FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCC’S MIDDLE COLLEGE I & II OFFER GED, WORKPLACE SKILLS

DANVILLE, VA, August 10, 2007 – If you want to earn your General Educational Development (GED) certificate and gain workplace

Donald Pippin, left, and Meagan Dyer, both Directors of Danville Community College’s Middle College I and II programs, respectively, review program literature. Registration is ongoing now for both programs which help individuals to earn a GED and workplace skills.

readiness skills, then Danville Community College is the place to be. What’s more, there is no charge for these services provided by the Middle College I and Middle College II programs.

Middle College I, designed for young adults 18-24, and Middle College II, for adults ages 25 years and older, serves the City of Danville, Halifax County and Pittsylvania County. The two programs share common goals of helping students further their educational background and prepare them for success in the workplace, says Donald Pippin, Director of Middle College I.

“DCC is one of five colleges with this program,” says Pippin. “Middle College helps people take small steps toward achieving their goals.”

With Middle College I, participants have the opportunity to work toward their GED, learn valuable job skills by earning a Career Readiness Certificate and enroll in college courses upon obtaining their GED, says Pippin. He adds the testing and materials are no cost to students. In the program’s three year history, statistics indicate that 110 students have received a GED, 56 students have enrolled in DCC classes, and 104 students have received Career Readiness Certificates, Pippin notes.

Currently 25 students are registered in the Middle College I GED preparation class, which runs in an eight week cycle, Monday-Thursday, from 9 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. English, writing, reading, math, social studies, and science components of the GED test are reviewed. Additional math tutoring is also available.

Since students only have two opportunities a year to take the GED test, Pippin says students must place well on the GED practice tests in order to register for the actual GED test. Yet, attending the class is not the only criteria for Middle I students, says Pippin. Students must make a commitment to continue their education at DCC or some other institution of higher education.

Middle College also provides assistance for participants to improve their employability skills and help in overcoming barriers which may hinder people from securing a quality job, says Cheryl Terry, DCC’s Director of Business and Industry Services. The one-credit, state-recognized Career Readiness Certificate utilizes the Work Keys computer software. Terry says students learn how to write resumes and cover letters, fill out job applications and learn basic concepts of professionalism, such as appropriate dress and communication in the workplace.

 “The Career Readiness Certificate is a vital component of the Middle College I program because it gives the students the skills to get a job and provides an edge in the employment race,” Terry adds.

Middle College II also meets the challenge of workforce shortfalls by offering free day and evening GED preparation programs for adults and the opportunity for students to earn a Career Readiness Certificate, as well, says Meagan Dyer, the Middle College II Coordinator.

To enroll in Middle College II, students must take the free Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE) to determine their reading and math levels. If the students are functioning at the appropriate grade level, they will begin the 12 week GED program. After successful completion of the GED program the students will enroll in a program at DCC or another college.

Since its start in Spring 2007, Middle College II already has enrolled more than 40 students in the program. The students have the choice of day classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., or evening classes on Mondays – Thursdays from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

“We have both day and evening classes scheduled in order to provide flexible options for working adults,” says Dyer.

Funding for this program comes from the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, Dyer notes.

Registrations for the next Middle College I & II classes are being conducted now. For more information, contact the office at 434.797.8564 or call toll free at 800.560.4291, ext. 8564, or click here.