Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Richmond is to sustain a collaborative learning and
research community that supports the personal development of its members and the creation of new knowledge. A Richmond education prepares students to live lives of purpose, thoughtful inquiry, and responsible leadership in a global and pluralistic society.

Organization and Accreditation

Five academic schools and two coordinate colleges form the University of Richmond, with authority and responsibility vested legally in the Board of Trustees and the president of the
University. The several colleges and schools award no degrees individually, but all degrees
for work done in any one of them are conferred by the University of Richmond.

The University enrolls approximately 2,900 full-time undergraduates, 92 percent of whom
live on campus; 600 full-time law and graduate students; and 1,300 part-time students,
largely from Richmond and the surrounding community.

The University of Richmond is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, telephone 404-679-4500, Web site: www.sacscoc.org) to award associate, baccalaureate, master and juris doctor degrees. The University also is certified by the Virginia State Board of Education to offer teacher licensure programs. The chemistry program is accredited by the American Chemical Society. In addition, the Robins School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and the T.C. Williams School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association.

Environment and History

The University of Richmond campus consists of about 50 major buildings of Collegiate
Gothic architectural style set amid 350 acres of lawns, lake and woodlands. The beautiful
and harmonious setting has been recognized nationally by college guides. Richmond’s history
began almost two centuries ago with Richmond College, founded in 1830 by Virginia Baptists as a college of liberal arts and sciences for men. Around this nucleus were established the T.C. Williams School of Law (1870); Westhampton College, a college of liberal arts and sciences for women (1914); the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, for advanced study in the liberal arts and sciences (1921); the E. Claiborne Robins School of Business, for undergraduate and graduate study in business (1949); University College, now known as the School of Continuing Studies, for evening, summer and continuing education (1962); and the Jepson School of Leadership Studies, the first school of leadership studies in the United States (1992).

In 1992, the academic missions of Richmond College and Westhampton College were combined in a separate school, the School of Arts and Sciences. Richmond College and Westhampton College are the coordinate colleges for men and women respectively, providing special programming and leadership opportunities in student life.

Richmond benefits from a heritage of ethical and religious values, a residential character and a commitment to liberal and general education through intimate schools and colleges joined into a substantial whole.

Information Services -- Library and Computing Resources

Library Resources

The University’s libraries are the center of intellectual activities outside the classroom.  Boatwright Memorial Library, facing Westhampton Lake, is the main library. It includes collections and services for the humanities, social sciences, sciences and business.  Boatwright is also home to the Business Information Center, the Media Resource Center and the Science Information Center. The Parsons Music Library is in the Modlin Center for the Arts. The Muse Law Library in the Richmond School of Law serves the special needs of law students and faculty.  The libraries’ collections have been developed to meet the needs of students and faculty. Those collections consist of more than 465,000 volumes, access to more than 43,000 print and online journals, 45,000 electronic books, more than 200 online databases and a wealth of resources in media such as sheet music, DVD, audio CD, microfilm and audio books. Since 1900, the University of Richmond has enjoyed status as a depository for U.S. government publications. Boatwright Memorial Library holds more than 500,000 government documents in print and microform and provides electronic access to thousands more. The Galvin Rare Book Room contains nearly 25,000 rare books, first editions, maps, photographs and manuscripts. The online catalog (http://library.richmond.edu/) provides access to the collections through the Internet. The libraries participate in local and state consortia as well as national networks to obtain access to databases and to borrow items not held in the University’s collections. 

The libraries offer group and individual instruction in using these resources effectively. Group instruction is offered in the Boatwright Computer Classroom and other locations. In 2003, the faculty instituted a library research graduation requirement. First-year students meet this requirement by participating in two 75-minute hands-on workshops, one each semester. These workshops, called Library 100 and Library 101, introduce students to basic research tools and techniques. Individual assistance is available in person and online through various means described at http://library.richmond.edu/help/ask_lib/index.htm.

