What is Question 1?

Kelcy Conroy

Editor in Chief

As Election Day draws nearer Rhode Islanders are learning about the bond questions that will be on the ballot on Tuesday. On October 14th RIC held a “GO Bond Rally” in Gaige 200 complete with remarks from President Warner and multiple students as well as an advertisement shown all with the hope that the RIC community as well as Rhode Island as a whole will vote yes on Question 1.

“If we want Rhode Island to have the workforce it needs in the years ahead, we have to invest in the students who will become that workforce.” President Jack Warner commented at the event.

But what is Question 1? And what does it mean for RIC?

Question 1 involves the Higher Education Facilities Bond Measure which if approved will use a total of $275 million. $165 million of this amount will go towards an integrated health building at the University of Rhode Island campus which would be used to invest in labs and clinics for URI students in health care fields. URI is currently engaged in a long-term process to launch a medical school and a medical building similar to that of the Rhode Island Nursing Education Center (RINEC) which RIC utilizes. $60 million of this amount would go towards Community College of Rhode Island’s planned Workforce Innovation Center which would serve as a regional hub for career and technical education for both current CCRI students as well as high school students looking at next steps.

$50 million of the amount is planned to go towards renovating the Career Development Center at RIC into a Student Success and Career Readiness Center. According to Yes on 1 RI this center will “offer academic advising, professional resources, employment opportunities, and real-life experiences to propel students toward high-paying careers.” 

There is currently a Career Development Center at RIC located on the first floor of the Adams Library. Here students and recent alumni can connect with staff to search for career opportunities and discuss “next steps.” It is unknown whether the renovation of this Career Development Center into a larger project goes hand in hand with the discussed renovations of the Campus Master Plan, which you can find the details of here.

Election Day is on November 3rd. Find your local polling place at https://vote.sos.ri.gov/.