Randolph Community College

{{Short description|Public college in Asheboro, North Carolina, US}} {{More citations needed|date=January 2017}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox university | former_name = Randolph Technical Institute (1965-1979)<br />Randolph Technical College (1979-1988) | mottoeng = "He who earns the honor will bear it." | type = Public [[community college]] | established = {{Start date|1962|09}} | parent = [[North Carolina Community College System]] | accreditation = [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] | students = 7,526 | address = 629 Industrial Park Avenue | city = [[Asheboro, North Carolina|Asheboro]] | state = [[North Carolina]] | postalcode = 27205 | country = United States | campus_size = {{Convert|35|acre}} | colors = Blue, Silver, and Orange | mascot = Armadillos | website = {{url|https://www.randolph.edu/}} }}

'''Randolph Community College''' is a [[Public college|public]] [[community college]] in [[Asheboro]], [[Randolph County, North Carolina]]. It is part of the [[North Carolina Community College System]].

==History== [[File:RandolphCC.jpg|thumb|[[:en:Randolph Community College|Randolph Community College]]]]

Randolph Community College opened in September 1962 as "Randolph Industrial Education Center", a joint city-county industrial education center, with 75 full-time students<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Section I - Introduction |url=https://www.randolph.edu/policy-manual/i-introduction/a-history-of-the-college.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113041026/https://www.randolph.edu/policy-manual/i-introduction/a-history-of-the-college.aspx |archive-date=2025-01-13 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=www.randolph.edu |language=en}}</ref> Merton H. Branson served as the school's first president.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Jenny |title=Research Guides: RCC Archival Collections: Directors & Presidents |url=https://libguides.randolph.edu/archives/directors_presidents |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=libguides.randolph.edu |language=en}}</ref>

The college became a member of the [[North Carolina Community College System]] in 1963 when the North Carolina legislature established a separate system of community colleges. It was known as '''Randolph Technical Institute''' from 1965 to 1979 and as '''Randolph Technical College''' from 1979 to 1988. It adopted the name Randolph Community College in 1988.<ref name=":1" />

== Campus == The college is located in [[Asheboro]], North Carolina, at the McDowell Road Exit off [[U.S. Route 220 in North Carolina|U.S. 220]] just south of the [[U.S. Route 64 in North Carolina|U.S. 64]]/[[North Carolina Highway 49|N.C. 49]] interchange. The college draws from a population base of just over 27,353 in Asheboro and 145,322 countywide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Randolph County, NC {{!}} Data USA |url=https://datausa.io/profile/geo/randolph-county-nc |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=datausa.io |language=en}}</ref> The {{convert|35|acre|m2|adj=on}} main campus in Asheboro contains eleven major buildings and the [[Richard Petty]] Education Center for its Automotive Systems and Autobody programs which opened in 2009.

Three satellite centers include the [[Archdale, North Carolina|Archdale]] Center, serving residents in the northwest corner of Randolph County, the Randleman Center, and a {{convert|60|acre|m2|adj=on}} Emergency Services Training Center located just outside Asheboro near Franklinville.

== Academics == Randolph Community College currently offers over 25 vocational and technical degrees, including a college transfer program and a continuing education program. The college is [[Higher education accreditation in the United States|accredited]] by the Commission on Colleges of the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]]. Annual enrollment for curriculum students is 3,767; annual enrollment for continuing education students is 7,526.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2014 |title=North Carolina Community College System Curriculum/Continuing Education Information System 2013 - 2014 |url=https://ncccsstg.wpengine.com/sites/default/files/data-warehouse/statistical-reports/2013-2014-enrollment_table_1_1.pdf |access-date=July 14, 2024 |website=North Carolina Community College System}}</ref>

Randolph Community College also has a partnership with [[Randolph County School System (North Carolina)|Randolph County School System]] which created the [[Randolph Early College High School]] in 2006. The Randolph Early College High School (RECHS) is an autonomous, nontraditional public high school involved in the North Carolina Innovative High Schools Program, and is located on the school's main campus.<ref name="ref1">Keys, Kathy (4 September 2012). [http://courier-tribune.com/sections/news/local/rcc-celebrates-50th-anniversary-date.html RCC celebrates on 50th Anniversary date], ''Courier-Tribune'' ([[Asheboro, North Carolina]])</ref> RECHS seeks to target economically disadvantaged, minority and first generation college-bound students.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Client Challenge |url=https://rechs.randolph.k12.nc.us/ |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=rechs.randolph.k12.nc.us}}</ref>

== Traditions == The college's nickname is the Armadillos. Its original colors are blue and silver. Orange was added as an official color in 2009, with the introduction of a new logo. The Latin phrase on the college's seal translates as "He who earns the honor will bear it."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Jenny |title=Research Guides: RCC Archival Collections: Mascot, Colors, and Seal |url=https://libguides.randolph.edu/archives/college_mascot_colors_seal |access-date=2024-07-14 |website=Randolph Community College Library Services |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.randolph.edu/ Official website]

[[Category:Two-year colleges in the United States]] [[Category:North Carolina Community College System colleges]] [[Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] [[Category:Education in Randolph County, North Carolina]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Randolph County, North Carolina]] [[Category:Asheboro, North Carolina]]