Hampden – Sydney College Hampden – Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney , Virginia , United States . Founded in 1775 , Hampden – Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U . S . , the last college founded before the American Revolution , and one of only three four - year , all - men ' s liberal arts colleges in the United States . Overview . Hampden – Sydney enrolls 1 , 106 students from 30 states and several foreign countries , and emphasizes a rigorous and traditional liberal arts curriculum . Along with Wabash College and Morehouse College , Hampden – Sydney is one of only three remaining traditional all - male colleges in the United States and is noted as a highly regarded all - male institution of higher education in North America . The school ' s mission is to " form good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning " . As such , Hampden – Sydney has one of the strictest honor codes of any college or university . Upon entering as a student , each man pledges that he will not lie , cheat , steal , or tolerate those who do ; this pledge is binding for life . The pledge takes place during a ceremony in which the entering class sits in absolute silence while each man , when his name is called , comes forward and signs the pledge . This simply worded code of behavior applies to the students on or off campus . The Honor Code system is student - run , allowing for a trial of peers , adjudicated by a court of students . Students convicted of an honor offense face anywhere between 1 to 3 semesters of suspension or expulsion . Notably , a separate Code of Student Conduct covers " behavioral " infractions such as attempting to drink underage that do not rise to the level of an honor offense ( which only arise if deception or theft is involved ) . Thus , in effect , a two - tier system of student discipline is maintained ; the Code of Student Conduct ( regarding policies on parking or drinking ) are enforced by the Dean of Students ' Office with the help of the Student Court while the Honor Code system ( with more serious penalties for lying , cheating , or stealing ) is maintained exclusively by the students themselves . Though grievous violation of the Code of Student Conduct may result in expulsion , it is rare that any student is expelled except by sentencing of the Honor Court . Every student must prepare for and pass the Rhetoric Proficiency Exam , which requires passing a three - hour essay that is graded upon coherence of argument , quality of argument , style in which the argument is presented , and grammatical correctness . To prepare , the college requires each student to pass two rhetoric classes that are usually taken during the first two semesters . The rhetoric requirement is the same for students who decide to major in the humanities as those who follow a course of studies in economics . After graduating , many alumni have stated that the Rhetoric Program was the most valuable aspect in the Hampden – Sydney education . History . The college ' s founder and first president , Samuel Stanhope Smith , was born in Pequea , Pennsylvania . He graduated as a valedictorian from the College of New Jersey in 1769 , and he went on to study theology and philosophy under John Witherspoon , whose daughter he married on 28 June 1775 . In his mid - twenties , working as a missionary in Virginia , Smith persuaded the Hanover Presbytery to found a school east of the Blue Ridge , which he referred to in his advertisement of 1 September 1775 as “ an Academy in Prince Edward . . . distinguished by the Name of HAMPDEN - SIDNEY " . The school , not then named , was always intended to be a college - level institution ; later in the same advertisement , Smith explicitly likens its curriculum to that of the College of New Jersey ( now Princeton University ) . “ Academy ” was a technical term used for college - level schools not run by the established church . Classes at Hampden – Sydney began in temporary wooden structures on November 10 , 1775 , on the eve of American Independence , moving into its three - story brick building early in 1776 . The college has been in continuous operation since that date , operating under the British , Confederate , and United States flags . In fact , classes have only been canceled three times : for a Civil War skirmish on campus , for a hurricane that knocked a tree into a dormitory building , and for a snowstorm . Since the college was founded before the proclamation of the Declaration of Independence on July 4 , 1776 , it was eligible for an official coat of arms and armorial bearings from the College of Arms of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom . Through gifts from the F . M . Kirby Foundation , Professor John Brinkley ( ' 59 ) , in whose honor the " achievement of arms " was given , liaised with Mr . John Brooke - Little , then the Richmond Herald , in designing the arms for the college . The Latin text of the " letters patent " conferring the arms is dated July 4 , 1976 ; Mr . Brooke - Little — who with the Queen ' s special permission appeared in full herald ' s uniform — made the presentation on Yorktown Day , October 19 , 1976 , at the college . Despite the difficult and financially strapped first years resulting from the Revolutionary War , the college survived with sufficient viability to be granted a charter by the Virginia General Assembly in 1783 — the oldest private charter in the South . Patrick Henry , then Governor of Virginia , encouraged the passage of the charter , and wrote into it an oath of allegiance to the new republic , required of all professors . Presumably under the influence of his mentor and father - in - law Witherspoon , Smith named the college for two English champions of liberty , John Hampden ( 1594 – 1643 ) and Algernon Sydney ( 1622 – 1683 ) . Hampden lost his life in the battle of Chalgrove Field during the English Civil War . Sydney , who wrote " Discourses Concerning Government " , was beheaded by order of Charles II following his ( unproven ) implication in a failed attempt to overthrow the king . These proponents of religious and civil liberties were much admired by the founders of the college , all of whom were active supporters of the cause of American independence . The college was founded by alumni of Princeton University . Both Patrick Henry , who did not attend any college , and James Madison , a Princeton alumnus , were elected trustees in the founding period before classes began . Smith hired his brother , John Blair Smith , and two other recent Princeton graduates to teach . Samuel Stanhope Smith would later become president of Princeton University . John Blair Smith would become the second president of Hampden – Sydney and later the first president of Union College . Hampden – Sydney became a thriving college while located in southside Virginia , which led to expansion . In 1812 , the Union Theological Seminary was founded at Hampden – Sydney College . The seminary was