ENMU-Ruidoso Receives RCCA Community Engagement Award
ENMU-Ruidoso Branch Community College was recognized at the Rural Community College Alliance (RCCA) annual conference Friday, Sept. 22 for the first ever national award for Community Engagement. Present to receive the award were President Ryan Trosper, Humanities Department Chair Jeff Frawley, Education Department Chair Cleo Mow, Chief External Affairs Officer Robin DeMott and Community Development Director Nicole DeLorenzo.
The RCCA conference was held at the Columbia Gorge Community College in The Dalles, Oregon.
In the last two years ENMU-Ruidoso has developed partnerships and expanded community engagement, outreach programs and initiatives which impacts not only the awareness, visibility, and success of the College, but also college and community education students. Initiatives include formal partnerships with the Mescalero Apache Tribe, innovative student engagement strategies, and work to create a hunger free campus community. This work demonstrates and is a testament to excellence in connecting with our community.
Traditional college course offerings have increased in enrollment, in addition to community education participation. Community engagement has increased through the humanities department with a literary magazine as well as a new model for teaching and learning through an accelerated hybrid learning model for early childhood education.
“Central to this work is understanding the diverse communities we serve in our region,” said President Trosper.