Affordable. Flexible. Local. Explore career paths, transfer degrees and short-term training to help you navigate forward. Start your journey today. Dr. Richard L.
In the late 1950s, the North Carolina General Assembly approved funding for a new concept in higher education: industrial education centers for the purpose of training adults in vocational and technical skills needed by emerging industries. In 1963, Rowan Industrial Education Center became one of the first of 58 colleges in the NC Community College System, under the leadership of founding presiden
t Merrill Hamilton. Brownell followed Hamilton as president in 1977 and served in that capacity for thirty years. In 1991, under his leadership, the College earned distinction as the first multi-campus community college in the state of North Carolina. The College experienced four significant name changes in its 60-year history: Rowan Industrial Education Center (1961); Rowan Technical Institute (1964); Rowan Technical College (1979); and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (1987). In 2008, Dr. Carol S. Spalding became the third president of Rowan-Cabarrus. During her tenure, the College has continued to grow and thrive. Rowan-Cabarrus demonstrates a deep commitment to teaching excellence, student support and affordable education and training. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College has two main campuses covering two counties, the North Campus in Salisbury and the South Campus in Concord. The College serves residents of Rowan and Cabarrus counties on these campuses, at additional College locations and off-campus instructional sites that are conveniently and strategically located in the counties, and through online programs. Enrollment has grown to more than 22,000 students annually, and today, 61 years after its opening, Rowan-Cabarrus serves as a catalyst for local economic development by providing a skilled workforce for the region. The College offers fully accredited associate degree programs in more than 30 areas of study, including arts and sciences, business, information technology, health and public services, and engineering technologies, as well as dozens of diplomas and certifications. Rowan-Cabarrus also offers numerous degrees entirely online, as well as accredited diploma and certificate programs focused on career and technical training, continuing education and adult basic education. Additionally, the College provides a strong general education foundation and transferable credits for students advancing to four-year colleges and universities while helping many adults secure the additional training they need to start or change careers. Rowan-Cabarrus is the area’s only public college, the largest workforce training resource and one of our largest employers. Most graduates continue to live and work in our local communities and provide essential and critical services in healthcare, public safety, manufacturing, government, business and human services. Since its inception in 1963, Rowan-Cabarrus has changed the lives of many individuals in our region and is committed to building sustainable futures for our citizens through public higher education.
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Social Media Community Standards
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College encourages interaction, discussion, comments and questions. We ask that individuals keep comments and posts relevant and respectful. The College has established these Social Media Community Standards to govern posts. The College’s official social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads and
YouTube) are administered and moderated by the College’s Marketing and Communications department. The administrators of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College accounts reserve the right to delete comments, replies or other content and interactions they deem to be in violation of the College’s Social Media Community Standards or in violation of the social media platform's community standards. The administrators may also take action to report, block or ban users from social media platforms for violations. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is committed to maintaining inclusive and accessible digital spaces. All interactions on official platforms must align with this commitment to ensure full participation by individuals with disabilities. Social media submissions that will be removed and reported may include, but are not
limited to:
• Harassing, intimidating or threatening comments to another person
• Comments that incite violence or other action in violation of any federal or state
anti-discrimination laws
• Sexually explicit, sexually vulgar, or violent language, profanity or imagery
• Infringement on copyrights or trademarks
• Comments that promote illegal activity
• Solicitations or promotions of products or services of any third party, unless approved
in advance by the Marketing and Communications department, or designee
• Comments that include false or defamatory information
• Posts that misrepresent or hide the poster’s identity
• Comments that violate privacy or confidentiality, especially as it relates to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Comments unrelated to the topic of the post or to the College community
• Repetitive comments and spam posts
Additional Community Standards for each social media platform are found here:
Revised April 2025. Original (signed) procedure is on file in the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College President’s Office.
06/18/2026
Strong communities need dedicated public servants. The Basic Law Enforcement Training course at Rowan-Cabarrus provides the knowledge and hands-on experience expected of entry-level law enforcement officers.
