Laurel Ridge Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College, formerly Lord Fairfax Community College, is a public community college with multiple campuses in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont regions of Virginia. It is part of the Virginia Community College System and operates four locations — the Fauquier and Middletown Campuses, the Luray-Page County Center, and a site at Vint Hill in eastern Fauquier County — that serve seven counties and one city in the area, enrolling 5,862 students in academic year 2021–2022. Students attending Laurel Ridge can obtain an associate degree or certificate.
Former name | Lord Fairfax Community College |
|---|---|
| Type | Public community college |
| Established | January 24, 1970 |
Parent institution | Virginia Community College System |
| President | Kimberly Blosser |
| Location | Middletown , Virginia , United States 39.0362234°N 78.267952°W |
| Campus Locations | Luray, Middletown, Vint Hill, Warrenton |
| Primary Jurisdictions Served | Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Warren, Winchester |
| Website | laurelridge |
Location in Shenandoah Valley Laurel Ridge Community College (Northern Virginia) Laurel Ridge Community College (Virginia) Laurel Ridge Community College (the United States) | |
In July 2021, the Virginia State Board of Community Colleges changed names for local institutions named after people who owned slaves or advocated racist policies such as school segregation. The board allowed the college to change its name to from Lord Fairfax Community College to Laurel Ridge Community College. Instead of venerating Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, plantation owner, the new name honors laurel flower that has been associated with academic achievement.