Rockland Community College Awarded $3M Grant

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – Rockland Community College (RCC) has been awarded a $3-million Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support the development and implementation of RCC’s five Academic Schools model and increase participation and improve retention. This grant is the largest received in the college’s 60-year history.

“As a recipient of this significant grant, Rockland Community College will be able to continue on the transformative path of reimagining programs, support services and instructional approaches based on ‘Guided Pathways’ which is reflected in our new model of 5 Academic Schools. With this funding, we will be able to ensure that every student who enters RCC will develop an academic and career plan that will allow them to be successful in their studies, become ‘real-world ready’, graduate and go on to pursue a career of their choice. I want to thank everyone who was a part of the writing team that helped us secure this grant, in particular Congresswoman Nita Lowey for her support. This labor of love has brought us to this point, and we will prove that the ‘Can Do College’ can do it!” states Dr. Michael Baston, president of Rockland Community College.

The five Schools at RCC will ensure that students have a structured academic path with critical embedded support services which will enable them to further their career and academic goals. RCC graduates will be real-world ready: able to think critically, communicate effectively and use their social capital and consciousness to contribute to the betterment of the community.

RCC is one of only 40 institutions across the county to receive this U.S. Department of Education grant. These grants assist schools in which a minimum of 25 percent of the total enrollment is Hispanic. A celebration in honor of this milestone took place at the college on October 8, 2019. More information about the college can be found here: www.sunyrockland.edu.

Featured

  • Q&A: How to Prevent Kitchen Grease Fires in Commercial Kitchens

    School cafeterias and university dining halls serve thousands of meals daily, relying on high-heat equipment like fryers, grills, and ovens. While these operations keep students fed, they also generate significant grease-laden vapors. Without proper controls, this grease becomes a silent fire threat. As a certified exhaust cleaning specialist and business coach who has helped hundreds of institutional facilities achieve NFPA 96 compliance, I emphasize that proactive grease management isn’t optional; it’s a core fire/life safety practice.

  • Porter Family Center

    Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Porter Family Center for Innovation and Academics has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • Wold Architects & Engineers Announces Acquisition of JJCA

    Wold Architects & Engineers, based in Minneapolis, Minn., recently announced that it has acquired JJCA, an architecture firm based in Nashville, Tenn., according to a press release. JJCA specializes in healthcare and education design; the partnership allows both firms to expand their presence across the country while building on existing strengths.