ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. (September 28, 2023) – Under the leadership of new president, Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo, Rockland Community College will welcome over 6,000 new, continuing, visiting, and high school program students in their in-person and virtual classrooms this fall, representing an 8% increase in enrollment over the fall 2022 semester.

RCC is committed to offering learners of all ages flexible program and course offerings that meet their needs – all at an affordable price and with a variety of financial aid options. The College’s Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Team, along with faculty from the four Academic Schools (Arts, Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Business and Professional Studies; Nursing, Health and Wellness; and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and staff from all Divisions, worked diligently to assist students with the registration process since registration for fall 2023 opened in April. RCC offers in-person, hybrid, and fully online courses for their degree programs, in addition to college-level classes in local high schools and a variety of workforce development classes.

Recently, the College changed its tuition policy to offer the same rates for both in-state and out-of-state students. The College also eliminated the application fee for all students, to remove any financial barriers for students to take the first step toward pursuing education at RCC.

Enrollment is ongoing at RCC, with the Flex Start II session beginning on October 30, 2023. The Flex Start session offers seven-week courses. New students have the option to apply as a full-time student or enroll in just a course or two for Flex Start. Part-time and full-time continuing students have the option to add a course(s) to their existing schedules. Learn more about Flex Start II: sunyrockland.edu/flexstart

All prospective students are invited to the Fall Open House on Thursday, November 9 from 4pm – 7pm on the College’s main campus in Suffern, NY. Students and families will have the opportunity to tour campus with current RCC students, and to meet with representatives from Financial Aid, Student Success, and Specialized Services. Academic Deans will host breakout sessions for students to learn more about the various academic programs. Learn more and register for Open House: sunyrockland.edu/sessions

Registration for the College’s Wintersession is tentatively scheduled to open on October 23 and Spring registration is tentatively scheduled to open on November 13. Workforce development programs are offered on an ongoing basis throughout the fall and more information can be found here: sunyrockland.edu/workforce

“I am incredibly proud of all the hard work Brian Sondey, Executive Director of Enrollment Services and Dr. LaToya Blount, Executive Director of Student Engagement and College Life, and their teams have done to build our community relationships. Under my leadership, enrollment is everyone’s top priority, and this increase in enrollment speaks volumes to the hard work, passion and dedication our RCC family has for our students. We are a student-centered Institution and strive to make all students feel welcome by creating supportive, open and cohesive learning environments for them to thrive,” states Dr. Lester Sandres Rápalo, RCC president.

Prospective students and families are encouraged to contact Admissions to learn more: 845-574-4224, [email protected], or sunyrockland.edu/admission.

About Rockland Community College, State University of New York
Rockland Community College (RCC), located in Suffern New York, provides purpose driven educational opportunities in a supportive, affordable, and accessible environment, empowering individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities. RCC welcomes students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Many graduates go on to top universities to further their education on their own or through RCCs institutional collaborations.

RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through a variety of programs and educational opportunities including workforce training, certifications, and microcredentials. Many of the programs are developed with employers in the community in high demand industry areas to enable graduates to move into a new career upon graduation. More information can be found at sunyrockland.edu.