Roger Williams University

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From the College

Roger Williams University (RWU) is a 52-year-old independent, coeducational liberal arts university that has quickly established itself as a leader in higher education. A dynamic educational environment in which students live and learn to be global citizens, the University is committed to its mantra of “Learning to bridge the world.”

With thirty-nine academic programs and a robust array of cocurricular activities available on its waterfront campus in historic Bristol, Rhode Island, RWU looks to a set of core values in fulfilling its mission to prepare students for life as twenty-first century citizen-scholars. Over the past decade the institution has achieved unprecedented academic and financial successes. In 2008, U.S. News & World Report named Roger Williams the eighth-ranked baccalaureate college in the North.

A mid-sized university comprised of 3,800 students, personal attention is a guarantee at RWU. Professors teach all the courses, and with an average class size of 20, the student-to-faculty ratio is just 12:1. For students seeking additional academic support, the Center for Academic Development provides a multitude of tutoring, testing, and writing services.

All students are required to take a common liberal arts curriculum to provide a solid foundation for their continued studies. The Career Center assists students in securing internships and job placement, as well as offering information sessions on resume writing and professional etiquette. At the time of commencement in 2008, 89 percent of RWU’s graduating class had secured jobs or were accepted to graduate and professional schools for further study.

Students at Roger Williams are committed to community service as well as their education. All entering freshmen participate in an annual Community Connections day of service, during which teams led by upperclassmen, faculty, and staff members extend a helping hand at local community organizations. Many students choose to continue volunteer service throughout their years at RWU, collaborating with the University’s Feinstein Center for Service Learning and Community Outreach on projects such as Habitat for Humanity, local food banks, elder care facilities, mentoring at local high schools, and others.

At RWU, students of diverse backgrounds from across the U.S. and forty-seven other countries come together for a wholesome learning experience. Driven by a commitment to global citizenship, the University encourages all students to study abroad, whether it’s for a year, semester, summer session or even a mini-mester.

On campus, students enjoy cultural programs at the Intercultural Center, home to international and multicultural student life, spiritual life, and LGBT initiatives. In fall 2009, RWU will open Global Heritage Hall, a new campus academic center that will house the Peggy and Marc Spiegel Center for Global and International Programs, as well as the Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Global Languages Center and a series of heritage classrooms representing the myriad ethnic groups that both established and remain a strong presence in the local area.

Students can choose to live on or off campus in any of RWU’s nine University residence halls (shuttle service is available to students who live in an off-campus residence). Residences range from traditional dorms to apartment-style suites. A new residence hall for upperclassmen is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009, combining living space, classroom and study space, a café, and retail shops to create a modern living and learning community.

RWU students have access to more than seventy clubs and organizations and hundreds of events on campus every year. Students can join one of the University’s NCAA Division III varsity teams or an intramural athletic team, debate current issues with professors and fellow students, listen to world-renowned speakers, attend a concert or play at the Performing Arts Center, or run for Student Senate–their options are numerous.

The University is also committed to helping students maintain a healthy lifestyle. At the modern Dining Commons, students enjoy locally grown, organic foods. Many students also stay fit at the state-of-the-art Campus Recreation Center, which includes a swimming pool, basketball and squash courts, a weight lifting and cardio room, a Jacuzzi, and a sauna. The campus’ waterfront location also provides ample opportunities for sailing and kayaking.

Roger Williams University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

Roger Williams University is located in Bristol, Rhode Island, a seaside town that is home to antique stores, gourmet restaurants, ice cream shops, and spas. Providence, Rhode Island’s capital and largest city, is just a 30-minute bus ride away and offers museums, coffee shops, the Providence Place Mall, live music, and more. Providence is also a regional transportation hub, with an international airport and bus and train stations. By travelling 30 minutes in the other direction, students can visit Newport, home of famous beaches, shopping, festivals, and open markets.

At the undergraduate level, RWU awards Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees. In addition, the University has several joint degree programs. Academic programs are offered through one college and five professional schools that combine a traditional liberal arts education with professional studies.

Professional programs are offered through the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation; the Gabelli School of Business, accredited by the prestigious AACSB International; the School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management; and the School of Justice Studies.

Liberal arts majors are offered through the Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education. Continuing education opportunities are available through the School of Continuing Studies, and RWU is also home to Rhode Island’s only law school.

Roger Williams employs a core curriculum for all undergraduate students. The interdisciplinary program guarantees that all students, regardless of a major, receive a well-rounded education that combines a liberal arts background with a major academic area of interest. Students choose a major and a core concentration or a minor. With forty-one different programs of study ranging from American studies and architecture to security assurance studies and theater, RWU offers a wide variety of choices for its students.

