66. We’re more than a pretty place
UR perennially ranks right at the top of the Princeton Review’s ranking of “Best-Run Colleges.” In 2023, we were in familiar territory: No. 3. It’s ultimately a sign of high levels of student satisfaction — the rankings come from “student ratings of how smoothly their colleges are run,” according to the publication.
67. We walk alongside students
Our 7:1 student-faculty ratio allows faculty to be partners in student learning and advocates for Spiders’ personal initiatives, ideas, and development.
@urichmond As you watch this video, try to slow down and take a few deep breaths. We all have busy schedules, struggles, and stressors, but it's so important to take time to be mindful, to focus on the present moment, and to take good care of ourselves, one another, and this place. ❤️💙🕷️ #urichmond #mindfulness #richmond #universityofrichmond
♬ original sound - University of Richmond
68. Quiet Spaces
There are, on campus, moments between moments. Passing through ornate archways. Trekking empty wooded paths. Noticing sunlight as it filters through tree branches in hazy, shifting beams. A liminal space that catches your breath, holding it ransom until you acknowledge the moment. The moment you could have rushed through but didn’t.
There’s magic in the pause, as though you’ve stepped into Narnia, a reprieve you didn’t know you needed until you did. And the splendor lifts your spirits, as though it exists just for you, a buoy to bolster you on your way.
The scent of pine and the crunch of its cones beneath your feet. The sound of the lake lapping against the shoreline, the ducks calling to one another. The leaves in the tree limbs brushing against one another in the breeze. The splash of the fountains, water droplets reaching for you. This is the quiet symphony of our campus.
—María Badillo
69. Carole M. Weinstein International Center
It is a playful gem — you can give the globe a spin — with purpose. The central courtyard recalls architecture found worldwide, and its Passport Café serves food inspired by cuisines from around the world. Its mandalas are made from tiles originating in 48 countries. The building is a hub for global energy from students, faculty, and staff across campus.
“It symbolizes openness to the study of other cultures, other values, other legal systems, and other business and leadership models,” Weinstein said when it opened. “It is a beacon to those who travel here from the far corners of the world to study with us and be part of our campus family … [and] a launching place from which we send out our own students and faculty around the globe.”
70. Every season is chef’s-kiss, drop-dead gorgeous
71. Soaring architecture
Richmond’s recognizable style — called collegiate gothic — was the rage among prestigious colleges in the early 20th century, when the first buildings on this campus were built. UR has stuck with it, creating a breathtaking campus that has attracted and inspired generations of Spiders.
72. Seeing campus for the first time
Take a moment. Close your eyes. Remember every detail about your first walk by the lake. There’s nothing like that feeling of seeing campus for the first time and deciding to call it home.
73. Chaplaincy
In the words of one new staff member who recently made their first visit to the Wilton Center: “It feels like I’ve vanished into the shire and escaped the bustle of campus life.”
Inside and outside of the shire, the chaplaincy’s mission is to inspire generous faith and engage the heart of the university. One popular program is its pilgrimages, domestic and international trips designed to help students explore spirituality and faith. “The program creates an environment of trust and learning where genuine and meaningful engagement across differences can happen,” says Craig Kocher, chaplain.
74. An impressive welcome
From admission letter to employment offer letter, the Queally Center for Admission and Career Services bookends the Richmond experience. The elegant building, which opened in 2016, integrates the offices of admission, financial aid, and career development. That power combo means it’s a gateway for both coming into and going forth from the university and a showcase for the best of what Richmond offers.
75. Boatwright Beach
For more than 100 years, it’s been a respite, a rally site, and a spot for both sledding and sunning. The seasons might change, but Boatwright Beach’s allure is eternal.
76. Saying thank you
The university was built — and will continue to be built — on the generosity of caring alumni, parents, and friends. Five donor groups reflect the fact that every gift makes a powerful difference for Spiders today and tomorrow. Here they are:
- Robins Circle: Donors who make an annual gift of any amount for three or more consecutive fiscal years.
- Lake Circle: Donors who make a cumulative annual gift of $5,000 or more during a fiscal year.
- President’s Parent Leadership Council: Spider parents who make an annual gift of $10,000 or more.
- Charter Associates: Donors whose support will come in the future through estate gifts and other forms of deferred gifts.
- Quatrefoil: Donors who have given $1 million or more over their lifetimes.
On behalf of Spiders everywhere, thank you.