Building New Partnerships in
Support of America’s Rural
Communities
History of the RCCI
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Began in 1994 with funding from the Ford
Foundation
Involved nine Community and Tribal Colleges
15 additional colleges were added in 1997
MDC, Inc. provided overall coordination for
the program over the 1994-2001 period
The American Association of Community
Colleges took a lead role in assessing the
impact of the RCCI program
A New Partnership
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The new phase of the RCCI program involves
a new entity – the Regional Rural
Development Centers (RRDCs).
Two RRDCs will take an active role in
coordinating the next phase of the RCCI
effort (SRDC and the NCRCRD)
Both have nearly three decades of experience
working on rural development issues in the
U.S.
Partners in the New RCCI
Regional
Rural
Development
Centers
Rural
Community
Colleges
Rural
Community
College
Alliance
AACC
MDC, Inc.
Why Involvement of the
RRDCs?
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Past RCCI efforts have shown that rural
community colleges can play a vital role in
facilitating civic dialogue, proactive planning
and strategic action on important local issues
The challenge has been to find a way to
further build and sustain the work of rural
community colleges
The RRDCs provide a mechanism for
promoting the long-term viability of the RCCI
A Word About
the RRDCs
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Established by Congress in 1972 and administered by
the U.S.D.A.
The RRDCs link the research and outreach capacity of
Land Grant universities with other educational
institutions, organizations and decision makers
The RRDCs serve a very diverse group of Land Grant
universities
 1862s -- the original Land Grant institutions
 1890s -- the historically black Land Grant
universities/ colleges
 1994s -- Native American Land Grant colleges
The Two RRDCs Involved in
the RCCI
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North Central Regional
Center for Rural
Development
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Housed at Iowa State
University
Works primarily with
thirteen 1862, one
1890, and sixteen 1994
Land Grant Institutions
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Southern Rural
Development Center
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Housed at Mississippi
State University
Has formal ties with
fifteen 1862 and
fourteen 1890 Land
Grant schools
Mission of Land
Grant Schools
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Initiate research on high priority needs of
their states
Extend the knowledge generated through
such research to residents and communities
via the Cooperative Extension Service
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Extension system includes educators located in
nearly all counties
Community and Economic Development
represents one of the areas of work of the
Cooperative Extension Service system
Connecting Rural Community
Colleges and Land Grant Colleges
Rural Community
Colleges
+
Land Grant
Institutions
=
Catalysts working
together in
advancing the
community and
economic
development
agenda of rural
places located
within their
common service
areas
Goals of the New RCCI
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Expand network of rural community colleges
actively involved in the RCCI program
Build new and sustained working
relationships between rural community
colleges and Land Grant universities
Increase the capacity of rural community and
tribal colleges to become agents of civic
innovation and capacity building in the areas
that they serve
Build a strong working relationship with the
RCCA
Core Principles of the
RCCI Program
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Rural America matters
Vibrant communities focus on their assets
Change begins with self-assessment
Effective change requires collaboration and
inclusiveness
Equity and high expectations should
undergird education and economic goals
The Aims of the New RCCI
Program
Educational
Access
Economic
Development
Civic
Engagement
Educational Access
Economic Development
Civic Engagement
Extend programs to
underserved
populations
Build on local assets
Enhance equity
Expand leadership
opportunities to local
people
Build working
relationships with
people & programs
targeted to lowincome groups
Create an entrepreneurial environment
Convene community
conversations
Help build, retain, &
expand small businesses
Make educational
progress of youth the
business of the
whole community
Develop and strengthen
current & future
workforce
Bring voice to those who
often go unheard thru the
V-to-A and other
local efforts
Build links to LGUs &
other four-years
institutions
Promote adoption of new,
appropriate technologies
Build regional alliances
Enable diverse groups
and organizations to
work together
How Rural Community
Colleges Will Benefit
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RCCI
Be part of a network of rural community colleges
committed to supporting community improvement
activities
Participate in annual RCCI Institutes that
showcase promising strategies
Access to in-depth training on a various CD topics
Exposure to rural areas that are economically,
environmentally, and cultural diverse through field
trips and other events
How Rural Community
Colleges Will Benefit
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RCCI
Availability of technical assistance and coaching
Systematic updates from the two RRDCs
outlining emerging rural development
policies/programs, as well as grant funding
opportunities
Access to cultural toolbox to guide work with
diverse partners
Work as partners with Land Grant colleagues,