Boatwright Memorial Library offers a mix of study space suitable for individuals working alone or in groups, as well as AV viewing/listening carrels and rooms and more than 100 computer workstations. Laptop computers are loaned for in-building use and connect to the University’s wireless network.

A separate wing of Boatwright Memorial Library houses the Virginia Baptist Historical Society, a memorial to the Virginia Baptists who struggled to secure religious liberty in America. The library holds thousands of books, church records, manuscripts and personal papers related to Virginia Baptist history and heritage. The society also manages the University’s archives, a large collection of books, photos and memorabilia related to the University’s rich history.  The University’s libraries are open to the entire campus community.

Computing Facilities

The University of Richmond is committed to preparing students to work successfully in technology- and information-centered environments.  The Information Services division supports a teaching and learning environment that provides rich technology and information resources for students, faculty and staff.   Computer labs and classrooms with a total of more than 750 computers are spread across the campus and contain a wide variety of equipment and software.    These systems can be accessed in Boatwright Memorial Library and in general-purpose and discipline-specific computing spaces.   Some residence halls are equipped with public computers in study lounges.

In addition to the general purpose labs, many academic departments have computer labs designed to meet the special learning and research needs of their students.  These include art and art history, the business school, chemistry, classical studies, education, journalism, the law school, modern literatures and cultures, music, physics, psychology, the School of Leadership Studies and theatre and dance.  For more information regarding the discipline-specific computer labs and their hours of operation, please refer to the to the Information Services Web page.  

The ground floor of Jepson Hall houses many computing services.  This includes the Computer Help Desk, a resource that provides assistance with computing-related issues for the entire campus.    The facilities in Jepson Hall include a general purpose computer lab with a total of 30 workstations; five PC classrooms with full multimedia capabilities; and two computer classrooms running Windows, Linux and Unix designated for use by the math and computer science department.   When classes are not in session, the Jepson Hall computer classrooms are open for student use. 

The normal operating hours for the Jepson Hall computing facilities during the fall and spring semesters are Monday – Thursday, 7:45 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.; Friday 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.  In addition, the Help Desk is open from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday – Friday.   These schedules change during holidays, exam and summer sessions.  A listing of the current hours of operation may be found on the Information Services Web page.

The Technology Learning Center (TLC) is a unique resource located on the third floor of Boatwright Memorial Library.  It is devoted to servicing the multimedia needs of students, faculty and staff.   This area offers PC and Mac workstations equipped with high-end Web development, multimedia, animation, 3-D modeling and audio-video recording and editing software.  Scanners, high quality printers, large-format plotters, digitizers and digital video and still cameras also are available.  In addition, the TLC contains a photography studio and a small recording studio.  Most importantly, the TLC is staffed by professionals and well-trained student assistants.  Students not only have access to the hardware and software, but also to experts who can help them effectively use the specialized tools.

Undergraduate Colleges

Though Richmond is composed of five general academic schools as well as two coordinate colleges, this catalog provides specific program information about only undergraduate study in the School of Arts and Sciences, Robins School of Business and Jepson School of Leadership Studies. Pertinent information about the coordinate colleges, Richmond College and Westhampton College, also is presented in this catalog. Detailed information about each of the other academic schools is available upon request to the respective dean’s office.

Academic Schools

School of Arts and Sciences

All students begin as part of the School of Arts and Sciences. Approximately two-thirds of the University's students (2,300) then continue their study in arts and sciences, pursuing Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in the more than 40 disciplines offered by the school. The arts and sciences faculty also provides instruction in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences leading to a small number of master's degrees.

The School of Arts and Sciences is a blend of studies from all areas of life—health, fine arts, natural and urban environments, government, technology, cultures, emerging scientific studies and literature are a few examples.  Though the fields of study in the School of Arts and Sciences are diverse, each discipline pursues the common goals of challenging students to think critically and independently; to make decisions based upon their assessments; to communicate effectively; to gather and evaluate information and others' opinions; and to work collaboratively, expanding their understanding of others to better comprehend the systems and situations around them. The programs ask rather than tell. Working together across disciplines, the faculty and students explore how things work, ask why they operate as they do, evaluate what has been successful, and consider possible solutions or advancements. Faculty collaborate with students to research and create data or art, encouraging them to build their own knowledge and skills and demonstrating how to most effectively communicate and apply what they learn.

