Randolph – Macon College Randolph – Macon College is a private , co - education al liberal arts college located in Ashland , Virginia , United States , near the capital city of Richmond . Founded in 1830 , the school has an enrollment of over 1 , 200 students . The college offers bachelor ' s degree s in 37 major disciplines in the liberal arts , including political science , business , psychology , biology , international studies , and computer science , as well as nearly 40 minors , including education . Randolph – Macon College is a member of The Annapolis Group of colleges in the United States , as well as the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges . History . Randolph – Macon was founded in 1830 by the Virginia Methodists , and is the oldest Methodist - run college in the country . It was originally located in Boydton , near the North Carolina border but as the railroad link to Boydton was destroyed during the Civil War , the college ' s trustees decided to relocate the school to Ashland . The college was named for statesmen John Randolph of Roanoke and Nathaniel Macon . ( The original site of Randolph – Macon features a historical marker and ruins of the classroom buildings . ) In 1847 , Randolph – Macon College established a relationship with the Hampden - Sydney College . alum John Peter Mettauer . The relationship led to the formation of the Randolph – Macon Medical School , and in 1851 the school was closed . The college has a historical relationship with Randolph College ( formerly known as Randolph – Macon Woman ' s College ) in Lynchburg , Virginia . The former women ' s college was founded under Randolph – Macon ' s original charter in 1893 by the then - president William Waugh Smith ; it was intended as a female counterpart to Randolph – Macon . The two schools later separated to become distinct institutions governed by two separate boards . Randolph – Macon College became co - education al in 1971 with the enrollment of 50 women and the first full - time female faculty member . ( Randolph College became co - educational in 2007 . ) In 1892 , two preparatory schools — both called Randolph – Macon Academy — were founded . The only one which remains today is Randolph – Macon Academy in Front Royal , Virginia . Randolph – Macon Academy is today the only co - educational military boarding school in the country affiliated with the United States Air Force Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps ( AFJROTC ) . Randolph – Macon College became the first college south of the U . S . Mason - Dixon Line to require physical education coursework for graduation . Since 1923 , the college has been home to the Zeta chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society , the nation ' s oldest academic honor society . Chi Beta Phi , the national science honorary society , was founded at Randolph – Macon in 1916 . Academic program . Randolph – Macon College offers a broad - based curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences . The education emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills and effective oral and written communication . All students must satisfy the general collegiate curriculum , which requires them to take courses in each of the Areas of Knowledge : civilization s , art s and literature , social science s , natural and mathematics , foreign languages , and wellness . Randolph – Macon offers two undergraduate degrees : the bachelor of arts and the bachelor of science . The college awards degrees in 37 majors : Accounting , Archaeology , Art History , Arts Management , Asian studies , Biology , Chemistry , Classical Studies , Communication Studies , Computer Science , Drama , Economics , Economics / Business , Engineering Physics , English , Environmental Studies , French , German , Greek , History , International studies , Latin , Mathematics , Music , Philosophy , Physics , Political Science , Pre - Engineering , Pre - law , Pre - med , Pre - ministry , Psychology , Religious Studies , Sociology , Spanish , Studio Art , and Women ' s studies . Calendar . Randolph – Macon operates on a 4 - 1 - 4 academic calendar , which includes fall and spring semesters ( each about four months in length ) and a one - month January Term between the semesters . During the January Term , students have the option of taking an intensive study course on - campus , a study - abroad course that includes two to three weeks of global travel , or a professional internship in the student ’ s field of interest . Facilities . Randolph – Macon College has over 60 academic , administrative , athletic , and residential buildings on its campus of located in the heart of Ashland , Virginia . The oldest building is Washington - Franklin Hall , built in 1872 , soon after the college moved to Ashland from Boydton . It was the first brick building in Ashland , and its construction was funded by the students . Renovated in 1987 , Washington - Franklin