The Community College of Rhode Island celebrated the grand opening of its newly renovated One Stop Student Services Center at the Warwick Knight Campus on Monday, Sept. 22. CCRI President Rosemary A. Costigan was joined by state leaders and fellow college administrators to officially open the space.

“Today is more than a ribbon-cutting; it’s a celebration of how we serve our students historically,” Costigan said at the event. “This space was designed with intention to remove barriers and to ensure that every student who walks through our doors feels supported, seen and empowered.”

The state-of-the-art hub consolidates essential student services – admissions, advising, financial aid, counseling, IT help, workforce partnerships and more – into one central location, making the college experience more accessible and streamlined for students. 

“The college recognized that navigating administrative processes shouldn’t be a challenge,” said One Stop Director John Araujo in an interview Tuesday.

“We’re hoping that your trip to One Stop is your one and only stop,” he said. “We’re integrating spaces to streamline [student] experience and reduce barriers to access.”

Araujo commended the staff’s flexibility and resilience in the transitions from the old space at the Knight Campus to temporary office space in the fieldhouse when construction began and back into the renovated space this summer.

“Staff understand it’s a massive improvement,” said Araujo. “Now we can serve students faster and more accurately.”

Funded through a $12-million General Obligation bond approved by Rhode Island voters in a 2021 special election, the project aimed to create a modern, accessible and student-focused environment that reinforces CCRI’s commitment to student success.

“If there’s one thing that unites all of us in the General Assembly and all of us with the executive branch, it’s education,” said House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi. “CCRI is the lifeblood of education in Rhode Island.”

“We’re reducing barriers for success for our students so they can achieve their full academic career goals,” he said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Hanna Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick), who chairs the Senate Committee on Education, credits CCRI with her start in higher education. She is the first college graduate in her family and a recently retired speech language pathologist.

“I’m forever grateful for the connections and the friendships that I made here and for the opportunities and experiences that I gained at CCRI,” she said. “The new One Stop Student Services will help make it even easier for students to get their start.”

After the ribbon-cutting, One Stop staff showed state leaders around the different offices and departments centralized in the new facility.

The project encompasses 30,700 square feet and represents years of thoughtful planning and execution, according to a release. The renovation was designed to support the college’s goal of accessibility. Features include a new elevator, intuitive wayfinding, upgraded technology and comfortable, modern common areas.

The design phase began in August 2019 by Aharonian & Associates Inc. Ahlborg Construction Corporation served as the general contractor. Furnishings were provided by Department of Corrections Correctional Industries, and project oversight was led by Mark Libutti, CCRI college projects manager. Construction began in September 2022 and reached substantial completion in March 2025, six months ahead of schedule. Final completion is anticipated in December 2025.