later moved to Richmond , Virginia and is currently the Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education . In 1838 , the medical department of Hampden – Sydney College was founded — the Medical College of Virginia , which is now the MCV Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University . During this time , the college constructed new buildings using Federal - style architecture with Georgian touches . This is the style of architecture still used on the campus . At the onset of the American Civil War , Hampden – Sydney students formed a company in the Virginia Militia . The Hampden – Sydney students did not see much action but rather were “ captured , and . . . paroled by General George B . McClellan on the condition that they return to their studies " . During World War II , Hampden – Sydney College was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V - 12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a commission . The college has hosted a wide array of noteworthy musicians over the years . Bruce Springsteen , the Allman Brothers , Dave Matthews Band , Widespread Panic , Bruce Hornsby , Pretty Lights , and Government Mule are among the popular visitors to Hampden – Sydney throughout the latter half of the twentieth century . On May 11 , 1964 , Attorney General Robert F . Kennedy visited Hampden – Sydney College to speak with students . In 1988 , then Vice President , George H . W . Bush , gave the commencement address . Campus . The College has expanded from its original small cluster of buildings on 100 acres ( 0 . 4 km² ) to a campus of over 1300 acres ( 5 . 25 km² ) . Before 2006 , the college owned 660 acres ( 2 . 7 km² ) . In February 2006 , the college purchased 400 acres ( 1 . 6 km² ) which include a lake and Slate Hill Plantation , the historic location of the college ’ s founding . The campus is host to numerous federal style buildings . Part of the campus has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district . Student life . Culture . As one of only a few higher educational institutions for men , and being older than the nation in which it is located , Hampden – Sydney College has a unique culture . Students are also issued a copy of " To Manner Born , To Manners Bred : A Hip - pocket Guide to Etiquette for the Hampden – Sydney Man " , which covers everything from basic manners , how to greet and introduce people , how to respond to invitations , how to dress , the difference between a black - tie and white - tie event , how to choose a wine , etc . The college publishes the book as a useful tool for existing successfully in a variety of social settings . Clubs and organizations . According to the Hampden – Sydney College website , there are over 40 clubs on campus . Each club is run by the students . There are political clubs , sports clubs , religious clubs , a student - run radio station , a pep band , and multiple social fraternities . There are also volunteer groups such as Habitat for Humanity and Rotaract . The college campus is home to a unique volunteer fire department , The Hampden – Sydney Volunteer Fire Department , which provides fire suppression service and non - transport basic life support EMS to Prince Edward County and the college , as well as assisting the town of Farmville Fire Department with fire suppression at nearly all working fires within the town limits on a regular basis . HSVFD , Company 2 , is located on the south end of campus near the water tower and the physical plant . Contrary to popular belief , and despite its location and the fact that 90 % of the membership comes from college faculty , staff , and students , the fire department is , in fact , not affiliated with the college . Union - Philanthropic Literary Society ( UPLS ) is the oldest student organization at Hampden – Sydney College . Established on September 22 , 1789 , it is the nation ' s second oldest literary and debating society still in existence today . Greek life . For freshmen , rush begins in the first semester and pledging takes place in the spring . If a student chooses not to rush and / or pledge as a freshman , sophomores and juniors may pledge in the fall or spring . Roughly 34 % of the student body is involved in Greek life . Beta Theta Pi used Atkinson Hall ( built 1834 ) as a fraternity house when it came to campus in 1850 possibly making it one of the first fraternity houses in North America . Chi Psi is widely believed to have created the first fraternity house in 1845 at the University of Michigan . In addition to the social and professional fraternities listed above , Hampden – Sydney also has chapters of Phi Beta Kappa , the Academic Honor Society ; Pi Sigma Alpha , the National Political Science Honor Society ; Omicron Delta Kappa , a national leadership honor society and Alpha Psi Omega , a national honors society for theatre arts . Housing . Freshmen are required to live in one of three dorms that are set aside for freshmen . These dorms are Cushing Hall , the Carpenter Dormitories ( X and Y ) , and the Whitehouse Quadrangle . Sophomores , juniors , and seniors have the option of living in any of the other dorms that they choose ( these additional residences include Carpenter Z , the Hampden House Units , Venable Hall , Alphabet Dormitories B through F , and the Blake Apartments ) . Fraternity houses are available for members and the chapter president and several specialty houses — usually organized around a club , sports team , or other student group — are available . The Elliott House is reserved for Honor Students who choose to live there . Although an overwhelming majority of students live on campus or in campus - owned housing , the school does permit a small number of students ( usually upperclassmen ) to live off - campus . In addition , some students also rent rooms in local campus homes . Athletics . Summary . Hampden – Sydney College teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ' s Division III . The Tigers are a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference ( ODAC ) . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cross country , football , golf , lacrosse , soccer , swimming & diving and tennis . Hampden – Sydney ' s rivalry with Randolph - Macon College is one of the longest - running college rivalries in the United States . " The Game " is often referred to as the oldest small - school football rivalry in the South , with the first match up having been played in 1893 . Athletic events involving the two schools are fiercely competitive , and the week prior to " The Game " between Hampden – Sydney and Randolph - Macon is known as " Beat Macon Week " . Presidents of Hampden – Sydney College . The following is a list of the Presidents of Hampden – Sydney College from its opening in 1775 until the present . Rankings . " Forbes " . " Forbes " ranked Hampden – Sydney # 4 in its 2010 ranking of the best private colleges in the South . It ranked # 6 among Forbes 20 best colleges in the South .