Skye Hathaway, Contributing Writer
VCU’s “NEXT Step” dual-admission program has expanded to include Richard Bland College and Brightpoint Community College.
The program’s expansion began with signing ceremonies on April 2 at Richard Bland’s Prince George campus and April 14 at Brightpoint’s Midlothian campus. NEXT Step launched in September as a partnership with Reynolds Community College, according to a previous report by The CT.
Students in the program can complete the first two years of their bachelor’s degree at a participating community college, earning a guaranteed credit transfer to VCU.
David Dore, the Virginia Community College System chancellor, said the program allows students to save up to two-thirds on their first two years of tuition.
NEXT Step participants can work with VCU advisors as community college students, allowing for a seamless transition to VCU.
VCCS recently introduced a plan called Accelerate Opportunity, according to Dore. The roadmap prioritizes awarding 300,000 meaningful credentials and degrees by 2030 — with a focus on adult learners, people without high school diplomas and veterans.
“We basically take every student that comes to us and we say ‘okay, how can we create a pathway?’” Dore said. “We’re not exclusive. So in some instances our mission is really to serve all Virginians, right? Everybody.”
Students receive a VCU student ID and have access to student events that enable them to get involved in campus life before they transfer, according to Dore.
VCCS is focused on scaling its career and technical programs to fit the most in-demand jobs in the area, according to Dore. Top fields include healthcare, welding and aviation.
Dore said NEXT Step is in line with their transfer vision — to provide students with a smooth transfer to VCU. Early participation in the program allows students who know they want to attend VCU to set themselves up for success right away.
Michelle Theodore, lead international enrollment counselor at Richard Bland College, said students at her college were excited at the prospect of having the opportunity to transfer to VCU.
NEXT Step is more accessible to students than their bridge program with the College of William and Mary, which caters to high academic achieving students, according to Theodore.
Theodore said to enroll in NEXT Step, students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and reach a 2.5 GPA by the time of their graduation. The bridge program with William and Mary requires a minimum 3.25 GPA.
“Having the NEXT Step program to umbrella them into the VCU community, to guide them, that’s just gonna open up even more opportunity for a continuous flow into VCU’s programs,” Theodore said.
Upcoming Reynolds graduate Hiba Reshamwala enrolled in NEXT Step after the program began in Fall 2025. She said she wanted to attend VCU from a young age, after her older sister brought her along to club meetings.
Reshamwala will transfer to VCU in the upcoming fall semester, where she will study accounting.
“[The] NEXT Step program was literally perfect,” Reshamwala said. “Like, I told more people in Reynolds that ‘if you want to join in for next year, to join in the NEXT Step program,’ because it was very helpful.”
Reshamwala said the program allowed her to tour VCU’s campus and meet VCU students. She also attended a meeting with Seth Sykes, associate vice president for transfer initiatives, that helped her understand how to become involved on campus through clubs and other activities.
“I would have had a harder time understanding the campus if it wasn’t for the program,” Reshamwala said.
NEXT Step applications are open from April through August for the fall semester, and November through January for students applying in the spring. Students can apply by submitting a declaration form through the NEXT Step VCU website.