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Life at Richmond: Men and Women

Every student at Richmond belongs to two divisions of the University—an academic division (either Arts & Sciences, Business or Leadership) and a coordinate college. The two coordinate colleges are Richmond College for men and Westhampton College for women. Students at the University of Richmond attend co-ed classes, eat in co-ed dining facilities, workout in a co-ed gym and join co-ed clubs and organizations. What is distinctive about the coordinate colleges is their attention to the individual differences of students and their personal growth.

Each coordinate college has a Dean's Office, student government organization, residence life staff and traditions that are unique and long-held. The system enables the University to give appropriate attention to the personal growth of students as well as their intellectual growth and provide many more leadership opportunities to all students. The residence life and Dean's Office staff members are able to create programs that are unique for the needs of their audience–either young men or young women. Perhaps you've read in guidebooks that Westhampton College and Richmond College are separated by a lake. That was true at one time, and the lake is still here. However, as of the fall of 2002, there are now both men's and women's residence halls located on both sides of the lake.

Some of the unique programs of each coordinate college are:

Women Involved in Living and Learning (WILL), which was one of the first programs of its kind in the United States. WILL participants take courses in Women's Studies and are involved in co-curricular experiences that help connect classroom knowledge with their individual lives. They interact one-on-one with nationally-recognized speakers and organize activism projects. This co-curricular program brings together diverse groups of women working toward a common goal. The application and selection process for the WILL program takes place in the fall of the first-year.

Spinning Your Web, a unique program where students are chosen on the basis of leadership potential, and RC Xtreme, an interactive experience for first-year men. Residents participate in a series of weekly programs that focus on the physical and psychological development of men as well as in a multitude of fun activities like rock climbing and whitewater rafting.