For Immediate Release:
May 23, 2025
Primary Media Contact:
Sally Voth
Public Relations Specialist
[email protected]
Phone: 540-868-7134
A newly-inked agreement between Laurel Ridge Community College and Shenandoah University will help more students in the region attain four-year degrees. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Laurel Ridge President Kim Blosser and SU President Tracy Fitzsimmons on Tuesday, May 20, calls for the two institutions to collaborate on a co-enrollment and guaranteed admission pathway.
With the MOU, Laurel Ridge students will be able to co-enroll in as many as three classes, each worth three or four credits, at Shenandoah University. Those classes would be charged Laurel Ridge tuition rates and would go towards an associate degree. While paying less for the courses, the students would also have an early opportunity to explore and acclimate to the campus, culture and community offered at SU, including the university’s intramural sports, clubs, academic support services, and even its marching band, as well as student tickets for sporting and Shenandoah Conservatory performances.
To be eligible for co-enrollment, a student must be enrolled in either an associate degree or uniform certificate of general studies program at Laurel Ridge, have completed at least 15 credits of general education courses at the community college, have a minimum 2.5 GPA in their classes at both colleges, and meet with a Laurel Ridge advisor to set up their completion plan or pathway for degrees at both institutions.
Students will earn guaranteed admission to SU so long as they meet several criteria, including transferring to SU within three years of completing their Laurel Ridge degree, successfully completing their three courses at the university and having a cumulative 2.5 GPA.
Virginia’s Community Colleges have evolved in the decades since their establishment, President Blosser said. Initially, the goal was that every resident in the state was within an hour’s drive to a community college. More recently, community colleges added another focus – ensuring students had the support needed to finish their degree or certificate, so wraparound resources were provided. Now, in addition to those two priorities, helping students complete their bachelor’s degree has become crucial.
Three-quarters of Laurel Ridge’s credit students are enrolled in a transfer program, meaning they intend to transfer from the college to a four-year institution. Each year, roughly 40 Laurel Ridge students transfer to Shenandoah.
However, many community college students face extra obstacles some of their counterparts at four-year colleges and universities have fortunately not encountered.
“Our students are more likely to have grown up in foster care, are working part time or full time, and have many challenging life situations,” said Dr. Blosser. “We have heard the stories of thousands of students who have earned degrees despite all the odds stacked against them, but we also know that many of these students have to stay close to home in order to make that dream a reality.
“The proximity of our campus to SU’s campus is key, allowing students to stay home or close by with their support group. They will be part of a culture of care, with our advisors and SU’s advisors and teams ensuring students feel welcomed and supported. And, they have a commitment from leadership to be a model for how community college students can successfully complete a bachelor’s degree.”
President Fitzsimmons said Laurel Ridge is an “ideal partner” for the co-enrollment and guaranteed admissions program, noting the community college has long prepared its students for successful transfers to four-year colleges and universities.
“It’s a win for Laurel Ridge and for Shenandoah, for the Northern Shenandoah Valley and beyond,” said Dr. Fitzsimmons. “It’s a win for our educational partners, like Winchester Public Schools, Frederick County Public Schools and beyond. But, it’s also really important because of what it will do for all the students and their families for generations to come.”
Laurel Ridge Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Johanna Weiss said community college graduates usually stay local after completing their education.
“So, when we think about the benefits of this partnership, and we think about the benefits to our students and we think about the benefits to our institutions, I think we need to really celebrate the benefits to our local region, because these graduates of ours, of SU’s, are going to stay in this region,” she said. “They’re our future teachers, our lawyers, our business folks, our entrepreneurs, our IT specialists. We’re not just growing college graduates, we’re growing the future workforce in this area. And I think that’s something to be really excited about.”
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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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