Laurel Ridge Community College
{{Short description|Public college in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, US}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Laurel Ridge Community College
| former_name = Lord Fairfax Community College
| image_name = Laurel Ridge Community College sign.jpg
| established = {{start date and age|1970|1|24}}
| type = Public community college
| parent = Virginia Community College System
| president = Kimberly Blosser
| city = Middletown
| state = Virginia
| country = United States
| free_label = Campus Locations
| free = Luray, Middletown, Warrenton
| free_label2 = Primary Jurisdictions Served
| free2 = Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Warren, Winchester
| website = {{URL|https://laurelridge.edu}}
| pushpin_map = Shenandoah Valley#USA Virginia Northern#USA Virginia#USA
| coordinates = {{coord|39.0362234|-78.267952|display=title}}
}}
Laurel Ridge Community College, formerly Lord Fairfax Community College, is a public community college with multiple campuses in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont regions of Virginia. It is part of the Virginia Community College System and operates four locations — the Fauquier and Middletown Campuses, the Luray-Page County Center, and a site at Vint Hill in eastern Fauquier County — that serve seven counties and one city in the area, enrolling 5,862 students in academic year 2021–2022.{{cite web |date=March 2, 2023 |title=IPEDS Data Center |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/institutionprofile.aspx?unitId=232575 |accessdate=March 2, 2023 |website=Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System |publisher=National Center for Education Statistics}} Students attending Laurel Ridge can obtain an associate degree or certificate.
In July 2021, the Virginia State Board of Community Colleges changed names for local institutions named after people who owned slaves or advocated racist policies such as school segregation.{{cite news |last1=Weissman |first1=Sara |title=Name Changes for Several Virginia Community Colleges |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2021/07/26/name-changes-several-virginia-community-colleges |access-date=5 August 2021 |work=Inside Higher Ed |date=July 26, 2021 |language=en}} The board allowed the college to change its name to from Lord Fairfax Community College to Laurel Ridge Community College. Instead of venerating Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, plantation owner, the new name honors laurel flower that has been associated with academic achievement.{{cite press release |last1=Voth |first1=Sally |title=State Board Approves Name Change for Lord Fairfax Community College |url=https://lfcc.edu/2021/07/22/news/state-board-approves-name-change-for-lord-fairfax-community-college/ |access-date=5 August 2021 |work=Lord Fairfax Community College |date=22 July 2021 |language=English |archive-date=5 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805214223/https://lfcc.edu/2021/07/22/news/state-board-approves-name-change-for-lord-fairfax-community-college/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Merod |first1=Anna |title=State board officially approves Laurel Ridge Community College as LFCC's new name |url=https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/breaking-news-state-board-officially-approves-laurel-ridge-community-college-as-lfccs-new-name/article_db7472c9-f83e-5e38-b1bd-7ba08b04e645.html |access-date=5 August 2021 |work=The Winchester Star |date=July 22, 2021 |language=en}}
History
The first president was William McCoy who served from 1970 until 1989. The second president was Marilyn Beck from 1990 through 2002. She was followed by John Sylgielski from 2003 until May 2008. Cheryl Thompson-Stacy became the fourth president in January 2009 and was succeeded by Kimberly Blosser in April 2019.
Campuses and facilities
{{Location map+ | Virginia
| caption =
| places =
{{Location map~ |Virginia |marksize=8 |lat_deg=39.03 |lon_deg=-78.27 |position=top |label=Middletown |link=Middletown, Virginia}}
{{Location map~ |Virginia|marksize= 8 |lat_deg=38.66 |lon_deg=-78.49 |position=bottom |label=Luray-Page Co.|link=Luray, Virginia}}
{{Location map~ |Virginia|marksize= 8 |lat_deg=38.6818 |lon_deg=-77.785 |position=right|label=Fauquier|link=Fauquier County, Virginia}}
}}
= Middletown Campus =
Laurel Ridge's original campus in Middletown has grown with the expansion of Cornerstone Hall, and the construction of Alson H. Smith Hall, the Corron Community Development Center, the Science and Health Professions Building, and most recently, the Student Union Building.
= Fauquier Campus =
In 1988, a second campus was opened in Fauquier County. That campus has undergone major expansions, with construction continuing.
In 2022, Hazel Hall, a science, engineering and health professions building, was opened and construction begun on a Center for Skilled Trades, which opened in September, 2023.
= Luray-Page County Center =
Laurel Ridge expanded their reach in 2006 to bring college classes to Luray. The original space on Hawksbill Street featured a computer lab and several classrooms. Ground was broken on a new Luray-Page County Center in 2019, and Jenkins Hall was completed in 2021. The 13,000-square-foot facility features classrooms, science and health labs, a trades lab, a boardroom, and student commons areas.
= Vint Hill =
Accreditation
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate degrees.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|https://laurelridge.edu}}
{{Virginia Community College System}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Virginia Community College System
Category:Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Category:Education in Page County, Virginia
Category:Education in Fauquier County, Virginia
Category:Education in Frederick County, Virginia
Category:Universities and colleges established in 1970