LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Randolph-Macon Woman's College will change its name to Randolph College when it admits men next year, officials announced Saturday.
Trustees of the 115-year-old private college voted in September to make the school co-educational and received more than 1,000 suggestions on a new name.
"We voted unanimously to adopt a name that maintains continuity with our history as well as positions us for our future," said Jolley Christman, president of the board of trustees.
The new name takes effect July 1 and will be on recruiting materials starting Monday.
The school is going co-ed in an effort to achieve more financial stability, although nine students have filed a lawsuit seeking to delay male enrollment until at least after current freshmen have graduated.
About 100 people rallied Saturday to protest the name change and the college's transition to co-education. Nationally there are about 60 women's colleges, down from nearly 300 in the 1960s, according to the Women's College Coalition.