One week from today, Russellville residents will have another option for postsecondary education with the opening of a Draughons Junior College.

The 3,000-square-foot learning site at 160 Shelton Lane in Russellville was once used by the Logan County Board of Education for high school programs, but will now be leased by the Daymar Colleges Group, according to Don Taylor, director of business development.

&#8220Right now, we’re finishing up on the facility, bringing in some additional equipment,” Taylor said. &#8220We, of course, are talking to students and getting staffing ready, getting the books coming in, supplies coming, educational instructional video and support materials coming in. This is a busy week.”

Daymar received approval from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools last year, Taylor said.

Pat Suiter, owner of Bluegrass Recycling, owns the site where the school will be.

The renovated space will house three classrooms, a computer lab and staff offices.

Taylor is expecting about 10 to 15 students to begin taking classes March 12.

The Draughons Junior College site offers 12-month certificates, 18-month diplomas and two-year associate degree programs in clinical and administrative medical assisting, and in business administrative technology. Additional services may include customized programs, professional certifications, work force skills testing, continuing education credits or consultation, according to Taylor.

The Draughons Junior College Russellville Learning Site will offer services to meet its partnering organizations Logan Economic Alliance for Development, the Logan County Chamber of Commerce, a training consortium in Russellville and the Logan County Adult Education program.

&#8220Draughons Junior College knows that the economic vitality of our communities is determined largely by the quality of its educational resources,” said Susan Cooper, developmental vocational programs coordinator. &#8220We uphold educational excellence as a means for continuous improvement in the work force. We will attach priorities to the needs of business and industry for productivity – and to the needs of men and women for superior skills.”

Russellville Mayor Gene Zick said the new college will be of value to employers in the area and stimulate job growth.

&#8220It’s a fantastic opportunity for the local folks to go further in their education. It makes it more convenient to them to have access instead of having to travel to Bowling Green or Nashville,” Zick said.

Nora Canon, who used to serve as the registrar for the Draughons Junior College Clarksville, Tenn., campus, will now serve as the campus coordinator for Russellville.

Taylor said the school could expand an additional 2,000 square feet.

&#8220Of course, if there are additional needs beyond that, we’ll see what we’ll need to do to meet the needs of the customers,” Taylor said.

Draughons Junior College is operated by Daymar Colleges Group in Owensboro, which is owned by brothers Mark A. and Damien Gabis. Daymar Colleges Group is a separate corporation with a campus resource center that provides support for Daymar Colleges with locations in Owensboro, Louisville and Newport and Draughons Junior Colleges with locations in Nashville, Clarksville and Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Bowling Green.

Other learning sites are in Albany, Clinton, Paducah, Scottsville and Rockport, Ind.