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DataBytes

• What is Student Success?
  What defines success for a community college student?  Is it graduation? Transfer to a four-year? For some students, success may mean that they continue to enroll in courses at a college.  Historically, one major measurement of community college student success has been through a graduation rate, based on first time, full-time, degree seeking students graduating in 150 percent of the degree time frame.  This approach is primarily geared towards the traditional four-year university and does not capture a community college student.  This is evident when less than 10 percent of the community college population enter as first-time, full time degree seeking students.  
  
  Nationally, many states, including Virginia, are looking at alternative measures of success.  This measurement approach broadens the definition of student success to include more than just a degree, such as continuing to enroll, and transferring to a four-year university prior to graduation. Learn more about student success and data on this measurement.
  
  
• Perkins Performance Measures Update
  Over the last several months, VCCS staff worked with Perkins leaders at the colleges on the modification of the performance measures under Perkins IV.  VCCS will continue to work with colleges and present its findings to the WDS and ASAC advisory groups in September. Find out more about the Perkins performance measures.

College Submissions

• Central Virginia Community College (CVCC)
  
  During the first week of August, Central Virginia Community College hosted 225 middle and high school students during the College’s annual high-technology career academies. This is the tenth year CVCC has offered these dynamic and hands-on educational adventures that explore engineering, aviation, information technology, nuclear technology, crime scene investigation, high-performance manufacturing processes and more.
  
  Two new academies were added this year: the Culinary Arts Academy and the new Advanced Engineering Academy for rising 9th and 10th graders, an age group not previously addressed by the program. Students in Advanced Engineering had the opportunity to explore robotics, biotechnology, alternative energies, and GIS technology. 
  
  The CVCC Summer Career Academies program is open to all middle school students within Region 2000 on a first-come, first-served basis. The academies are part of the larger concept of Career Pathways in which promising young students are educated and encouraged to identify and follow meaningful career paths from middle school through college and beyond.
  
  CVCC has developed the program in alliance with the Region 2000 Tech Prep Consortium and the Region 2000 Partnership. There were twenty-eight sponsors for the 2008 academies, including local corporations, government agencies and local schools at both the secondary and college level. The academies were held at the CVCC Lynchburg campus, as well as the CVCC Appomattox, Altavista, and Bedford Centers, in addition to the AREVA NP, Inc. Training Center, Heritage High School, Liberty University and Sweet Briar College.

• Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA)
  
  Summer school has a new meaning for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).  For the past four months, the agency’s Building and Fire Code Division Training and Certification staff teamed with the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) to offer webcasts supported by York Media/York Telecom at 10 community college locations throughout the Commonwealth. The simulcast format was provided in three-day increments and participants received full use of training space, equipment and on-site assistance.
  
  Sandi Morris, DHCD’s Manager of Training and Certification says the webcast training “allowed DHCD to train nearly 5,000 state and local building and fire code personnel in seven weeks that would have normally taken months to complete.” She added, “the training placed adults in valued adult learning environments instead of a hotel”.
  
  This new and innovative training reduced participant and facilitator travel costs including fuel savings, ensured curriculum quality and consistency, broadened the use of technology to reach across the Commonwealth  and made training more accessible .  It also allowed participants to register through DHCD’s online system.  The information was then forwarded to CCWA for a seamless process. Computer generated CDs and DVDs were produced for future training at DHCD.
  
  
• Eastern Shore Community College (ESCC)
  
  Workforce Development staff from Eastern Shore Community College presented a paper at the 2008 SW-Virginia Adult Institute for Lifelong Learning (SW-VAILL) annual conference at Radford University in July.   280 Adult Educators from across the Commonwealth were present at this year’s Institute.
  
  ESCC’s paper described a program set up by the College’s Continuing Education department in partnership with ESCC’s EL/Civics program under the Adult Education department.  ELL students from the College program and the local Eastern Shore Telamon program are instructed in a 40-hour “Introduction to Computers for ESL Students” course.  The course combines learning in basic computer skills with improvement in student abilities in the English Language.  The program is aimed at helping non-citizens to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to successfully apply for US citizenship, as well as teaching basic skills required to secure a permanent position in the workforce.  Community Web sites are used to introduce our newest neighbors to community resources, and federal Web sites such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Web site, provide information about Civics and US History as well as requirements for citizenship.
  
