Education

Montgomery County and the New River Valley are fortunate to have two universities, a community college, and excellent public school systems, which provide educational support for businesses and residents of the community. Support services extended to local business are diverse, ranging from job training to technology transfer. Outreach programs, at each institution, help to ensure that available resources are utilized to their maximum potential. The importance of excellence in education and continuing education in sustaining a healthy business environment is recognized by those supportive of education at all levels.

Virginia Tech

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), a land grant university located in Blacksburg, is the state's largest and most diverse university. Virginia Tech offers over 60 undergraduate and over 110 graduate degree programs to more than 28,027 (2003), more degree programs than any other Virginia university. In 2003, Virginia Tech awarded 4,876 undergraduate degrees and 1,444 graduate degrees.

Virginia Tech is the state's leading research institution and ranks among the nation's top 50 research universities with research funding totaling $157 million. Tech fosters a strong corporate/academic partnership to jointly tackle major (and minor) scientific and technological problems facing industries. More than 450 research laboratories and centers are active at the university. The university has five research institutes or centers funded by Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology and a polymer and composite center established through an $8 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Virginia Tech has recently opened the Edward Via Virginia College for Osteopathic Medicine with approximately 300 students enrolled for the college's four-year program. The college occupies six large laboratories, several smaller labs, and a few offices in the university's Corporate Research Center. The university's faculty and students are involved in more than 3,700 research projects in fields ranging from biotechnology to materials, from the environment and energy to food and health, and from transportation to computing information.

The Public Service Division of the university coordinates community service activities, focusing university resources on solving problems through education, professional development, and technical assistance. Virginia Tech's Extension Division disseminates information on agriculture, youth, and families throughout the Commonwealth through the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service.

The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (CRC), the state's largest research park, is located adjacent to the campus of Virginia Tech. The CRC's mission is to facilitate economic development by building creative partnerships between Virginia Tech's world-class research program and private enterprise. The goals and objectives of CRC are to: contribute to employment and economic growth, increase corporate and government-sponsored research, facilitate technology transfer, and provide support for entrepreneurs and start-ups. The Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center (CRC) http://www.vtcrc.com is home to over 100 companies engaged in leading-edge research in diverse areas of technology. The CRC's total employment exceeds 1820 people located in eighteen buildings with one new building under construction.

Contact information:

www.vt.edu	Phone: (540) 231-6000
Virginia Tech Public Service Division	Phone: (540) 231-6913
Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center	Phone: (540) 961-6100

Radford University

Radford University is a comprehensive institution offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. In 2003-2004, the university had a student population of 9,144 and offered 112 program options in five undergraduate colleges. The Graduate College awards degrees in 45 programs and areas of concentration.

In addition to its primary responsibilities of teaching and advising students, Radford University is active in sponsoring educational experiences, which provide professional development opportunities for local business, industry, and government leaders. The Center for Economic Education provides assistance to teachers throughout the region. The Small Business Institute, through educational courses, helps many local industries each year address strategic planning, financial planning, international business, and other important business concerns. Other centers offer varied services: the Center for Engineering Geosciences provides assistance with the geological aspects of engineering; the Speech and Hearing Clinic serves as a regional testing and services center; the Center for Brain Research and Informational Sciences focuses on how the human brain operates; and the Center for Music Technology is introducing new methods of composing and creating music.

Contact information:
www.runet.edu
Phone: (540) 831-5000

New River Community College

New River Community College (NRCC) in Dublin, offers both university transfer and occupational/technical programs to more than 4,337 students. It has a particularly strong technical program with associate degrees offered in such areas as: Electrical Technology, Electronics Technology, Industrial Engineering, Instrumentation Technology, and Machine Technology. The Instrumentation Technology program is the only one available within the Virginia Community College System. In addition, the college has a variety of programs in the technology field providing a certificate or diploma award.

In 1995, a $4 million New River Valley Regional Economic Development Center was constructed on the New River Community College campus. It provides the latest, state-of-the-art technological facilities available, including video conferencing and fiber optics. The 37,000 square foot building is equipped with a 10,000 square foot multipurpose training area, three electronic classrooms, conference rooms, computer and training labs, and large lecture/seminar rooms. The services offered include: temporary office space for new or expanding businesses and industries, skills upgrading and career development programs, pre-employment training, vocational retraining for displaced workers, community and governmental meetings, general employment support, and new technology training.

In coordination with economic expansion efforts, NRCC supports several programs:

• Center for Workforce Development offers specialized training programs that are tailored to fit the exact needs of a prospective or established employer.
• Technology Assistance and Transfer Program links businesses to people whose expertise can assist in problem solving, and helps small and medium-sized businesses become more profitable and competitive by researching their production needs and matching them with new technology for improving their manufacturing or administrative efficiency.
• Career Development Services provide skill assessment, career counseling, portfolio development assistance, and interview training to students and non-student citizens of the New River Valley.

Contact information:
www.nr.cc.va.us
Phone: (540) 674-3600

Montgomery County Public Schools

The Montgomery County Public School System serves approximately 9,360 students and in twelve elementary schools, four middle schools, four high schools and two alternative schools throughout the county. Schools within the division vary in size and are located in both urban and rural settings. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Commonwealth of Virginia accredit all secondary schools in Montgomery County.

The Superintendent's Annual Report Data (2003-2004) is the source following information about the Montgomery County Public School System (MCPS).

Construction of several new school buildings has been prominently in the forefront in planning for the future of public schools in Montgomery County. Eastern Montgomery High School opened in August 2000 to accommodate 400 high school students from Elliston and Lafayette communities. Blacksburg Middle School completed its construction and opened in August 2002 for the 2002-2003 school year. Christiansburg Middle School opened in August of 2003 for the 2003-2004 school year

Curriculum at Montgomery County Schools incorporates technology with traditional classroom teaching techniques to give students skills necessary to be productive in today's technology driven workplace. With funding and technical support from Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg Electronic Village, Internet access is available in every classroom in the county. MCPS has also established interactive video classrooms for distance learning at two of its high schools, which provide links to local community colleges, universities and other area secondary schools.

Montgomery County's high schools offer vocational education programs. Programs in each school are specifically tailored to retain existing community identities. Some of the vocational programs offered include: Agriculture, Business, Health Occupations, Home Economics, Marketing, Special Programs, and Technology.

The high schools also have an assortment of programs designed to encourage a cooperative partnership among area industries, government, and education in meeting the needs of both students and industries for long-term economic development. More traditional approaches offered by the local school system include apprenticeship, on-site basic education, and adult education programs

Contact information:
www.mcps.org
Phone: (540) 382-5100