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Rockland Community College Awarded $3M Grant

  • 10/28/19

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.

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