Central Virginia Community College
CVCC Bedford Center Creates Growth Opportunities
Bedford, Va. /Media Release/ -- The CVCC Bedford Center has become an integral part of Bedfords growth in educational development and enrichment. After just three semesters the institute has increased enrollment to more than 300 including 80 students taking classes on a full time basis. There are several factors for which the Center can credit its success starting with location and diversification to working with enterprises in need of advanced training programs.
Established in January of 2005, the CVCC Bedford Center provides opportunity for City and County residents to gain easy access to higher education. The Center offers more than 60 courses toward an associates degree including a two-year general studies degree program that can be completed without leaving the campus. According Robert Lowry, director of the Center, the expansion of educational programs is directly influenced by the demands of the student body.
We try to accommodate the needs of students as we grow, Lowry says. The closer we get to providing turnkey curricula toward various associate degrees, the higher the level of interest within the region.
Lowry has also worked hard to make the Bedford Center proactive with outside institutions. One of his primary sources for servicing regional enterprise is his close association with the Bedford Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is a major hub within a community where if one wishes to connect with a variety of government agencies and businesses it provides the opportunities, Lowry states.
As a result, the Center has added credit classes, certificate programs, and training courses for a number of institutions and enterprises. Again the programs vary with the needs of the community with current classes ranging from computer instruction to courses in crime prevention.
Lowry is excited about the future of the CVCC Bedford Center. While we are an extension of the Lynchburg-based Central Virginia Community College, we maintain a certain degree of autonomy. Enrollment and accounting services are done in-house and we supply our own counseling assistance. Furthermore, we make a concerted effort to staff the Center with area instructors who have a vested interest in the school as a service to the advancement in education for Bedford residents.
For further information on educational programs and specific advancement opportunities call Kathy Payne at the Center, (540) 586-7901.
Related Links: www.cvcc.vccs.bedfordcenter.edu
Release Date: 12:15 PM (EDT) 06/30/06
Release Number: 060630.progress
(Released to the Bedford Bulletin for their Progress edition)
Media Contact:
Kennan J. Meyer
Coordinator, Public Relations and Marketing
Central Virginia Community College
(434) 832-7609
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A Member Institution of the Virginia Community College System.