DCC students eligible for new grant

By Sarah Arkin

Published: June 9, 2008

Engineering students who enroll in a new degree program at Danville Community College could receive tuition assistance from a national grant.

The National Science Foundation has awarded $2 million to a partnership formed by DCC, the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research in Danville, Central Virginia Community College and the University of Virginia.

Students who obtain an Associate of Science/College Transfer degree in economics with at least a 3.4 grade point average can transfer to U.Va.’s baccalaureate degree program in engineering science.

The U.Va. classes will be held at the Institute.

“One of the primary motives for this project was to create engineers who would be willing to remain in the area and to work at Virginia companies,” said Wade Davenport, dean of arts and sciences at DCC.

“What we want to do is help this region secure engineering expertise (for companies coming in)…rather than import people out of state or out of country, what we hope is for loyal employees committed to their hometown and their state,” he said.

Davenport said a class of 16 to 20 students at DCC is planned.

CVCC began its program in 2006 and enrolled 143 students. Allocation of money to each institution will be determined at a later date. Information sessions for prospective students will be held in late July.

Contact Sarah Arkin at (434) 791-7983 or