Randolph College Expands Athletic Programs with Women’s Flag Football Team

Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia just announced something big for women’s sports. They’re adding a women’s flag football team to their varsity lineup.

This new team will launch in the 2027-28 academic year. It’s part of a larger push to create more athletic opportunities for women.

The college wants to give students more ways to get involved and grow. Honestly, it’s a smart move for a school that’s always trying to stand out.

Randolph College Expands Athletic Opportunities for Women

With this decision, Randolph College is taking a real step toward gender equality in college sports. The school has about 900 students, and now it’ll offer 23 varsity sports—pretty impressive for its size.

Tom Galbraith, the Director of Athletics, said adding flag football gives young women another shot at combining athletics and education. You can tell the college wants to attract more students who care about sports.

The Growth of Women’s Flag Football

Women’s flag football is catching on fast across the country. More than 100 NCAA Division III schools either have teams or plan to add them soon.

This isn’t just a trend—it’s a real shift in what sports are available for women. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference, which Randolph belongs to, already has two teams competing in their first seasons.

Four more schools, including Randolph, will join by spring 2028. The momentum’s hard to ignore.

NCAA and Olympic Recognition

The NCAA Division III membership voted in January 2026 to recognize women’s flag football as an emerging sport. That’s a big deal for getting more colleges on board.

Plus, the sport will be featured in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It feels like flag football is finally getting its moment.

Recruitment and Coaching

Randolph College is already looking for its first head coach for the women’s flag football team. They’re not stopping there, either.

The college is also hiring new coaches for women’s and men’s track and field/cross country. They’re clearly investing in their athletic department and want to support student-athletes across the board.

Legal Challenges to Student Loan Limits

Switching gears, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones just joined a lawsuit with attorneys general from over 20 states and D.C. They’re suing the U.S. Department of Education over new student loan limits for grad students.

These rules, which start July 1, cap annual borrowing at $20,500 and total borrowing at $100,000 for most grad students. Some professional programs get higher limits, but it’s still a big change.

Impact on the Healthcare Workforce

The lawsuit claims these limits might push students away from medical degrees, making the healthcare shortage worse. Programs like pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, optometry, and theology get the higher caps, but nursing doesn’t.

The coalition says the new rule unfairly narrows what counts as a “professional degree” and adds restrictions Congress never approved. It’s a complicated fight, and honestly, it’s tough to say how it’ll play out.

Leadership Changes at Ferrum College

Ferrum College just named Richard Grant as its new provost. He’s been in the role since January and brings a lot of experience to the table.

Before this, Grant worked as associate vice president for student success and interim vice president for academic affairs and dean at Roanoke College. He’ll also teach physics at Ferrum.

Commitment to Student-Centered Learning

Grant says he’s grateful and excited to serve as provost. He talks a lot about student-centered learning, mentorship, and preparing grads for meaningful lives.