Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, September 29, 1995                   TAG: 9509290061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

NATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE TO ATTEND SCHOOL'S COLLEGE DAY

Gordon Hancock, coordinator of admissions and records at Virginia Western, said NBC will be welcome at today's event.

"We plan to be there. We look forward to it," said Philip Breeze, NBC's director of marketing.

Colleges and universities will have exhibits at Virginia Western and provide information about their programs.

Virginia Western reversed its position and invited NBC after the Salem-based school complained to Gov. George Allen.

Frank Longaker, NBC's president, said Virginia Western and Dabney Lancaster Community College in Clifton Forge had refused to allow NBC to participate in their college days.

Longaker said the two community colleges were trying to prevent their students from learning about educational opportunities at less-crowded private schools.

NBC has participated in college days at more than a half-dozen community colleges in central and Southwest Virginia.

Dabney Lancaster also reversed its position and permitted NBC to join in its college day earlier this week.

Virginia Western officials said earlier that NBC was denied permission to participate mainly because of space.

Hancock said VWCC has turned down many requests to have booths and exhibits at the event.

The college days have been held for several years, and NBC officials said they have never been allowed to participate previously at Virginia Western and Dabney Lancaster.