Academic Support Services

Academic Support Services

Academic Support Services offers a variety of services to assist students in achieving academic success. Located in room 1300, Academic Support Services provides a support staff of professional learning resource specialists in the areas of mathematics, writing composition, reading, and critical thinking skills. Services include Peer Tutoring, Peer Mentoring, Early Alert Program and many more.

Developmental Courses

• ACFN 095 – The academic Foundations Developmental Reading Program consists of ACFN 095.  The focus of this course is to develop college reading skills and vocabulary.  Effective comprehension along with an emphasis on the application of these skills in college-level work is the goal.  Tutors are available upon request.  ACFN 095 is a non-credited course.
• ENGL 100 – English, grammar, usage and mechanics are emphasized, as well as academic writing.  ENGL 100 is designed to provide a foundation for students as they transition into college-level writing coursework.  The course examines each student’s writing process, using a cumulative portfolio.  Teaching strategies include individualized, conference-based instruction, peer writing workshops, grammar and usage review, academic, and rudimentary training in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
• MATH 100 – Students will learn how to perform operations on real numbers, the implications of exponents and the order of operations and how to evaluate algebraic expressions.  The concepts of percents and their applications, introductory geometry, statistics, and problem solving skills will all be incorporated.  Students will solve equations in one variable, solve literal equations for a variable, and evaluate/graph inequalities.  Students will translate and solve algebraic equations, and learn the skills required to solve application problems in one and two variables.  Students will interpret and graph linear equations as well as solving and analyzing systems of equations.  Students may also be introduced to operations on polynomials. 
• MATH 100A – Students will perform operations on polynomials, rational, and radical expressions.  Students will use various methods to factor polynomials.  Students will solve polynomial, rational and radical equations, and apply these skills to solving application problems.  The concept of functions will be introduced as well as their operations.  Students will use interval notation to express the domain and range of a function.

Career Services

The Office of Career Services supports the overall mission of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College by designing, implementing, and managing services which increase the employability of our students. It is the vision of career services to not only prepare students and alumni with job seeking skills, but to connect them with regional employers.

Current students and alumni may receive assistance with identifying career goals, writing resumes, and cover letters, interviewing, and their job search. To further support students, Career Services manages a resume referral service and online resources including career advice, a resume & cover letter builder and a job board.

Each year, Career Services hosts several events, including an Annual Career Fair, mock interviews with regional employers, and smaller networking events.

To learn more about Career Services, email careerservices@blueridgectc.edu

Early Alert Program

The Early Alert Program is designed to identify students who are having academic difficulty at any point during their education at BRCTC. By identifying these students, the Student Success Specialist can attempt to address their needs, thereby increasing the likelihood of their graduation. Students may be identified for Early Alert for a variety of reasons, including frequent absences, accommodations, behavior, tardiness, test scores, language skills, and writing ability. For more information about the Early Alert Program contact the Student Success Counselor located in office 1300.

PASS Mentors

The Peer Advising for Student Success (PASS) Program was implemented in an effort to increase retention, student engagement, and success of first year students which will gear them towards graduation! The program targets new degree-seeking students who are attending part-time or full-time. PASS program mentors are employed to make phone calls, send emails, and conduct face-to- face meetings to all new students throughout their first semester of enrollment. These contact methods provide specific information about the college, academic and student support services, registration procedures, e-mail and BRIDGE, and student engagement activities. During these contact times, PASS mentors continuously encourage students to have contact with instructors and advisors. In addition to providing pertinent and valuable information, the contact methods serve as a personal connection between the students as well as the college. PASS mentors should establish professional relationships with their advisees. PASS mentors are trained and ready to make referrals to the appropriate campus division. By building so many positive relationships, students are able to   participate in academic and student support services and be more engaged in the campus community as a whole.

Placement Testing/Assessment

The standards for assessment and placement established by the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (Title 135 Series 21) are designed to establish uniform procedures for the placement of students in credit-bearing courses in Mathematics and English which can be applied toward an undergraduate academic degree.

Students may be exempted from taking placement tests/assessments by meeting any of the following criteria:

1. Student has already earned a degree from an accredited college (official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Admissions).
2. Students who have previously taken and received a passing grade in a college level English and Math course from an accredited college (official transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Admissions).
3. Students with acceptable SAT/ACT scores (official score report must be submitted to the Office of Admissions). See chart below for acceptable scores.
4. Students with acceptable Compass, Accuplacer, or Asset scores from other accredited colleges (official score report must be submitted to the Office of Admission). See chart below for acceptable scores.

Placement Testing/Assessment: Scores & Course Placement

Students who do not meet these exemptions have the option of taking the placement tests/assessments. Students may also choose not to take the placement tests/assessments with the understanding that they must start with foundation courses for the subjects which they did not test. 

Skills 101

SKILLS 101 (ENGL 100S and/or MATH 100S)

SKILLS 101 is an intensive test preparation workshop designed for students who have taken placement testing but did not place into college-level English or mathematics courses and who want the options of restudy and retesting. This workshop will enhance the skills for successful placement into college-level English and mathematics courses. Students may choose to attend the workshops for one subject area or both subject areas. Attendance is not a guarantee of placing into college-level English and/or mathematics when retesting. The workshops are recommended for students who had placement scores close, but not quite at college level, and for students who may have taken developmental English and/or mathematics course(s) and did not complete or failed the course(s).

Tutor Program

The Peer Tutor Program is a free service to all students of Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. A self-serve program, the student submits a request for tutorial assistance by either sending the form electronically (see Peer Tutor Program on website) or completing a paper form, located at our Headquarters Welcome Desk, Main Campus. Once the form is received, a tutor will contact the student via their Blue Ridge CTC e-mail address within two school days.

To become a peer tutor, the following is required: currently enrolled at Blue Ridge CTC (six hours minimum during the fall/spring semesters); have at least a 2.4 cumulative GPA; have earned a 3.0 in the course(s) in which the student wishes to tutor; and after receiving approval for student employment by the Office of Human Resources, attend an in-service workshop with the Tutor Coordinator.

Students who wish to become tutors may also be referred by faculty from a specific field of study. Students who have a background/education in a specialized course are urged to contact the Tutor Coordinator.

Note: Tutor sessions can only be held at campus locations and when the College is open. There is no tutoring on Sundays nor holidays.

Brainfuse, our free online tutoring service, is available to all Blue Ridge CTC students. Students may access this service on campus as well as at home. It provides live sessions with tutors, gives writing assignment reviews, and offers study strategies as well as collaboration tools supplement coursework. Additional information on Brainfuse may be found on our website under Online Learning.