Facts about RCC
Rockland Community College, State University of New York, is located 25 miles northwest of NYC. The majority of its students transfer to four-year colleges, and many find immediate employment upon earning their associate’s degree or certificate. The College also offers others, from preschoolers to senior citizens, the opportunity to learn something new.
RCC is the only public higher education institution in Rockland County. It has served as an educational resource for Rockland since 1959, offering small classes, personal attention and caring faculty. In addition to the main campus in Suffern, the College operates a center in Nyack and Orangeburg. 5,300+ people are enrolled in credit and non-credit courses, and over 200,000 visit the campus each year for cultural, recreational and commercial events.
The Region
Located in the historic and scenic Hudson Valley only 25 miles northwest of New York City, picturesque Rockland offers the best of all worlds, including recreational and cultural attractions and easy access to the educational and artistic resources of the city.
Academics
The College offers 38 programs in the humanities, social sciences, arts, technologies, business, health professions, mathematics and sciences, including 34 associate’s degrees and 4 one-year certificate programs.
Small classes, taught by nurturing, experienced faculty, help ensure student success. Rockland offers flexible scheduling and a variety of learning modes, including online courses and internships. The 24-credit High School Equivalency Program enables students who have not graduated from high school to take the courses necessary to apply for a diploma through the NY State Education Department.
Students
Enrollment of 5,300 full- and part-time students includes 60 international students and more than 1,184 students over 25 years old. RCC is also home to 95+ veteran students each year.
Acclaimed Honors Program
The Sam Draper Honors Program is a nationally acclaimed, rigorous academic program for liberal arts and business students seeking to transfer to premier colleges. Graduates transfer to such colleges as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania, Duke, Wesleyan, and Stanford, as well as Georgetown, NYU, Sarah Lawrence, Smith, SUNY and CUNY campuses, University of Michigan, and many more. Over 170 students are currently enrolled in the Honors Program. The program was awarded a coveted FIPSE grant from the U.S. Department of Education to serve as a model for community college honors programs throughout the country.
Tops in Transfer
Most RCC graduates transfer to other colleges and universities. To facilitate the transfer process, the College has established numerous transfer agreements with private and public four-year colleges. A faculty counselor specializing in transfer is available to assist students with workshops and individual sessions.
Extracurricular Activities
Although Rockland is a non-residential campus, students enjoy the outstanding facilities of the College and become involved in clubs, community service, student government, student publications, athletic teams and intramural competitions.
The Hawks, RCC’s athletic teams, compete in the Mid-Hudson Athletic Conference, in men’s baseball, basketball, golf, soccer and tennis, and women’s basketball, tennis and volleyball.
Faculty
A distinguished faculty comprised of 388 full-time and part-time members includes numerous Fulbright Scholars, SUNY Chancellor’s Award winners, published authors and artists. Average class size of 14 allows faculty members to work one-on-one with students.
Workforce & Community Training Programs
RCC is committed to lifelong learning. Many people are served by Workforce Development and Community and Wellness Training each year, including corporate and workforce training, personal development and professional skill building. Our classes on a wide array of subjects are taught by experienced instructors.
Financial Aid
More than $14.6 million in some form of financial assistance, including grants, loans and work-study programs, is awarded each year to RCC students, including $476,000 in student support and scholarships distributed through the Rockland Community College Foundation.
The Campus
At least 300 community and commercial groups use the campus facilities each year, including the Fieldhouse’s two-acre indoor arena, sports facilities and the 500-seat Cultural Arts Theater.
The Technology Center opened in 2006. The 100,000 sq. ft. building, the first new permanent construction on campus in over 20 years, houses student services, state-of-the-art classrooms, a lecture hall (the Ellipse), computer laboratories and offices for faculty and staff. It increased classroom capacity on campus by about 40%.
Transport of Rockland (TOR) buses stop on campus over 100 times a day. Call 845-364-3333 at any time for bus information and to receive free schedules.