For Immediate Release:
December 8, 2017
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
Kim Blosser, Laurel Ridge’s vice president of academic and student affairs, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Shepherd University Assistant Provost for Academic Community Outreach Virginia Hicks allowing Laurel Ridge graduates in the associate of science program to seamlessly transfer into Shepherd’s bachelor’s of science in chemistry program.
“We developed a pathway where they will accept all of our credits to transfer right into a bachelor’s degree in chemistry,” says Brandon Shaw, dean of science, engineering, math and health at Laurel Ridge. “With this, we know that our students won’t lose even one credit when transferring to Shepherd University.”
Laurel Ridge chemistry professors Sam Dillender and Ernest Grisdale worked hard on the joint venture, which will also see transfer students enjoy a significant discount on tuition.
“This is a win-win for our students, Laurel Ridge, and Shepherd University,” professors Dillender and Grisdale say in a joint statement. “It allows our students to continue their education at a school offering the same class size, experience, and caring faculty as Laurel Ridge. Shepherd University also has excellent research opportunities for chemistry majors, and is close enough that our students can either commute or live on campus. In addition, with the articulation agreement satisfied, Shepherd University will accept up to 72 credits, and can offer a minimum of a 25-percent tuition discount.”
Shepherd University, located in Shepherdstown, W.Va., has already had good experiences with Laurel Ridge graduate transfers, according to Hicks.
“This is so exciting, our first 2+2 (two years for an associate degree and two years for a bachelor’s degree) agreement with Laurel Ridge Community College,” she says. “We have examined Lord Fairfax’s associate of science programs and we are impressed.
“The professors and administrators from both universities worked hard together to make this happen.”
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Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With four locations — Middletown, Warrenton, Luray-Page County and most recently, Vint Hill— 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 (Laurel Ridge) is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College. Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, national origin, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment.
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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