College shorts

Welcome back, college students

Date published: 8/25/2005

College shorts

Welcome, etc.

YESTERDAY was move-in day for freshman at the University of Mary Washington, and we welcome these students--and their upperclassman colleagues--to our town. The 914 freshmen are among the most diverse of recent UMW classes. Along with their bedcovers, laptops, boxes of clothing, iPods, shoes, and cell phones, they're bringing with them some impressive statistics: average SAT scores of 1225 and an average GPA of 3.67.

The transition to college is a huge one, and studies show that while parents worry about their offspring's time management and safety, the kids themselves have many other concerns. Will they be able to handle college work? How can they cram all their stuff into those dorm rooms? Will their roommates be tolerable? What about friends? And then there's that nagging unmentionable: homesickness. Missing the family is actually a good thing, because one predicator of success in college is a strong social support system. Learning to access that from a distance is the trick. Fortunately, most manage it by Thanksgiving.

While the statistics at UMW are better than average, nationally studies show nearly half of all freshmen will not complete a four-year degree. Twenty-five percent will transfer from their first college and over half will change majors. Nevertheless, those who persist will, on average, find their lifetime income increased by over $300,000, says business writer Liz Pulliam Weston.

Of course, the value of a good education cannot really be quantified. Learning to think, to make good decisions, to negotiate institutions, to choose friends wisely, to consider other points of view, to enjoy a decent cup of coffee these are the life-shaping lessons of university life. So welcome, students. Enjoy. Learn. Play. We're glad you're here.

Germanna works

Founded in 1970, Germanna Community College continues to grow and change with the times. In addition to offering the traditional associate's degrees and an innovative Middle College program, Germanna's Center for Workforce and Community Education, highlighted in the August issue of Virginia Business magazine, provides customized training for businesses and individuals looking for specific skills.

The center, located at the college's Fredericksburg campus, offers classes in subjects ranging from computer applications to construction cost estimating to event planning. And businesses in the area can get help in assessing and providing the specific training needs of their employees.

Under the able leadership of President Frank Turnage, Germanna continues to be a significant factor in the economic growth of the Fredericksburg region. Helping individuals acquire salable skills makes for happy workers and a thriving business community, which in turn attracts new businesses to the area. In a region where the average home price is $335,000, McJobs just won't cut it. Germanna is helping to insure that residents have a shot at something more.

Access-ability

The University of Virginia promised increased help for students from lower-income families when campaigning for greater autonomy from the state last year. The incoming class of 3,135 first-year students includes 787 participants in AccessUVa, the university's financial aid program. Economic diversity without lowering academic standards is apparently an achievable goal.

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Date published: 8/25/2005