FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

$100,000 Matching Gift Challenge Surpassed by Preserve Educational Choice

Group Continues Battle to Preserve Randolph-Macon Woman’s College

July 2, 2007 -- Richmond, VA - Preserve Educational Choice (PEC) today announced that it has successfully completed a $100,000.00 matching gift challenge to preserve Randolph-Macon Woman's College (R-MWC) as a college for women. More than $130,000.00 has been received in response to the matching gift challenge, bringing the total funds raised by the group to more than $475,000.00.

"As of today, we have received $130,500.00 in response to the $100,000.00 matching challenge, and gifts are still coming in that were mailed before the deadline," said PEC fundraising chairwoman Carol Lang (R-MWC Class of 1968). "We've received gifts from alumnae, current students and parents, current and former R-MWC faculty, former R-MWC trustees, and people unconnected to the college who believe in the importance of preserving single-sex education as a choice at the college level."

PEC board member Diane Montgomery (R-MWC Class of 1985) is pleased but not surprised by the success of the program. "The alumnae and friends of Randolph-Macon Woman's College are sending a clear message to the Board of Trustees and the college's administration. We want our college back and we are willing to fight for it. The college wants to convey the impression that the battle is over. It most assuredly is not."

The funds raised as part of the challenge will support the ongoing appeals of two lawsuits against the college brought by current students and donors to R-MWC, which are poised to be considered by the Supreme Court of Virginia, as well as additional outreach programs by the organization. "It's amazing that many alumnae still do not know that there is organized resistance to the change to "Randolph College" and that the legal challenges continue," said PEC board member Anne Yastremski (R-MWC Class of 2005). "More than 60 percent of our funding has come in since the lawsuits were dismissed at the trial court level – resistance to the plans of R-MWC's trustees is building, not fading away. We are very optimistic about our ultimate success."

PEC cites the failure of the college to meet recruiting goals and recent reports of mismanagement at the college as reasons that support for PEC is growing. "This year's incoming class is nowhere near the size the administration said it would be. In fact, it is smaller than classes in previous years," said Yastremski. "Alumnae were told that coeducation would allow the college to educate more women, not less. Next year's class will have barely half of the women that made up previous classes. You don't hear the college's administration talking about that. I think many alumnae were waiting to see what would happen this first year and we are not happy."

Recent dissemination on the internet of a May 2007 financial review from a consultant engaged by the college has also drawn more supporters to PEC. "The consultant describes overstaffing of thirty percent, tuition discounting rates fifty percent greater than other single-sex colleges, and other management issues at the college," said Yastremski. "I think many alumnae feel like this report confirms what we said in August 2006 – single-sex education is not the problem at R-MWC – the management is. Now that the college's own consultant has told them the same thing we said almost a year ago, it's time for the trustees to reexamine the change to coeducation. Alumnae are willing and able to support Randolph-Macon Woman's College – we are only looking for the opportunity to do so."

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Preserve Educational Choice, Inc. is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization founded in September 2006 to oppose the R-MWC Board of Trustees' move to make the college coeducational and adopt "global honors" as a curricular focus. Supporters include more than 1,000 R-MWC alumnae, students, parents, faculty, staff, and former trustees united by a concern for the college's future. For more information about PEC please see www.preserveeducationalchoice.org.