CAMPUS NEWS
is a periodic communication to inform the community about Blue Ridge Community College.
Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood
President
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Follow Dr. Leatherwood on Twitter @PresLeatherwood
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BRCC Experiences Growth in Programs Across the College
Blue Ridge Community College is experiencing growth in its curriculum (college credit) programs, following several years of flat enrollment. Based on a recent report 2,191 students are enrolled for Fall Semester.
“We have a dedicated team of professionals here at Blue Ridge Community College. Together, we have embraced changes across the board to help position the College to serve our students better.”
~BRCC President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood
College leadership points to revisions in the advising process, expanded registration periods, a robust new student orientation, improved communication methods with prospective students, and a targeted marketing and outreach campaign as examples of the changes needed to move the needle on student enrollment numbers.
Henderson County has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state, yet continues to see job growth in advanced manufacturing and skilled trades. Nationally, community colleges continue to experience sluggish enrollment trends. A willingness to respond to regional workforce needs with new and innovative training opportunities, partnerships and collaboration have allowed Blue Ridge Community College to defy the odds. These collaborative efforts will result in a more skilled workforce for Henderson and Transylvania Counties, and a better-prepared student who wishes to transfer to a four-year university.
College training programs such as nursing and surgical technology are at maximum capacity this year. These programs are housed at the Health Sciences Center in Hendersonville, a joint facility with Wingate University and Pardee UNC Health Care. The College’s Basic Law Enforcement Training program has also enrolled one of it’s largest classes in recent history.
Career and College Promise Offers Many Benefits:
An in-depth review of Fall Semester 2018 enrollment statistics revealed a particular area of significant increase--490 high school students from Henderson and Transylvania Counties are taking college courses through the Blue Ridge Community College Career and College Promise Program.
Career and College Promise is a statewide program that gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to get a "jump start" and earn college credit toward a two-year or four-year degree while still in high school. Students are dually enrolled in their high school and Blue Ridge Community College, allowing them to receive both high school and college credit for courses taken through the program. The most popular benefit for students and families is that Career and College Promise classes are tuition-free.
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Small Business Center Ranked High for its Assistance to Local Entrepreneurs
Blue Ridge has taken an aggressive approach to tackle workforce development needs in the region—
and our efforts are getting noticed.
The College’s Small Business Center received a “2nd in the state” ranking for the number of seminars, workshops, and consultations it provides to local entrepreneurs when compared to 58 other Small Business Centers across the state.
Last year, the Small Business Center offered 114 seminars with more than 2,200 attendees. Additionally, staff provided 400 hours of free small business counseling to 128 clients.
“This ranking speaks volumes since the College is by no means the 2nd largest in the state system of community colleges, nor is our service area,”
~BRCC President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood
The Small Business Center's success can be tied back to long-time collaborations with Henderson and Transylvania County Chambers of Commerce, Henderson and Transylvania County Tourism Development Authorities, Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, Fletcher Area Business Association, and Transylvania Economic Alliance. The College also has a long history of working with the Small Business Administration, Mountain Biz Works, and SCORE.
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BRCC Receives $210,000 Grant to Expand Advanced Manufacturing Training
Blue Ridge Community College will expand its current advanced manufacturing program to include plastics injection molding training for incumbent and new workers for local industry. The expansion is made possible through a $210,000 grant with Appalachian Regional Commission. Blue Ridge will purchase instructional equipment for its existing Southeastern Advanced Molding Technology Education Center.
This job training initiative is designed to meet the training needs of local employers such as Elkamet Inc., Continental Automotive Systems, Borg Warner Cooling, Prince Manufacturing, Smart Products, Skyline Plastics, Kyocera International Inc., Meritor Inc., Demmel Inc., and others in the region who manufacture plastic parts.
“The grant awarded to Blue Ridge Community College from the Appalachian Regional Commission will be critical in the development and advancement in the coming months and years ahead. I was proud to be a part of the process of supporting the College during the grant submission process, and I’m very thankful to see that process resulted in a success. The team at Blue Ridge Community College is among the highest caliber. I know they will continue to be so. I want to congratulate them on their deserved success and wish them well on the bright future ahead.”
~Congressman Mark Meadows
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Annual Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon Celebrates Decades of Scholarship Assistance
On September 26, at the College's 25th Annual Scholarship Appreciation Luncheon, scholarship donors had an opportunity to dine with the hundreds of students benefiting from their generosity and see first-hand the positive impact of their investments.
Through the fundraising efforts of Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation, Blue Ridge Community College awarded more than 300 scholarships totaling $520,745 for the 2018-19 academic year.
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"My path to get to this point might have been a little rocky at times, and it has possibly taken me a little longer to get here than some, but I am thankful for every pothole in that road. It has helped me appreciate the outcome even more. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to show the world that I do have something to offer."
