CCRI Announces Historic $2 Million Anonymous Gift to Launch CCRI Advantage
Largest Individual Private Gift in CCRI’s 60-Year History to Fund Groundbreaking Student Success Initiative
Warwick, RI – As the Community College of RI celebrated the kick-off the college’s 60th anniversary at its Opening Day Convocation ceremony, Interim President Dr. Rosemary Costigan announced the college has received a historic $2 million anonymous gift, the largest individual private gift in the college’s 60-year history, to fund a groundbreaking student success initiative. This transformative gift will fund a free, three-year pilot of CCRI’s newly-launched CCRI Advantage initiative, a pioneering program designed to boost student success and accelerate pathways to graduation.
“I could not be more thrilled to announce this historic gift. For too long, gifts of this magnitude were limited to four-year institutions, but this donor saw the potential for an outsized impact in expanding equity and access to higher education,” said Dr. Rosemary Costigan. “This donor firmly believes in the powerful role community colleges play in transforming individual lives, families, and communities.”
Transforming Student Success through CCRI Advantage
Inspired by the highly successful City University of New York’s “CUNY Start” program, CCRI Advantage is a seven-week, immersive college success program that provides students with personalized academic coaching, targeted tutoring, and comprehensive support services. The program is uniquely designed to help students seamlessly transition into credit-bearing coursework in the second half of their first semester. By focusing on these critical first weeks, CCRI Advantage aims to increase student retention, boost academic achievement, and shorten the time to graduation.
“This program is more than just a stepping stone; it’s a launchpad for our students,” said Dr. Costigan. “By providing tailored support from day one, CCRI Advantage exemplifies our commitment to innovative approaches that meet our students where they are.”
A Groundbreaking Investment in Community College Education
The anonymous $2 million gift will support a three-year pilot of CCRI Advantage, covering the cost of tuition, laptops, course materials, transportation, and other incidental expenses. This comprehensive financial support ensures that students can fully prepare for college gateway courses without incurring additional expense and non-transferable credits.
As the largest single community college in New England, CCRI is at the forefront of redefining what community college education can achieve, particularly for students from diverse and often underserved backgrounds. This gift not only fuels the immediate success of the CCRI Advantage program, but also signals a broader recognition of the critical role community colleges play in the higher education landscape.
“As CCRI continues to innovate and expand its offerings, the college remains committed to its mission of providing accessible, high-quality education that meets the evolving needs of its students and the workforce. The CCRI Advantage program, supported by this unprecedented gift, is a testament to that commitment and a beacon of hope for students striving to achieve their educational and career goals,” concluded Dr. Costigan.
About CCRI
The Community College of Rhode Island enrolls nearly 18,000 students in credit-bearing degree and certificate programs and an additional 8,500 individuals in workforce development programs and adult education courses annually. With a passionate commitment to students, CCRI provides Rhode Islanders with an outstanding college education that leads to strong learning outcomes, successful postsecondary credential attainment, and robust labor market outcomes. With four campuses across Rhode Island, CCRI offers online, hybrid, and in-person options for students, meeting them where they are and helping them achieve their educational and career goals. CCRI is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and named the 2019 Two-Year College of the Year by Education Dive magazine.
