Early College Credits

High school students can get a head start on their college career by taking exams to receive college credits. By achieving certain scores on AP (Advanced Placement) and CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) exams, students gain college credit from participating colleges and universities before graduation.

The Roanoke Higher Education Center (RHEC) helps to facilitate this opportunity. While AP exams are given in the high schools, the RHEC’s Educational Testing Center is an approved testing site for the CLEP exams.

According to Deborah Snellings-Pate, Educational Testing Center Coordinator, there are groups of students, including AP students, who may be looking for an alternative source of college credits. Taking one of the 33 CLEP exams at the RHEC is a convenient way to gain credits.

The RHEC plans to reach out to area high schools to build partnerships with teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators to share information about CLEP testing. Summertime is a convenient time to take a CLEP exam, after AP scores come out in July.

Snellings-Pate aims to build positive relationships with high school students. Students are “always blown away by the beauty of the building and the friendliness of the staff,” she said.

For more information or to schedule an exam, visit www.education.edu/testing.

Last spring, the Roanoke Higher Education Center Foundation received a $50,000 grant from the American Electric Power Foundation to support “Social and Racial Equity: Diversity in Partnerships,” creating opportunities for educational access and job training in the Roanoke Valley. Thanks to this support, the RHEC Foundation awards need-based scholarship funding to eligible minority students who plan to pursue a degree, certificate, or learning program offered through an RHEC educational member. This year, the American Electric Power Foundation provided an additional $20,000 to support the scholarship fund.

These scholarships will open doors to career advancement by offering access to new job skills, training, and certification programs. By doing so, the Roanoke Higher Education Center is demonstrating its commitment to social and racial equity, providing educational opportunities to all, and serving first-generation, low-income, and minority students. The initial funding from AEP provided awards to the first class of scholarship recipients. It also supported a partnership with Virginia State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

The RHEC Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2023-24 year, and the deadline to apply is Friday, March 23. Full details, including eligibility requirements, application materials, and how to apply, can be found at www.education.edu/scholarship.

If you’re a student looking to enter graduate school, chances are you’ll need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The cost of taking the GRE is $220, not to mention the $40 it will set you back for a study guide; $70 if you want an extra book of practice questions.

The vast majority of public and academic libraries do not carry test study material due to their expense, short shelf lives, and niche nature. Neither do many bookstores or even large chains such as Barnes & Noble.

The Roanoke Higher Education Center (RHEC) Library strives to address that gap, by making test study material more accessible and affordable for the RHEC community and beyond.

The RHEC Library has a collection of nearly 300 test study aides available for checkout, including both books and flash cards. Our print collection has been developed to focus on the needs of our member students. For individuals pursuing their GED, we have 26 GED study aides available. Many member institutions have teaching programs through the RHEC, and their students will ultimately need to take the VCLA and Praxis series to become certified to teach in Virginia. For them, we have over 80 relevant study guides available for checkout. For the many nursing students who take classes at the RHEC, we have guides covering the NCLEX, HESI A2, ATI TEAS, CNA, and CMA exams.

Our library also works in collaboration with the RHEC Educational Testing Center to identify exams proctored at our location where study material may be in high demand. In addition to lending material for free to students, faculty, and staff of our member institutions, we also lend free of charge to Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) members that participate in cooperative borrowing. This group includes over 40 colleges and universities in Virginia. Patrons not affiliated with either the RHEC or a VIVA member may apply for a Community Borrower membership for a $5.00 annual fee.

Our study materials are very popular among visiting test takers, especially for students taking their College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. CLEP allows students to test out of introductory courses sooner, saving them both time and money. The Educational Testing Center is the only public testing location within 40 miles of Roanoke, so many students in the area come here to take their tests. For local college students, individuals taking classes online, and homeschooled students, our library’s impressive collection of 93 CLEP study guides, covering all 34 subjects, is a treasure trove.

The RHEC Library’s study resources do not stop at physical books and flash cards. In fact, that’s really only where they begin. Our subscription to the electronic database O’Reilly for Higher Education includes access to over 9,700 ebooks, videos, audiobooks, and interactive courses. The collection covers a vast range of exams, including most IT certification exams, the PMP, SHRM, CPA, and more. Its selection of CompTIA study resources alone includes over 900 titles! The free database includes a mobile app allowing users to access resources on the go, as well the ability to download content for offline viewing.

For more information, visit www.education.edu/library.

www.education.edu | 540-767-6161