Mission Statement

The Community College System of New Hampshire will provide comprehensive, market-driven, accessible, quality programs of higher education and services that respond to the needs of students, businesses, and communities.

River Valley Community College changes lives and transforms society by preparing students for lifelong learning, careers and citizenship.  Our career, technical and liberal arts programs enable a diverse community of learners to achieve goals including professional advancement and academic transfer.  Championing accessibility and academic integrity, we strive to meet our region's needs through employer partnerships, cultural enrichment and community service.

Education Philosophy

Since the College serves a diverse student population possessing a wide range of academic and physical abilities, the College is committed to providing a variety of educational approaches, instructional methods, supplementary services, and co-curricular activities to meet those diverse needs. In the context of a student-centered environment, the primary aim of the college is to assist students to become self-reliant, self-confident skilled workers and educated persons.

The College believes that the educated person is able to read critically, write clearly and comprehensively, reason analytically, and utilize mathematical and scientific skills to solve life's problems. The educated person functions as a responsible and ethical member of society, recognizes, and copes with ambiguities of life, and appreciates diversity. The educated person moves from concrete to abstract levels of thinking, fosters integration and synthesis of knowledge, interchanges roles as both learner and teacher, and utilizes contemplative thought.

By embracing an understanding and appreciation of self in today's socially and technologically complex world, and through the stimulation of intellectual curiosity, learners will be able to improve their lives and contribute something of value to the community of which they are a part.

Non-Discrimination Policy

River Valley Community College does not discriminate in the administration of its admissions and educational programs, activities, or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, handicap, veteran status, sexual orientation, or marital status. This statement is a reflection of the mission of the Community College System and River Valley Community College and refers to, but is not limited to, the provisions of the following laws:

Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; The Age Discrimination Act of 1967; Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; Section 402 of the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974; NH Law Against Discrimination (RSA 354A).

Inquiries regarding discrimination may be directed to Laurie Clute, RVCC (603) 542-7744 or to Sara A. Sawyer, Director of Human Resources for the Community College System of NH, 26 College Drive, Concord, NH 03301, (603) 2716300. Inquiries may also be directed to the US Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Region 1, 1875 JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203, (617) 565-1340; the NH Commission for Human Rights, 2 Chennell Drive, Concord, NH 03301, (603) 271-2767; and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, JFK Federal Building, Boston, MA 02203, (617)565-3200.