2025 -- S 1027

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING APRIL 24, 2025, AS "RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE DAY" IN THE STATE

OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Lawson, Vargas, and Appollonio

     Date Introduced: May 05, 2025

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     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 – and the oldest

public 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 more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The college offers

more than 55 undergraduate and 25 graduate degree programs, and a doctoral program in 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) Division III with 21 varsity sports, including 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, biotechnology, data science and artificial intelligence, allowing its students opportunities

to find meaningful and lucrative work in these critical fields. The programs 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 Scholarship, which will benefit its students

seeking a 4-year degree; and

     WHEREAS, The people of Rhode Island have chosen to invest in the State’s high-tech

future at Rhode Island College, approving funding in two successive bond referenda to

completely modernize the College’s physical sciences facility, Clark Science, and to transform

Whipple Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus, into a state-of-the-art Institute for

Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies with a cyber range and security operations center; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates April 24,

2025, 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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