Virginia: Yoga Danville Virginia

Many higher education options -- besides attending a four-year or community college -- are available in Virginia.

There are specialty schools and satellite campuses, medical and nursing schools, career schools and private schools, to name a few.

Don't know what to do? Try the Web site KnowHowVirginia.org, which is billed as "The place to discover your career."

The site is an initiative of the Virginia Career Education Foundation and, according to the foundation's Web site, "works to bridge the gap between the large number of career and technical positions available throughout Virginia and the comparatively small number of qualified applicants to fill these positions."

A good starting point

The Web site of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the commonwealth's coordinating body for higher education, is a good starting point if you have some idea of the type of higher education you'd like to pursue.

Once at SCHEV's site -- move your cursor to "SCHEV" on the right-hand side of the thin bar at the top of the page, then click on "College & University List" on the pull-down menu. From there, you can view the list of private vocational institutions certified to operate in Virginia, the list of public colleges and universities and the list of private and out-of-state institutions certified to operate in Virginia.

The list of public colleges and universities is further divided into four-year public institutions (such as Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech), two-year public institutions (Richard Bland College) and community colleges (including Danville Community College and Germanna Community College). The Web site, degree(s) offered and accreditation are listed for each school.

The list of private and out-of-state institutions certified to operate in Virginia includes such schools as ECPI College of Technology, Newport News; Boston University-Metropolitan College, Arlington; Central Michigan University, five locations; University of Richmond; and Kings Park University School of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Each school's Web site, program(s) and accreditation are listed.

Strayer University

Another private, out-of-state school certified to operate in Virginia is Strayer University, with campuses in Newington (online campus), Alexandria, Arlington, Chesapeake, Midlothian, Fredericksburg, Glen Allen, Ashburn, Manassas, Newport News and Woodbridge.

Strayer's programs are geared toward management, business and information technology, said Jim McCoy, vice president of campus operations for the institution.

He said the typical Strayer student is a working adult who has returned to school to complete a degree or to get another degree at the graduate or undergraduate level.

Strayer, with an average student age of 34, is unique because its programs or services (including its online site) are designed to facilitate the adult learner being able to go back to school, according to McCoy.

To that end, most of Strayer's classes are taught at night or on the weekend. And students can take classes on campus or online, McCoy said. "It's blending quality with convenience."

Further, many Strayer faculty members have not only the educational credentials to teach in a higher education institution, they are also practitioners, according to McCoy. Students are much more exposed to the business world this way, he added.

Most students attend Strayer on a part-time basis and can't quit their job or their families, McCoy said. "They want to grow in their career, and education is one of the things that enables them to do that."

Jefferson College

Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke is also on SCHEV's list of private and out-of-state institutions certified to operate in Virginia.

Diane Hailey, the school's director of communications, said Jefferson College is "the only private, professional health-care college in Virginia," meaning it does not include the liberal arts.

Jefferson's degrees are associate of science, bachelor of science or master of science, Hailey said.

She said associate of science programs include physical therapist assistant, occupational therapy assistant, respiratory therapy, paramedic and an associate of science in nursing. Examples of the bachelor programs include physician assistant, healthcare management, biomedical sciences and the bachelor of science in nursing.

Jefferson also offers a master of science in nursing. Plans are to offer master of science degrees in occupational therapy and physician assistant.

Hailey said the school is owned by Carilion Health Systems, the third largest health system in Virginia, and located at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital's campus in downtown Roanoke. Jefferson's students "have first choice of clinical opportunities in Carilion-owned hospitals," Hailey said.

Jefferson has 900 students, 165 of whom live either on the hospital floor owned by the college or in traditional residence halls on campus, according to Hailey.

"If you're not in the hospital, you're steps away," she said.

Vocational options

On the SCHEV list of private vocational institutions certified to operate in Virginia, you'll find such entries as Danny Ward Horseshoeing School, Columbia School of Broadcasting, The Institute of Advanced Medical Esthetics, Intense School and International Sommelier Guild, Ltd. Each school's Web site, program(s) and accreditation are listed.

Another source of information on private career school education is the Virginia Career College Association Web site -- va-cca.org.

According to the site, "VCCA is a voluntary organization, whose members are accredited, degree-granting institutions offering job-oriented, specialized training in information technology, numerous medical and business careers, the culinary arts, and many other high demand occupations."

Under the category "Programs Offered," you can find schools providing training in fields such as criminal justice, dental assistant, homeland security, hospitality management and keyboarding.

These proprietary schools are regulated by the State Council of Higher Education, or other state agencies, depending upon their program offerings.

Fork Union

Fork Union Military Academy has a post-graduate program available for fifth-year high school seniors to help improve their grade point average.

You can find Fork Union and other private, secondary schools, such as The Steward School, Stanley Seventh-day Adventist, Woodlawn Academy and The Fuqua School, on the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) Web site -- -- under the category "State Recognized Accredited Private Schools"

Some private high schools in Virginia, such as St. Catherine's in Richmond and St. Margaret's in Tappahannock, offer boarding options in addition to day school. Some parents choose to send their students to private high schools that focus on preparing their students for college.

One reason a student may choose to attend Fork Union Military Academy, for grades 6-12/postgraduate, is academics, according to Elizabeth Liles, associate director of communications at the school.

Some students have the potential but are not making it in another institution and Fork Union provides them the opportunity to make that grade to go on to the college of their choice, Liles said.

We teach them discipline and responsibility and how to conduct themselves in a social setting, she explained. She said the school also provides students with the study habits they will need as they go forward in life and onto college.

Other reasons students attend Fork Union include the school's athletic program or an interest in the military, according to Liles. Fork Union's postgraduate program is available for fifth-year seniors to help improve their grade point average, Liles said.

The VCPE Web site also lists of schools seeking state recognized accreditation and non-accredited member schools.

Information for each school includes the name and title of a school contact person, school type (day, etc.), grades offered, state approved accreditation and other VCPE memberships. Some of the schools have links to their Web sites.

Medical, nursing schools

If you want a career in medicine and are looking for a list of medical schools in Virginia, one resource is the Medical Society of Virginia Web site On the left-hand side of the screen, click on "Links & Resources." Then choose the last option -- "Medical Schools."

For a list of nursing schools in Virginia, check Once you call up the site, go to "Find a School" on the left side of the screen. Under "Location," choose "Virginia" and then click on "Find a School" Up pops a list of Virginia nursing schools.

For more options in the healthcare field, try SCHEV's list of private vocational institutions certified to operate in Virginia (see above for how to access the list).

Institutions on the SCHEV list include Academy of Dental Technology, American Institute of Massage, Blue Ridge School of Massage and Yoga, Institute of Health and Healing and VSNMI Virginia School of Nursing & Medical Institute.