| R 247 |
| 2024 -- S 3018 Enacted 05/02/2024 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CELEBRATING MAY 2, 2024, AS "RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Raptakis, Felag, Sosnowski, Miller, Euer, Bissaillon, Britto, Rogers, and DeLuca |
| Date Introduced: May 02, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, Established by the General Assembly in 1854, and originally named the |
| "Rhode Island State Normal School", Rhode Island College (RIC) is a public college located in |
| the City of Providence and is the second oldest institution of higher education in Rhode Island; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, Comprised of a 180-acre campus, RIC has 360 full-time faculty members, |
| and a student body of close to 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offers eight |
| baccalaureate degree programs in over 76 areas of specialization, eight graduate degree programs |
| in some 46 areas of specialization, and a doctoral program in education and nursing practice; and |
| WHEREAS, In addition, RIC offers programs and classes in professional and workforce |
| development, continuing and adult education, and community programs and initiatives "that |
| empower our citizens and strengthen our communities"; and |
| WHEREAS, RIC also offers a panoply of athletic opportunities as a member of the |
| National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with 21 varsity sports, with 9 men's sports |
| teams and 12 women's sports teams; and |
| WHEREAS, Earning recognition throughout New England for its excellence, RIC was |
| named one of the "Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges in New England" in 2021, and was ranked |
| #1 for social mobility among public regional universities in New England, according to the 2022 |
| U.S. News and World Report; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island College is now on the cutting edge of programs in cyber |
| security and artificial intelligence, allowing its students opportunities to find meaningful and |
| lucrative work in these critical fields, such programming will also ensure that our State, as well as |
| our nation, will have the needed expertise in these emerging technological fields; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island's motto Hope, became reality for Rhode Island residents in the |
| fall of 2023, as the college initiated the Hope scholarships, which will benefit its students seeking |
| a 4-year degree; and |
| WHEREAS, Dreams are personified in the Class of 2024 graduates as the College will |
| recognize the first graduating class of Bachelor of Professional Studies. These adult learners can |
| fulfill bigger aspirations for their families and their families' futures, living up to their #1 rank for |
| social mobility among public regional universities in New England, according to the 2022 U.S. |
| News and World Report; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates May 2, |
| 2024, as "Rhode Island College Day" and thanks the College and staff for the significant |
| contributions they provide to the citizens of our State; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Jack R. Warner, President of Rhode Island |
| College. |
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| LC006017 |
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