Randolph Community College: A History

Randolph Community College 1988-present

• April 1988-The new 11,800-square-foot Business Education Center opened for classes.


• June 1988-President M.H. Branson retired after 26 years with the College, 24 as president. Dr. Larry K. Linker took over as president of RCC, becoming the College's fourth leader.


• November 1990-RCC opened its Archdale Campus and the 14,500-square-foot Computer Technology Center on the Asheboro Campus.


• November 1993-A statewide community college bond referendum was approved by voters, providing funds for a new building program at RCC.


• August 1995-The school opened a 15,744-square-foot addition to the photography studio in the Administration/Education Center on the Asheboro Campus. The state-of-the-art addition effectively doubled the space devoted to this curriculum, which draws students from all over North Carolina and beyond.


• 1995-96 School Year-Randolph Community College enrolled 10,930 students, 1,930 in curriculum programs and 9,000 in continuing education.

• February 1996-RCC's Hosiery Technology Center opens.

• June 1996-J. W. Plummer retired from the Board of Trustees; Tyler Lisk was elected chairman.

• July 1996-RCC launches the college's website, which included general information about the College, its services and facilities, Curriculum and Continuing Education course offerings, information on the RCC Foundation and campus maps.

• January 1997-The new 21,060-square-foot Health & Science Center and a 6,600-square-foot addition to the Design Center were opened. The College's facilities have grown to a total square footage of 267,899.

• October 1997-RCC opened a 2,800-square foot, two-classroom addition to the Archdale campus.

• Fall 1997-RCC began offering its own autonomous Associate in Arts (College Transfer) program. The previous program had been a contractual agreement with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

• July 1998-Jerry W. Tillman was elected as the new chairman of the RCC Board of Trustees, when former chairman Tyler R. Lisk retired.

• 1998-Long time staff member, Vice President Allan Edwards retires after 33 years with the College.

• January 1999-RCC offered its first Internet courses with the launch of its Virtual Campus. The initial offering included eight courses.

• January 1999-The Randolph County JobLink Career Center, located on RCC's Asheboro Campus, received its charter from the Regional Workforce Development Board.

• Spring 1999-A 3,720-square-foot Campus Store opened behind the Student Services Center, connected by a covered walkway.

• December 1999-RCC receives reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

• July 2000-Dr. Larry Linker retires as president of the College after spending 37 years in administrative positions, 12 years as president.


• July 2000-The RCC Board of Trustees chose Dr. Richard T. "Dick" Heckman as the new president and fifth leader in the history of the College.

• 2000-2001 School Year-Randolph Community College enrolled 12,023 students, 2,469 in curriculum programs and 9,374 in continuing education.

• Fall 2001-RCC's long-awaited Emergency Services Training Center opened on a 60-acre site on Old Cedar Falls Road, just east of Asheboro.

• May 2002-RCC awarded over 600 degrees, diplomas and certificates to students in its Curriculum, Adult High School and General Educational Development programs.

• July 2002-The RCC Board of Trustees honored former President M. H. Branson and former Board Chairman J.W. Plummer with its first Distinguished Service Award.

• July 2003-Foundation Conference Center opens. Bell and Clock Tower placed in front of Foundation Conference Center.

• October 12, 2003-Foundation Conference Center and J. B. Davis Bell and Clock Tower dedication. J. B. Davis was employed at the college from 1968-1970 as a Student Services Counselor and went to work for Klaussiner Furniture in 1970 where he retired as President and CEO in 2010.

• March 2006-Dr. Larry Linker returned as chief operating officer and interim president.

• August 2006-Randolph Early College High School begins classes on RCC's campus with its first class of students.

• January 2007-Dr. Bob Shackleford takes the helm as RCC's fourth president and sixth leader.

• September 2007-The College celebrated its 45th Anniversary with two days of events which recognized its first curriculum graduates and founders/retirees of the college.

• January 2008-Pfeiffer University begins offering bachelor's degree level courses in Elementary Education on RCC's campus.

• January 2008-RCC's new 20,000-square-foot Automotive Systems Technology and Autobody Repair Center is named the "Richard Petty Education Center."

• April 12, 2008-RCC holds first Student Leadership Academy. Fourteen students were chosen for the first academy.

• August 2008-The University Center of Randolph County is established with Pfeiffer University offering a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education, Greensboro College offering a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, and Salem College offering a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

• August 2008-Ground is broken on the Richard Petty Education Center.

• August 2008-Randolph Early College High School Modular Building opens.

• November 2008-RCC begins offering classes through videoconferencing and classes are transmitted back and forth between the Archdale Center and the Asheboro Campus.

• Fall 2008-Cultural Arts Series begins at Randolph Community College.

• February 2009-RCC's Basic Skills department opened the new Learning Center for English as a Second Language courses. The center is housed in the Chevy Center on South Fayetteville Street in Asheboro.

• July 2009-Richard Petty Education Center opens.

• November 2009-RCC's Cosmetology Center opens to the public. The Cosmetology Center, located in Hillside Shopping Center at 1003 S. Fayetteville Street, was planned to accommodate 36 students at a time at styling stations on the floor, plus students in two classrooms. The Center was planned to hold 10 shampoo stations, 12 dryers, a waxing room, and a manicure/pedicure area.

• March 2010-A 1/4 cent sales tax referendum is passed, which will provide funds to renovate the old Klaussner Furniture plant on Industrial Park Avenue for RCC programs and services.

• May 19, 2010-Randolph Early College High School holds its first graduation ceremony on the front lawn of the campus.

• May 24, 2011-RCC's 1,700 square foot Welcome Center addition to the Student Services Center opens.

• July 2011-RCC receives reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

• August 12, 2011-A 5,700 square-foot state of the art Welding lab is opened at RCC's Archdale Center.

• October 6, 2011-A groundbreaking ceremony is held for the renovation of the old Klaussner furniture plant on Industrial Park Avenue.  The plant will be renamed the Continuing Education and Industrial Center.

• January 2012-RCC kicks off a year-long 50th birthday celebration.