Marvis Jones, 80, accepts her GED certificate from RCC President Elizabeth Crowther at the college’s Commencement May 11.

A grandmother of 19, great-grandmother of 23, and great-great-grandmother of one, Jones reached her educational goal only after years of struggle. She began her studies at her church, Sharon Baptist in Weems, with tutoring from the late Kay Kilgus. At first the GED tests did not seem hard, and Jones quickly worked through most of them.

But mathematics, the same test that stymies so many students, stood in her way. Three years of hard study allowed her to pass the math test . . . but she still lacked the overall number of points needed to earn the GED, which requires more than just a minimum score in each subject.

Because she kept coming, never gave up, and constantly strove to grow intellectually, Jones was an inspiration to all the students around her. “If you want to do it, you can do it! Please want to do it!” she told them in an interview before her graduation. Speaking of the disappointment her mother suffered when she dropped out of high school so many years ago, Jones expressed special delight in the fact that she has finally righted that wrong. “If there is such a thing as sending a message to heaven, I’m sure that she would be smiling down on me today,” she says.

Jones gratefully acknowledges the patience and encouragement she received, during her ten-year journey, from her GED instructor, Ann Craun; her tutor, Donna Kelly of RCC’s Adult Education Program; and GED examiner Richard Glancy.

 She plans to invite more mental stimulation and development by learning to be a counselor, so that she can provide guidance and direction to the younger people within her church. “I want to keep my brain active and do something for someone else,” she states.

Caroline Thurston spoke at the DCC ceremony

Fourteen students in a foster youth Great Expectations program earned credentials and 58 students in Danville Community College’s Middle College program earned GEDs. The graduates celebrated in a ceremony Thursday May 17.

Below is an excerpt from the speech given by commencement speaker Caroline Thurston, Middle College statewide coordinator.

Raise your hand if:

• You used to  feel (and maybe you still do) like you didn’t belong in college
• Neither one of your parents had been able to go to college
• You lacked confidence in your ability to succeed in college
• You never really sat down with anyone to develop clear and realistic career goals
•  You had (or have) transportation issues—it’s just hard to get there
• You have your own kids, or other kids to take care of, so childcare can be a problem for you when you’re trying to get to classes
• You thought you couldn’t afford to go to college
• You had to work and didn’t see how you could go to school and earn money
• At some point, you just didn’t have as much support as you needed

Graduates from DCC's Great Expectations program with Coach Donald Pippin

So, look around you. And this is just a sample of the barriers some students face when thinking about their educational future. Do you know how hard it is to get to where you’ve gotten with even one of these barriers? Do you know how many odds you’re beating everyday with the work you’re doing? Do you have any idea the impact the work you’re doing now will have on your life and family in the future?

Only about 2 percent of folks without a high school diploma ever come back to school to get a GED. And only about 30% of folks with only a GED go on to further their education. And furthering your education or career training is essential now. 20-30 years ago, you could get a decent job with no high school diploma or only a high school diploma or GED. Today? According to the US Department of Labor, 70 percent of jobs in the next ten years will require at least one year of college.

The chances of you being here at all today were so slim. But here you are, anyway, against the odds.

The only significant barrier that I had was no vision for my future, and it took me until I was 25-years old to go back to college. I was terrified when I started back and felt like I stood out because I was older than most of my classmates. I was terrified I didn’t know enough, that I would fail, but by then I knew that I would earn a degree and get a job that would help support a family. I knew I didn’t want to have to do the hard work of waiting tables, or cleaning other people’s offices, for little money, and for the rest of my life.  I also wanted to set an example for my kids, if I could. So I did what you’re doing right now, commencing, beginning.

So, what’s next? What does your next beginning look like? Where will the vision that brought you to this day take you next? You’ve proven to yourselves, and to those that love you, what you’re capable of and speaking from experience, what you’ve done so far is the hardest step you’ll take, because you’re now on the path, you’ve graduated, and there are people here, your family and friends, and the good people at Danville Community College, who want to see you take and succeed in the next steps on the journey. Take a moment today to thank those around you who made your success here today possible. None of us could have done what we’ve done without support from others. Celebrate your successes and take the next step. Don’t stop fighting for your future. Congratulations, graduates.

Commence means begin.

Brendan Wynn, PVCC

We received an update from a previous VahigherEd.com blogger this week - Brendan Wynn, who traveled to Richmond in January with a Piedmont Virginia Community College delegation to visit the General Assembly, writes:

Virginia’s Community Colleges are in the running…

We’re lacing up our sneakers to raise support and awareness for Great Expectations! The office staff, as well as some GE students and coaches, are gearing up for a 4-mile race through a Richmond office park and we’re looking for your support. A $30 donation will underwrite a student’s race day registration. Each student will receive a t-shirt, drink and post-race food. Race day is  June 7, 2012, in Richmond for the Connects Federal Credit Union Corporate 4-Miler presented by Sports Backers.

