For Immediate Release:
September 15, 2016
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
While the sudden closing of ITT Tech has left many students stranded, Laurel Ridge Community College has several avenues for assistance. Laurel Ridge has programs where credits earned at ITT Tech can be used to move forward in specific degree or certificate programs.
First, students can go to laurelridge.edu/learn-how-lfcc-can-help-you-continue-your-education/ for links to all Laurel Ridge programs and to request more information.
Second, students can explore programs that will allow them to build on their experiences through Laurel Ridge’s Knowledge to Work (K2W) program.
Both the free resource portal at http://highered.org and Laurel Ridge’s competency-based education (CBE) program, K2W, allow ITT Tech students to build on their knowledge from previous coursework.
“Laurel Ridge offers more affordable options, and we are held to the highest standards of accreditation,” explains Dr. Cheryl Thompson-Stacy, Laurel Ridge President. “I encourage students from ITT Tech to take a closer look at all of Laurel Ridge’s programs, especially Knowledge to Work. This program focuses on competencies, not credits. Show us what you have learned, and you can continue to move forward with your educational goals.”
Because CBE does not focus on credit hours attained but on demonstrated competencies, skills learned by former ITT Tech students can transfer directly into competencies for cybersecurity, networking, health information management, and administrative systems technology.
Individuals can begin working in the portal, which has competencies, personalized learning plans, and open educational resources (OER) available to anyone at no cost. They can use the portal and its digital learning resources to document competencies and progress into new learning, without sitting in a classroom.
Students ready to attain a credential from Laurel Ridge can then work with a K2W coach to get their competencies confirmed and move forward in a credentialed program. New learning is flexibly paced and online.
K2W students have regular, substantive interaction with faculty in their disciplines. Coaches are also available to help with academic support, progress monitoring, job search, and resume building.
The highered.org portal and Knowledge to Work is funded in part by a TAACCCT grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. For more information, visit the program website at: http://knowledgetowork.com or call (540) 868-9744.
Primary contact for this story:
Lyda Costello Kiser, [email protected], 540-869-0623
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Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines, in addition to providing access to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs offered on site by a four-year institution. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.
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