Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Staff Contact:

Director of Public Relations & Minority Concerns

Public Relations & Marketing Specialist

DCC SETS MIDDLE COLLEGE II FOR ADULTS TO GAIN READINESS SKILLS

DANVILLE, VA, April 10, 2007 – With the success of its program to help young adults obtain a General Educational Development (GED) certificate, Danville Community College is now offering Middle College II for persons 25 years of age and older. With funding from the Virginia Tobacco Commission, DCC is expanding the popular program by serving more residents and creating both day and evening classes which are scheduled to begin soon.

Originally, the Middle College program was established in 2004 to assist individuals 18-24 to earn a GED and Career Readiness Certificate, learn workforce preparation skills, and enter a college curriculum. The College has a good track record in that more than 70 percent of the students who enter the program persist to earn their GED, according to Cheryl Terry, Director of Business and Industry Services.

“Middle College II will enable Danville Community College to assist the workforce in meeting the needs of current and incoming advanced manufacturing companies in the Southern Virginia region,” Terry says.

She notes that there is an average of 32 percent of citizens 25 years old and older in DCC’s service region (Danville, Pittsylvania County and Halifax County) who do not have their high school diplomas or GEDs. This figure, Terry says, is one-third higher than the national average.

In addition to earning a GED, participants in Middle College II will have an opportunity to enhance their workplace skills. Registration is being accepted now.

To enroll in Middle College II, students are required to take a Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). An eighth grade reading and math level is required for admittance into the program. Classes will be held during the day or evenings. Day classes are offered Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Evening classes are offered Monday through Thursday, 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.

For more information about Middle College II, including registering for the placement test, please call 434.797.6433, or email, info@dcc.vccs.edu.