April 18, 2017
Laurel Ridge is No. 1 when it comes to using technology to enhance learning and student engagement. The Center for Digital Education put Laurel Ridge at the top of the 2016-2017 Digital Community Colleges Survey for schools with an enrollment between 5,000 and 10,000. This is the 12th year the center has done the analysis.
“This year’s survey indicates community colleges are continuing to improve efforts at creating cost-effective platforms and Open Education Resources, mobile environments, real-time resources, telepresence robots and more to create robust online and mobile environments for their students,” said Dr. Kecia Ray, executive director for the Center for Digital Education.
Laurel Ridge’s recent implementation of a video technology service that allows lecture capture and recording, digital whiteboarding and internet connections that can be made globally for any student anywhere was cited by The Center for Digital Excellence. Laurel Ridge can remotely interact with students through a remote-controlled teleconferencing robot.
Zoom, the compressed video software the college uses for video conferencing, costs just 1/10 of what the former software cost, and spread out across dozens of rooms on the college’s campuses, the savings is significant, Information Technology Strategist and Chief Information Officer Richie Crim said. 
Laurel Ridge recently conducted an interview of an instructor candidate in Guam while using the system, Crim said.
“We’ve had guest lecturers through Zoom,” he said. “They can be from anywhere and come in and communicate.”
This marks Laurel Ridge’s fourth year winning the award. After three consecutive wins, the center made a change in the rules, placing the previous year’s winner on a review panel.
For a prior win, Crim put a telecommuting robot on a plane with a colleague. From his home, Crim controlled the robot as it accepted the award.
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. 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.