One of the University’s core values is appreciation of global perspectives, and RWU encourages global exploration. All sophomores who maintain a 3.0 GPA receive a passport, free of charge, to encourage travel. Roger Williams has study-abroad opportunities on every continent but Antarctica. RWU’s flagship programs are in Florence, Italy, and London, England, but RWU has forty-seven affiliated programs in countries from Argentina to Vietnam and virtually everywhere in between.

The University also places an emphasis on internships, community service, and service learning. Career counselors work one-on-one with the students and alumni, providing career development guidance, assessment, employment-search skills, and placement assistance. Students who wish to be involved in volunteer service or service learning can contact the Feinstein Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement for on- and off-campus opportunities.

The University’s 54,000-square-foot main library houses seating and quiet study and reading areas for students, computer databases, and an online catalog. The ground floor is also home to the Learning Commons, a dynamic space that encourages learning through collaboration by combining library resources and research assistance with the latest technology. And an online system allows students to take advantage of library resources and collections of four additional Rhode Island institutions.

The Marine and Natural Sciences Building houses the science and mathematics departments and features a wet lab with flowing seawater; research space; and modern physics, chemistry, and biology laboratories. RWU is currently building a shellfish hatchery to further expand the University’s work reseeding the oyster population in Mount Hope Bay.

The Engineering Building supports modern lab facilities equipped for computing, drafting, electronics, surveying, soil, fluid and materials mechanics, and digital and environmental systems.

The Performing Arts Center houses art and sculpting studios, an art gallery, photography labs, a theater, a dance studio, rehearsal rooms, and scene and costume shops that support fine arts studies.

The award-winning School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation Building includes design studios, review and seminar rooms, a library, a photography studio and darkroom, a model shop, computer labs, and an exhibition gallery.

The Gabelli School of Business (GSB) houses the Robert F. Stoico FIRSTFED Financial Services Center, a high-tech classroom/trading room featuring split computer screens for students. Also in GSB is the Center for Advanced Financial Education (CAFE), which provides hands-on training in securities analysis and portfolio management for students involved in the Student Investment Management Fund.

Tuition and fees for the 2008–09 year were $27,718 for 12–17 credit hours ($29,256 for architecture students). Room and board averaged $11,880. Tuition information for the 2009–10 academic year will be available at http://financialaid.rwu.edu.

Students just shouldn’t just look at the price of a Roger Williams education. There are many resources available to help finance their education, including need- and merit-based scholarships and educational loans. Because RWU is still growing, there are more opportunities to address each individual family’s financial needs.

Each year, approximately 80 percent of RWU students receive financial aid through a combination of grants, scholarship, student loans, and on-campus jobs. The University’s median freshman aid package is $20,100. In 2008–09, RWU awarded more than $27 million in financial assistance. As a private institution, RWU has greater ability than state schools to offer scholarships or tap endowment funds to help students.

The University requires the submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. The Roger Williams University Title IV Federal Code Number is 003410. The FAFSA must be received at the federal processor no later than February 1 to be considered for maximum financial aid.

Renowned for their commitment to excellence in teaching, the Roger Williams University academic cadre features 655 faculty members, of whom 401 teach part-time. Of the 254 full-time faculty members at RWU, 38 percent have been with the University for more than ten years.

The Student Government Association (SGA) represents the Roger Williams University student body. Elected by their peers, Student Senate members are responsible for the legislative and executive functions of the SGA and represent the entire student community to the faculty and administration. Other leadership opportunities at Roger Williams include the Inter-Class Council, a group of peer-elected class representatives responsible for fostering school spirit, developing social programming opportunities for their respective classes, and representing their class to the Student Senate and University administration.

Roger Williams University seeks well-rounded, motivated students with a demonstrated capacity for academic achievement, and who also possess intellectual curiosity, strength of character, and a sense of social responsibility.

The admissions committee will evaluate an application based on a number of factors, including the rigor of a student’s high school curriculum, their scholastic record, standardized test scores (SAT or ACT are accepted), writing ability, interests, community involvement, and talents. Transfer students will be evaluated based on the same criteria, along with academic performance on the college level and scholastic record.

All students must submit an official application, letter(s) of recommendation, and official transcripts from all secondary and postsecondary schools attended to be considered for admission. RWU accepts applications for both early action and regular decision.

The deadline for early decision is November 1, and for regular decision, February 1. A nonrefundable fee of $50 must accompany the application. Application forms and admissions information may be obtained by contacting: