CHESAPEAKE, Va. – (July 7, 2004) – Tidewater Community College announces a new program that saves time and money for high-school seniors. College in the Afternoon launches this fall with four courses offered on weekday afternoons. Designed to fit into high-school block schedules, the courses count toward college credits in English, Psychology, History and Public Speaking.

The program debuts at TCC’s Chesapeake Campus with classes in College Composition I, Introduction to Psychology, United States History I and Principles of Public Speaking. The courses, targeting high-school seniors, are also available to any TCC student.

“It’s a wonderful way for our seniors to get experience with – and credit for – college-level courses,” says Dr. Jim Rayfield, director of secondary curriculum and instruction for Chesapeake Public Schools. “These classes potentially transfer to any four-year program and can save college-bound students time and money while completing required coursework.”

“College in the Afternoon will serve the community in a new capacity,” says Linda Rice, Chesapeake Campus provost. “It gives a new tool to college-bound students, adding to dual-enrollment and AP classes already in operation.”

The fall course schedules are as follows:
Monday and Wednesday 1 - 2:30 p.m. College Composition I
2:30 - 3:40 p.m. Introduction to Psychology

Tuesday and Thursday 1 - 2:30 p.m. United States History I
2:30 - 3:40 p.m. Principles of Public Speaking

Students interested in the program must meet the requirements for special provision students and must satisfactorily complete the college’s placement tests. For more information on enrollment and class schedules, students can visit their high school counselors or call 757-822-5115.

Tidewater Community College is the second largest of the 23 community colleges in the Commonwealth of Virginia, enrolling more than 34,000 students annually. The 37th largest in the nation’s 1,600 community-college network, TCC ranks among the 50 fastest-growing large community colleges. Founded in 1968 as a part of the Virginia Community College System, the college serves the South Hampton Roads region with campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach as well as the TCC Jeanne and George Roper Performing Arts Center in the theater district in downtown Norfolk, the Visual Arts Center in Olde Towne Portsmouth and a regional Advanced Technology Center in Virginia Beach. Forty-three percent of the region’s residents attending a college or university in Virginia last fall were enrolled at TCC.