Welcome from the President
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Red Rocks Community College (RRCC), where we take immense pride in supporting the educational dreams of our students. RRCC’s dedicated faculty integrate their real-world expertise and passion for teaching and mentoring students. Our exceptional administration and staff stand ready to provide the support necessary for students to achieve their professional and academic goals. Our goal is to enhance the community and empower individuals to reach their fullest potential.
Here are a few more things to know about your college:
At RRCC, all students are welcome and supported. Please take advantage of the student clubs and support services such as the learning commons, veteran’s affairs, first year experience, accessibility services, health clinic, and the food pantry. RRCC also supports student wellness by providing access to a spacious 35,000-square-foot student recreation center.
Known for its rigorous academics, Red Rocks Community College offers multiple integrated pathways to attain a four-year degree. For example, RRCC boasts the highest transfer rate of students to the Colorado School of Mines through the Mines Academy program, which offers a distinctive opportunity for students to earn guaranteed admissions to the Colorado School of Mines. This collaborative initiative ensures a seamless transition and an affordable pathway to pursuing undergraduate engineering and science degrees at Mines. In addition, RRCC offers an integrated pathway to a nursing degree at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, further expanding opportunities for our students. RRCC integrated pathways are designed to ensure the transferability of our classes to any four- year public school in Colorado.
Our Dr. John U. Trefny Honors Program develops the next generation of STEM leaders by providing opportunities for advanced research projects, internships, service learning, and travel experiences.
RRCC was one of the first colleges in the Colorado Community College System to introduce bachelor’s degree programs. We currently have four: Water Quality Management Technology, Secure Software Development, Business Administration, and Cyber Security. In addition, our Cyber Security apprenticeship program has received national recognition, highlighting our commitment to excellence and relevance in today’s educational landscape.
RRCC is also the first community college in the nation to offer a master’s degree. Our Master of Physician Assistant Studies prepares students for entry into one of the most in demand professions in the United States. In 2019, we celebrated the graduation of our inaugural class in this program.
The RRCC Foundation has awarded $10 million in scholarships to more than 5,400 students since 1991.
Our Phi Theta Kappa honor society has achieved remarkable success, earning multiple international awards.
Thanks to a $22.5 million expansion, our Arvada campus offers cutting-edge health career training and general education instruction, within a state-of-the-art learning environment. This fall we are welcoming our inaugural cohort of nursing students to the Arvada campus.
RRCC bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application through the IDEA Lab, Community Engaged Learning, Entrepreneurship and STEM.
At RRCC, we are prepared to connect students to future employment opportunities through Career Success and Internships. We also provide opportunities for students to participate in high-level research, travel abroad experiences, and student leadership roles.
Welcome to our community. We are dedicated to supporting your success every step of the way!
Landon K. Pirius, Ph.D.
President, Red Rocks Community College