H 8459

2026 -- H 8459
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LC004549
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  STATE  OF  RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  HOUSE RESOLUTION
 PROCLAIMING APRIL 16, 2026, TO BE "COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF RHODE ISLAND
  DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
  Introduced    By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Noret,  Chippendale,
  Paplauskas, Cortvriend, Diaz, Bennett, Felix, and Voas
  Date Introduced: April 16, 2026
  Referred To: House read and passed
1WHEREAS, The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), established in 1964, is
2 the state’s only public community college and serves as a cornerstone of Rhode Island’s higher
3 education and workforce development system; and
4WHEREAS, CCRI provides accessible, affordable, and high-quality education to tens of
5 thousands of Rhode Islanders each year, creating pathways to academic achievement, career
6 advancement, and lifelong opportunity; and
7WHEREAS, CCRI is a community of thinkers, doers, and achievers—empowering
8 students to learn, work, and lead in ways that strengthen their communities and contribute to the
9 state’s economic vitality; and
10WHEREAS, Under the leadership of President Rosemary A. Costigan, Ph.D., RN, who
11 was appointed as the college’s sixth president on June 18, 2025, and is the first alumna in the
12 institution’s history to serve in this role, CCRI continues to advance its mission with a deep
13 commitment to student success, workforce alignment, and institutional excellence; and
14WHEREAS, CCRI has implemented innovative, student-centered strategies to improve
15 outcomes, including guided pathways, expanded year-round learning opportunities, enhanced
16 academic advising, and data-informed supports that help students stay on track and graduate; and
17WHEREAS, These efforts have resulted in improved retention and graduation outcomes,
18 demonstrating CCRI’s commitment not only to access, but to completion and meaningful
19 postsecondary success; and
1WHEREAS, CCRI serves as Rhode Island’s primary engine for workforce development,
2 delivering high-quality education and training aligned with employer needs across critical sectors
3 including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, construction trades, information technology, and
4 emerging industries; and
5WHEREAS, Through strong partnerships with employers, industry leaders, and
6 organized labor, CCRI develops and delivers workforce programs, short-term credentials, and
7 apprenticeship pathways that prepare Rhode Islanders for in-demand, family-sustaining careers;
8 and
9WHEREAS, CCRI plays a vital role in strengthening Rhode Island’s talent pipeline,
10 ensuring that employers have access to a skilled workforce and that residents have access to
11 economic opportunity and upward mobility; and
12WHEREAS, CCRI provides seamless and affordable transfer pathways to four-year
13 institutions, enabling students to continue their education and achieve higher levels of attainment
14 while minimizing cost and expanding opportunity; and
15WHEREAS, CCRI continues to position itself to meet the needs of future generations
16 through forward-looking investments in modern training environments, expanded capacity in
17 high-demand fields, and a continued commitment to innovation in teaching, learning, and
18 workforce preparation; and
19WHEREAS, CCRI’s impact on Rhode Island’s economy is significant and measurable,
20 contributing nearly $900 million annually and supporting more than 11,000 jobs across the
21 state—approximately one in every sixty jobs; and
22WHEREAS, CCRI delivers exceptional value for students and the state, consistently
23 ranking number one among Rhode Island colleges for return on investment at the ten-year
24 horizon, with graduates entering the workforce quickly, earning strong wages, and carrying
25 minimal debt; and
26WHEREAS, These outcomes reflect CCRI’s essential role in strengthening families,
27 supporting employers, and advancing long-term economic growth and competitiveness for the
28 State of Rhode Island; now, therefore be it
29RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby
30 proclaims April 16, 2026, to be “Community College of Rhode Island Day”; and be it further
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1RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
2 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the President of the Community College of
3 Rhode Island.
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