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DSLCC Observes 50th Anniversary of VCCS

 
RICHMOND, VA (April 5, 2016) - Virginia’s Community Colleges are marking the 50th Anniversary of the statewide system of comprehensive community colleges in 2016 with a year-long observance that celebrates the progress of the past 50 years as well as the promise of the future. Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge, which serves the counties of Alleghany, Bath and Rockbridge and part of Botetourt County, as well as the cities of Lexington, Buena Vista and Covington, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding as an institution of higher learning in 2012. DSLCC joined the VCCS in 1967.

Part of the year-long observance is to ask community members to share their stories regarding what community colleges have meant for them. A web landing page has been created to collect those stories at 50.vccs.edu, and they will be shared later in the year at events commemorating the system. Community members are welcome to share stories from a student, family, business, or government perspective, past or future, about how community colleges have strengthened the community – and student lives.

Virginia’s Community Colleges were created by the General Assembly in 1966 to provide comprehensive institutions that addressed unmet needs in higher education and workforce training. By 1972 there were 23 community colleges located across the state in a master plan that put access to quality higher education within a short drive of every Virginian. The 23 community colleges have served well over 2.6 million people, awarded more than 575,000 credentials and associate degrees, and launched countless numbers of transfer students into bachelor programs, advanced degrees and successful careers.

In 2016, Virginia’s Community Colleges are celebrating tremendous gains while enthusiastically looking forward to the profound difference community colleges will make in Virginia’s new economy over the next half-century.

Dr. John Rainone, President of DSLCC, commented on the anniversary, stating, “More students and families are realizing the great value that local community colleges offer. The institution that was to become DSLCC was founded by the Virginia General Assembly in 1962, becoming part of the VCCS in 1967. I invite everyone who has not taken advantage of our quality programs and services to do so soon.”

DSLCC serves over 2,200 individuals annually in university transfer, career and technical, workforce development, and life-long learning programs. The College supports over 1,800 square miles with its main campus in Clifton Forge and the Rockbridge Regional Center in Buena Vista. For additional information, visit www.dslcc.edu. or call Student Services at 540-863-2820 or the DSLCC Rockbridge Regional Center at 540-261-1211.
 
 
 

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