Who We Are

Germanna Community College is one of 23 community colleges within Virginia’s Community Colleges, the state’s public system of two-year colleges.  Founded in 1970, Germanna serves the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania, and Stafford with affordable, high-quality, and accessible education.

The State Board for Community Colleges establishes systemwide policy, with local guidance from the Germanna Community College Board. Germanna is funded primarily by the Commonwealth of Virginia, along with support from local governments and student tuition and fees.

Mission

As a public, comprehensive community college, Germanna provides accessible, high-quality educational and training opportunities that address our communities’ diverse and changing learning needs.

This Mission is achieved through:

Courses, programs, and services that enable students to gain access to and succeed in higher education; associate degrees and courses that prepare students to advance and to succeed in four year colleges and universities; training and services to develop successful employees who meet employers’ specific needs; training, associate degrees, and certificates for students to enter and succeed in the workplace; and services and support for community and economic development.

Vision

Germanna Community College is recognized as the region’s leader and preferred partner for providing excellence in accessible educational opportunities and related services to our communities. Our quality learning experiences enable students to participate effectively in the social, economic, political, intellectual, and cultural life of their communities. Germanna, a dynamic learning organization, is the premier gateway to personal and community development.

Values

Our values influence our thoughts, guide our decisions, mold our policies, and help determine our course of action. Student learning and success are at the heart of all that we do and are demonstrated by:

Passion for learning and teaching: We demonstrate our commitment to the belief that everyone can learn. Although at different rates and in different ways, all learners can learn if we challenge, support, and believe in them through everything we do and in every decision we make.

Integrity: We are true to our mission, to our values, to our learners, to our communities, and to each other. We say what we mean, and we do what we say. We admit our mistakes and take responsibility for our actions.

Culture of service: We are dedicated to serving the educational and training needs of our students and communities. Our individual wants are secondary to the mission we serve.

Excellence: We seek to achieve excellence and to foster and develop excellence in our learners. We continuously improve our teaching and organizational systems and processes. We embody a culture of evidence and make decisions using that evidence.

Professionalism: We exhibit the skill, competence, and character expected of educational professionals.

Stewardship: We practice servant leadership. We effectively manage and maintain the resources in our care. We uphold the responsibility placed on us as teachers and supporters of teachers of the current and future citizens of our service area, our commonwealth, and our nation.

Respect: We treat our students, our stakeholders, our resources, and each other with courtesy and respect. We respect each other enough to speak truths and have courageous conversations, and we do so with civility.

Success for all students: We recognize our responsibility to create, maintain, and nurture an academic and support environment that respects all people and ideas. Weare committed to preparing individuals to thrive in a global society by being a community that welcomes all cultures, experiences, and abilities.

Accreditation

Germanna Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award Associate Degrees.

Germanna Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Germanna Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website. 

In addition, the AAS nursing program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) (3390 Peachtree Road N.E., Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA, 30326, (404) 975-5000), and both the AAS nursing and the practical nursing certificate programs are approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing (Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233-1463, (804) 367-4473).

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Germanna Community College (including the offering at Laurel Ridge Community College) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085. Phone: 703-706-3245, Email: accreditation@apta.org. Visit the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) website. To contact the program/institution directly, please call 540-423-9844 or email ptassistant@germanna.edu.

The programs in Dental Hygiene and Dental Assisting are accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and have been granted the accreditation status of “approval without reporting requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. Visit the Commission on Dental Accreditation website. Germanna’s next site visit is scheduled for Fall 2027.  Third-party comments may be submitted by interested parties such as faculty, students, program administrators, Commission consultants, specialty and dental-related organizations, patients, and/or consumers.  Comments are accepted 60 days before each program site visit to allow time for the program to respond.  Comments should be sent to 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, or by calling 1-800-621-8099, extension 4653.  All comments submitted must pertain only to the standards relative to the particular program being reviewed or policies and procedures used in the accreditation process.

Germanna Community College’s Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814 and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, 190 LaSalle Street- Suite 2850, Chicago, Illinois 60603-4810.

Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation (ASE Education Foundation)

The Automobile technician-training program is accredited by the Automotive Service Excellence Education Foundation (ASE Education Foundation) for Master Automobile Service Technology.

Promoting Student Success

Student success for all students is a core value of Germanna. We recognize our responsibility to create, maintain, and nurture an academic and support environment that respects all people and ideas. We are committed to preparing individuals to thrive in a global society by being a community that welcomes all cultures, experiences, and abilities.

Administration

The President is responsible for the overall leadership and management of Germanna Community College. The President reports to the Chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges and operates in accordance with policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges.

The President ensures compliance with applicable Virginia laws and carries out the policies, rules, and regulations of Virginia’s Community Colleges, the State Board for Community Colleges, and the Germanna College Board.

The President may delegate responsibilities to faculty or staff as appropriate. The President or a designated representative may take necessary legal or institutional actions to fulfill these responsibilities.

Alumni Association

The Alumni Association helps support Germanna Community College’s mission by building strong, lasting connections between alumni, students, faculty, staff, and the community. Through programs, events, and communications, the Alumni Association offers opportunities for networking, professional development, and continued engagement with the college. 

All Germanna graduates are welcome to join the association. If you are interested in serving on a committee, planning events, or helping with social activities, please contact the Foundation Office at (540) 423-9060 or foundation@germanna.edu.

Educational Foundation

The Germanna Community College Educational Foundation, Inc., was created in 1983 to support the growth and success of the college. The Foundation raises, invests, and manages private donations to help Germanna fulfill its mission. It is a tax-exempt organization, meaning donors may be able to deduct contributions as allowed by the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation is also registered with the State Corporation Commission of Virginia.

