60th Anniversary of the Community College of Rhode Island

Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Madam President, I rise today on behalf of my colleague Senator Whitehouse and myself, to recognize the 60th anniversary of the Community College of Rhode Island--CCRI--which opened its doors on September 24, 1964. Over the last six decades, CCRI has grown into New England's largest public, 2-year degree granting college, expanding educational opportunities for hundreds of thousands of Rhode Islanders.

From its modest beginning in Providence with just 325 students, CCRI opened its Knight Campus in 1972 to nearly 3,000 students, after Royal Webster Knight gifted 80 acres of his estate in Warwick to the college. CCRI has grown to nearly 20,000 enrolled students each year and now has four campuses across Rhode Island, including an education center and online classes, ensuring that residents throughout the State have access to educational and career development opportunities.

Students have more than 20 academic departments to choose from--from the arts, to science and mathematics, to business, and more--all at an affordable price. In 2017, the Rhode Island Promise Program was launched, making CCRI tuition-free to recent high school graduates seeking opportunities.

But CCRI also understands that education is a lifelong journey, and it is never too late to learn something new. The adult education team at CCRI offers a wide range of classes to prepare adults to join the workforce, including GED classes, English language studies, and corporate language training. By working in close collaboration with industry and business leaders, CCRI ensures students are meeting workforce needs in the Ocean State. Just last year, CCRI was selected by the Biden administration as one of just 17 new Industrial Assessment Centers, working with the Department of Energy to expand clean energy workforce training opportunities, for in-demand, high-quality jobs.

CCRI is a pillar of hope for the community, consistently rising to the challenge of meeting the educational and workforce needs of the present and the future. In the last 20 years alone, CCRI has guided students and employers through the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic and earned the designation as a Hispanic-serving Institution, reflecting its commitment to meeting emerging community needs. Its campuses also serve as community hubs, connecting residents to vital services and activities, job preparation workshops, free flu and COVID shots, and more. This is all thanks to the dedicated faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to carry out the mission of the college every day.

CCRI is a bedrock institution to the State of Rhode Island, and we are so proud of the hard-working people who have changed the lives of so many individuals over the last 60 years. Along with Senator Whitehouse, I would like to congratulate the entire CCRI community on this important milestone.

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