Rockingham Community College Foundation Inc

HIGHER EDUCATION - INSTITUTIONAL AID - STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONS

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES PROGRAM

EDI SPECIAL PROJECTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ROCKINGHAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE (RCC) IS A COMPREHENSIVE, OPEN-DOOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE LOCATED IN RURAL NORTH CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA (WENTWORTH, POP. 2,804) BORDERING VIRGINIA AND THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS. THE SERVICE POPULATION DRAWN PRIMARILY FROM ROCKINGHAM COUNTY HAS JUST OVER 92,000 RESIDENTS. THE COLLEGE OFFERS 22 DEGREE, 13 DIPLOMA, AND 38 CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS. DURING FALL 2017, RCC ENROLLED 1,945 STUDENTS, AMONG THOSE 29% WERE MINORITY STUDENTS. STUDENTS ENROLLING AT ROCKINGHAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARE PREDOMINATELY DISADVANTAGED: FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE (60%), LOW INCOME (85%), SINGLE PARENT (21%), MINORITY (29%) AND ACADEMICALLY UNDERPREPARED (87%). SIXTY TWO PERCENT OF OUR NEW STUDENTS IN THE FALL 2017 SEMESTER TOOK AT LEAST ONE DEVELOPMENTAL (REMEDIAL) COURSE. THEY COME FROM AN ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREA. DURING 2010, UNEMPLOYMENT SKYROCKETED (15%) AND, AT 5.4% IN DECEMBER 2016, REMAINS HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE OF 4.9%. HIGHER EDUCATION IS NOW CRITICAL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IN A COUNTY THAT HAS HISTORICALLY RELIED ON MANUFACTURING AND FARMING, AND IN WHICH ONLY 12.9% HELD A COLLEGE DEGREE (2009-2013). AS THE ONLY COMMUNITY COLLEGE SERVING ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, ROCKINGHAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS WELL-POSITIONED TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND RESOURCES TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS AND DIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE VERY EVIDENT NEEDS OF INCREASED ACCESS TO EDUCATION AS A MEANS OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ITS CITIZENS. WITH SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF POTENTIAL STUDENTS WHO ARE FIRST-GENERATION AND LOW-INCOME, ROCKINGHAM COUNTY'S POPULATION PRESENTS DIFFICULT ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES. ROCKINGHAM COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICORP VISTA WILL DEVELOP, THROUGH THE WORK OF VISTA MEMBERS, OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COUNTY'S LOCAL SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND HOME SCHOOLS TO ATTRACT POTENTIAL STUDENTS WHOSE LIVES CAN BE ENRICHED THROUGH EDUCATION, AND IN SO DOING, CAN ENABLE ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO THE VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, AND CAN PROVIDE CENTERS OF COMMUNITY INFLUENCE (SUCH AS FAMILIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OF MANY TYPES, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS) TO IMPACT DECISIONS BY FUTURE STUDENTS TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION FOR A BRIGHTER, MORE PRODUCTIVE FUTURE.