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CAMPUS NEWS is a periodic communication to inform the community about Blue Ridge Community College.

Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood

President

Follow Dr. Leatherwood on Twitter @PresLeatherwood

Capital Improvement Planning for Henderson County Campus is Underway

Blue Ridge Community College Board of Trustees, with funding support from the Henderson County Commissioners, have begun planning efforts for a major capital project on Blue Ridge Community College's Henderson County Campus.

To maintain a nimble and flexible approach to workforce needs, College administration identified the need to create 21st century learning environments for its students and establish training spaces that promote Henderson County and Blue Ridge Community College to potential industry partners.

"Henderson County Commissioners have provided unprecedented support for the College's facilities needs," said Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood. "This investment demonstrates the County's value on education and workforce development to its existing and prospective employers, as well as students and families."

The design stage will begin soon with a projected "ground breaking" in Spring 2020.

Blue Ridge Receives Reaffirmation of Accreditation

Officials at Blue Ridge Community College received reaffirmation of its accreditation through 2028 from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The College received the best possible review, with the committee finding Blue Ridge in compliance with all 87 standards and offering no recommendations for follow up. The announcement was made this week during the Commission's summer meeting in Atlanta, GA.

The reaffirmation comes after a series of vigorous reviews—both on-site and off-site—to ensure that Blue Ridge is continuing to provide the resources, programs, and services to accomplish its mission of empowering individuals with knowledge and skills to enrich communities and build a competitive workforce. Staff and faculty from across campus contributed to the initial compliance certification report, which included everything from academic programs to financial and physical resources to mission and governance. The report was submitted to SACSCOC in March of 2018.

A reaffirmation committee comprised of ten senior administrators and faculty from other two-year colleges came to Blue Ridge in October 2018 with the purpose of assessing educational quality, mission alignment, the College’s Quality Enhancement Plan, and other factors that contribute to the College’s commitment to continuous improvement.

The reaffirmation process is conducted every 10 years. The College was last reaffirmed in 2008.

" Earning reaffirmation is the result of years of work and self-study by many, many people on campus ," Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood, President of Blue Ridge Community College, said. " It confirms that Blue Ridge operates with integrity and in a responsible manner and provides high-quality education to our students. ”

Being accredited by SACSCOC is essential to the continued operation of Blue Ridge Community College. Having accreditation means that Blue Ridge’s credits will transfer to other colleges and universities and students are able to receive federal funds for financial aid. Without accreditation, a college is ineligible for state and federal funding, its academic degrees are less valued, and its overall reputation and value as an educational institution is diminished.

SACSCOC is a regional accrediting body of degree-granting higher education institutions in the southern states. Its mission is to assure the educational quality and improve the effectiveness of its member institutions.

Made In Henderson County Apprenticeship Program Students Sign On for Local Jobs

Through the ongoing Made in Henderson County Partnership, Henderson County Public Schools, Blue Ridge Community College, the Henderson County Partnership for Economic Development, and local industry partners launched the Apprenticeship Program for graduating seniors this school year.

A registered North Carolina Apprenticeship with the N.C. Department of Commerce, the program will offer students a tuition-free Mechatronics Engineering Certificate, earned over the course of three semesters. Throughout the apprenticeship, students will spend one day in the classroom at Blue Ridge, and the rest of the week working at one of the partner companies.

Students will earn a competitive salary throughout the process and are guaranteed a job offer upon completion of the program.

Read more about the Made in Henderson County Apprenticeship Program in the recent article by the Hendersonville Times-News.

Blue Ridge Students and Advisor Earn Top Honors at SkillsUSA State Conference

Students representing Blue Ridge Community College recently competed at the SkillsUSA North Carolina State Conference.

Blue Ridge had 15 students competing in five skilled trades areas including Automotive Service Technology (secondary students), Automotive Service Technology (post-secondary), Welding, Automotive Refinishing Technology, and Collision Repair . 

