Shenandoah University and Laurel Ridge Community College are expanding their longstanding partnership to provide better access to a college education, facilitate student transfer from community college to a four-year institution, and support academic success through a new co-enrollment and guaranteed admissions agreement.
Shenandoah University Provost Karen Abraham speaks during the MOU signing on May 20.
Via the Laurel Ridge Community College-Shenandoah University Guaranteed Admissions Program, students at Laurel Ridge can prepare for guaranteed admission to Shenandoah University by enrolling in up to three courses, each carrying three or four credit hours, at Shenandoah as part of their progress toward their associate degree while paying Laurel Ridge tuition rates for their SU co-enrollment courses.
Both institutions made the program official with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on May 20 in the Hazel-Pruitt Armory, Collaboratory, on Shenandoah’s main campus in Winchester, Virginia.
In addition to allowing Laurel Ridge students early access to the academic experience at Shenandoah, the co-enrollment agreement affords them an opportunity to explore SU’s campus life by providing access to Shenandoah student benefits. This includes participation in Shenandoah’s intramural sports, clubs, organizations, academic support services and marching band, and access to student tickets for SU athletic events and Shenandoah Conservatory performances, among other benefits.
Co-enrolled students who complete their associate degree at Laurel Ridge and meet the program’s criteria receive guaranteed admission to Shenandoah to complete their bachelor’s degree.
With this new partnership, our new revitalization of this, I think it’s going to give us such a wonderful opportunity to be able to take those students, introduce them to Shenandoah before they ever leave us, and have them know each other before they leave. It’ll just give them that culture of care that they need to be successful.”
Kim Blosser, Ed.D., Laurel Ridge Community College President
Dr. Blosser noted that research suggests that less than half of students who begin community college intent on earning a four-year degree actually complete their bachelor’s degree. The new co-enrollment agreement between Laurel Ridge and Shenandoah, which are separated by just 13 miles, removes some of the barriers faced by many community college students, who often have limited options to continue their education due to a variety of complex circumstances in their personal lives that require them to remain close to home.
We know that community college students stay in the region, and 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. 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.”
Johanna Weiss, Ph.D., Laurel Ridge Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs
Laurel Ridge Community College VP of Academic and Student Affairs Johanna Weiss
To be eligible for the co-enrollment and guaranteed admissions opportunity, students must:
- be enrolled in the Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) and/or an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree program at Laurel Ridge.
- intend to complete an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree program at Laurel Ridge prior to enrollment at Shenandoah University.
- have completed at least 15 credit hours of general education courses toward the Laurel Ridge UCGS or associate degree with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in Laurel Ridge and Shenandoah University classes.
- meet with a Laurel Ridge adviser to establish an academic completion plan/pathway that documents the Laurel Ridge and Shenandoah classes (including those to be taken for co-enrollment) the student must complete for the Associate degree at Laurel Ridge and the intended Bachelor’s degree at Shenandoah.
Graduates of the program will earn guaranteed admission to Shenandoah University if they have completed the Laurel Ridge degree within three years prior to matriculation at Shenandoah; earned at least 45 of the credit hours required for the associate degree through the Virginia Community College System (including credits earned at SU); successfully completed three courses, each carrying three or four credit hours, at Shenandoah with a minimum GPA of 2.5 in those courses; and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 at Laurel Ridge.
Shenandoah University President Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., citing Laurel Ridge’s strong track record of preparing students to excel at four-year institutions, said the community college is the “ideal partner” with which to establish the co-enrollment and guaranteed admissions program.
It’s a win for Laurel Ridge and for Shenandoah, for the Northern Shenandoah Valley and beyond. 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.”
Tracy Fitzsimmons, Ph.D., Shenandoah University President
