Danville Aviation Training Facility Receives Federal Funding to Develop Workforce

6/26/2024 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

Danville has received a $4.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to build a new aviation training facility at Danville Regional Airport. The 12,532-square-foot facility will be used by students at Averett University and Danville Community College. 

The new facility is meant to support aviation workforce development in the area, according to a news release from the… Read More

A Missed Opportunity: Why Virginia Must Reconsider Lab School Exclusions

6/18/2024 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

The president of Ferrum College urges lawmakers to reconsider provisions that ban applications from private schools unless they have a four-year public school sponsoring them.

As the president of Ferrum College, situated in the heart of Southwest Virginia, I am compelled to address a critical oversight by Virginia’s elected officials — the exclusion of certain institutions, including… Read More

Building Futures: Ferrum College and Build Smart Institute Unite

6/7/2024 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

It's a meeting of the minds and construction know-how as Build Smart Institute joins forces with Ferrum College. Emily learns about what is involved and what this means to the future of the Virginia workforce.

Read more on the ABC13 News website HERE.

The CARC Celebrates Member Institutions' Graduations

5/10/2024 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

RICHMOND, Va., May 8, 2024 – As commencement ceremonies are held throughout Virginia, Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges member institutions are collectively graduating 1095 students. After beginning their studies at Appalachian School of Law, Averett University, Bluefield University, Eastern Mennonite University, and Ferrum College in the bleak, COVID-19 ravaged days of 2020, members of… Read More

Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges Announces Interim President

5/3/2024 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

RICHMOND, Va., May 1, 2024 – The former longtime director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) has been selected to serve as interim president of the Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges (CARC). Peter Blake began his new leadership position today.

“"I am excited to join a team whose mission is to expand access to affordable and high-quality education,” said… Read More

Ferrum to Move to Division II, Join Conference Carolinas

4/15/2024 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

Ferrum College will move to NCAA Division II and join Conference Carolinas, becoming the 16th school in the athletic conference.

It’s the latest in a string of changes that the small, private college in Franklin County has made to attract students and fight off dwindling enrollment that has plagued it in recent years.

President Mirta Martin made the announcement at a press… Read More

Averett University Aeronautics Reveals New Plane at Aviation Day Celebration

3/18/2024 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

Averett University’s Aeronautics Department celebrated its annual Aviation Day with students, alumni, and their families on Friday.

Pilots who fly all over the globe came back down to their stomping grounds for the special occasion and spoke to students about how to take off into the world of flight in the aviation industry.

“When prospective students are starting out, a… Read More

Tazewell’s Billy Wagner

2/5/2024 by Commonwealth Alliance Board
Tazewell’s Billy Wagner remembers the people who helped him get to the big leagues

Perhaps Billy Wagner should have carried a map of Virginia with him in the Major Leagues.

Whenever one of baseball’s all-time great relief pitchers opened his mouth in the cosmopolitan world of the modern professional game, and that Southwest Virginia twang came out, Wagner knew what the follow-up… Read More

The Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges receives $25,000 grant from the American Electric Power Foundation.

12/14/2023 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

The Commonwealth Alliance for Rural Colleges (CARC/the Alliance) has received a $25,000 grant from the American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation to aid in CARC’s mission to provide member institutions with resources to ensure their students have access to an affordable, value-based education.

“Our youth are key to your future,” said Appalachian Power External Affairs Vice President Brad… Read More

Announcement at Governor's Office

12/13/2023 by Commonwealth Alliance Board

CARC President Carthan Currin was delighted to be invited by the governor's office to attend his announcement about the the Building Blocks for Virginia Families initiative yesterday.

Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that Virginia will make a significant investment in early learning and childcare. The Building Blocks for Virginia Families initiative will empower… Read More