Click here for more information to sponsor a GE student in the race and find out other ways to support our program!

Pledge forms and checks must be submitted to Jennifer Sayegh in Institutional Advancement by June 1. 

Questions? Contact Jennifer at 804-819-4961 or jsayegh@vccs.edu

An info-graphic for thought…

This info-graphic comes from CollegeOnline.org and helps put the value of a college degree into perspective. Chancellor  of Virginia’s Community Colleges, Glenn DuBois, will tell you “high school is no longer the finish line” and this is true now more than ever. Take a look at these numbers, by earning your associate degree you’ve nearly doubled your annual income.

Via: CollegeOnline.org

Posted by Krystal Gillespie

Governor Mills Godwin (center right) and Chancellor Dana Hamel (far left) played key roles in planning the systemwide network of community colleges 46 years ago.

46 years of elevating Virginia

Thank you so much for taking the ride with us over the last 30 days of this blog series. It’s been a lot of fun to do. Your comments and “likes” here and on Facebook have added so much to it.

Virginia’s Community Colleges were created 46 years ago to address Virginia’s unmet needs in higher education and workforce training.

Their beginning was slow and controversial. Governor Mills Godwin – who ran for the office on a pledge not to raise taxes – successfully convinced the General Assembly as well as the people of Virginia, in a statewide referendum, to agree to create a one penny sales tax to pay for community colleges.

7,500 students were served in the inaugural year at two colleges, Virginia Western in Roanoke and Northern Virginia. Another 21 colleges would be built or adopted into the system as was the case with Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville.

This year, more than 400,000 students are being served by 23 colleges that operate 40 campuses, several dozen off-campus centers and have employees in more than half of Virginia’s high schools.

The workforce training side of the mission is sometimes harder to tabulate. While customized training is offered and used across the state, even more people use the colleges just to take a class here or there to keep their job skills sharp and updated.

Gov. Bob McDonnell in a visit to Germanna

Our workforce training opportunities can also make the biggest splashes, sometimes serving as the reason that headline-grabbing economic development deals are made and big employers, life Rolls Royce or Canon, Virginia, decide to locate or expand their operations in Virginia.

Governor Bob McDonnell talks about Virginia’s Community Colleges all the time, recognizing the central role they will play in his public policy goal of creating an additional 100,000 Virginia college graduates by the year 2025.

Former Gov. Tim Kaine, here shown announcing the Virginia Education Wizard, said Virginia needs her community colleges like "the air that we breathe."

His predecessor, former Governor Tim Kaine, said during his term that Virginia’s Community Colleges had become as important to Virginia as the air that we breathe.

Gov. Mark Warner visiting with Chancellor Glenn DuBois in 2003

And his predecessor,  former Governor Mark Warnersaid that if Virginia didn’t already have a community college system, one would have to be built immediately.

Thank goodness; its already here.

Where to now? The people we serve – the students, their families and employers – typically decide that for our colleges. Virginia’s Community Colleges exist to meet their needs – and succeed when they succeed.

We do know one thing, however: It’s only going to get better and more exciting from here.

Dr. Dana Hamel, left, with former SWCC President Charles King, posing in front of a photo of them 40 years earlier surveying land for community colleges.

We’ve believed that from day one.

Just like our founding chancellor, Dr. Dana Hamel, always says, “It’s a great day to be alive in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

Editor’s Note: 30 Ways in 30 Days Virginia’s Community Colleges are Elevating Virginia is a month-long blog series dedicated to exploring some of the many creative and inspiring ways our colleges are helping people find and create opportunity. The series is part of the VCCS tribute to National Community College Month. To read more of the series just click on the “30 ways in 30 days” category.

Educating the nurses that will care for a commonwealth

A class of nurses graduates at JSRCC

Community colleges play a key role in meeting the national shortage of nurses and other allied health professionals.

Across the country, associate degree programs in nursing educate nearly 57 percent of Registered Nurses, according to the American Association of Community Colleges, and nearly 90 percent of licensed practical nurses.

In Virginia, nursing is still #1 when it comes to the “Hot Jobs” forecast in the Virginia Education Wizard. That measure shows that nearly 700 additional nurses will be needed in Virginia above and beyond the current projected supply.

What is it?