Robins School of Business

The Robins School of Business enrolls about 650 men and women. The school’s principal
objective is to provide a professional college education that will enable students to meet the challenges of a complex and international business world.

The degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) is offered with majors
in accounting, business administration and economics. The business administration major has several areas of concentration that students may pursue. Once a student declares his or her major, the Robins School of Business provides a number of internal activities that the student may participate in, including its own student government. The Robins School also has a chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, a national honor society. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest national recognition a student can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program accredited by the AACSB-International.

The School of Business faculty also provides the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in the Robins School of Business.

Jepson School of Leadership Studies

The Jepson School of Leadership Studies offers the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major
in leadership studies. The major is broadly based but highly integrated with leadership as a unifying theme. In an exceptional academic environment, the Jepson School challenges students to reach their potential and prepares them for future responsibilities through education for and about leadership.

Coordinate Colleges

Undergraduate students at the University of Richmond are members of an academic school: the School of Arts and Sciences, the Robins School of Business, or the Jepson School of Leadership Studies.  Depending on their sex, students also are members of a coordinate college:  Richmond College for men and Westhampton College for women.  The coordinate colleges serve as dean of students offices and manage academic policy matters, thereby providing a holistic approach to students.  The college deans report to both the vice president of student development and the dean of Arts and Sciences.

Each coordinate college has its own staff, residence life program, student government, activities and traditions.  Deans' staff members focus on students' personal development, crisis management, judicial policies and matters that involve the University’s honor code.  The deans' offices also oversee popular student traditions that recognize and celebrate the smaller college community and heritage, including Westhampton College's Junior Ring Dance and Richmond College's Investiture.  The residence life programs organize gender-based programming within the residence halls and living/learning initiatives that make important intellectual and personal connections between students and faculty members, e.g., the Richmond College Outdoor House.

The two student governments—the Westhampton College Government Association (WCGA) and the Richmond College Student Government Association (RCSGA)—afford students valuable leadership opportunities and guarantee that men and women students participate equally in the governing process.  Meanwhile, students make connections between their curricular and cocurricular experiences in college-based programs such as Westhampton College’s Women Involved in Living Learning (WILL) program.

For more information regarding Westhampton College see http://oncampus.richmond.edu/Student_Affairs/wcollege.  For more information regarding Richmond College see http://oncampus.richmond.edu/Student_Affairs/rcollege.

Spiritual Life

The University is committed to the formation and support of the spiritual needs and growth of all its students, regardless of faith, tradition, practice or lack thereof.  Religious and spiritual life activities and programs that invite, challenge and support the spiritual maturity and understanding of all members of the university community are coordinated through the Office of the Chaplaincy, which is easily accessible in the E. Carlton Wilton Center for Inter-Religious Campus Ministries.

There are numerous organizations for students of various faiths and traditions, including Buddhist, Christian (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Ecumenical), Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh.  Events, dinners and programs are open to all so that interfaith understanding and cooperation might be fostered.  Regular on-campus worship services and times for religious practice include Zen meditation on Tuesday evenings, Juma’a prayer on Fridays at noon, Shabbat prayer on Friday evenings, Ecumenical Christian worship on Sundays at 3:16 p.m. and Roman Catholic mass on Sundays at 5:00 p.m.  Many student groups hold prayer and praise meetings as well. The City of Richmond has over 300 places of worship, each of which welcomes students to participate in their services and practice. 

The Office of the Chaplaincy also coordinates service opportunities through the Bonner Scholars and Community Partners offices; connects with the greater Richmond interfaith and civic community through A More Perfect Union; and offers individual support, counseling and care by appointment with one of the chaplains.

Listings of on-campus and local events, houses of worship and holy days may be found on the Office of the Chaplaincy Web site:  www://chaplaincy.richmond.edu