High school juniors, seniors and their parents from nine Rhode Island Catholic schools will have the opportunity to learn about an affordable educational resource - CCRI - at a meeting at Bishop Hendricken High School.

Hendricken will be host the informational session to discuss a “local, affordable educational resource” March 4 at 7 p.m. in the school theater.

While college information sessions have been held at Hendricken in the past, this is the first for a community college. Most Hendricken students go on to attend 4-year colleges. Joseph Adamec, Hendricken’s liaison and host for the event said that this opportunity would “arm students with another academic possibility.” He said that Hendricken reached out to CCRI to hold the event at the school.

CCRI also offers a financial alternative in these difficult financial times. Per semester tuition for a full time student at CCRI is $2,246.

Adamec cited affordability as a reason why Hendricken sought to host the event.

During a visit to the Beacon Tuesday, Commissioner of Higher Education Jack Warner said “with a degree from CCRI you can get into places you could never dream of getting into (as a recent high school graduate.) What predicts success in college the most is success in college.”

Warner added, “Some students in the lower tiers of their class may need a college like CCRI to help get them into a high ranking college later on.”

Warner said students graduating with a 3.5-3.6 GPA at CCRI stand a good chance of obtaining financial aid at a 4-year institution “because they only have to give you money for two years.”

On March 4th participants will have the chance to speak with CCRI President Ray Di Pasquale and a chat about the transfer opportunities, accelerated admissions process and other services offered by the college. Those who attend will also receive information about CCRI’s programs, campuses and faculty as well as fees, tuition and financial aid.