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A Brief History of ROIAL

ROIAL Legacy

Beginning Fall Semester 1997, the College of Arts & Letters made available, for incoming freshmen, a program known as the Residential Option In Arts & Letters (ROIAL). Participation in this option will offer you a more intimate small college experience in the midst of a large university like Michigan State University. The ROIAL Program, which was based on Justin Morrill College, began under the direction of Dr. Anita Skeen, Professor of English. With generous support from the College of Arts & Letters under Dean John Eadie and the Office of the Provost under Lou Ann Kimsey Simon, ROIAL began in Fall 1997, admitting 60 freshmen men and women. Dr. Skeen, along with Assistant Director Chad Gasta, was able to work with the Housing Office in the newly renovated Mason-Abbot Hall, which reopened after extensive remodeling in 1997. Abbot Hall welcomed its ROIAL students, and served as a very ideal location and environment for all of the ROIAL students' needs. Since ROIAL's inception in 1997, the Program's students have nearly doubled, growing to approximately 120 students. Staff has grown, as well, offering a number of important positions, such as Projects Specialist and Teaching Assistant, and employing ROIAL graduates from the Program.

The ROIAL Program flourished for ten years, providing a broad liberal arts background for its students, an appreciation for the international cultural and linguistic diversity, and encouraging its students to take control of their undergraduate arts and humanities experience.

For a much more detailed (if a bit outdated) look at the nuances of ROIAL: the ROIAL Handbook.

ROIAL Student Benefits

Besides the physical beauty of the residence hall and its convenient location, ROIAL also offered students:

• an opportunity to forge connections with distinguished humanities faculty and with visiting speakers from the professional world.
• an opportunity to live and work closely with fellow Arts & Letters students with whom you may share the same challenging courses;
• enrichment activities that include guest speakers and workshops on a wide range of subjects, including poetry, fiction, music, history, religious studies, book discussions, films, as well as art and photography exhibitions;
• group excursions to such places as Stratford, Ontario, for performances of Shakespearean theater, and Chicago to visit the Institute of Art and Second City;
• innovative interdisciplinary freshman and sophomore seminars that focus on such topics as writing skills, creativity in the humanities, and the nature of community or careers in Arts & Letters;
• individual and group projects for the seminars that range from short stories or book chapters to one-act plays and student photography or art exhibitions;
• an independent, student-run theater group called the ROIAL Players, as well as a close relationship with Theatre and other departments;
• first-rate guest speakers for the seminars. Past speakers include an internationally renowned Australian author, a Broadway and television actor, and other widely known artists, performers and photographers;
• special options like service learning or honors options;
• over a dozen student-generated activity groups ranging in focus from art, dancing, film, animation, and music to poetry, improvisational comedy, and theater;
• access to facilities, including a dark room, a music room, a writing center for support with academic writing, as well as professional and creative writing, study rooms, a computer lab, and a ROIAL-only lounge -- all in Mason-Abbot Hall itself;
• language table opportunities available for all students wishing to practice and develop skills in their language of interest;
• special discounts for ROIAL students on most major university lectures and performances.

ROIAL was a unique program for other reasons as well. The majority of our staff – with the exception of the director – was composed of former ROIAL students. By developing and coordinating our various activities, clubs, and events, they were able to add valuable skills and experience to their college experience and prepare for the job market.

In short: we are confident that ROIAL will enrich both your academic and personal experiences on campus. We encourage you to visit, call, email, or write us if you have any questions – we'd love to hear from you.

About the College of Arts and Letters

"When Bela Hubbard, Detroit farmer and naturalist, sought taxpayer support for a state agricultural college in 1850, he stressed the need for courses in literature and the fine arts. He argued that in their inclusion in the educational core requirements would "polish the mind and manners, refine the taste, and add greater luster and dignity to life." This began the long history of arts and humanities education at Michigan State University.

Today, in the College of Arts and Letters, the arts and humanities not only enhance life and the mind, but also equip our students with the tools needed to excel in the workplace: dexterity in oral and written expression, foreign language proficiency, a sense of place and history, sensitivity to and understanding of diversity, and an aesthetic awareness that values creativity and play. About 3,200 students (2,500 undergraduate and 700 graduate students) select majors in the college, which offers bachelor and master of arts degrees in 27 areas, including bachelor and master of fine arts degrees in art and theater, and bachelor and master of music degrees. Doctoral degrees are offered in 15 areas of study. In addition, more than 30,000 students take courses in arts and letters during the academic year. The college provides the foundation of education for all MSU students.

Students in the college have led the impressive list of MSU honors graduates. Arts and Letters majors have been named Rhodes Scholars, Marshall Scholars, Mellon Fellows, and National Merit Scholars. Their creative talent has been showcased and recognized in national and international competition. Among more than 300 full-time faculty teaching in the college are winners of such competitions as the Van Cliburn, Pulitzer, Fulbright, Guggenheim, and National Schubert Playwriting. A top-ten box office hit screenwriter, an internationally renowned pianist, an award-winning painter, and prolific authors of books in history, literature, and film are among the prestigious faculty. Our faculty members have gained international recognition through their scholarly research and innovative teaching and creativity. It is not surprising that the college is annually represented on the list of MSU distinguished faculty. Among our 28,000 alumni are noted performers, artists, political leaders, college presidents, scholars, and business executives.

Over the past decade, the College of Arts and Letters has emerged stronger than ever in terms of its principal assets: distinguished faculty, talented students, and committed alumni. As we set the course for the future, these three great and irreplaceable strengths will continue to chart our course. Our people are our treasure."

For more treasures, check out the College of Arts and Letters homepage.

And Michigan State University

(while we're at it)

Michigan State University was founded in 1855. A few years later, in 1862, the institution became the model for the nation's 72 land-grant colleges established under the Morrill Act. Since that time, MSU has dedicated its resources to the land-grant mission of teaching, research, and outreach. Diversity is evident in the range of academic offerings at MSU and in the background and origin of its student population. The university's 14 colleges provide study programs in more than 200 academic majors in the liberal arts, fine arts, and sciences. The student population of more than 42,000 includes individuals from every county in Michigan, every state in the nation, and some 110 foreign countries. With its 5,000 contiguous acres, MSU is one of the largest U.S. universities as well as one of the most beautiful. In addition to classroom buildings, research facilities, and residence halls, the main campus includes the Wharton Center for Performing Arts, MSU Museum, Kresge Art Museum, Abrams Planetarium, numerous athletic facilities, sophisticated radio and television broadcast studious, and gardens and natural areas. These facilities provide cultural and social enrichment for the university and surrounding communities, as well as a rich range of experiences for you as a ROIAL student in the College of Arts and Letters of MSU.

For much more information on the University, take a look around MSU's homepage.