Beginning at 5:00 pm on Friday, June 8th, Information Technology will begin the process to rename the college domain to randolphcollege.edu.  This means your email addresses will change to username@randolphcollege.edu.  While rmwc.edu will continue to function as far as receiving mail, you will need to begin communicating this address.  If you are on groups that are associated with your rmwc.edu email, you’ll need to begin updating this information.  Rmwc.edu will continue to function until December 3, 2007, but it is important to begin this transition now. 

R-MWC Changes Name to Randolph College
New name unveiled during ceremony on Main Hall steps

LYNCHBURG — Beginning July 1, 2007, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College will become Randolph College. College officials unveiled the new name Dec. 9 on the steps of Main Hall.

“The Board of Trustees recognized the overwhelming desire of all constituencies to select a name that preserves and honors our legacy — and that also claims big dreams for this small, beautiful, and vibrant college that we all love,” said Jolley Christman, president of the Board of Trustees. “We listened, and what we heard from all of you greatly influenced our decision. And so, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the name Randolph College — a name that maintains continuity with our history, as well as positions us for the future.”

The new name follows the College’s recent decision to admit men in the fall of 2007.

A 12-member Naming Advisory Task Force, comprised of alumnae, faculty, students, trustees and staff, solicited input from the R-MWC community during the past few months. The College received more than 1,000 name suggestions.

The College will maintain its athletic logo and WildCat mascot. In addition, any student who began their education under Randolph-Macon Woman’s College will be able to graduate with a Randolph-Macon Woman’s College diploma in the future.

The Dec. 9 announcement included alumnae, faculty and student speakers.

“Even in the face of change, there are constants to be found, “ said Thomas Stephens, the William E. Thoresen and Catherine Ehrman Thoresen ’23 Professor of Speech and Theatre. “The strength of our College has always resided in her people.”

“Regardless of a name or values change, I have the confidence that we will maintain and continue to inspire the personal integrity and power of conviction indicative of a woman from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College,” said Megan Steigerwald , Class of 2009.

Anne Haley, a senior and head of the student group, The Coalition for Women’s Education, told gatherers that each has had a different experience at the College.

“From the Class of 1897 to the Class of 2007, generations of students have experienced a multitude of professors, presidents, customs, wars, social movements, sorrows, joys, and changes,” she said. “But the thing that still remains and will continue to live on vibrantly, is the spirit of this school.

The coming years will bring many changes to the institution, Haley added.

“There are things to be done now,” she added. “There are traditions to be preserved as well as new traditions to be made. And the fate of our college is in our hands.”

View Quicktime Video of Name Announcement

Dear Alumnae, Students, Faculty, Staff, and Friends,

The Board of Trustees, after adopting the new Strategic Plan in September, established a task force to help select a new name for the College.

The 12-member Naming Advisory Task Force, comprising alumnae, faculty, students, trustees, and staff, solicited input from the entire Randolph-Macon Woman’s College community and received more than a thousand suggestions.

Recently, the Board of Trustees convened to consider the group’s recommendations. The overwhelming desire of all constituencies to preserve a part of our historic name influenced our decision greatly.

The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt the name Randolph College. We feel, as so many of you do, that this name preserves and honors our legacy, maintains continuity with our storied past, and positions us well for the future.

While the new name will not become official until the beginning of our fiscal year, July 1, 2007, we will use it in admissions communications as we recruit next year’s first-year class.

The Board of Trustees is extremely grateful to those who have shown their depth of devotion to this College.

The very happiest of holidays to all of you,

Jolley Bruce Christman ’69
President
R-MWC Board of Trustees

The College will continue to operate as Randolph-Macon Woman's College until July 1, 2007, when we will officially switch to the new name.

However, offices involved in the recruitment of new students (Admissions, Athletics, etc) will immediately begin using publications and marketing materials which bear the new name and branding.

The Class of 2007 will receive diplomas from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College.

The Classes of 2008, 2009, 2010 and any student who first enrolled when the College was named R-MWC (this includes all current Prime Time and part time students) may choose to receive a Randolph-Macon Woman’s College diploma or a Randolph College diploma. They may also opt to receive one of each.

The name change will necessitate changing the College’s Internet domain name from “rmwc.edu” to “randolphcollege.edu.” This change will affect all campus network systems, including Web pages and e-mail addresses. However, this change will not be made until summer 2007.

For the duration of the academic year, all “rmwc.edu” e-mail addresses and Web sites will work as before.

The Admissions Office and the Athletics Department will begin using “randolphcollege.edu” e-mail addresses, so as to recruit prospective students under the banner of the new name and branding.

In addition, an admissions micro-Web site has been launched to help recruit the Class of 2011, alongside this micro-Web site with information about the name change.

The Office of College Relations has retained the services of MStoner, a top higher-education Web developer, to assist in the creation of a new Web site to launch in the fall which will reflect the College’s new marketing and branding. The current Web site will be reskinned to reflect the new name, but will retain all original functionality and information.

The College will maintain the WildCat as the official athletic team name and mascot. 

The black WildCat paw symbol will remain the official logo of Randolph College athletics. 

Black and yellow will continue to be used as the official athletic colors.

Most campus offices and departments, except Admissions & Athletics, will continue to use the current R-MWC letterhead, envelopes, business cards, labels, etc., until July 1, 2007.  Information about obtaining Randolph College business cards and stationery will be announced in spring semester via the campus portal.

Except for recruitment purposes, our return address will remain “Randolph-Macon Woman’s College” until July 1, 2007.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to immediately renew any periodical subscriptions, professional organization memberships, and other annually updated listings using “Randolph College.”