Fall 2021 semester kicks off at Robeson Community College

It is an exciting time to be a student at Robeson Community College. With the Fall semester in full swing, the college has come alive with the presence of over 1300 students once again on its campus.

“Our students bring with them a tremendous amount of energy and it’s a time when our campus community really comes to life. We are delighted to welcome our students back to campus, including those who are attending Robeson Community College for the first time,” said RCC President Melissa Singler. “Although we are still in the midst of a pandemic, we are much better prepared and protected than we were a year ago.”

The college held many Welcome Week activities including Manic Monday where students were treated to a breakfast break and received giveaway items, Time Out Tuesday in which students took part in activities to learn how to express and de-stress for mental health, and on We Want You Wednesday students were able to join clubs and organizations available at the college.

The college also hosted a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Wednesday in partnership with Walgreens.

“We had 28 individuals take advantage of the clinic at RCC,” said Singler, who urges others to get the vaccine if they have not already done so. “It is the best protection we have against this ever-changing virus.”

A few highlights to note from across campus includes our health science programs at Robeson Community College being maxed out at capacity. Enrollment in all health programs saw a major increase in enrollment this fall.

“It’s one thing to go into nursing when things are normal, but these students know the realities that they will face because of the novel coronavirus and the variants that continue to develop, and yet they are ready to accept the challenges that come with it,” said Dr. Eva Meekins, director of the nursing education programs at RCC. “Our programs continue to grow and we are excited about what the future holds in meeting the needs in healthcare.”

One big milestone this semester at RCC is that the college has enrolled 5 female students who have begun their academic journey in the welding program. This is a record for the program, which in the past has only seen enrollments of 1 to 2 female students per year.

“It is a trend in our industrial programs that we hope to continue to see,” said Patrick Jacques, dean of applied technologies and public safety at RCC. “We hope that more female students will seek to enroll in these high-tech, industrial programs that also provide a good living wage. Welding is a great career field to go into that many women traditionally have not considered in the past.”

The college has many more opportunities for students to enroll this fall semester with late start classes starting in September and October. The college will also hold winter session classes that begin in December.

 “A degree, diploma or certificate from RCC is valuable because it offers both knowledge and a skill set that lasts a lifetime,” said Singler.

She adds, “Short-term training is also available in a variety of subjects and disciplines through our continuing education and workforce development division at RCC with classes starting throughout the semester that can get you job-ready and into the workforce.”

Prospective students can learn more about the upcoming opportunities at RCC by visiting the college website at robeson.edu.