RWU partners with Central Falls, Pawtucket to deliver professional development programming

ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY President Donald J. Farish said he hopes this is the first of many collaborations between the university and communities across the state. / COURTESY ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY President Donald J. Farish said he hopes this is the first of many collaborations between the university and communities across the state. / COURTESY ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY

PROVIDENCE – In a partnership announced Thursday, Roger Williams University’s School of Continuing Education will provide customized educational and workforce development programming to residents in the cities of Central Falls and Pawtucket.

RWU President Donald J. Farish said he hopes this is the first of many collaborations between the university and communities across the state.

“Partnering with Central Falls and Pawtucket is an exceptional opportunity for Roger Williams and the School of Continuing Studies to deliver on our commitment to work collaboratively with communities to provide cultural and ecological contextualized economic development,” he added.

Individualized programming will be designed for Central Falls and Pawtucket residents, including workforce development and degree completion programs. Dual enrollment opportunities for middle and high school students will also be available. The programming will be in-line with the city’s specific economic development goals.

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Central Falls Mayor James Diossa said: “We are all on the same page that workforce development and access to higher education is critical to our city’s future.”  

Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien is pleased the two cities can continue their long-time partnership while improving the lives of its citizens.

“This new partnership is particularly exciting because it allows us to collaborate with the nonprofit sector to ensure that the residents of our two communities are able to pursue opportunities to further their education and professional development … Our communities will be better positioned for future growth with a highly trained and educated work force,” he said.

The agreement, which highlights the School of Continuing Studies mission to support the community from within, will provide some courses in Spanish at the university’s Providence campus and a reduced tuition structure for students.

RWU School of Continuing Studies Dean Jamie Scurry believes this is one opportunity to remove barriers.

“Central Falls and Pawtucket present a unique opportunity for the School of Continuing Studies to develop a strategic relationship with an entire community to remove the barriers to education and workforce development that so often discourage engaged individuals from completing their degree or taking the next steps toward their career goals,” she said.

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