Virginia’s Community Colleges have been working hard to graduate more nurses ever since a 2005 Task Force report highlighted the issue, by improving retention and graduation and focusing on eliminating barriers to completion. Enrollment in associate degree RN programs has increased nearly 20 percent since 2002, and graduates have increased 30 percent from 2003-04.

Where is it offered?

Nearly all of Virginia’s Community Colleges – 21 out of 23 – offer an associate degree in nursing.  Practical nursing programs are also available at a number of community colleges, along with a host of additional allied health fields. The newest program is at Danville Community College - which graduated its first nurses in 2010-11.

Virginia’s Community Colleges have creative partnerships with hospitals that help to provide instructors, equipment and even entire buildings. A number of colleges work with the health care facilities in their areas to provide needed equipment and faculty.

Johnston Memorial Hospital works with Virginia Highlands Community College to support nursing education programs, and was recently named VHCC’s Leader in Philanthropy for 2012.

CJW provides space for nursing classes on the campus of Johnston Willis Hospital

Through another such partnership, CJW Medical Center generously donated building space to John Tyler Community College, allowing the college to expand its nursing program and to create a Nursing Education Center on the campus of Johnston Willis Hospital in Chesterfield County.

Who does it help?

Graduating qualified nurses meets critical needs both in the commonwealth and in the nation. Our nation’s health depends on it! Our colleges fulfill a critical need in staffing Virginia’s hospitals, doctor’s officers, and other medical facilities.

What does the future hold?

Virginia’s Community Colleges continue to seek ways to meet the nursing and allied health care needs of Virginia. Colleges continue to adopt new strategies to improve student persistence, including advising and tutoring, scholarship awareness, and more simulation experiences. With continued partnerships with the health care community, the commonwealth’s needs will be met.

Editor’s Note: 30 Ways in 30 Days Virginia’s Community Colleges are Elevating Virginia is a month-long blog series dedicated to exploring some of the many creative and inspiring ways our colleges are helping people find and create opportunity. The series is part of the VCCS tribute to National Community College Month. To read more of the series just click on the “30 ways in 30 days” category.

Virginia’s Two Year College Transfer Grant

(Updated 5/2/2012 to reflect elegibility requirements in approved legislation; EFC limit earlier proposed at $12,000; will be at $9,000 as of July 1, 2012).

Unless you’ve been avoiding the news you know that college loan debt has been generating a lot of headlines.

“The average annual cost of a four-year institution now exceeds $20,000… outstanding student-loan debt surpasses $1 trillion… defaults are rising, economic growth is sluggish, and unemployment for those ages 20 to 24 is about 13 percent.”

But it doesn’t have to cost that much to earn a bachelor’s degree, at least not in Virginia.

So how can you do it without incurring lifelong debt payments? Simple, just follow these three steps:

1. Begin your bachelor’s degree pursuit by spending your first two year earning an associate’s degree at your nearest Virginia Community College.
2. Use one of the guaranteed transfer agreements your community college holds with more than 30 public and private universities.
3. Take advantage of Virginia’s Two Year College Transfer Grants.

What is it?

Virginia’s Two Year College Transfer Grant was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2007 to help defray the cost of community college graduates who continue on to earn a bachelor’s degree. You can earn up to $4,000 toward the cost of earning that bachelor’s degree:

• Awarded to students enrolled at a participating four-year institution.
• Maximum annual standard award is $1,000.
• Additional $1,000 for students enrolled into a degree program in: science, teaching, engineering, mathematics, or nursing.
• Reduced only if it results in an over award (total financial assistance is greater than the student’s Cost of Attendance) but can affect eligibility for state need-based aid.

Who is it helping?

According to the State Council on Higher Education in Virginia, here are the eligibility criteria:

• Be a first-time entering freshman no earlier than fall 2007
• Be an undergraduate in-state student.
• Meet selective service requirements.
• Have earned an Associate’s degree at a Virginia community college.
• Have cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 for the Associate’s degree.
• Enroll full-time into a Virginia four-year public or Virginia four-year private nonprofit college or university by the fall following completion of Associate’s degree.
• Enroll into a degree program not for religious training or theological education.
• Have applied for financial aid by completing the federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the four-year institution’s deadline.
• Have financial need: defined (as of July 1, 2012) as a federally calculated EFC of $9,000, or less.

Where is it offered?

The Two Year College Transfer Grant is available to students across Virginia.

What are we learning from it?

The grant program is so new that fewer than 10,000 students have taken advantage of it. We haven’t heard any complaints, however, from those who have. What’s not to like?

What does the future hold for it?

