To the editor:

The page 2 article, “RCC board OKs 10-year plan,” from the Daily Journal’s Feb. 10 edition really deserved top billing on Page 1. Although the article captures Board of Trustees approval of the next 10-year strategic plan, “Vision 2026,” what is really of great importance for Richmond and Scotland countians now are the major successes of the previous 10-year plan.

Adding several new degree, diploma and certificate programs allows for a greater range of choices current and future students can make for building specialized working career foundations that tie into American and globalizing job markets of the present and future. This success — which evidences greater job-placement rates, promotional opportunities, and higher salaries — is greatly enhanced by the huge growth in course and program opportunities online, necessitating a distance learning director.

Development and planning officials have been awarded 35 grant projects totaling well over 6 million dollars! Although grant writing is not a very visible administrative tool, grants make up (probably) the second-most important source of funding to public and non-profit organizations that keep them growing. (We empowered our human services students with grant-writing instruction and awareness, enabling some of them to participate in grant writing projects for their own agency careers).

Working Student scholarships, the RichmondCC Guarantee, and the prospering Early College have made it possible to enhance and grow non-traditional student populations’ special opportunities to attend RCC while working, attending high school, or earning integrated high school and college degrees. These and many other traditional students are also able to take their college classes online, who might have otherwise have longer delays in finishing their programs of study only attending classes on campus.

The most significant and ongoing success is the incredible enrollment growth RCC has sustained over the last several years, made possible by these and other successes. This is “win-win” for the college and its students. Enrollment growth drives state budget allocations upward; enrollment growth also says that growing numbers of Richmond and Scotland residents, and others, recognize the value of an RCC education! RCC is among “only 20 community colleges” (in a system of 58) experiencing enrollment growth this spring semester! I see the coming School of Business and Information Technology, which will be housed very conveniently in central downtown Rockingham, adding to this enrollment growth, while contributing to Rockingham’s downtown revitalization.

These successes are contributing a lot to RCC’s growing service to Laurinburg and Scotland County, too. Congratulations, and keep up the great work RCC!

John Robich

Rockingham

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