Hall now houses the history department . Pace - Armistead Hall was built in 1876 ( renovated 1997 ) and originally housed the chemistry department . Today , it is home to the studio art department , including the Flippo Art Gallery . The original Duncan Methodist Church was built in 1879 and was renovated to include classrooms and offices for the music and arts departments . All three buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places , and collectively they make up " Historic Campus . " Copley Science Center is the largest academic building on campus . The biology , chemistry , physics / astrophysics , environmental studies , computer science , and mathematics departments are all located in Copley . Copley Science Center was built as an extension of Smithey Hall , which today houses the psychology department . Just north of Copley is Keeble Observatory , which includes a 12 " Cassegrain reflector optical telescope and two radio telescopes . Randolph – Macon has one main library : McGraw - Page Library . Formerly , the library was located in Peele Hall , which is now the main administrative building on - campus and includes the Copy Center , Registrar ' s Office , Human Resources , provost , dean of students , and the president . There are 11 residence halls on campus . The seven halls on the north end of campus are collectively known as the Freshman Village . About 75 % of the college ' s freshmen live in one of those halls . The four located near the center of campus house upperclassmen and the remaining freshmen . These include the two oldest residence halls - Thomas Branch Hall and Mary Branch Hall . The college also owns most of the fraternity and sorority houses , other houses devoted to special interest groups , and on - campus townhouses ( usually reserved for seniors ) . A new residence hall - Andrews Hall , named after former Dean of Students Rev . Ira Andrews - opened in fall 2011 . The College announced a $ 100 million capital campaign in 2011 . A large portion of the funds will go toward enhancing facilities , including two new residence halls , new football and baseball fields and stadiums , and additions and renovations to the McGraw - Page Library , Copley Science Center , and Brown Campus Center . The main north - south railroad line for the east coast runs through the campus . Most of the campus is located to the east of the railroad , but a handful of college offices , special interest houses , and athletic fields are located to the west of the tracks . The Ashland train station ( not part of the R - MC campus ) is directly across from the southern entrance to the campus . Athletics . Randolph – Macon ' s sports teams are known as the Yellow Jackets or , more simply , as " The Jackets . " Randolph – Macon College plays in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference ( ODAC ) , a member of Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) . The school ' s main rival in men ' s sports over the past century has been Hampden - Sydney College . The football game between Randolph – Macon and Hampden - Sydney dates to the 19th century and is billed as the " Oldest Small - College Rivalry in the South . " Randolph – Macon won the first contest 12 – 6 in 1893 . In 1969 Randolph – Macon defeated the University of Bridgeport ( Connecticut ) 47 – 28 in the Knute Rockne Bowl laying claim to a shared College Division National Championship with Wittenberg University ( Springfield , Ohio ) which had defeated William Jewell College in the Alonzo Stagg Bowl . The 4 teams had been chosen by the NCAA to compete in the first ever playoffs established for Division II schools . No complete playoff was set up until 1973 . The Yellow Jacket football team is currently coached by Pedro Arruza and won the ODAC championship in 2008 . The football team plays its home games at Day Field . R - MC ' s basketball teams have had numerous successful seasons . The women ' s basketball team played in the NCAA Division III national championship game in the 2004 – 05 season , losing to Millikin University and finishing second in the nation . The men ' s basketball team has been ranked # 1 in the country by D3hoops . com , most recently in 2011 , and earned a trip to the Final Four of the NCAA Division III tournament in 2010 . The women ' s volleyball team won the ODAC championship in 2009 and 2010 , including a # 25 national ranking and a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2010 . R – MC ' s baseball team won the conference championship in 2011 . Men ' s sports : baseball , basketball , football , golf , lacrosse , soccer , swimming , and tennis . Women ' s sports : basketball , field hockey , golf , lacrosse , soccer , softball , swimming , tennis , volleyball . The college maintains a Hall of Fame of former specially accomplished athletes based upon their past athletic records . Greek life . Fraternities : Sororities : Co - educational Service Fraternity :