Roberts Wesleyan College

Roberts Wesleyan College
Roberts Wesleyan College seal
Motto	Latin: Ora et Labora
Motto in English	"Pray and Work"
Established	1866
Type	Private
Religious affiliation	Free Methodist Church
Endowment	$16.4 million[1]
President	John A. Martin
Students	2,000
Location	North Chili, NY, USA
Campus	Suburban
Former names	Chili Seminary
Colors	Red, white, and black
Nickname	Raiders
Website	www.roberts.edu

Roberts Wesleyan College (RWC) is a Christian liberal arts college located in North Chili, New York. It is the first educational institution established for Free Methodists in North America. Roberts is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, is a member of the Association of Colleges and Universities of the State of New York,^[2] the Rochester Area Colleges, the Association of Free Methodist Educational Institutions, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC),^[3] and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).^[4]

Northeastern Seminary (NES)^[5] is a graduate school of theology located on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan College. NES has been fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada since 2003.^[6] It is also accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools^[7] and the New York State Board of Regents University of the State of New York.^[8]

History

Roberts Wesleyan College was originally established as Chili Seminary by Benjamin Titus Roberts in 1866. Roberts was a social activist who opposed slavery and oppression of the poor, and was a supporter of women's right to vote. He began the school to train young people to become servant leaders with high moral character.

In 1885, its name changed to Chesbrough Seminary in response to the $30,000 gift of benefactor A.M. Chesbrough. In 1945, it was renamed Roberts Junior College in honor of B.T. Roberts, the founder of both the college and the Free Methodist Church. Four years later, it was renamed as Roberts Wesleyan College in order to pay homage to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism and the Wesleyan Church.

In 1998, Roberts Wesleyan College established Northeastern Seminary^[9] as its graduate school of theology.

Academics

Roberts offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Through Northeastern Seminary, students can complete a Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry degree, and several certificate programs in Buffalo and Rochester.

The school has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Student life

The majority of the college's students live in college-owned housing as required by the college for students coming from out of town.

Students are required to go to 22 of 40 chapel services every semester. Roberts also requires that its students sign a statement saying that they will abstain from alcohol, tobacco, gambling, plagiarism and sexual acts with person they are not married to while enrolled at the College.

Numerous student groups are active on campus as well as off. Some of these include: Acting on AIDS, At the Foot of the Cross, Beacon Newspaper, Campus Crusade for Christ, Chesbronian Yearbook, Dance Ministry, Drama Ministry, Gospel Choir, Habitat for Humanity, In Jesus' Name (Street Ministry), And He Made Me (Multicultural Student Union - leadership team) Intramural Athletics, mission trips, Student Association, SIFE, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Key of She (all-female a cappella group) and Worship Teams.

Athletics

Roberts is a dual member of two national athletics associations: the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Roberts offers fourteen varsity sports: basketball (men and women), cross-country (men and women), golf (men), lacrosse (men and women), soccer (men and women), tennis (men and women), track and field (men and women), and women’s volleyball. In July 2011, the college was accepted into the NCAA Division II reclassification process from the NAIA to NCAA.^[10] The college will continue to compete in the NAIA during the 2011-12 academic year before dropping its NAIA affiliation as a provisional member of the NCAA. If successful Roberts will become a full member of NCAA Division II for the 2014-15 academic year.^[10] The college competes as a member of the NAIA's American Mideast Conference with plans to join the East Coast Conference in the future as part of the move to the NCAA.^[11]

Notable alumni

• Alan Austin (1960), Founder and CEO of, Nationwide Circuits, Inc.
• Timothy D. Bellavia (1992), Children's Author / Illustrator & Professor, Touro College
• Eileen Button, author of 'The Waiting Place'
• Richard Goddard, Goalkeeper, Vancouver Whitecaps
• Rev. Doug Newton (1975), Senior Editor, of Light and Life Magazine^[12] for the Free Methodist Church
• John Mark Reynolds (1986), director of the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University
• Jennifer Stuczynski (2005), Pole Vaulter, 2006 USA Outdoor Champion, holder of the American women's pole vault record, 2008 Beijing Olympics Silver Medalist
• Sharon Sweet, Opera Singer, Metropolitan Opera Company & Vocal Professor, Westminster Choir College
• DM Stith (2002) singer-songwriter, Sufjan Stevens' backup singer and pianist, graphic artist^[13]
• Daniel Bennett (2002), Award winning Manhattan-based jazz bandleader and composer
• Candy VanBuskirk, founder of Coach Candy Camp

Notes and references

External links

• Roberts Wesleyan College, Official Site
• Northeastern Seminary