College opens 64th school year at Fall Convocation
Randolph Community College (RCC) officially opened its 64th school year Thursday as faculty and staff gathered for the College’s annual Fall Convocation, marking the beginning of a new academic year focused on student access, success, and RCC’s continued momentum.
The Aug. 13 gathering in the R. Alton Cox Learning Resources Center Auditorium began with a special presentation in which retiring RCC Board of Trustees Chair Reynolds Lisk was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Governor of North Carolina.
President/CEO Dr. Shah Ardalan welcomed employees before introducing members of the College’s leadership team and RCC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Chris Yow.
Yow recognized members of the Board of Trustees as well as the RCC Foundation Board Chair Robert Graves.
“I am in awe of all of you because you make dreams become reality. Whether it’s a high school student looking to get college credits or a single mom with three children looking to get her nursing degree so she can better provide for her family — you all make that come true,” Yow said. “My fellow armadillos, it is my sincere hope that you have a great fall semester and every semester after that. Now, let’s go make dreams come true.”
Student Government Association President Jonathan De la Torre also welcomed faculty and staff on behalf of the student body.
“Every small thing that you do is what makes the community of this community college. Thank you for all the times you say hello in the hallway, the care you put into all of your jobs, and the times you make others smile. It truly means more to the students than you know,” De la Torre said. “We hope this semester will be filled with engagement from all students, faculty, and staff; in classes, clubs, and campus activities and more. From all the students to you, we wish for a fun and successful semester ahead.”
President/CEO Dr. Shah Ardalan thanks employees for being the reason behind the successful journey of RCC students.
In his presentation to faculty and staff, Ardalan challenged the College community to move from strategy to action with a renewed focus on the people at the heart of RCC’s mission. His message centered on “Be the Reason,” a call for every employee to recognize their role in the student journey by opening doors to access, building meaningful connections, creating an experience where people thrive, and helping students reach their goals.
Ardalan thanked and congratulated everyone for meeting and exceeding last year’s goals. Then he presented them with ambitious priorities for the year ahead, including growing enrollment to 11,750 students, awarding 2,000 credentials, strengthening communication and community connections, enhancing the student and employee experience, meeting all seven state performance measures, and improving job placement. Ardalan emphasized that RCC has a clear strategy and is positioned for continued success. He then assured employees that he has every confidence that collectively, the College has the capacity and talent to meet those goals.
“Each student comes here with a dream. They want to be better. They want to do something more for themselves, for their families, and for their community. You are the reason they reach those dreams,” Ardalan said. “Every one of you has an impact. You lift students. You help them achieve more than they imagined. You believe in them. And because you believe in them, they learn to believe in themselves.”
The program also included the introduction of new faculty and staff by Vice President of Student Success Dr. Lisa Carlson, Vice President of Learning and Workforce Development/CAO Dr. Lisa Johnson, and Executive Vice President and CFO/COO Dr. Richard Weldon.
Fall Convocation traditionally brings RCC employees together before the beginning of the academic year and provides an opportunity to reflect on the College’s progress while looking ahead to the priorities of the coming year.
Classes for the 2026 Fall Semester began Monday, Aug. 17. Fall registration for 16-week and the first 8-week session has ended, but registration is open for the second 8-week session, winter 3-week minimester, and continuing education programs. Contact RCC at 336-633-0200 for more information.
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About Randolph Community College: Randolph Community College (RCC), under the leadership of President/CEO Dr. Shah Ardalan, is committed to providing relevant career training and educational opportunities. Ranked No. 1 in North Carolina by Niche.com, the College offers affordable degrees and short-term certificate programs that start throughout the year, both in person and online. To register, visit randolph.edu/register or call 336-633-0200 and expect to engage with the most competent and compassionate team of faculty and staff.