College and Richard Bland College. In addition, Randolph-Macon invites transfer students from all colleges and universities to visit campus, sit in on classes, engage with faculty, staff, and students, and meet with the college’s transfer admissions counselor.

About RMC
Founded in 1830 in Boydton, Virginia, Randolph-Macon is the oldest United Methodist Church-affiliated college in the nation.
RMC has a stellar reputation for its extraordinary faculty, global alumni network, national and international internships, study abroad and undergraduate research opportunities, and the EDGE and January Term programs.

Randolph-Macon offers students a wealth of leadership and service organizations and a full calendar of cultural arts events throughout the year. Eighteen Yellow Jacket athletic teams compete in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and are in the NCAA Division III.