| R 246 |
| 2025 -- H 6278 Enacted 04/29/2025 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING APRIL 29TH OF 2025, TO BE "COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND DAY" AND HONORING THE COLLEGE'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY |
Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Noret, DeSimone, Bennett, Cruz, Cortvriend, Roberts, and Sanchez |
| Date Introduced: April 29, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) was founded in 1964 as |
| Rhode Island Junior College, providing a gateway to higher education for all Rhode Islanders. |
| The college welcomed its first class of 325 students at the Henry Barnard School in Providence. |
| By 1965, a section of the former Brown & Sharpe building was used for additional classroom |
| space and served as the primary facility until 1972; and |
| WHEREAS, As the state’s demand for accessible public higher education grew, so did |
| CCRI. In 1972, the Knight Campus in Warwick—built on land donated by the Knight Family— |
| became the college’s flagship campus and first permanent home. The Flanagan Campus in |
| Lincoln opened in 1976, followed by the Liston Campus in Providence in 1990, and the Newport |
| County Campus in 2006, ensuring that all Rhode Islanders have access to quality education close |
| to home; and |
| WHEREAS, CCRI is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024-2025 with the theme |
| “Empowering Minds and Transforming Communities in Rhode Island since 1964,” recognizing |
| six decades of excellence in education, workforce development, and student success. The college |
| has grown to serve more than 40,000 Rhode Islanders annually and has an alumni network |
| exceeding 80,000 graduates; and |
| WHEREAS, As Rhode Island’s only public community college, CCRI offers more than |
| 90 academic degree and certificate programs across a wide range of disciplines. Among its most |
| popular academic programs are Nursing, Business Administration, Cybersecurity, Computer |
| Science, Criminal Justice, and the Liberal Arts; and |
| WHEREAS, CCRI has become the leading provider of skilled trades and technical |
| training in the state, serving as the primary training partner for General Dynamics Electric Boat, |
| where more than 6,000 Rhode Islanders have been trained for careers in the maritime industry. |
| The college is also home to the only Global Wind Organization Basic Safety Training Center in |
| Rhode Island, training workers to support the state’s offshore wind energy sector; and |
| WHEREAS, Due to CCRI’s commitment to workforce development, it has been |
| recognized as New England’s only Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce |
| Training and Education by U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration |
| (MARAD), and is one of only 17 community colleges nationwide designated as an Industrial |
| Assessment Center by the U.S. Department of Energy; and |
| WHEREAS, With a strong focus on innovation and student success, CCRI has become a |
| leader in expanding college access. The college is the largest provider of full- and part-time early |
| college programs in Rhode Island, with participation in High School Enrichment, Running Start, |
| and Accelerate more than doubling since 2016. Additionally, CCRI’s P-TECH (Pathways in |
| Technology Early College High School) program has allowed students to graduate from CCRI |
| before earning their high school diplomas; and |
| WHEREAS, In recognition of its commitment to equity and student success, CCRI |
| earned the designation of Hispanic-Serving Institution in 2022, reflecting its growing role in |
| serving a diverse student body; and |
| WHEREAS, Under the outstanding leadership of Interim President Dr. Rosemary |
| Costigan, the first CCRI alumna to lead the college, CCRI continues to provide Rhode Islanders |
| with an affordable, high-quality education that leads to strong learning outcomes, successful |
| degree attainment, and meaningful careers; and |
| WHEREAS, As the college embarks on its seventh decade, CCRI remains steadfast in its |
| mission to transform lives and strengthen communities through accessible, high-quality |
| education, ensuring that Rhode Islanders continue to have pathways to socio-economic mobility |
| and success; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims April 29th of 2025, to be "Community College of Rhode Island Day" in the State of |
| Rhode Island, in recognition of CCRI’s 60 years of excellence in education and workforce |
| development; 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 Dr. Rosemary Costigan, Interim President, |
| Community College of Rhode Island. |
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| LC002463 |
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