Red Rocks Community College: A Pathway to Success

Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) stands as one of the finest higher education institutions in Colorado, offering a diverse range of programs and services designed to support student success. Founded in 1969, RRCC has a rich history of serving the local, state, national, and international communities. With campuses in Lakewood and Arvada, the college provides accessible, high-value education with a focus on teaching excellence.

Acknowledging Indigenous Heritage

RRCC acknowledges and honors the forty-eight known tribal nations that have lived, traded, and traveled this land throughout history. The college recognizes the significant contribution of Indigenous cultures in Colorado and the importance of honoring these beginnings. RRCC also acknowledges the theft of Indigenous land and the atrocities committed against Indigenous Americans, including the Sand Creek Massacre. The college recognizes that these injustices have yet to be satisfactorily addressed and is committed to promoting restorative justice.

History and Development

Red Rocks Community College was established in 1969 as the West Campus of the Community College of Denver. The college initially occupied two large metal buildings on Quail Street, accommodating 780 students in its first quarter. In early 1969, the General Services Administration donated 140 acres of land at West Sixth Avenue and Arbutus Street for a new college campus.

Ground was broken for the college’s permanent facility in December 1971, and the first phase of construction was completed in time for the opening of the 1973 fall semester. The west wing and the bridge connecting the east wing were completed in fall 1975. On July 1, 1983, the college officially became Red Rocks Community College. In October 1990, RRCC established a satellite campus in Arvada. The Arvada campus moved into its current location on Miller Street in 2001.

Academic Excellence and Programs

RRCC offers numerous degrees and certificates in today's most in-demand career fields, including Health Careers, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Computer Technology, Fire Science, and Law Enforcement. The college combines rigorous, high-value education with tuition that is among the lowest in the state. RRCC also offers flexible course schedules that fit around work or home commitments, including traditional classroom, online, self-paced, and weekend classes.

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The AA/AS General Education Transfer Program is accepted by all of Colorado's state four-year colleges and universities, and RRCC transfers more students into Colorado School of Mines than any other college in the nation. RRCC is also home to the Rocky Mountain Education Center, which includes an OSHA authorized education center serving the six-state Region VIII.

The college offers more than 100 degree programs, including four bachelor's and one master's-level degree program. Some degree programs are available as an online learning option. RRCC provides academic remediation, distance learning programs, learning disabilities services, honors programs, cooperative (work-study) programs, off-campus study, summer sessions for credit, and part-time undergraduate degree programs.

Campus Life and Services

RRCC's support services include free tutoring, advising, a Child Care center, Accessibility Services, a Fitness Center, the Learning Commons, English as a Second Language resources, Student Life, and Student Employment. An active Student Center provides services and benefits such as discounted sports and movie tickets, campus events and entertainment, and student clubs. At least one staffed computer lab is available to students, and a wireless computer network is available throughout the campus.

Faculty and Staff

RRCC has qualified and accessible faculty with real-world experience, whose primary responsibility is teaching. The faculty care about students’ success, and with an average class size of less than 20 students, students receive personalized attention. RRCC is the only community college in Colorado to have an Endowed Teaching Chair Program and has awarded 20 Endowed Teaching Chairs in support of Teaching Excellence.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

RRCC combines rigorous, high-value education with tuition that is among the lowest in the state. The college offers many Financial Aid options and scholarships through its Foundation, which has provided over $4 million in scholarships to nearly 3,000 students. At Red Rocks Community College, 55 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid, and the average scholarship or grant award is $4,845.

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Red Rocks Community College Foundation

The Red Rocks Community College Foundation (The RRCC Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1991. Its mission is to support Red Rocks Community College in its commitment to students, learning, and excellence. They have a Foundation Scholarship Program and are engaged in other program areas including Faculty Teaching Chairs, the Mini-Grants, and Dr. The RRCC Foundation Teaching Chair Program recognizes and awards outstanding faculty.

Locations and Facilities

The main Lakewood campus is located on 140 acres in the foothills of Jefferson County, along Sixth Avenue between Indiana Street and Union Boulevard. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. The Arvada campus is located on a hilltop northwest of the intersection of I-70 and Kipling in the suburban core of the Denver Metro.

Enrollment and Demographics

The total enrollment at Red Rocks Community College is 6,029, with 1,936 full-time students and 4,093 part-time students. The student-faculty ratio is 19-to-1. In Fall 2023, the total entering student population was 1,827. The college utilizes a semester-based academic year.

Accreditation

In 1972, RRCC became accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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