Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

The oldest public two-year college in Minnesota; Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) was formed by the unification of Rochester Community College and the Heintz Center of the Minnesota Riverland Technical College. The College was founded on July 1, 1996 when legislation required the state community colleges and technical colleges to be co-located in the same city, and merged into one consolidated college. RCTC is a part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system which comprises 32 other state universities, community and technical colleges.

Information Summary

Ranks 61st in Minnesota and 2676th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	55.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$7,239
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	20 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	55% / 53%
Enrollment Total (all students)	5,129

Academics

Rochester Community and Technical College is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The institute also has several discipline based accreditations from agencies such as The Higher Learning Commission, American Dental Association, Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training, and National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. RCTC is also a member of American Association of Community Colleges, American Technical Education Association, NAFSA: Association for International Educators, AD Nursing Council, Service members Opportunity Colleges, and Continuous Quality Improvement Network.

Rochester Community and Technical College offers more than 65 credit-based programs with over 130 credential options. The academic degrees offered are Associate of Arts Degree, Associate in Science Degree, Associate in Applied Science, and Associate in Fine Arts. Students can opt for a variety of majors including accounting, child development, building utilities mechanic, biotechnology, clinical neurophysiology technology, computer aided drafting, healthcare informatics, histology technician, intensive care paramedic, laboratory science, and liberal arts and sciences.

RCTC Online:

Rochester Community and Technical College offers online education programs for students who find it difficult to attend a traditional college due to various personal and professional commitments. Students can opt for the fully online diploma and certificate course, or choose the hybrid plan. Some of the online courses are Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology, Elements of Biology, Computer Online Learning, Keyboarding Speed/Accuracy Improvement, Human Relations in Organizations, Internet Applications, Business Communications, Payroll Accounting, and so on.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Each semester, Rochester Community and Technical College boasts an enrollment of over 12,000 students in the credit-based programs, and more than 11,000 in the noncredit and credit-based initiatives. Freshman students seeking admission must send the completed online application form along with their official transcripts, and ACT/ SAT scores to RCTC. Getting a transfer to the institute is also fairly easy. The applicants must send the completed form along with the official transcripts from previously attended institutes. International students are also encouraged to apply for admission. Applicants from non English speaking countries must submit a proof of their proficiency in English language.

Financial Aid

Rochester Community and Technical College offers a variety of financial aid programs for the needy and deserving students. Students seeking financial aid must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Grants and scholarships are gifts that do not need to be repaid by the students. Some of the scholarships programs offered at RCTC are Florence A. Curtis Nursing Scholarship, Franklin H. Sim Scholarship, Hoffman Technical Scholarship, James & Priscilla Russell Nursing Scholarship, MN Association of Orthodontics, Neva & Rachel Kuehn Scholarship, Norma Wolfe Nursing Scholarship, Oehlke Family Foundation of the St. P Clarence, Crow Memorial Scholarship, Eugene & Opal Weis Scholarship, Hoffman Technical Scholarship, George J. Calvert Memorial Scholarship, and Otto Haling Scholarship.

Student loans are the type of financial fund that needs to be returned with interest. The institute also helps students find part time jobs through the work-study programs to help them meet their educational expenses. Through this program, the students not only earn money to pay for college but also gain valuable work experience.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5728th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Minnesota.

Students

Rochester Community and Technical College presents an active and vibrant campus life which develops and molds students to become the leaders of tomorrow. There are several clubs and organizations on the campus. Students are encouraged to participate in the various activities, events and organizations. Some of the student clubs are Animal Health Technology, Armed Forces and Veterans Club, Art Club, Asian Student Organization, Automotive Technician Club BUM Club, CAD Technology Club, Chess Club, Circle of Friends: GLBTQA, Digital Arts Club, Disc Golf Club, Drama Club, Engineering and Physics Club, Equestrian Club, Horticulture Club, and International Students Club.

The RCTC Student life programs enable students to expand their education beyond the traditional classroom. The students are encouraged to get involved in extracurricular activities and events such as Minnesota Twins Trip, Golf Tournament, Homecoming, Ski Trip to Coffee Mill Ski Resort, and much more.

Campus Facilities:

The RCTC Career Center offers career advice and resources to both students and non-students. The center features a variety of publications that are helpful for career planning, personal growth, and sharpening the job search techniques. Discover is a web based career information system which can be easily accessed from your own laptop or computer. This greatly assists in the career decision making process, and provides a user-friendly source of the latest information available.

The RCTC Disability Support Service Center provides academic support and advising services to help qualified students with documented disabilities in realizing their educational goals. The institute provides appropriate accommodation facility to the deserving students. Through this initiative, the college aims to provide equal educational benefits to the less fortunate students.

The RCTC Academic Support Center provides incredible services to students in career and technical programs. The services include advising/academic assistance; assistance in mathematics, reading and writing skills; web-based career exploration; peer tutoring; testing accommodations; learning style assessments; and workshops.

The Academic Support Center provides services that assist students in achieving their educational and personal goals in an environment that accommodates individual learning needs. It also offers other programs such as tutoring services, multicultural student services, student support services program, supplemental/ career and technical services, and the learning center.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

Rochester Community and Technical College’s athletic department sponsors men’s and women’s teams that participate in diverse sports such as baseball, basketball, softball, volleyball, football, golf and soccer. The athletic teams are nicknamed as the Yellojackets. Their colors are navy and gold. RCTC is a member of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference (MCAC) and they participate in the NJCAA DIII sports. The College ranked #7 in the DIII NJCAA National Poll.

Intramural Sports:

RCTC students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in a variety of intramural sports that is played for fun. The main aim is to bring students together for recreation and healthy sports. Some of the club sports organized by the department are indoor volleyball, basketball, kickball, snow football, ultimate football, and soccer.

Bibliography

Rochester Community and Technical College. 2011.

Schwartz, Jill. Two-Year Colleges 2011. Peterson’s, 2010. Print.

Rochester Community and Technical College