Column: Reflecting on 2021 at Blue Ridge Community College
I find that the holiday season is a natural time to pause and reflect. When looking back on this year, I’m reminded of just how tenuous and delicate our plans can be. And yet, I’m also encouraged by just how much we – and the community – have accomplished. These accomplishments are invaluable reminders of our resilience and commitment as an institution.
Community and student engagement are like never before, donor support of the college is at an all-time high, and our commitment to student success is evidenced in our work every day. Despite the many challenges, changes, and additional responsibilities, what we have accomplished in recent months is remarkable. I am deeply grateful for everyone’s commitment to excellence, which made these accomplishments, and so many others, possible.
Vaccine clinic
As our community’s college, we will always offer assistance to our community and healthcare partners. So, when asked if we could provide space to assist with the vaccination process, Blue Ridge wholeheartedly stepped up.
From January through May, Blue Ridge played a vital role in the county’s vaccination effort by collaborating with Pardee UNC Health Care to offer Henderson County’s first COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic. For five months, Blue Ridge provided campus facilities, traffic control, security teams, and clinical support from 73 faculty and nursing students. Additionally, more than 40 Blue Ridge employees volunteered to help with the effort.
In the end, 27,829 vaccine doses were administered to fully vaccinate 14,268 people in our community. We are honored to have been part of this historical moment.
Free tuition for all eligible students
Thanks to an influx in state and federal funding and generous donations from private donors, Blue Ridge has been able to offer free tuition to eligible students for both the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters. So far, we’ve awarded more than $2.6 million through our Brighter Futures Scholarships program.
Enrollment increase for the fall semester
The Fall 2021 semester marked the highest enrollment in the college’s history. At a time when other community colleges across the country saw an average decrease of 9%, Blue Ridge had a 9% increase in enrollment. Our faculty and staff have worked diligently to ensure we provide relevant programs for job training and a welcoming and friendly environment for students.
Engaging adult learners
Earlier this year, the John M. Belk Endowment invited Blue Ridge to participate in an adult learner engagement pilot project. The project identified more than 2,500 Blue Ridge students from the past five years who had completed part of a program and then dropped out.
The Belk Endowment underwrote several strategies, including a robust digital advertising campaign and assistance with contacting and coaching prospective students.
Building on these strategies, the College made an extra push in every department to reach as many adults as possible. These efforts proved to be game-changers: the College saw a 41% increase in adult learners compared to Fall 2020.
Support for small businesses and entrepreneurs
Blue Ridge’s Small Business Center was recognized as a high-impact center in 2021 by the NC Community College System. This designation is given to the top 20 centers for their work utilizing the Reboot, Rebuild, Recover Program to create economic relief during the pandemic in the form of business starts, jobs created and jobs retained.
This year, Blue Ridge’s Small Business Center significantly impacted the local economy with 27 new businesses, 87 new jobs, and 815 hours of free counseling.
Success coaches
In summer 2021, Blue Ridge added two success coaches to our team. Funded by Dogwood Health Trust, Blue Ridge’s success coaches serve as mentors and work with students throughout their time at Blue Ridge.
The coaches learn about the students’ experiences, identify obstacles that may be barriers to their academic success, and help strategize solutions, such as study strategies, time management, self-awareness, and campus engagement.
Looking ahead to 2022
In 2022, Blue Ridge will focus on creating new learning structures that more readily meet the life patterns of our students. We will also open new possibilities to potential learners who are not currently involved in higher education.
We’ll emphasize late-start, weekend and evening courses, accelerated programs, and flexible course delivery to support students as they juggle school, work, and family responsibilities.
We want to give as many people as possible access to a high-quality education. We’re excited about what’s to come.
Best wishes for 2022
On behalf of the entire Blue Ridge Community College team, I wish you – our community – health and happiness in 2022. To learn more about Blue Ridge Community College, visit www.blueridge.edu.
Dr. Laura B. Leatherwood has served since 2017 as the fourth president of Blue Ridge Community College.