While state funding covers basic college operations, additional support is needed to provide students with enhanced educational opportunities. The Foundation helps fund student scholarships, advanced learning resources, faculty and staff development, and other improvements in alignment with policies set by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Foundation’s by-laws.

How to Give
Individuals, businesses, and industries can support the college in many ways, including:

• Cash gifts
• Securities (stocks, bonds, or mutual funds)
• Planned giving through wills and trust
• Life insurance policies
• Real estate or property donations
• Employer matching gifts
• Online giving

Gift Management

• Unrestricted gifts are managed by the Foundation Board of Directors.
• Restricted gifts are used as directed by the donor, following the Board’s policies.

For more information or assistance with making a gift, please contact the Foundation Office at (540) 423-9060 or foundation@germanna.edu.

History of the College

History of Germanna Community College

Germanna Community College is named after a group of German settlers who, in 1714, established a fort and settlement at Germanna Ford on the Rapidan River under Governor Alexander Spotswood.

In 1956, descendants of these settlers formed the Memorial Foundation of Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc. A decade later, in 1966, Virginia created its community college system. A site selection committee recommended placing a college at the center of the service region. In 1969, the Memorial Foundation of Germanna Colonies donated 100 acres along the Rapidan River to the Commonwealth for a community college. The College Board selected the name Germanna Community College to honor this history.

Germanna held its first classes on October 13, 1970, in a partially completed building.

Campus Expansions

• Fredericksburg Area Campus

  • Opened in January 1997 on 70 acres donated by the John T. Hazel Family.
  • Phase I was funded through the efforts of Delegate V. Earl Dickinson, for whom the first building is named.
  • Phase II, the Workforce Development and Technology Center, opened in October 2004.
  • The Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons opened in May 2012, expanding classrooms, laboratories, and student services.
  • A parking garage was added in August 2012.

• Culpeper Campus

  • In 1998, the Germanna Educational Foundation received 100 acres in Culpeper, donated by Rose Bente Lee; Kaye and Marie Andrus; Nicholas and Flora Tomasetti; and Philip and Susan DeSiato.
  • The Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center opened in 2006.

• Stafford County Center

  • Opened in July 2009 with support from the Stafford Economic Development Authority.
  • Enrollment growth led to the opening of a new facility in August 2018, supported by generous donations from Barbara J. Fried and her family.
  • Further enrollment growth led to opening of new facilities in fall 2024 to provide state-of-the-art training in computer technology and health care. The new Stafford County Center, located off Garrisonville Road in north Stafford County, consist of the Kevin L. Dillard Health Sciences Building (25 Center Street) and the Barbara J. Fried Center (10 Center Street).

• Workforce & Community Education Centers

  • Fredericksburg Center for Advanced Technology, opened in 2017 to provide noncredit workforce training.
  • Culpeper Technical Education Center.

Supporting Germanna’s Growth

As Germanna continues to expand to meet the needs of its students and communities, philanthropic support plays an important role. To learn more about investment and leadership opportunities, contact the Germanna Educational Foundation at (540) 423-9060.

Location & Facilities

Fredericksburg Area Campus (Spotsylvania)

The Fredericksburg Area Campus is located in Spotsylvania County at Lee’s Hill, near the intersection of Interstate 95 and Routes 1 and 17 South, approximately five miles south of the City of Fredericksburg.

• Dickinson Building (Phase I)

  • The first building on the Fredericksburg Area Campus.
  • 76,000 square feet with classrooms, laboratories, a student lounge, a bookstore, and faculty and administrative offices.

• Workforce Development and Technology Center (Phase II)

  • 40,000 square feet focused on technology-based instruction and advanced training programs.

• Science & Engineering Building and Information Commons (Phase III)

  • Opened in May 2012.
  • Houses science laboratories, instructional resources, a library, a student lounge, and offices for deans and faculty.
  • Located adjacent to a parking garage.

Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper

The Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center is located at the junction of U.S. Route 29 and State Route 3, just east of the town of Culpeper. The center is situated on 34 acres and includes a 39,000-square-foot, two-level facility designed primarily for workforce development and technology training. The center also offers select credit programs.

• Conference center (seats up to 600 theater-style or 300 banquet-style)
• Manufacturing technology laboratory
• Executive conference room
• Interactive video theater
• Computer technology laboratory
• Training suite
• Catering kitchen

Locust Grove Campus (Orange)

The Locust Grove Campus is located on Route 3, midway between Culpeper and Fredericksburg. Situated on 100 acres along the Rapidan River in Orange County, the campus is home to Germanna’s Nursing and Allied Health programs.

• 65,000-square-foot academic building

• Classrooms and laboratories, including a technology laboratory

• Bookstore

• Administrative and faculty offices

• Library and information services

• Business office

• Student lounge

• Outdoor Facilities

• Playing field

• Nature trails and jogging paths

• Picnic area

Plans are in place to expand the facilities at the Locust Grove Campus to support growing demand for nursing and other healthcare programs.

Stafford County Center (Stafford County) 

With strong support from Stafford County, Germanna expanded facilities to increase capacity and services. These facilities provide more than 74,000 square feet of space and support expanded enrollment in Allied Health programs, including nursing.

• Barbara J. Fried Center (10 Center St.)
• Kevin L. Dillard Health Sciences Center (25 Center St.)
• Expanded Programs Areas
• Cybersecurity
• Information Technology
• General Education
• Dual Enrollment

Fredericksburg Center for Advanced Technology (Fredericksburg)

The Fredericksburg Center for Advanced Technology (FredCAT) is located in Central Park retail area of Fredericksburg and provides credential programs, apprenticeship training, and workforce-focused support services.

• Career and technical training aligned with regional workforce needs
• Workspace for design, prototyping, and collaboration to, support innovation and applied learning
• Asphalt Technology training program