Academic Advising
Academic advising is an integral part of each student’s Laurel Ridge experience. Every Laurel Ridge student with a declared academic program of study is assigned to an academic advisor. Advisors are available to assist students with deciding upon or changing a program of study, choosing courses, staying on-track to graduate, making decisions about adding dropping, or withdrawing from courses; using campus resource to support academic success, understanding college deadlines and policies, and exploring options regarding transferring to a college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree. For more information, see http://laurelridge.edu/advising.
Academic Support Programs
The College offers academic support to students.
Tutors provide face to face support in core general education courses, and writing support across the curriculum at the Middletown and Fauquier Campuses. In addition, virtual appointments are available to all students. Students may request individual appointments by walking into a campus tutoring location, or through the scheduling function within the Navigate Student application, accessible through the MyLaurelRidge home page. Tutoring for additional subjects may be requested through the Brainfuse application found at the MyLaurelRidge home page.
For more information about Laurel Ridge Community College’s academic support resources, please see www.laurelridge.edu/tutoring.
Career Services
The College offers services and resources to assist students and graduates to carry out their career plans. Trained advisors offer career assessment and advising in the areas of job readiness, resume development and job search skills. See www.laurelridge.edu/careerservices.
Laurel Ridge Community College students can make an appointment in person or online with a career coach by emailing coach@laurelridge.edu.
Disability Services
Laurel Ridge Community College is committed to ensuring students with documented disabilities have the opportunity to take part in educational programs and services in accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are federal laws designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal funds. Under this law, individuals with disabilities are defined as persons with a physical, medical, or mental health impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities include caring for one’s self, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, performing manual tasks, and learning.
Students will need to submit the Application for Accommodations, Supporting Documentation, and complete an Intake with the Office of Accommodations and Disability Services (OADS) Counselor to determine eligibility for academic accommodations. All communication regarding the application for accommodations will be sent to the students VCCS email account.
Please go to: laurelridge.edu/disability/ for detailed steps on the Accommodations Application Process.
Documentation does not need to contain all the components listed, but the more information provided, the easier it is to determine which accommodations are appropriate.
Recommended Supporting Documentation criteria includes:
- A diagnostic statement identifying the disability and date of the most current diagnostic evaluation. A description of the diagnostic tests, methods, and/or criteria used, which should follow adult norms.
- A description of the current functional impact of the disability. There should be a description of how the individual’s identified impairment substantially limits a major life activity. The description should include the current functional impact on physical (including mobility and dexterity), cognitive (including processing, attention, and communication), and behavioral abilities and should be described through specific results from the diagnostic procedures.
- The credentials of the professional(s), if not clear from the letterhead or other forms. (Diagnosing professionals shall not be family members or others with a close personal relationship with the individual.)
- Although it is not required, if you have documentation from a doctor or other credentialed professional that recommends specific accommodations for college, please share that as well.
- If needed, we may also ask about treatments, current medications, and assistive devices/services in use, including a history of previous academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services.
- Recommendations regarding accommodations should be reasonable within the academic setting.
Students will need to have current enrollment to be eligible for academic accommodations. Academic accommodations are not retroactive, and updated accommodation letters will need to be sent to instructors each semester.
Enrollment Services
Laurel Ridge Community College’s office of Enrollment Services is available to assist you in applying to the college, enrolling in classes, signing up for New Student Orientation, setting up academic advising appointments, and other questions about your enrollment. Go to https://laurelridge.edu/enrollment-services/ for more information or how to contact their office.
Great Expectations
The College offers a Great Expectations Program which helps Virginia’s foster youth complete high school, gain access to a community college education, and transition successfully from the foster care system to living independently. Great Expectations provides a college-wide advisor who supports these students through advising and educational support services. These services aid students in preparation for both college and career readiness at Laurel Ridge Community College and beyond.
Libraries and Learning Resources
The libraries of Laurel Ridge Community College are open to the public without charge. The collection of approximately 65,000 physical items supports the College’s academic programs and student interests. The collection consists of books, journals, video recordings, DVDs’ compact discs, newspapers, and other print-based materials. The library catalog is accessible through the College’s Web site at http://www.laurelridge.edu. In addition, materials move between the College’s sites.
Materials not available in the libraries can be obtained through Interlibrary Loan from other libraries worldwide. The libraries also provide access to electronic resources of all kinds, including full-text journals, e-books, and streaming video. Off-campus access to all of these resources is available to students, faculty and staff. The libraries also provide high- speed Internet access. The highly skilled library staff is dedicated to providing the highest quality service possible, online or in-person.
On the Fauquier Campus, the Bob G. Sowder Library is home to a growing collection of resources that support the College’s programs and personal interests. Special facilities include 11 study rooms, nine for one or two persons and three large group study/library instruction rooms.
On the Middletown Campus, the Paul Wolk Library contains most of Laurel Ridge Community College’s collection of materials. The library houses the William B. Remington Archives Room.
Records
Laurel Ridge Community College’s records office is able to assist you with issues related to your official college records, including credit for prior learning, final grades, graduation, and ordering official transcripts. Go to https://laurelridge.edu/records/ for more information on how to contact them.
Transfer
A student with an associate degree and a minimum grade point average may obtain GUARANTEED admission to more than 30 of the commonwealth’s colleges and universities.
We can help make it seamless to transfer. We offer:
- Student centered services - we can help you transfer!
- Multiple in-person and online transfer programs
- Transfer visits and events
- Cost savings comparisons
- Advising support
For more information, go to https://laurelridge.edu/transfer/.
TRIO Student Support Services
TRIO provides academic and personal support services to assist eligible students in successfully completing their programs of study and achieving their personal, academic, and career goals. The program offers a wide variety of services and activities, including academic advising, transfer counseling, individualized tutoring, financial aid assistance, and financial literacy education. Programs and services are individualized based on each student’s specific needs.
Students may qualify for TRIO by demonstrating an academic need and by meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- First generation students: Neither of the student’s parents graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree
- Low-income students: Students who meet low-income guidelines
- Students with disabilities: Any student with a documented disability
Contact the TRIO program office at the Middletown Campus or visit www.laurelridge.edu/trio for further information.
Veterans Services
Laurel Ridge Community College is proud to serve veterans and their families to ensure their academic needs are met. Veterans Services at Laurel Ridge Community College serves all members of the armed services, all veterans, and all students using VA benefits by providing:
- Dedicated academic advising
- Assistance coordinating military-related federal and state educational benefits
- Help selecting classes and navigating Laurel Ridge Community College policies
- Priority enrollment before other Laurel Ridge Community College students
- Free on campus printing
- Transfer assistance
- Evaluation of military transcripts for college credit
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