UVA Edge is an online program launched in 2021 for adult students, particularly mid-career learners without college experience. The program can serve as an introduction to higher education, focused on building practical digital skills for the workplace, and it also gives students a chance to earn academic credit toward a degree.

Students in UVA Edge earn 20 credits through six classes spread over three semesters, and UVA staff members have been among the program’s first students. The program is fully covered by UVA’s education benefit, and there’s no cost to eligible UVA staff.

As part of the new agreement, successfully completed UVA Edge credits transfer into PVCC’s associate degree program, putting students about a third of the way toward the degree.

“From the beginning, the purpose of UVA Edge has been to build an accessible pathway to higher education for adult students,” Melissa M. Lubin, dean of UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies, said. “We’re thrilled to partner with our colleagues at Piedmont Virginia Community College to give students a new path forward.”

To take advantage of the agreement, UVA Edge students need to enroll at PVCC within one year of finishing UVA Edge. The guaranteed 20-credit transfer applies to students who successfully finish UVA Edge in 2023 or after; students who have previously taken the program are also able to transfer 17 credits to PVCC.

“This partnership provides an additional pathway for adult learners to continue their education, to include earning associate degrees at PVCC without having to take additional courses,” PVCC Vice President for Instruction and Student Services John Donnelly said. “We are excited to welcome adult learners who have completed the UVA Edge program as PVCC students and we look forward to helping them on their journey to successfully completing their academic and career goals. We value our partnership with our colleagues at the University of Virginia’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.”

Jennifer Elmore, a staff member in the UVA Transplant Center, was among the first students to complete UVA Edge after the program launched in 2021.

“I had been considering going back to school, but was unsure of the time commitment,” she said after completing the program. “This felt very manageable; I knew I could commit to a year and thought it would be a good way to see if college was something I was interested in.”

The PVCC partnership could also help students who want to earn a full bachelor’s degree from UVA. The online, part-time bachelor’s degree completion programs at UVA SCPS require between 45 and 60 credits to begin, and many students earn community college credits before starting those programs.

Applications are currently open for students who want to begin UVA Edge this fall. The deadline is May 15.