Brightpoint Community College and Virginia Commonwealth University Sign Dual Admissions Agreement
Primary Media Contact:
Holly Walker
Director of Communications and Public Relations
804-594-1530
Secondary Media Contact:
Heather Busch
Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy
804-594-1532
CHESTER and MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Brightpoint Community College and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) celebrated the launch of their NEXT Step VCU dual admissions partnership during a signing ceremony on April 14, 2026. NEXT Step VCU is a program designed to simplify the admission process and provide eligible community college students with ongoing support as they complete their associate degree and then transfer to VCU to complete their bachelor’s degree. To make the transfer process as seamless as possible, students will receive personalized advising from Brightpoint and VCU and course guidance through transfer maps to make sure the classes they take at the community college count toward their bachelor’s degree requirements. Students will also have the opportunity to build communities at both institutions, and they will have access to resources and activities at Brightpoint and VCU.
"The NEXT Step partnership reflects the future of public higher education: institutions working together and serving the public good,” says Dr. Michael Rao, president of VCU. “At VCU, we believe higher education should expand opportunity and eliminate barriers. We see talent everywhere and in everyone, and our responsibility is to help more hard-working students clear the path for the completion of a degree that leads to a meaningful career in a timely way. VCU and Brightpoint have been partners for more than 15 years. Today brings our shared work to a new level."
“I’m deeply grateful to our colleagues at VCU for their partnership, collaboration, and shared focus,” says Dr. Bill Fiege, Brightpoint’s president. “At Brightpoint, we believe in a success story for every student, and the NEXT Step VCU partnership supports that vision. Together, we are helping students dream bigger, aim higher, and take that next step toward reaching their goals. The program offers students the opportunity to build a strong community as both a Trailblazer and a Ram, while also providing the clear guidance, assistance, and support needed to complete their chosen degree pathways at Brightpoint and VCU.”
VCU and Brightpoint built more than 40 transfer maps, each providing details on the courses a student in an eligible associate degree program will take to achieve their goal of earning a VCU bachelor’s degree. The program maps also provide students with an overview of career opportunities associated with that particular path. Students may explore these paths on the NEXT Step VCU site.
To enter the program, students must meet eligibility requirements including holding a high school diploma or GED; attending a partner community college, such as Brightpoint; earning a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average on the first 12 credits attempted at their community college; planning to enroll in a VCU program with an approved NEXT Step transfer map; and having completed no more than 30 college credits at their community college at the time of application. Students interested in learning more about this dual admissions program may contact Brightpoint or VCU.
Brightpoint Community College, one of the largest institutions in the Virginia Community College System, envisions a success story for every student. Brightpoint offers students a high-quality, high-value education, with more than 80 majors that provide pathways to careers in in-demand fields; transfer opportunities to four-year colleges and universities; and industry credentials and licensures. The college, with campuses in Chester and Midlothian, online classes, and off-campus classrooms, served 12,686 students during the 2024-25 academic year. It also assisted 4,200 learners through Community College Workforce Alliance, the shared workforce division of Brightpoint and Reynolds community colleges.