including expanded access of students to twoand four-year colleges
How Land Grant Institutions
Will Benefit
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Expand depth and breadth of resources available at
the local level to support CD efforts by linking RCCI
with Extension CD educators
Participate in the annual RCCI Institutes and
specialized training programs
Increase enrollment of more diverse students in the
academic programs of Land Grant schools
Increase the cultural toolbox employed by Land Grant
institutions to respond to learners in all settings
Gain access to first-hand knowledge of key needs of
rural communities
Steps Involved in the New
RCCI Program
Step 1: Establish an RCCI
Advisory Council
Its Major Roles
4 RCCA Representatives
2 NCRCRD Representatives
2 SRDC Representatives
1 MDC, Inc. Representative
Guide selection of states to
be targeted for the RCCI
program
Assist in recruiting
potential participants
Help identify coaches and
technical assistants
Provide input on the
annual Institute
Build ties with RCCA
1 New RCCI Representative
Monitor progress of the
RCCI program
Step 2: Expand the Network of Rural
Community/Tribal Colleges in the RCCI
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Over the next 24 months, 4-6 states will be
targeted
Rural Community and Tribal Colleges in these
states will be invited to consider being part of
the RCCI program; 8-12 will be chosen
If funded for Years 3 & 4, another 10-12
colleges will be added from a new slate of
targeted states
In the end, 18-24 new Community/Tribal
Colleges will have been involved in the
RCCI program
Factors That Will Influence
the Selection Process
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Readiness on the part of Community/ Tribal Colleges
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Willingness to re-examine and realign its mission and vision
Strong support by the administrative leadership of the
community/tribal colleges
Genuine desire to strengthen their capacity to work with
their local rural communities
Committed to expanding access, facilitating equitable
community/economic development activities, broadening the
involvement of local people in community plans and actions
Willingness to take risks in the process of transforming the
role of the college
Factors That Will Influence
the Selection Process
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Community/Tribal Colleges located in
distressed areas (low income, unstable
income, and lack of voice)
Community/Tribal colleges that are
geographically clustered (if feasible)
Strong interest by the state’s Land Grant
institution to be a part of the RCCI program
(including Extension CD educators who want
to commit time to this important program)
Creating an RCCI Team:
Its Membership
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Community college administrators & faculty
Representatives from local government, the
business sector, local organizations, and/or
various groups
As a team, it’s committed to building a vision
for the community and working on a longrange strategic plan
Broad-based, inclusive leadership is accepted
as a critical component of the team’s work
Step 3: Build a New Partnership:
Community Colleges and Land Grant
Universities
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Strengthen administrative ties between
the two groups
Train Extension educators as RCCI
coaches
Create pool of technical assistants from
community colleges and LGUs to support
RCCI activities
Showcase work of both entities at the
annual Institutes
Involve both as participants and teachers
in the specialized CD training activities
Facilitate RCCI teams’ input on priority
activities of CD researchers at LGUs
Step 4: Strengthen the CD Capacity
of New RCCI Participants
TRAINING
COACHING
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Three Capacity Building Activities of the RCCI Program
TRAINING
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Annual RCCI Institute
Vision to Action Training
(by MDC, Inc.)
Specialized CD Training
Continuing Education and
Graduate Course Credits
Networking through web
discussions and
conference calls
Field trips
COACHING
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Access to an
experienced community
development
practitioner
Coach will be assigned
to each RCCI team to
help guide its strategic
activities
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
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Web-based technical
assistance pool will be
developed
Will list specific skills of
individuals (RCCI
participants, RCCA, RCCI
alumni, LGUs, others)
RRDCs will coordinate
requests
Pool of funds will be
available to respond to the
TA needs of new RCCI
participants
Step 5: Build Strong Working
Relationships with the RCCA
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Provide logistical support to the RCCA
Annual Conference
Expand the toolkit available to
community/tribal colleges to promote
community/economic development
Provide updates on grant opportunities
Facilitate access to technical assistance
Collaborate on grant proposals
Timeline for Selection of
New RCCI Members
August 2002
Inaugural RCCI Advisory Council Meeting
August-October
Community/Tribal Colleges in the targeted states are
invited to consider being part of the new RCCI
program
October
Interested schools asked to attend orientation at the
RCCA Conference (not required)
October-December
Community/Tribal Colleges complete and submit
application
RRDCs/Advisory Council conduct calls with interested
institutions
January-February 2003
Advisory Council selects new RCCI colleges
February-March 2003
RRDCs conduct initial site visit of the new RCCI
colleges
Thank You
Prepared by: Bo Beaulieu and Cornelia Flora