Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) is one of ten Virginia colleges and universities awarded a State Council of Higher Education (SCHEV) grant to support the Middle School Campus Visit Project. SCHEV, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education and Commonwealth Savers, awarded $126,000 to ten institutions to enable the post-secondary schools to host campus visits for middle school students during the 2024-25 academic year.
“The Middle School Campus Visit Project introduces young students to the possibilities of higher education, sparking their interest in postsecondary pathways early in their academic journey,” said Scott Fleming, SCHEV director. “By creating age-appropriate and engaging activities, colleges and universities are inspiring students to see themselves as future college students and begin to believe in the high expectations we have for them as the rising generation.”
P&HCC college guides plan to use the $15,000 award to host local seventh graders on P&HCC’s main campus. Students will be invited to spend the day for a fun and interactive exploration of the college’s programs and resources that will engage students and increase their awareness of postsecondary options available to them. While on campus, students will have the chance to be exposed to a Mobile Fab Lab tour and demonstration, interactive STEM lab experiment demonstration, tour health sciences and skilled trades labs, meet with their high school’s designated Career Coach, and learn more about opportunities open to them once they are in high school (including Dual Enrollment and Upward Bound). Students will also enjoy lunch on campus and will receive prizes for engagement competitions throughout the day.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to middle school students in our service region and to welcome them to our campus as they begin to craft their career plans and envision a future of financial stability for themselves,” said P&HCC president Dr. Greg Hodges.
Now in its third year, the Middle School Campus Visit Project is part of SCHEV’s Level Up initiative, which aims to increase postsecondary readiness, enrollment, and completion for all students in Virginia.
