A two-year engineering program will begin next fall at John Tyler Community College, with help from a $400,000 grant from Altria.

If all goes acording to plan, associate-degree engineering students will also be able to earn a bachelor's degree in engineering through Tyler by taking distance education courses from the University of Virginia.

The new program and grant were announced tonight at the annual Diamonds Gala and Auction sponsored by the John Tyler Community College Foundation at the Country Club of Virginia.