2026 -- H 8459

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LC004549

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING APRIL 16, 2026, TO BE "COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND

DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Noret, Chippendale,
Paplauskas, Cortvriend, Diaz, Bennett, Felix, and Voas

     Date Introduced: April 16, 2026

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), established in 1964, is

the state’s only public community college and serves as a cornerstone of Rhode Island’s higher

education and workforce development system; and

     WHEREAS, CCRI provides accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to tens of

thousands of Rhode Islanders each year, creating pathways to academic achievement, career

advancement, and lifelong opportunity; and

     WHEREAS, CCRI is a community of thinkers, doers, and achievers—empowering

students to learn, work, and lead in ways that strengthen their communities and contribute to the

state’s economic vitality; and

     WHEREAS, Under the leadership of President Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, who

was appointed as the college’s sixth president on June 18, 2025, and is the first alumna in the

institution’s history to serve in this role, CCRI continues to advance its mission with a deep

commitment to student success, workforce alignment, and institutional excellence; and

     WHEREAS, CCRI has implemented innovative, student-centered strategies to improve

outcomes, including guided pathways, expanded year-round learning opportunities, enhanced

academic advising, and data-informed supports that help students stay on track and graduate; and

     WHEREAS, These efforts have resulted in improved retention and graduation outcomes,

demonstrating CCRI’s commitment not only to access, but to completion and meaningful

postsecondary success; and

     WHEREAS, CCRI serves as Rhode Island’s primary engine for workforce development,

delivering high-quality education and training aligned with employer needs across critical sectors

including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, construction trades, information technology, and

emerging industries; and

     WHEREAS, Through strong partnerships with employers, industry leaders, and

organized labor, CCRI develops and delivers workforce programs, short-term credentials, and

apprenticeship pathways that prepare Rhode Islanders for in-demand, family-sustaining careers;

and

     WHEREAS, CCRI plays a vital role in strengthening Rhode Island’s talent pipeline,

ensuring that employers have access to a skilled workforce and that residents have access to

economic opportunity and upward mobility; and

     WHEREAS, CCRI provides seamless and affordable transfer pathways to four-year

institutions, enabling students to continue their education and achieve higher levels of attainment

while minimizing cost and expanding opportunity; and

     WHEREAS, CCRI continues to position itself to meet the needs of future generations

through forward-looking investments in modern training environments, expanded capacity in

high-demand fields, and a continued commitment to innovation in teaching, learning, and

workforce preparation; and

     WHEREAS, CCRI’s impact on Rhode Island’s economy is significant and measurable,

contributing nearly $900 million annually and supporting more than 11,000 jobs across the

state—approximately one in every sixty jobs; and

     WHEREAS, CCRI delivers exceptional value for students and the state, consistently

ranking number one among Rhode Island colleges for return on investment at the ten-year

horizon, with graduates entering the workforce quickly, earning strong wages, and carrying

minimal debt; and

     WHEREAS, These outcomes reflect CCRI’s essential role in strengthening families,

supporting employers, and advancing long-term economic growth and competitiveness for the

State of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

proclaims April 16, 2026, to be “Community College of Rhode Island Day”; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the President of the Community College of

Rhode Island.

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