FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC CLASSES OFFERED IN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS

Dr. Bethann James, Coordinator of Alliance for Excellence and Neighborhood Initiatives, is shown at the Cascade Neighborhood Center.

DANVILLE, VA, May 7, 2007 – Computer classes may be just around the corner for most residents of Danville and Pittsylvania County. Through neighborhood initiatives, Danville Community College offers computer and other personal enrichment classes at seven Neighborhood Educational Opportunity Centers (NEOC) in both Danville and Pittsylvania County.

“Neighborhood Initiatives is a bridge program which partners with community organizations in various neighborhoods,” says Dr. Bethann West James, Coordinator of Alliance for Excellence and Neighborhood Initiatives. “The (NEOCs) are off-campus sites where we offer one credit classes in neighborhoods. They exist to allow residents in the community to take college courses in an environment comfortable to them.”

Partnering sites in Danville are the Camp Grove NEOC, Loyal Baptist Church, Moffett Memorial Baptist Church, North Main NEOC (located in the Salvation Army building), and Seeland Crossing NEOC. Pittsylvania County partnering sites are: Cascade NEOC and Cherrystone Center NEOC in Ringgold. In addition to these off-campus sites, DCC offers classes in Gretna at the Riddle Center, and in Halifax County at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center.

As an added bonus to help individuals who enroll in these courses, Danville City residents may be eligible to take the classes at no cost to them if they meet certain income guidelines.

Summer courses offered include “Keyboarding for Computer Usage,” “Word Processing: Microsoft Word,” “Intermediate Microsoft Word,” “Introduction to Microcomputers,” “Microcomputer Software: Beginning Windows,” “Intermediate Excel,” “Desktop Publishing I With Word,” and “Microcomputer Software: Spreadsheet.” Additional classes are added as the need arise, and not all classes are available at each site.

“With this program, the community can become familiar with professors, programs and services at DCC,” James says. “A student in one of these classes can also take advantage of college resources such as the Career Center, Learning Resources Center and computer labs on the main campus.”

Additional services provided at the NEOCs are financial aid workshops, skill building activities, job search strategies and career planning assessments. James hopes that by offering these classes, students may be interested in furthering their education by pursuing an associate degree, diploma or certificate.

“DCC is an entrepreneur college where we try to blend education, skill building, and workforce and economical development into what we do everyday,” says James. “In order for residents in our service region to fully participate in what the college has to offer, they have to see the college as more than just an institution, but rather as a member of the overall community.”

For more information about the Neighborhood Initiatives, call Dr. Bethann  West James at 434.797.8441; toll free: 800.560.4291, ext. 8441; or click here.