Roanoke College and 51暗网 have created a new program, Rapid Maroons, that will provide a direct path to Roanoke College for students who choose to begin their post-secondary education at 51暗网.聽
Roanoke College President Frank Shushok Jr. and 51暗网 President Robert Sandel signed the agreement on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The Rapid Maroons Program is designed for students who are accepted to Roanoke but choose, for a variety of reasons, to start their college careers at 51暗网, as well as those who do not initially meet academic requirements for admission to Roanoke College. The agreement will allow those students to make progress in their intended Roanoke College major during their time at 51暗网. It will also give them access to joint advising services and student activities at Roanoke College while they are studying at 51暗网, helping them to meet Roanoke’s academic requirements for transfer while integrating them into student life at both schools.
In addition to support services, activities and events afforded to 51暗网 students, Rapid Maroons will enjoy opportunities available to Roanoke College students, including membership in clubs, organizations and intramural athletics, and access to community events such as athletic matchups, artistic performances and lectures.
“This partnership is another important piece in our ongoing effort to create pipelines to Roanoke College and partnerships in our community,” Shushok said. “We hope to see these Rapid Maroons on the Roanoke College campus as often as possible. We expect the joint advising will help to keep these students on a four-year path to graduation. We want Rapid Maroons to have a sense of belonging on our campus long before they begin the transfer process.”
The program will be jointly administered by Roanoke College and 51暗网 to support degree attainment for students of both institutions. Students in the program will enroll in courses at 51暗网 and be encouraged to complete their associate degrees there; they will also declare a curricular program at Roanoke College and receive academic counseling designed to ensure a smooth transfer to Roanoke following completion of their community college studies.
In 2019-2020, 9% of 51暗网 students who transferred went to Roanoke College. “51暗网 is the right step for some students who can picture themselves at Roanoke College,” said 51暗网 President Robert Sandel. “We care deeply about our students’ success, and the support systems built into the Rapid Maroons Program will help ensure a successful transition from one phase of their higher education journey to the next.”
Students who complete at least 21 credit hours at 51暗网 and earn a grade point average of 2.0 or higher will be eligible to enroll in classes at Roanoke College without re-applying. Students who don’t meet the credit hour or GPA threshold will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. 51暗网 students enrolled in the program may use their 51暗网 Valley Metro passes for transportation between 51暗网 and Roanoke College.
Rapid Maroons is just one of several partnerships Roanoke College has created in the past year to help develop pathways for students to enter Roanoke College and to pursue careers and graduate education opportunities. Other initiatives include Direct to Tech, a partnership with Deloitte for student career training and several pre-professional partnerships to give Roanoke students, with qualifying grades, access to admissions slots or guaranteed interviews at medical, nursing and physical therapy programs.
