The Coordinate College System
Hey everybody!I remember that when I was preparing to move to Richmond last fall, one of the most confusing aspects of the University was its unique “coordinate college system.” What exactly is a coordinate college system? What are the benefits of such a system? And how does this distinctive feature affect the daily lives of students at the University? Hopefully, this post will answer some of your questions concerning Richmond’s coordinate college system.A quick history lesson: Richmond College was founded in 1830 as a small seminary for men under the sponsorship of the Virginia Baptist Education Society. Ten years later, Richmond College was officially chartered as a liberal arts and sciences college (for men) by the Virginia General Assembly. By 1914 the college was looking to expand, so the decision was made to move the college to its current location at Westhampton Lake, in the suburbs of the City of Richmond. At this time, Westhampton College - a college of liberal arts and sciences exclusively for women - was established on the same campus on the other side of the lake. Despite the fact that these two institutions shared a campus, they remained mostly separate until the early 1970s, when the modern coordinate college system began to take shape.Today, the coordinate system fully incorporates the two colleges that comprise the University of Richmond: Richmond College for men and Westhampton College for women. Although the coordinate colleges have existed since 1914, they have continually evolved and modernized over the years. The single greatest benefit of Richmond’s coordinate system is that the two Colleges are able to provide a “progressive, innovative, and gender-focused approach to student development.”According to the Dean’s office for Richmond College and the Dean’s office for Westhampton College, the coordinate system promotes the personal development of students in four primary ways: “The coordinate system promotes affinity. The coordinate system develops leadership. The coordinate system enhances student learning. The coordinate system provides support.”While I often tell prospective students that if I didn’t mention that Richmond had a coordinate college system they wouldn’t be able to tell, there are definitely subtle ways that Richmond’s system differs from the standard co-educational system found at other colleges and universities. First, the long-standing traditions of the coordinate colleges (such as Proclamation Night, Investiture Night, Homecoming Dance, Ring Dance, etc.) foster life-long friendships among the women of Westhampton College and an enduring fellowship among Richmond College Men. Second, the coordinate system provides double the opportunities for involvement and leadership positions in student government, residence life, honor council, judicial council, and orientation then one would find at a regular co-educational institution. Third, specialized living and learning programs and individual interactions promote uniquely gender-focused opportunities for personal growth and development. Finally, the coordinate colleges provide unparalleled student support by monitoring the academic and co-curricular progress of each student.Speaking from personal experience, I would say that the area where the coordinate system is most prevalent is in the separate deans offices for each college. This separation serves to allow each office to better cater to the individualized concerns of Richmond and Westhampton students. Furthermore, the separation of student governments allows for much more student voice in how the school is run.It is undeniable that Richmond College and Westhampton College exemplify the philosophy of coordinate education. Coordinate education at the University of Richmond provides for easily identifiable student bodies, dual student governments, and a dean and activities for each residential college. And of course, a coordinate education offers the instructional and social benefits usually reserved for colleges and universities with much larger student bodies.Hopefully this post has answered many of your questions concerning a unique and distinctive feature of the Richmond education!