Commuter Student Information

Randolph College has a long history of attracting commuter students to campus. Commuter students are a valued part of the College’s community, bringing important local perspectives and ideas to our campus and greater Lynchburg. The College continuously strives to ensure that all Randolph students have a deep and inclusive experience as campus community members. The information on this webpage details specific policies and resources pertinent to commuter students. Incoming students must apply to become commuter students via completing the Commuter Student Status Request.

Commuter Life Office

Location: Dean of Students Suite, 1st Floor, Main Hall
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Phone: (434) 947-8119
Fax: (434) 947-8298
Email: commuters@randolphcollege.edu

Mail & Shipments:

Commuter Life
Randolph College
2500 Rivermont Ave
Lynchburg, VA 24503

Meet the Staff

Dan Allee

Residence and Commuter Life Coordinator
Pronouns: he/him/his
434-947-8798
dallee01@randolphcollege.edu

Commuter Student Status Policy

Randolph College prides itself on being a residential college, meaning students are required to live on campus for four years. Randolph has been a residential college since it opened its doors in 1893.

Students under the age of 24 are not allowed to live off-campus independent of a parent/legal guardian, a grandparent, or a sibling. This policy means that students cannot live by themselves or with a group of friends off campus.

Eligibility

Students 24 years of age or older will automatically be granted Commuter Student Status. No application materials are needed for students meeting this criteria.

In order to be eligible for Commuter Student Status, an enrolled full-time student under the age of 24 must meet one or more of the following criteria:

Reside with a parent/guardian, grandparent(s), or siblings within a 50-mile radius of the College in the approved relative’s residence
Be married and living with a spouse
Be a military veteran
Have a dependent child living with them
Be enrolled in their fifth year or greater at the College
Students transferring into the College

Apply for Commuter Status

New Randolph College students must submit the Commuter Student Status Request form prior to the start of the academic session in which they matriculate.

Deadlines for 2025-2026 Academic Year

Session 1: August 1, 2025
Session 2: October 10, 2025
Session 3: January 5, 2026
Session 4: March 6, 2026

Transportation & Parking

Vehicle Registration

All students must register their vehicle in order to park on campus. Registration may be completed via the College portal. A parking decal for commuter students will cost $100/year. Visit the Parking Regulations page for more information.

Parking for Commuter Students

Commuter students can park their vehicles in the following areas:

The Bell Hall parking lot
The Michels Athletic Center parking lot
The side of Leggett Hall by the tennis courts
The bottom of the Magnolia Foods parking lot
The bottom of the Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church parking lot

Bus Routes

The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company provides bus service to campus with several bus stops along Route 3A and Route 3B.

Inclement Weather

In the event that the College schedule will be altered due to weather conditions or other emergencies, a message will be disseminated via text alert, email and via the LiveSafe App. Delays and cancellations at the College will also be broadcast on local radio and TV stations. Questions regarding inclement weather may contact Campus Safety at 434-947-8000 for more information.

LiveSafe App – Emergency Notifications

All students are encouraged to sign up for the LiveSafe app.
The app enables students, faculty, and staff to quickly submit information directly to campus safety, access important safety and security resources, and receive critical information from campus safety officials. LiveSafe provides a suite of self-service safety tools, allowing those within the campus community to contribute to the safety and security of the College.

Facilities & Services

Commuter Student Lounge

The Commuter Student Lounge is located on the second floor of the Student Center (Student Government Suite) in room 207. A refrigerator, microwave, and computer are also available in this lounge for students to use. Please maintain these appliances in a clean and orderly fashion, as they are enjoyed by the entire community. Keys can be checked out at the Front Desk for a semester at a time.

Lockers

The College has two sets of lockers exclusively for commuter students. One set of lockers is located in the hallway in front of Main Hall 12 and may be checked out through the Dean of Students office. Commuter students can utilize the Commuter Locker Registration Form to check out these lockers. The locker will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis for a single semester. The second set of lockers may be found on the second floor of the Student Center in the vending area near the pool tables. These lockers are for day use only. Students may place their own lock. However, all possessions and locks must be removed at the end of the day.

Academic Services Center

Commuter students can find all the tools they need to help craft their academic success. The Academic Services Center is open during regular library hours and offers a variety of academic support services to help students thrive during their time at Randolph College, including Subject Tutoring, the Academic Strategies Program, and the Writing Lab. For more information, check out the Academic Services Center webpage.

Health and Counseling Services

All full-time commuter students are eligible for services at both the Health & Counseling centers. Students must have a medical record on file to take advantage of these services. For more information, check out the Health Center webpage. The Randolph College Counseling Center is now offering free 24/7/365 on-demand access to care services from TimelyCare. The virtual health and well-being platform is an additional option on the counseling center’s list of on-campus and local in-person student services.

Lipscomb Library

All library services are available to commuter students. The following ones may be particularly useful:

To access the library catalog, electronic resources, and subject guides, as well as information on inter-library loans and other services, go to the library website at library.randolphcollege.edu.
Carrel reservations: Students may reserve desks in the library for a semester at a time. For more information or to apply for a desk, contact the Access & Outreach Services Librarian at 434-947-8360.
Research help: Keep an eye out for library orientation events, including training sessions geared towards commuter students. For individual research assistance, come by the reference desk or contact any of the librarians.

Food Options

There are many options commuter students may take advantage of regarding food on campus.

Located in the lower level of Wright Hall, Cheatham Dining Hall is an all-you-care-to-eat facility that offers a myriad of dishes for each meal of the day. While meal plans are not available for commuter students, meals may be purchased on an individual basis at a reduced “student” rate.
Conway Corner is a small a la carte convenience store located in the Michels Athletic Center.
Aramark, the campus food provider, offers a deal that allows students to pay $250 for $300 worth of Flex Dollars. Flex Dollars may be used at all Aramark facilities and do not expire from semester to semester as long as a student is enrolled at the College.
The Commuter 15 is a meal plan that offers students 15 meals and 30 Dining Dollars per semester. Students will need to reload this meal plan on a Semester basis.

Additional information may be found at the Dining webpage.

Commuters @ Randolph (CAR )

In the spring of 2017, a Commuter Student Work Group was formed to provide guidance and suggestions to the College regarding the commuter student experience. This group, composed of current full-time commuter students, meets on a monthly basis. Moving into the Fall 2025 Semester, the Commuter Student Work Group is looking to move forward and become a recognized club called CAR (Commuters @ Randolph). This club will be a great opportunity for commuter students to meet and discuss commuter concerns while also planning events for the commuter population on campus.

Dean of Students

Commuter Student Information

Commuter Life Office

Mail & Shipments:

Meet the Staff

Dan Allee

Commuter Student Status Policy

Eligibility

Apply for Commuter Status

Transportation & Parking

Vehicle Registration

Parking for Commuter Students

Bus Routes

Inclement Weather

LiveSafe App – Emergency Notifications

Facilities & Services

Commuter Student Lounge

Lockers

Academic Services Center

Health and Counseling Services

Lipscomb Library

Food Options

Commuters @ Randolph (CAR )

Off-Campus Resources

Benefits Screener

Childcare

Community Referral Services

Crisis Hotlines

Domestic Violence

Emergency Shelter/Housing

Food Assistance

Healthcare

Health Insurance

Housing

Immigration

Mental Health Counseling

Free Legal Services

Public WIFI

Prescription Discounts

Student Discounts

Substance Abuse Services

Utilities Assistance

Volunteer Opportunities

Forms