Technology, fitness on the agenda

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BY BOB STUART
Media General News Service

Published: August 14, 2008

WEYERS CAVE - Technology and fitness are on the immedate agenda for Blue Ridge Community College.

Blue Ridge will break ground in the spring on a $7.2-million technology center that will house its manufacturing technology and mechancial design and electronics technology programs when complete in fall 2010.

The technology center is being funded by a state bond package approved by the Virginia General Assembly.

And the Weyers Cave community college will join select company in the next four to five years when it opens a $10-million student recreation center.

As of now, only Tidewater Community College has a student recreation center among Virginia community colleges.

Blue Ridge’s 35,000-square-foot facility is being funded by student fees and will feature a racquetball court, weight room, aerobic exercise area and volleyball area, said John Downey, the college’s vice president of instruction and student services.

“Fitness is a growing issue. We can create a facility the community and students can use,’’ said Downey.

Intramural sports teams would use in the facility, and more physical fitness classes could be offered there, Downey said.

Blue Ridge students now are enrolled in area YMCAs or hospital-related fitness facilities such as the one at Augusta Medical Center.

The recreation center still must be approved by the State Council of Higher Education and Virginia legislature, said Bob Baldygo, Blue Ridge’s vice president of finance and administration.

Downey said the technology center will enable the college to house more of the equipment needed to train students for the technical jobs now required by manufacturers.

“Employees need the more technical training and the ability to troubleshoot a problem on their own,’’ said Downey.

The college has worked with a variety of Shenandoah Valley manufacturers on the plan for the center, Downey said.

And he said Blue Ridge is coordinating closely with area high schools to show students that community colleges “are a pathway to a good career.”

While about 60 students are now enrolled in the manufacturing, mechancial and electronics programs, Downey said an increase is anticipated.

“We see real growth in the career and technical areas,’’ he said.

Downey said Blue Ridge is also working on partnerships to add other programs.

He said the community college is hoping to partner with other institutions on distance learning to offer training in respiratory therapy and sleep medicine.

“We are continuing to work on health care,’’ said Downey.

There is a strong need for training in that field, he said.

Bob Stuart is a staff writer at The News Virginian in Waynesboro, Va.