General Information

• Mission of the College
• CCRI's Definition of an Educated Person
• Philosophy on the First Year of College

Mission of the College

The Community College of Rhode Island is the state’s only public comprehensive associate degree-granting institution. We provide affordable open access to higher education at locations throughout the state. Our primary mission is to offer recent high school graduates and returning adults the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary for intellectual, professional and personal growth through an array of academic, career and lifelong learning programs. We meet the wide-ranging educational needs of our diverse student population, building on our rich tradition of excellence in teaching and our dedication to all students with the ability and motivation to succeed. We set high academic standards necessary for transfer and career success, champion diversity, respond to community needs, and contribute to our state’s economic development and the region’s workforce.

CCRI's Definition of an Educated Person

Four Abilities

The faculty and staff of the Community College of Rhode Island have established four critical abilities that define the learning outcomes of a CCRI graduate. These four abilities can be applied in many contexts and are critical skills that must be developed not only at CCRI, but over the course of a lifetime. These core abilities guide students, faculty and staff in establishing educational goals and assessing learning within and across the primary domains of knowledge: arts and humanities, science and mathematics, and the social sciences.

Effective Communication

• Use standard English grammar and mechanics.
• Create work that addresses a given purpose and context and responds to the target audience.
• Present a central idea, supported by concrete, relevant details
• Establish a clear and consistent sequence of ideas.

Critical Thinking

• Identify, analyze and understand complex ideas.
• Determine a research focus and the nature and scope of information needed.
• Locate, evaluate and use information effectively.
• Draw logical conclusions from information.
• Express well-reasoned or innovative perspectives.

Quantitative, Mathematical and Scientific Reasoning

• Demonstrate an understanding of mathematical, quantitative or scientific principles.
• Apply a scientific approach in asking questions.
• Apply mathematical, quantitative or scientific principles in solving problems.
• Interpret numeric information in graphical form.

Social Interaction

• Evaluate ethical dimensions of decisions.
• Use teamwork to accomplish tasks in groups.
• Demonstrate an understanding of global, cultural and historical perspectives

Assessment of Student Learning

The community college is committed to providing quality education and to assuring that students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful. Assessment of student learning provides the information we need to make improvements in program structure, course content and pedagogy. Information utilized to support assessment, including samples of student work, may be collected at the classroom, department and institution levels. The information collected will be completely anonymous and will have no impact on student grades. Aggregated results will be used for program planning purposes and may be included in institutional research analyses and reports. In addition, students may be asked to submit samples of their course work and engage in focus groups. They also may be asked to complete a questionnaire assessing the quality of academic services. These activities help us determine the extent to which students demonstrate competency in the areas outlined in the Definition of an Educated Person and in their area of concentration.

Philosophy on the First Year of College

The first two semesters of college lay the foundation for students’ academic experience and are critical to their success. The community college is committed to providing a supportive environment where students can explore academic opportunities, achieve personal goals, transition effectively to college life, meet college-level expectations, and experience a culture of inclusivity and enrichment. The first year of college at CCRI is designed to foster scholastic achievement while students develop independent thinking, a sense of personal responsibility and a desire for lifelong learning.