Celebrating March 19, 2026, as "Rhode Island College Day" in the State of Rhode Island

WHEREAS, Established by the General Assembly in 1854, and originally named the "Rhode Island State Normal School", Rhode Island College (RIC) is a public college located in the City of Providence and is the second oldest institution of higher education – and the oldest public institution of higher education – in Rhode Island; and

WHEREAS, Comprised of a 180-acre campus, RIC has 282 full-time faculty members, and a student body of more than 6,500 undergraduate and graduate students. The college offers more than 50 undergraduate and over 25 graduate degree programs, and a doctoral program in nursing practice; and

WHEREAS, In addition, RIC offers programs and classes in professional and workforce development, continuing and adult education, and community programs and initiatives that "empower our citizens and strengthen our communities"; and

WHEREAS, RIC also offers a panoply of athletic opportunities as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III with 21 varsity sports, including men's sports teams; and women's sports teams; and

WHEREAS, Earning recognition throughout the Northeast for its excellence, RIC is among the top 10 regional public colleges/universities in New England and the top college/universities in New England for social mobility in a 20 U.S. News and World Report article; and its Zvart Onanian School of Nursing was named “one of the best nursing master’s programs for your money” in 2025, according to Money Magazine’s annual rankings; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island's motto "Hope", became reality for Rhode Island residents in the fall of 2023, as the college initiated the Hope Scholarship, which will benefit its students seeking a 4-year degree; and since its inception in 2023, 5 Rhode Island students have benefited from the scholarship; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island College is now on the cutting edge of programs in healthcare, cybersecurity, biotechnology, data science and artificial intelligence, allowing its students opportunities to find meaningful and lucrative work in these critical fields. The programs will also ensure that our State, as well as our nation, will have the needed expertise in these emerging technological fields; and

WHEREAS, The people of Rhode Island have chosen to invest in the State’s high-tech future at Rhode Island College, approving funding in two successive bond referenda to completely modernize the College’s physical sciences facility, Clark Science, which opened in the Fall of 2025, and to transform Whipple Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus, into a state-of-the-art Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies with a cyber range and security operations center; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates March 19, 2026, as "Rhode Island College Day" and thanks the College and staff for the significant contributions they provide to the citizens of our State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Dr. Jack R. Warner, President of Rhode Island College.