Highlights: 1980s—True Colors…
1980
The Animal Science building was dedicated in September.
A student editorial in The Ridge Runner called for the creation of a bus service to BRCC because of high fuel costs. The average price for a gallon of gas was $1.10. Faculty members Harry Griffin and George Lennox made prognostications about what the world would be like at the dawn of a new decade.
1982
Highland County became the sixth regional sponsoring locality, joining Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro and Augusta and Rockingham counties.
1984
In cooperation with Germanna Community College, BRCC introduced an AAS degree nursing.
1985
Dr. James C. Sears served as president from 1985-1989. He came to the College with 20 years of experience in higher education and the Virginia Community College System.
The Educational Foundation was formed “to provide student loans and scholarships and to support other worthy projects such as faculty grants and equipment acquisition”; Waynesboro Center opened.
1986
A non-credit workforce training program was established. Full-time tuition was $765.
1987
The Educational Foundation conducted the first annual fund drive.
The Financial Aid Office disbursed $320K to 450 students.
1988
Vet tech and nursing graduates had a 100 percent pass rate on state boards.
The College academic calendar changed from a quarter system to a semester system.
1989
Dr. James R. Perkins became the fourth president, serving from 1989-2009. Dr. Perkins used his two decades of experience in higher education to guide the College into a new decade and into the next century.