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Accreditation, Affiliations, and Program Approvals

Accreditation

Roanoke College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award master's and baccalaureate degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Roanoke College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).


Institutional Memberships

Roanoke is a member of the College Entrance Examination Board, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, The Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, and the Association of Virginia Colleges and Employers.

Lutheran Affiliation 

Roanoke is proud of its distinguished heritage as America's second oldest Lutheran college. As an institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Roanoke College believes that a sound religious program must be an integral part of the total college life.

Never sectarian in its outlook, the College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, and sex, to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the College. It does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants on the basis of race, color, gender, creed, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, or political affiliation in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Recognition of individual programs by specific external professional organizations

  • The Business Administration program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.
  • The Chemistry program is an approved program of the American Chemistry Society
  • The Biochemistry program is accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • The Teacher Licensure program is an Approved Educator Preparation Program by the Virginia Department of Education

Oak Ridge Associated Universities


Since 1993, students and faculty of Roanoke College have benefited from its membership in Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU is a consortium of 96 colleges and universities and a contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. ORAU works with its member institutions to help their students and faculty gain access to federal research facilities throughout the country; to keep its members informed about opportunities for fellowship, scholarship, and research appointments; and to organize research alliances among its members.
Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), the DOE facility that ORAU operates, undergraduates, graduates, postgraduates, as well as faculty, enjoy access to a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Students can participate in programs covering a wide variety of disciplines including business, earth sciences, epidemiology, engineering, physics, geological sciences, pharmacology, ocean sciences, biomedical sciences, nuclear chemistry, and mathematics. Appointment and program length range from one month to four years. Many of these programs are especially designed to increase the numbers of under-represented minority students pursuing degrees in science- and engineering-related disciplines. A comprehensive listing of these programs and other opportunities, their disciplines, and details on locations and benefits can be found in the ORISE Catalog of Education and Training Programs, which is available on the World-Wide Web at www.orau.gov/orise.htm or by calling either of the contacts below.

ORAU's Office of Partnership Development seeks opportunities for partnerships and alliances among ORAU's members, private industry and major federal facilities. Activities include faculty development programs, such as the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, the Visiting Industrial Scholars Program, Consortium research funding initiatives, faculty research and support programs as well as services to chief research officers.

For more information about ORAU and its programs, contact Dr. Richard Grant, Interim Vice President and Dean of the College, ORAU Councilor for Roanoke College at 540-375-2203; contact Ms. Monnie E. Champion, ORAU Corporate Secretary, at 865-576-3306; or visit the ORAU home page at www.orau.org.