Taught by current and former law enforcement professionals, the program is designed for newly employed and prospective law enforcement officers seeking North Carolina certification through the state's Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission or Sheriff's Education & Training Standards Commission.
Did you know Rowan-Cabarrus has been preserving pieces of its history since the College opened in 1963?
The Rowan-Cabarrus Archives include photographs, yearbooks and other materials that document how the College has grown and changed over the years. Take a look through the collection to see familiar faces, revisit campus memories and learn something new about the history of Rowan-Cabarrus.
Fifteen minutes could connect you with resources to support your success as you learn more about TRIO Student Support Services at Rowan-Cabarrus.
TRIO Student Support Services is a program designed to help eligible students navigate college with confidence. Through academic coaching, career guidance, transfer assistance, laptop access and other services, TRIO provides support to help students overcome challenges and work toward achieving their educational goals.
Join a Fifteen for $15 TRIO Virtual Information Session from 11 to 11:30 a.m. or 4 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, to learn more about the program and the resources available to support your success.
Ready to get on the road to a new career? The demand for truck drivers remains strong across North Carolina, making now a great time to explore a career behind the wheel.
Rowan-Cabarrus Class A Truck Driver Training can help prepare you for a career in one of the nation's essential industries through classroom instruction and hands-on driving experience.
Join us for an information session on Tuesday, June 23. The next class begins August 4, 2026.
What if helping others feel their best became your career?
Join us at 5 p.m. today for a virtual information session to discover how the Therapeutic Massage diploma program at Rowan-Cabarrus can prepare you for opportunities in a growing field focused on health and wellness. Learn what to expect as a student, explore career opportunities and get your questions answered.
From cyberattacks to physical security risks, organizations face more threats than ever before.
Learn how to better prepare and respond during Physical and Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure (MGT452), a free FEMA-funded training course hosted by Rowan-Cabarrus and presented by Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service.
This one-day, in-person course will provide practical tools, resources and risk management strategies to help businesses, organizations and government agencies address today's evolving security challenges.
The training takes place at the Dr. Carol S. Spalding Advanced Technology Center on Monday, July 28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is limited to the first 40 participants. Learn more and register at www.rccc.edu/mgt452.
06/13/2026
What a great night at Summer Jam! Thank you to everyone who came out to explore Rowan-Cabarrus, meet our faculty and staff, tour the campus, and enjoy an evening filled with music, games, prizes and fun. We loved connecting with future students and their supporters and sharing the opportunities available here.
If you weren't able to attend and still want to learn more about Rowan-Cabarrus, visit www.rccc.edu/start. We're here to help you take the next step and move into more!
06/13/2026
Have a business idea but not sure where to start? The Rowan-Cabarrus Small Business Center can help.
Join us for a free online workshop, How to Start a Business in Rowan & Cabarrus Counties, from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 18. You'll learn the key steps to launching a business, discover local resources available to entrepreneurs and find out how to access free, confidential business counseling through the Small Business Center.
Congratulations to our Rowan-Cabarrus Future Business Leaders of America Collegiate students who represented the College at the 2026 FBLA Collegiate National Leadership Conference. Nineteen students competed alongside more than 1,400 students from across the country.
June Goodman placed 10th in Foundations of Communications, Keydra Oglesby earned eighth place in Foundations of Hospitality Management, and Noah Singer was recognized as the first-place winner of the Goose Chase Challenge, which encourages students to engage with vendors, peers and national officers throughout the conference.
Colin Williams was recognized for completing his term as National Vice President of Operations and was elected National Executive Vice President for the 2026-27 academic year.
Rowan-Cabarrus also received a Gold Seal Award and was recognized as an Outstanding Chapter at the national level.
Interested in getting involved with FBLA Collegiate at Rowan-Cabarrus? Contact Chad Nichols at [email protected] to learn more.
06/12/2026
Move into more communication. Move into more connection. Learning a new language can help you build relationships, expand career opportunities and gain confidence in new situations.
This summer, Rowan-Cabarrus offers American Sign Language and Spanish courses beginning in July and August. Whether you're starting from the basics or looking to strengthen existing skills, there's a class for you.
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