Goal 4: Advance Access, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
At Roanoke College, we don’t just talk about access and opportunity — we act on it. Our goal is clear: make higher education more attainable, affordable and welcoming for more students. That’s why we invested $36 million in scholarships and financial aid this year as part of an ongoing effort to ensure no student is shut out from a Roanoke education because of their financial background.
Our new freshman class was 37.5% students from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds, which includes first-generation college students, minority students and veterans — all groups who deserve a seat at the table but too often face barriers to entry.
Our commitment to opening doors extends beyond our campus. We’ve forged two new graduate school partnerships with Virginia Tech, one for an accelerated path to an agriculture and applied economics master’s degree, and one for computer science and computer engineering. We also forged a new graduate school partnership with William & Mary and a new Rapid Maroons transfer agreement with Virginia Western Community College. Those programs help clear the way for ambitious students to advance to the next stage of their goals. Underpinning each of them is our determination to help students rise.
Preparing students for success doesn’t start exclusively at the college level. We’ve also invested in two important programs that offer support to students beginning in high school, Explore@RC and the Bridges Program.
Here’s a closer look at what we’re doing:
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The Rapid Maroons program was designed for students at Virginia Western Community College who want to transfer to Roanoke. With access to joint advising and student activities, along with a streamlined application process, Rapid Maroons can save time and make progress on their path to a successful future.
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Roanoke College won a historic $3.5 million grant from the Virginia Board of Education, believed to be the largest government grant ever received by the college. That funding will launch Explore@RC, a dual-enrollment laboratory school that allows high school students to take innovative, problem-based courses at Roanoke and get a jumpstart on their college dreams.
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This year, Roanoke College welcomed its first students into the Bridges Program, which mentors and recruits local students of color aspiring to become teachers. Designed to address regional teacher shortages and support underrepresented groups, Bridges was recognized as a research-practice partner by the National Center for Research on Educator Diversity.
