Randolph-Macon’s project to refresh its 2009 Campus Master Plan enters a new phase in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The effort aims to update the vision for campus set out in the Campus Master Plan, approved in 2009. That comprehensive and long-range vision helped inform much of the renovation and construction that has transformed the Randolph-Macon campus over the last fifteen years, under the leadership of President Robert R. Lindgren.

The refresh effort is supported by Baltimore-based design firm Ayers Saint Gross, who led the original project. The firm has gathered extensive data for the College about how the campus supports the student, faculty, and staff experience today in order to re-examine elements of the original long-term vision that have not yet been realized and to plan for the future.

“At the time of the original Campus Master Plan, our enrollment was under 1200. We’re proud to have achieved the growth we planned for, with critical improvements to our academic, residential and athletic spaces that have made our campus a more beautiful and functional home-away-from-home for students,” explained President Lindgren. “Our vision remains significantly relevant today as we continue to grow, and this update will help the College refine its planning for future Yellow Jackets.”

The wide-ranging effort considers infrastructure, open space, mobility, parking and sustainability goals, alongside four core elements of college life: teaching space, residential space, student life space, and academic and administrative workspaces. A Master Plan Steering Committee was established when the project began to inform the work. The members include:

• Robert R. Lindgren, President
• Terri Abri, Former Town of Ashland Council member and Town of Ashland resident
• Nora Amos, Town of Ashland Director of Planning and Community Development
• Grant Azdell, VP for Student Affairs and Dean of Students and Town of Ashland resident
• Preston Bryant, RMC Board of Trustees (Member of Building and Grounds committee)
• Jen Cadwallader, A.G. Ingram Professor of English and Town of Ashland resident
• Beth Campbell, VP for Marketing and Communications
• Jim Foster, Professor of Biology and Town of Ashland resident
• John Herron, Director of Physical Plant
• Raymond Hunt, Executive Vice President, EDC
• Earl Johnson, RMC Board of Trustees (Chair of Building and Grounds committee)
• Diane Lowder, VP for Advancement
• Ray Martin, Advisory RMC Board of Trustees (Member of the Building and Grounds committee) and Town of Ashland resident
• Anne McDougall, RMC Trustee Emerita and Town of Ashland resident
• Frank Murphy, RMC Board of Trustees Emeritus
• Annette Paul, RMC Board of Trustees (Member of Building and Grounds committee) and Town of Ashland resident
• Brenda Poggendorf, VP for Enrollment Management
• Alisa Rosenthal, Provost and VP for Academic Affairs
• Rob Young, VP for Administration and Finance

The input of a broad cross-section of constituents is key to the effort, and Ayers St. Gross has conducted listening sessions with groups like staff, faculty, leadership, and athletics personnel, and polled students for their opinions.

Listening Session Scheduled

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the College invites members of the Ashland and Hanover communities to share their input. A listening session will be held in the Dollar Tree Room in Brock Commons (304 Henry Street) from 6-7 p.m.

“The integration with the growth of Ashland, and the future master plan for our beloved town, is a critical piece of our planning,” commented Lindgren. “We are inextricably linked and have been grateful for the continued input of partners on the Town Council and in the town offices in the initial stages of the process.”

Ayer Saint Gross plans to deliver an updated Master Plan document to the College in the forthcoming 2024-25 academic year for consideration by the senior administration and, ultimately, the Board of Trustees.