For students in the central region of North Carolina that are looking for an affordable start to their college education, or those who are seeking to retool to compete in an ever-changing globalized economy, Randolph Community College has a variety of programs students may want to consider.
The college is a small-enrollment community college located near the geographical center of North Carolina close to a picturesque mountain range called the Uwharries. The main campus in Asheboro, NC is about half an hour away from the larger city of Greensboro. The college also operates satellite campuses in Archdale and a separate facility in Asheboro.
The college offers several unique programs, including a marquee automotive program and a large emergency services training center.
History
Randolph Community College was established in 1962 as Randolph Industrial Education Center. From an initial enrollment of 75 students, the college has grown to become an institution enrolling more than 3,200 students. The last decade has been a time of considerable growth for the college, with a number of new facilities and programs of study being added to the college’s offerings.
Randolph Community College
Academics
Randolph Community College offers a variety of academic degree programs and career technical and continuing education programs for students. The college offers more than 25 associate’s degrees and career technical certifications.
Popular Majors
Popular majors at RCC include:
Liberal Arts: 21 percent of enrollment
Visual and Performance Arts: 21 percent of enrollment
Health Professions: 13 percent of enrollment
Business and Marketing: 8 percent of enrollment
Education: 8 percent of enrollment
In 2009, the college opened its $1.75 million Richard Petty Education Center. The center, named for the famed NASCAR driver, provides state-of-the-art training in automotive technology and autobody repair.
In October 2011, the college began work on renovating a former furniture plant into an educational facility. The project will cost $7.5 million and include about 46,000 square feet of space for the college’s electrical technology and industrial engineering technology programs and the facility will also house space for classes for corporate clients, small businesses and continuing education. The new facility will also provide space for local businesses to have training meetings and conferences. The new facility is also one of the first LEED gold buildings in North Carolina, featuring a solar hot water heater and a rainwater collection trap to allow rainwater to be used to irrigated the campus.
The college has a university center program that works in conjunction with Salem College and Pfeiffer University to allow RCC students to complete four-year degrees at Randolph Community College. RCC students can earn bachelor’s degrees in business, education, and criminal justice through the program.
Distance Learning
Like many colleges and universities, RCC has been ramping up its distance learning programs in recent years. Currently, students can take a large number of RCC courses online or via teleconferencing or hybrid classes.
Dual Enrollment
RCC also offers programs allowing high school students to take courses at SCC for college and high school credit and a program that allows high school students to simultaneously earn their high school diploma and associate’s degree.
Accreditation
The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits schools in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas, and Americans schools in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Randolph Community College.
Randolph Community College has an open admissions policy, meaning that any student with a high school diploma or GED will be accepted. However, some RCC programs have selective admissions. The college’s nursing and radiography programs have competitive admissions, and admission to the cosmetology program is dependent upon an exam.
Students applying to the university are required to submit high school transcripts, SAT/ACT scores, documentation of civic or community involvement, character references, class rank, extracurriculars and an essay.
As of Oct. 2011, the university has no application fee. No admission deadline was reported by the college.
Financial Aid
Students applying to the Randolph Community College are eligible for federal grants and student loans. There are also a number of grants and scholarships offered by the state of North Carolina, the college and other organizations that students may be eligible for. The college’s website has a comprehensive list of scholarships and other programs, such as loans, that students can use to attend classes at Randolph Community College.
The college’s office of financial aid stands ready to help students find other grants and scholarships they may be eligible for. About 62 percent of Randolph Community College students receive financial aid of some type. The average financial aid award is around $4,500. Randolph Community College students received nearly $4.7 million in scholarship aid in 2010.
Randolph Community College enrolls about 3,200 students. Unlike many community colleges, RCC’s average student is younger than 24. Many community colleges across the nation tend to have students older than the traditional college age attending their institutions.
Student Organizations and Activities
Randolph Community College has a handful of student clubs and organizations, including academic and professional groups, a campus ministry group and recreational groups. The college also has an active Student Government Association.
The college sponsors many events for student recreational purposes, including fall and spring festivals, cultural activities, games and walk-a-thons.
Campus Facilities
The college’s Armadillo Café is a center for student social interaction. The café offers breakfast lunch and dinner options. The college’s library on the Asheboro campus is an important center for student study, with more than 40,000 print volumes available.
RCC has no student housing and has also joined the large number of community colleges nationwide going tobacco free.
RCC’s location in a mountainous area of North Carolina affords students plenty of outdoor recreation activities.
For students seeking more urban diversions, the school is only half an hour away from Greensboro and about an hour from Charlotte.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Randolph Community College?
RCC does not offer intercollegiate sports. However, the college does have intramural sports, including basketball, volleyball and dodgeball.
Bibliography
" Randolph Community College – Creating Opportunities. Changing Lives ." Randolph Community College – Creating Opportunities. Changing Lives . N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2011. <http://www.randolph.edu/index
Gonsher, Debra A., and Joshua Halberstam. The community college guide: the essential reference from application to graduation. Dallas, Tex.: BenBella Books, 2009. Print.
The College Board College Handbook, 2010 . 47th ed. New York: College Board, 2009. Print.
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Asheboro, NC 27205
p. 336-633-0200
w. www.randolph.edu