Academics
Founded in 1842, Roanoke College is a private Lutheran school that wants students to leverage all of the academic, cultural, and practical resources the school has to offer. Real-world experiences such as “field trips, service components, [and interacting with guest] speakers” are encouraged, and there are also study abroad opportunities available in 50 different countries. The school’s unique core curriculum allows students to pick classes from a portfolio of interesting topics, such as Statistics and the Sports Industry or Chemistry and Crime. The curriculum includes project-based capstone courses as well as courses that ensure that students truly understand the topics by the end of the course. There is a three-week Intensive Learning Program (also called May Term) that is a focused learning experience in which students participate in activities surrounding a single topic, ranging from debates to travel to student reenactments. Students value the flexibility of an academic format that allows them “to find their purpose on campus and explore several different fields of interest at once.”
On the whole, professors strive to engage their students and focus on critical thinking. “Some [professors] even encourage respectful arguments to show different views to get students thinking about [what] they are learning.” Many students relate that the professors are what they like most about the college. As one student puts it, “I always feel welcomed and listened to by my professors.” Another says, “I think it’s rare to have this many professors that truly care about your success and well-being.” At Roanoke, “many classes are discussion-based and there are a lot of opportunities for students to ask questions and work together.” As one student explains, “professors want students involved because it helps us learn better.”
Student Body
This “smaller, community-like college” has nearly 1,900 undergraduates, which “allows for relationships between students and faculty,” but it’s still large enough that “you can walk across campus and say hi to five people you know and still see five people you don’t.” Though most here are “white and come from [an] affluent background,” the school is “steadily working toward a reflection of the diverse population of Virginia,” and students themselves strive “toward building a diverse, welcoming community for fellow peers on campus.” And as another student says, “Everybody is unique in their own way and makes you feel welcome.” Roanoke attracts “smart, kind people who are genuine and excited to get to know each other,” and even in class, students “are very open in sharing their opinion and personal life when it is relevant to the lecture.” The overall sentiment is that “the students are caring, determined, and outgoing.”
Campus Life
There is a “strong community both within and outside of the campus,” and the school does “an amazing job of emphasizing the ‘family’ aspect of what it means to be a Maroon.” Typical days involve some combination of the following: going to class, working out, eating with friends, doing homework, and hanging out on the Quad. Many students remark that they would like more on-campus dining options but note that there is a coffee shop just off campus that many students frequent. Students can also participate in campus activities such as Friday on the Quad, which includes “live music, food trucks, and fun events such as ax throwing and fire juggling.” Athletic games (especially basketball) are highly attended, and students enjoy spending time outside playing games like spikeball or relaxing in hammocks. On Mondays, “most students go to Theology on Tap, which provides free food and is hosted by the chaplain.” Roanoke is located “in a beautiful area filled with hiking and kayaking nearby,” and “there are lots of hiking trips on the weekends.” In any time not spent studying, there “are always people hosting hangouts from Greek life” and people going into the towns of Salem and Roanoke to “take advantage of the things like outdoor gear rentals and movie ticket discounts.” A lot of people “like to participate in many clubs whether it is the Beekeeping Society or the Cheese Club,” or “Toy Like Me, which is a club that modifies toys for children with disabilities and gifts [them] to children and the local hospital system.”
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