“ These contests are a way for students to hone and present their talents and gain valuable workplace skills ,” shared Brian Johnson, Blue Ridge’s SkillsUSA advisor and instructor for the College’s Automotive Systems program.

During the awards ceremony, Johnson (pictured above) was named SkillsUSA North Carolina Post-Secondary Advisor of the Year.

“ Brian works tirelessly each day to make sure that his students are career-ready and participation in SkillsUSA competitions is just one of the ways he does that,” said Blue Ridge President Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood. “ I am so pleased that Brian has received this very deserving recognition. ”

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers, middle school, high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. Through its local, state and national competitions, students demonstrate occupational and leadership skills.

Four Blue Ridge students placed in the top five during the state competitions:

Third Place

Daniel Owen, Welding

Fourth Place

Jared Own, Automotive Service Technology

Garrett Woodall, Automotive Service Technology (secondary students)

Fifth Place

Howard Green, Welding

Ten Blue Ridge Community College students joined faculty members Jack Igelman and Ben Hardy on the College's Study Abroad trip to Cuba in April. The Study Abroad trip allowed students to become more globally competent through education that extended the borders of th eir classroom at Blue Ridge and created a deeper level of understanding of the subject matter, the world around them, and how the two are interconnected.



Blue Ridge Community College welcomed two new members to the Board of Trustees (pictured above). Vivian Bolaños, appointed by the Governor of North Carolina, was sworn in in March. Michael Pressley, appointed by the Henderson County Board of Public Education, filled the unexpired term of Patricia Jones who passed away in February. He was recently reappointed for a four-year term beginning in July.

Dr. Jeremy Gibbs was recently reappointed for a four-year term to the Board of Trustees by the Governor of North Carolina. Kelly Leonard and Nathan Kennedy were reappointed by the Henderson County Commissioners and Steve Dozier by the Henderson County Board of Public Education.

Education leaders from Henderson County Public Schools, Blue Ridge Community College, and Wingate University formalized a partnership that established a career-ready academic pathway for high school students that will guarantee them an interview with Wingate’s School of Pharmacy. High school students in Henderson County Public Schools can begin this coursework at Blue Ridge while still in high school through the Career and College Promise Program. 

Blue Ridge President Laura B. Leatherwood was recently appointed to a three-year term on the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Economic and Workforce Development.

Blue Ridge Community College and Gardner-Webb University also recently signed an articulation agreement designed to provide a clear pathway for students who want to earn an associate degree in accounting, early childhood, business administration, information technology, or criminal justice at Blue Ridge and then move on to work toward their bachelor’s degrees at Gardner-Webb in related fields. 

Blue Ridge Community College has received a grant from the American Association of Community College's Expanding Community College Apprenticeships Grant Program . This grant will allow the College to expand and grow apprenticeship programs strategically in its flagship area of advanced manufacturing as well as masonry, HVAC, transportation, banking/finance, and information technologies. 



Summer enrollment in the College's credit programs jumped 11% from last year.

No one tells the Blue Ridge story better than our students.

Learn more ab out Jeremiah, Ruthie, and Hannah and their experiences at Blue Ridge Community College!

New Construction Trades Courses Will Train for High Demand Career Fields

To meet the needs and demands of the area workforce, Blue Ridge Community College has an array of construction trades courses for new and continuing students. Supported by local employers, these courses were developed to allow prospective workers to train quickly for high demand jobs such as masons, heating and air conditioning technicians, and general construction workers.

Construction Trades Training Courses

Basic Electricity

Heating and Air Conditioning

Masonry

Building Trades Core

Interested students can contact the College for more information about enrollment.

Saturday, September 28

Car Show at the Transylvania County Campus

Wednesday, October 9

Time Capsule Presentation at the Henderson County Campus

Friday, November 15

50th Anniversary Luncheon

featuring former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino

Now Accepting New Students!

 Fall Semester is just around the corner and we are accepting applications from new and returning students for our college credit courses and programs. Registration kicks off July 8. Classes begin August 15.

Call (828) 694-1800 or 883-2520 to find out more.

Congratulations to our recent graduates!