CCRI Named Top 2-Year College In US By Education Dive

WARWICK, RI — The Community College of Rhode Island was named the top two-year college in the country by Education Dive: Higher Ed. The awards recognize schools who use innovation to change higher education.

"Being recognized as ‘2-Year College of the Year’ is a tremendous honor and recognizes the transformative work the college has undertaken to catalyze student success and achievement," said Meghan Hughes, the college's president. "Such a recognition is only possible with the support and commitment of our faculty and staff who are driving this work and who believe in our students."

CCRI is "challenging what many think is possible of community colleges and community college students," Hughes added. The school, which is the largest community college n New England, saw its highest two- and three-year graduation rates in more than two decades at this year's commencement in May. By 2021, the school is projected to reach its highest three-year graduation rate of any community college in the region.

"The people and organizations that win the Dive Awards are trailblazers and leaders in their markets," said Davide Savenije, editor-in-chief of Education Dive's publisher Industry Dive. "Their achievements in 2019 are shaping the future of where the latest strategies and trends are going."

Education Dive praised the school for the way it has taken on several challenges head-on.

"Indeed, CCRI has a lot on its plate," the article reads in part. "It's just a couple of years into rolling out a free college initiative and developing a master schedule to ensure classes are available at the times students need. And this past winter, it launched a partnership with global tech company Infosys."

The partnership, announced by Governor Gina Raimondo in February, will bring together the college with Infosys through a new design and innovation center in downtown Providence.

Read more on Education Dive's website.