~Autumn Lee, BRCC Horticulture Technology student and scholarship recipient
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Student Spotlight: Jared Shelton
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Jared Shelton has been working multiple jobs for the past several years while helping to support his wife and four children. He owns and operates his own electronics repair business, and he also works with his father at a family-owned pharmacy in the Hendersonville area.
With unknown circumstances surrounding the pharmacy's future, Jared made the decision to get started on his own dream and turn it into a career. He has always been interested in math and science, so he enrolled in the engineering program at BRCC. While working on his degree, Jared has been involved in the Work-Based Learning program where he secured his current job at Continental, a local manufacturer of brake calipers.
Jared is getting a quality education and hands-on work experience all while enjoying the convenience and affordability that BRCC has to offer and securing a future for his family.
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Program Spotlight: Public Safety
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Many of our students have a strong desire to give back to the communities they live and work. A career in public safety provides these students a fulfilling career right here at home after just two years in one of the associate degree public safety programs at Blue Ridge Community College.
Our instructors have real-world experience in successful careers themselves and provide state-of-the-art training for our students to prepare them for a variety of jobs.
At BRCC you can earn degrees or certificates in emergency medical services, fire protection technology, emergency management, and criminal justice technology programs. Many of the credits required for these degrees can be taken online. BRCC also offers a Basic Law Enforcement Training Program for those who want to be sworn law enforcement officers.
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We Value Your Opinion
Help Us Position BRCC for the Future
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Blue Ridge Community College has partnered with Formation PR + Brand to rebrand the College. Beyond updating the logo, this process will also take into account brand perceptions and the creation of key messaging to support the College’s goals and mission.
To further our level of understanding, we would like to hear your thoughts and opinions about BRCC.
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Impact Campaign Reaches Halfway Mark!
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The IMPACT Campaign has raised $1,056,534!
Join us in making an impact in the lives of students at Blue Ridge Community College!
Consider making a donation or forward this email to friends and family who may also be willing to support Blue Ridge Community College.
If you are interested in supporting the IMPACT Campaign or have any questions, please contact Ann Green, executive director of the Blue Ridge Community College Educational Foundation. She can be reached at (828) 694-1710 or by emailing
[email protected]
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Professional Development Institute Classes
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Leveraging a wealth of business and leadership experience, the Professional Development Institute at Blue Ridge Community College designs and delivers learning solutions to grow your personal, team and strategic leadership skills. Our instructors are proven. Our content is practical. Our approach is engaging.
Sign up today for one of these open enrollment seminars or contact us to tailor a training program to meet your company’s specific needs.
October 25: Franklin Covey's 7 Habits
November 1: Importance of Organizational Structure
November 15: Building Teams That Work
For more information, contact
M.C. Gaylord at (828) 694-1779.
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Registration for Spring Semester 2019
Kicks Off November 5
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Now Accepting New Students! Spring Semester is just around the corner and we are accepting applications from new and returning students for our college credit courses and program. Course registration will open November 5. Classes begin January 7.
Call (828) 694-1800 or 883-2520 to find out more.
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Collaborative Workforce Development Efforts:
Last month, the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board recognized Blue Ridge Community College, Henderson County Public Schools, and Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development for their collaborative workforce development efforts. The group has collaborated on industry tours for students, job fairs, and many other efforts to expose young students to the job opportunities in Henderson County.
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FAFSA Day: College Foundation of North Carolina, the North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, Blue Ridge Community College, and State Employees' Credit Union will host FAFSA Day on Saturday, October 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Blue Ridge Community College.
On that day, students and their families can meet with experienced college financial aid officers who will help them complete and submit their FAFSA for the 2019-20 school year. Those interested in attending FAFSA Day should register online at
cfnc.org/fafsaday.
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Finish Line Grants: Thanks to funding from the North Carolina General Assembly, Blue Ridge Community College students with unforeseen expenses near the end of their studies will be eligible for $1,000 grants to help them graduate. Students in good academic standing who are at least 75 percent done with their degree can apply for up to $1,000 a semester to cover car repairs, medical bills, child care, and a wide range of other expenses that might pop up.
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Bee Campus Designation:
In February 2017, Blue Ridge Community College became the 16th educational institution in the nation to be certified as an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program. Blue Ridge Community College’s Sustainability Committee is leading the way in this effort and takes pride in the College’s commitment to minimizing hazards to pollinators by not using potentially dangerous synthetic pesticides.
Last month, the College,
in conjunction with Bee City USA, MountainTrue and Conserving Carolina, hosted a showing of
Flight of the Butterflies.
Butterfly expert and educator Estela Romero made a special presentation for event goers.
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Our mission
is to provide quality education and training opportunities that support student learning, enhance student advancement and success, and meet the workforce needs of our community.
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