September 29, 2017
Laurel Ridge’s Adult Basic Education (ABE) program has been awarded state and federal grants totaling more than $2.1 million over the course of three years. The grants will benefit various programs, including adult education, integrated English language civics education, general adult education, PluggedIn Virginia and Race to GED.
All of the adult education courses are free to students.
The college’s ABE serves about 900 students each year, and is one of 22 adult education program regions in Virginia. With five full-time and 38 part-time instructors, it holds classes in 15 locations in Laurel Ridge’s service region, including the new Valley Workforce Center on the Our Health Campus in Winchester.
“Laurel Ridge’s ABE serves many different types of adult students,” program manager Amy Judd says. “Some of our students already have a high school diploma and are looking to enter college or workforce training, but first want to brush up on their academic skills. Others hope to earn their GED. Or, they may not be native English speakers and are here to improve their language skills or better understand the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.
“The latter will benefit from a grant that is new to Laurel Ridge, the $140,000-per-year Integrated English Language Civics Education grant, which will allow us to add English language classes here in Middletown, offer civics and citizenship classes, and will also contextualize English language instruction to help non-native speakers enter trainings in specific career pathways, such as the medical field or industrial trades. It is an absolute game changer for us, and we will be starting these classes in the next few weeks.”
For more information about ABE at Laurel Ridge, call (540) 869-0748, or visit laurelridge.edu/adulteducation.
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.