Randolph Community College - Randolph Record

22 May

Incoming RCC president put new jobs on radar

Bob SuttonNewsRandolph Community College, Shah Ardalan

Shah Ardalan is RCC’s new president. ASHEBORO – Dr. Shah Ardalan has been looking for a new venture in education and he found it with Randolph Community College. He was named as the seventh president of the school earlier this month. Ardalan will come from Lone Star College-University Park in Houston. He has been president there since 2012. But RCC wasn’t his only potential destination. Ardalan has been a finalist for at least two other college presidencies the past several years, including a candidate for a similar position in Wisconsin this spring. About a week prior to visiting Asheboro for…

14 Apr

Finalists for next RCC president to visit

Bob SuttonNewspresident, Randolph Community College, RCC

ASHEBORO — Four finalists to fill the vacancy as Randolph Community College’s next president are expected to visit the campus next week. Based on the list of candidates released from the college, the next president will come from an out-of-state job, though one of them has ties to the Triad. Here’s the list: ** John Grosskopf, president of North Florida College (in Madison, Fla.). ** Dr. Jeremy Thomas, provost of Oklahoma City College. ** Dr. Shah Ardalan, president of Lone Star College-University Park (in Houston). ** Dr. George McNulty, president of Gogebic Community College (in Ironwood, Mich). In March,…

15 Jun

RCC interim president named

Randolph RecordNewsRandolph Community College, William Aiken

ASHEBORO — William Aiken, a veteran in community college administration in the state, will be the interim president of Randolph Community College after Robert Shackleford Jr. retires at the end of the month. Aiken has been part of the North Carolina Community College System since 2000. “Hopefully, I can continue the vital role the college plays in serving its many constituents,” Aiken said in a statement. “While I recognize that my appointment is temporary, I will make every effort to keep the college moving in a positive direction.” Aiken was president of Sampson Community College from 2000-2012 years. Since then,…

05 May

Randolph Community College, state honors Shackleford’s influence, passion

Randolph RecordBusinessAsheboro, Dr. Robert Shackleford Jr., Randolph Community College

ASHEBORO — Outgoing Randolph Community College president Dr. Robert Shackleford Jr. is leaving with more distinctions. Shackleford was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on April 27. That came as part of the ribbon cutting for the Dr. Robert S. Shackleford Allied Health Center. Members of the Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board, faculty, staff, students, state legislators, and members of the Randolph County community were on hand on the front lawn and in the lobby of the Center. “When (Board of Trustees Chair Mac Sherrill) announced they were going to name it the Robert Shackleford Jr.…

27 Apr

Community College report shows major economic impact

Randolph RecordGovernment, Statecommunity college, economy, Education, Randolph Community College, RCC

RALEIGH — A comprehensive new economic impact analysis finds that North Carolina’s 58 Community Colleges have a $19 billion annual impact on the state’s economy and supports more than 320,000 jobs across the state. The economic impact study found for every dollar the state invests in North Carolina’s Community Colleges, the state gains $7.50 in added incomes and social savings. The colleges generate nearly double the revenue from what they take in from the taxpayers. For every $1 the state invests, taxpayers get $1.90 back in added tax revenues and public sector savings, according to the study. “The Community College…

21 Jan

RCC president to retire

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsBob Shackleford, Randolph Community College

Community Colleges president Thomas Stith and RCC president Shackleford talk to third-year Apprenticeship Randolph apprentice Abby Goss in the Gene Haas Computer-Integrated Machining Institute. (Photos courtesy of Randolph Community College) ASHEBORO – Randolph Community College president Dr. Robert Shackleford is retiring after slightly more than 15 years in the position and more than two decades at the two-year school. Shackleford notified the board of trustees and later emailed a letter to faculty and staff Jan. 20 to notify them of his intentions. “These 15 years you have granted me the opportunity to serve as President of RCC have been…

29 Dec

First scholarship awarded honoring long-time deputy

North State Journal staffNewsdeputy, Randolph Community College, scholarship

Colonel Fred “Freddie” Wilson Rutledge, II created a legacy of service during his 38 years of law enforcement service. Following his death in July of 2020, Rutledge’s friends and family ensured that his legacy would extend to future generations with the founding of a scholarship fund in his memory. Last week, the first Fred Rutledge scholarship at Randolph Community College was awarded to Cadet Justice McDaniel. He will be part of the 89th Basic Law Enforcement Training class at RCC. Randolph County District Attorney Andy Gregson began promoting the scholarship fund, along with other friends and family of Rutledge, just…

23 Dec

RCC honor society welcomes new members

Randolph RecordEventsBeta Theta Rho, honor society, Phi Theta Kappa, Randolph Community College

ASHEBORO — On Dec. 8 Randolph Community College hosted a virtual ceremony to induct new members to Beta Theta Rho, the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, a national higher education honor society. With 1,280 chapters on two-year and community college campuses in all 50 of the United States, membership in PTK is by invitation only. Students must complete 12 hours of coursework toward an associate degree, 6 hours toward a one-year certificate, or 12 hours toward a bachelor's degree and have a minimum 3.5 grade point average. The newly inducted students — identified by hometowns — are: Asheboro: Joshua…

24 Aug

Apprenticeship Randolph honors first graduates, signs 14 more

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsAsheboro City Schools, Randolph Community College, Randolph County Schools, RCC

ASHEBORO — Apprenticeship Randolph, a local initiative from local businesses, Randolph Community College, Randolph County Schools and Asheboro City Schools, celebrated its inaugural class of graduates earlier this month. Apprenticeship Randolph began in June 2016 as a collaboration among Randolph Community College, the Randolph County School System, Asheboro City Schools, the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce, and local manufacturers. The goal was to bridge both the interest and skill gaps in modern manufacturing and provide a vehicle for expanding the workforce pool for advance manufacturing in the county. The program allows participants a debt-free education. The program is for high school…

24 Aug

RCC cancels live graduation ceremony

Randolph RecordNewsEducation, Randolph Community College, RCC, schools

ASHEBORO — A planned in-person graduation ceremony at Randolph Community College scheduled for Aug. 27 has been cancelled. The event was intended to celebrate students who completed degree programs in Fall 2020, Spring 2021 and Summer 2021. The ceremony was optional for graduates. The school made the cancellation announcement Monday saying they based their decision on “new information.”