Roosevelt Academy

Infobox University
name = Roosevelt Academy University College


caption =
latin_name =
motto = "The Future Belongs to Those who Believe in the Beauty of Their Dreams" (Eleanor Roosevelt)
tagline =
established = 2004
type = Liberal arts college
dean = Prof. Hans Adriaansens
faculty = 50
students = 600
undergrad =
postgrad =
city = flagicon|Netherlands Middelburg
province =
country = Netherlands
address =
telephone =
campus = Urban
free_label =
free =
sports =
colours = Red and Gold color box|#A30013 color box|#FFB300
nickname =
mascot =
athletics =
affiliations = Utrecht University, ECOLAS
nobel_laureates =
website = [http://www.roac.nl/ www.roac.nl]

publictransit =
footnotes =

Roosevelt Academy is a small liberal arts college located in Middelburg in the Netherlands. It offers a residential setting and is an international honors college of Utrecht University.

History

In 1575, William of Orange was about to found the first university in the Netherlands, the choice was between the cities of Leiden and Middelburg, it became the University of Leiden and Middelburg missed out. However, centuries later, Middelburg would still get its university in the form of the Roosevelt Academy. Founder Professor Hans Adriaansens, unhappy with the undemanding and large scale climate of university education in the Netherlands, started developing the idea of a small scale and academically intensive undergraduate college in the Netherlands. This resulted in University College Utrecht in 1998 and in the Roosevelt Academy in 2004. The Roosevelt Academy was officially founded on February the 1st 2004 and the first students enrolled in August of that year after Queen Beatrix performed the official opening of the university.

Admissions

The academy admits 200 students each academic year. Approximately two-thirds are Dutch and the remaining third come from a wide number of countries. The Roosevelt Academy is seen by many outsiders as an elitist college for the rich; however, tuition is not any higher than any other university in the Netherlands. An article in a well-known Dutch newspaper made similar accusations but, after investigation, the newspaper soon admitted it had made a mistake.

Academics

Students in the college study a wide variety of courses spanning four different subject areas: Academic Core, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences and the Sciences, thus giving students both breadth and depth. After three years of successful study at Roosevelt Academy students are awarded a Utrecht University Honors BA or BSc degree. After Roosevelt Academy, many students continue their studies at renowned universities all around the world.

Students at Roosevelt Academy can take courses in the following fields:

RooseveltAcademy

Rankings

In 2005 and again in 2007 , the influential magazine Elsevier ranked the Roosevelt Academy as 1st of liberal arts colleges in the Netherlands, its score was also higher than that of any regular university in the Netherlands. It should be noted however that, like any other university ranking, the ranking is highly subjective.

Exchange Programs

During the second semester of their second year at RA or the first semester of their final year, students have the opportunity to take part in an international exchange program. This way students can study abroad for a semester while earning credits that will count towards their RA degree. Students can go to a wide variety of universities around the world. Options include locations such as the University of California through the Utrecht University exchange network, but also the Honors Program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Glendon College in Toronto and Vesalius College in Brussels.

Campus

Academic Buildings

Roosevelt Academy's academic center is situated near the market square in the heart of Middelburg. This includes the medieval city hall which, built in 1452, is Roosevelt Academy's main building. The non-gothic part is known as the Franklin building. The Theodore Building, often referred to as the Helm, is next to the city hall and the Eleanor building. These buildings house all classrooms, computer labs, faculty and administration offices. The Roosevelt Academy Graduate School of Music will be housed in the Kloveniersdoelen building.

Residence Halls

Almost all students live at one of the residential halls: the Bagijnhof, the Roggeveenhof, and the Koestraat. These Halls house between 100-200 students each and are spread throughout the inner city, all close to Roosevelt Academy's academic buildings.As the Roosevelt Academy grows, more buildings in the city center are being refurbished for student housing.

Library and Bookstore

Roosevelt Academy's official academic bookstore is "De Drvkkery", located at the market square. Furthermore, students have full access to the Zeeland Library, which is the biggest library in the province. Moreover, students can use the digital library of Utrecht University.

tudent Organizations

Roosevelt Academy Student Association

The Roosevelt Academy Student Association (RASA) organizes many social activities for students.

AAC

The Academic Affairs Council (AAC) represents the students in academic matters. It engages in dialogue with fellow students and faculty to deal with complaints and suggestions concerning offered courses.

HAC

The Housing Affairs Council (HAC) represents students in negotiations with the housing corporation and is the contact body for students for all matters that concern the campus.

Aurora

Aurora is the alumni association of the Roosevelt Academy. It publishes a quarterly newsletter named Radar and organizes events and reunions.

Traditions

Traditions at the Roosevelt Academy include the "Opening of the Academic Year" held every year in Middelburg's New Church and the "Dies Natalis", the annual celebration of the founding of the college. Weather permitting, the procession of Notables, Professors and university instructors can be seen walking from the Stadhuis to Middelburg's New Church where the official ceremonies are held.Other traditions are the yearly King of the Channel rowing race against the Hogeschool Zeeland, and the University College Debate Tournament against University College Maastricht and University College Utrecht among others.

Many famous people have given lectures at the Roosevelt Academy, recently these have included ministers Rita Verdonk, Ben Bot, Atzo Nicolaï and former prime minister Dries van Agt. An interesting fact is that Saint Nicholas, better known as Sinterklaas, has been named "special honorary visiting fellow" to the Roosevelt Academy.

Ad Astra, the Roosevelt Academy Undergraduate Journal, is a journal that is published yearly by the Roosevelt Academy.

Athletics

The RASA Sports Committee organizes various sport activities for students. The Roosevelt Academy currently has men and women's rowing teams and students play field hockey, soccer, fencing, and basketball.

Costs

The costs of studying at the Roosevelt Academy are the same for Dutch, EU, and non EU students: € 1,519.00. This is the same cost as other universities in the Netherlands. Campus housing costs about 310-400 Euros a month. This includes internet, electricity, water, etc. All fees included, studying one year at Roosevelt Academy will cost about 8,000 Euros.In exceptional cases Roosevelt Academy gives scholarships, mainly to students from Eastern Europe and South America.

External links

;Roosevelt Academy
* [http://www.roac.nl Official Website of Roosevelt Academy]
* [http://www.de-drvkkery.nl De Drvkkery, Roosevelt Academy Bookstore]
* [http://www.therooseveltscholarship.nl The Roosevelt Scholarship]

;Other
* [http://www.transatlanticstudies.org/index.php Official Website of the Middelburg Center for Transatlantic Studies]
* [http://www.studyin.nl Study in the Netherlands]