Page 19 - 2022 May Report

Resilience
Robeson Community College report
April 5, 2022
Meeting Participants
Robeson Community College Representatives
President Melissa Singler
Dr. Patrena Elliott - VP of Instruction & Student Support Services Dr. Laronda Lowery - AVP of Instructional Services
Ms. Lisa Hunt – AVP Grands & Foundation
Ms. Jessica Bullard - Foundation Director
Ms. Carolyn Watson - Chair Business Technology
Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF)
Bobby Krause - CEO
Rick Williams - JSF Consultant
Robeson Community College site visit report
After brief introductions, Bobby gave an overview of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation.
The surrounding area is predominantly American Indian although there is no official federally recognized reservation. RobesonCommunityCollege’sPresidentMelissaSinglerisanAmericanIndian.Thefaculty and staff at Robeson Community College are very diverse with 38% being American Indian.
Student Profile
Forty-three percent of the students (822) are American Indian. The campus has a total enrollment of 1,915 students of which 38 American Indian students are majoring in business. Approximately 87% of the students are eligible for financial aid and the school does not have a student loan program. The cost of tuition and fees was relatively low and in certain cases tuition was waived. However, the other costs of attendance are comparable to other like institutions. The Business Technology Program is designed for students who are interested in a career and not necessarily a college degree. Programs such as culinary arts, welding, air conditioning/refrigeration, and information technology offer an opportunity for the student to enter the job market with an employable skill. A major effort and concern for the students at RCC is the low enrollment for American Indian male students.
The College has an excellent student support program and although they do not have an American Indian Business Leader (AIBL) student chapter, they have an American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) student chapter. The student support program offers counseling, academic skills, academic advising, and tutoring.
President Singler said the campus is financially stable and has no issues in this area.
Campus Tour - We had a brief campus tour. The campus is spread out over a large area and although the buildings were aged, the campus was pleasant and welcoming.
RCC will need some accommodations for supporting American Indian students in the Business Technology field. Most students in this area are not going to be enrolled in a business degree but will need specific business courses such as accounting and IT to be successful in their careers should they decide to start a business.
Summary of site visit
RCC is an excellent candidate for participating in Johnson Scholarship Foundation’s Indigenous Entrepreneurial Scholarship program. Although relatively small in numbers they will provide a unique opportunity for JSF to serve a new geographical area and a diverse student population. The southern hospitality was a real treat for a Northerner.
I have attached a copy of the RCC presentation.
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