The 2012 General Assembly made a tweak in the eligibility formula that should make it easier for students from middle- and lower- income families to qualify for the grant. Henrico County state Senator Walter A. Stosch has been the grant’s biggest advocate and his fellow policymakers agree with his belief that this is a cost effective way to help students afford to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Editor’s Note: 30 Ways in 30 Days Virginia’s Community Colleges are Elevating Virginia is a month-long blog series dedicated to exploring some of the many creative and inspiring ways our colleges are helping people find and create opportunity. The series is part of the VCCS tribute to National Community College Month. To read more of the series just click on the “30 ways in 30 days” category.

Blue Ridge Community College Vet Techs

Turn your love for animals into a career. Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) offers an award winning and fully accredited Veterinary Technology program that’s been in operation since 1972!

What is it?

Becoming a veterinary technician is similar to becoming registered nurse, except as a vet tech you care for animals. Techs provide assistance to veterinarians in primary animal care, radiology, anesthesia, and laboratory work, but are also used to assist in client education, sales, and marketing.

Blue Ridge students have two options in the pursuit of an education in the area of veterinary science. You can choose to pursue a Career Studies Certificate in Veterinary Assisting or an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology. If a career studies certificate is the path you choose, after completion, you may further your studies and apply for admission into the Veterinary Technology Associate Degree program.

After graduating with an associate degree, graduates are eligible to take the National Veterinary Technician Examination (NVTE) which is the final step on the path to becoming a licensed vet tech and is required in Virginia, as well as many other states.

What’s next?

Now it’s time to find a job! With completion of the program, possible occupations for graduates include:

• veterinary technician for veterinary hospital
• diagnostic/research laboratory
• the pharmaceutical industry
• zoos/wildlife centers sales
• livestock managers
• veterinary educators

To find more careers and the salary range, click here.

Where is it offered?

The career studies certificate is only offered through Blue Ridge. As for the associate degree, Blue Ridge is one of two Virginia community colleges offering the program. Northern Virginia Community College also offers a vet tech program, both full- and part-time and online.

Through BRCC, however, you can access the program from other areas of the state.

If you want to go to school part-time and you happen to be in the Virginia Beach, Hampton, Richmond, and Roanoke regions of Virginia, through the Compressed Video Network transmitted to the Virginia Beach campus of Tidewater Community College, the Midlothian Campus of John Tyler Community College, Germanna Community College, and to Virginia Western Community College.

What does the future hold?

You can’t go wrong by choosing a career that’s in demand. And if you love animals and you’ve got access to one the community college’s mentioned above, why not become a vet tech!

Screeching tires. Tearing metal. Sirens.  Who’s on call?  Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics are often first to the scene.  And where were they trained?  More often than not, at Virginia’s Community Colleges.

What is it?

More than half of Virginia’s Community Colleges offer some level of Emergency Medical Services training.

From Career Studies Certificates that lead to a Basic EMT certification, to intermediate and advanced certifications that provide highly qualified EMTs to the scene of accidents, to  an associate degree in Paramedic/Emergency Medical Services, Virginia’s Community Colleges are putting the first responders on the streets.

Nationwide, more than 80 percent of first responders with postsecondary credentials (paramedics, EMTs, firefighters, and police officers) are trained at community college, according to the American Association of Community Colleges.

At the associate degree level, paramedics provide additional pre-hospital care, including administering medications, interpreting EKGs and operating complex equipment.

EMT/Paramedic work comes in #15 on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 list of “Best Jobs.”

Where is it offered?

Associate degree programs are offered at a number of Virginia Community Colleges.  Many times, like at J. Sargeant Reynolds, they work closely through the local fire services and EMS departments of the localities.

Four southwest Virginia community colleges work together to provide the emergency services training l their region needs.

Bill Aker at Southwest Virginia Community College heads up a consortium EMT program for four Southwest colleges:  Southwest Virginia, Virginia Highlands, Wytheville, and Mountain Empire.  Employment for his graduates is a breeze, he says, adding he’ll place all 100 graduates who get certification this year.

Who does it help?

All of us! We need our first responders!

What does the future hold?

Aging babyboomers mean job prospects should stay high for EMTs and paramedics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects EMT and paramedic employment will be growing by more than 30 percent between 2010 and 2020.

Editor’s Note: 30 Ways in 30 Days Virginia’s Community Colleges are Elevating Virginia is a month-long blog series dedicated to exploring some of the many creative and inspiring ways our colleges are helping people find and create opportunity. The series is part of the VCCS tribute to National Community College Month. To read more of the series just click on the “30 ways in 30 days” category.