A message from President Craig Johnson
Welcome to Ridgewater College!
Dating back to 1961, Ridgewater College has established a strong tradition of providing high-quality, affordable education for learners who seek to achieve their full potential and enrich their lives through personalized and relevant education in an accessible, supportive and inclusive environment. Today, we continue to evolve and grow to ensure that we live up to our mission, vision and guiding principles and meet the changing needs of students, employers and communities around us. We are committed to providing every student with a rich learning experience, on-campus or from a distance. Whether you are seeking specific job training through our Customized Training and Continuing Education division, enrolling in a career and technical program to prepare you for the workforce, or pursuing a liberal arts education for personal enrichment or transfer to a four-year institution, we are committed to meeting your needs and exceeding your expectations.
At Ridgewater, we strive to provide a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds and identities, with a “Students First!” philosophy, a pro-active anti-racism stance and a commitment to equity, affordability, excellence and innovation. We believe the Ridgewater student experience is enhanced by the growing diversity in our surrounding communities that enriches our college community, enhances campus life and classroom discussions, and strengthens our capacity to serve as a vital resource in the economic health and well-being of our local communities and region. Our Equity 2030 commitment to eliminate all opportunity, performance and achievement gaps in our student population enhances our focus on providing equitable access to education for every individual who seeks a better quality of life. While academic attainment continues to be critically relevant to career and life success, we also seek to ensure that every individual has a genuine opportunity for inclusive engagement and success in the workforce and community life beyond our campus boundaries.
Although our nation continues to face challenges from COVID-19, we have returned to our normal range of campus instruction and student life activities. We no longer have mandatory COVID protocols in place on campus, however, we continue to actively monitor conditions around us in order to maintain the health and safety of our college community. We also are actively working to apply what we have learned from our COVID experience. Our strong tradition of on-campus quality instruction and support services has been expanded and enhanced by increased use of technology to provide more remote and hybrid courses and support resources for students.
If you are a prospective student considering how Ridgewater might fit into your education and career plans, please reach out and connect with one of our recruiters or advisors. We will put your needs first and help you make decisions that are best for you. And if you are a continuing Ridgewater student, welcome back!
Craig Johnson, President