  
• Germanna Community College (GCC)
  
  Workforce Development and Credit Instruction have teamed up on an exciting new project.  In July, a small delegation traveled to India to explore the possibility of establishing an exchange program for college students, faculty and the community. The travelers included Frances Lea, professor of Economics, Sunithi Gnanadoss, professor of English, and Martha O’Keefe, Director of Workforce Development.  Gene Bailey, President of the Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, joined the Germanna delegation in Bangalore.  The Regional Alliance is a public/private economic development marketing partnership providing comprehensive demographic, economic and commercial real estate information within the region.  Mr. Bailey’s contributions proved very valuable in our discussions with business and college leaders.
  
  In India, meetings were held with representatives from several colleges that were very receptive to exchange possibilities.  Program areas that Germanna may tap into could include IT and business-related instruction, and perhaps learning about Ayurvedic massage as a complement to allied health programs. 
  
  The delegation also met with business leaders from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Consulate General’s Office, and WIPRO Technologies, one of the larger, newer high-tech companies located in “Electronic City” in Bangalore.  The Indian business leaders showed interest in partnering on activities to promote the exchange of best business practices.  Possibilities range from hosting visits from Indian business leaders, to interactive video conferencing, to showcasing business practices, and more. 
  
  The India exchange project holds many exciting possibilities for the college and community. Within the next few months Germanna plans to have more specific plans in place.
  
  
• Paul D. Camp Community College (PDCCC)
  
  Paul D. Camp Community College recently completed its expanded Kids College at the Regional Workforce Development Center in Franklin.  Under the direction of Teri Zurfluh and Harvey McLemore, Kids College increased its number of sessions from last summer’s 10 to this year’s 61!  Over 600 kids participated in a variety of learning experiences ranging from Robotics to Riverkeepers.  Blue Ridge Community College provided excellent consultation during the Kids College planning process.  The community enthusiastically embraced this initiative and Kids College will offer an even wider selection of courses in 2009!  For more information about Kids College, check out pdc.edu.
  
  
• Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC)
  
  Twenty-two "students" got to try out college for a week for free thanks to an innovative new program at Patrick Henry Community College. 
   
  Try It Out is an initiative offered by the college's Continuing Education and Workforce Development office. During the week of August 4-8th, a select group of people were invited to check out college as a whole by attending classes in 60-90 minutes blocks.  The "students" were referred from the Department of Social Services (DSS) in Martinsville/Henry County and Patrick County, as part of the partnership with the TARE Grant. 
   
  Working with faculty and staff, the students gained hands-on exploration in programs like horticulture, viticulture, general studies, motorsports, culinary arts, crafts, HVAC (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration), nursing, information technology, administration of justice, early childhood development, and industrial electronics.
  
  The students also received a campus tour, and were provided information about services offered by PHCC such as tutoring, student support services, financial aid, GED preparation, the library and writing and math labs, student activities, and the advising and career center.
   
  “Try It Out: College has been a unique opportunity for individuals to come on campus to see what college is all about, and envision themselves in the learning environment. It was an exciting week and we look forward to helping them reach their educational goals,” said Rhonda Hodges, Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development.
  
  
• Southside Virginia Community College (SsVCC)
  
  In an effort to respond to the changing landscape of workforce, economic and community development within its 10-county service region, SsVCC has added a Vice President for Workforce Development and Continuing Education to its administrative organization.  The Vice President will provide college-wide leadership, direction, and management of the College’s workforce training and continuing education efforts and serve as the College’s primary business and industry contact.
  
  Assuming these responsibilities is Al Roberts, a native of Southside Virginia with strong ties to economic development, education and community service.  Roberts has been employed at SsVCC for the past 13 years, serving most recently as Dean of Off-Campus Instruction.  He is a 24-year veteran of the Greensville County School Board and served as its chairman for 8 years.  Additionally, he is a past member and chairman of the Emporia-Greensville Industrial Development Corporation and recipient of that agency’s Distinguished Service Award.  As Vice President, Roberts wants to focus on making SsVCC part of the solution in the changing local, regional and state economy by creating a stronger infrastructure and nurturing partnerships to improve economic development.
  
  
• Tidewater Community College (TCC)
  
  TCC workforce staff members will be making two presentations at the upcoming National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE) conference in Austin, TX in October.  Leslie Boughton, Coordinator of the TCC Job Skills Training Program, will present on "Recycling a Lost & Underutilized Workforce."  Barbara Murray, TCC Coordinator for Apprenticeship Related Instruction, Diann Holt, TCC Associate Vice President for Career and Technical Education and Theresa Bryant, TCC Vice President for Workforce Development will present "Bridging Career Pathways through Registered Apprenticeship."  For more information about NCWE or the conference, please contact Theresa Bryant.
  
  
• Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC)
  
  CBI recently awarded 19 Career Readiness Certificates to students enrolled in the Electrical Technology program at VHCC.  Working with, Ronnie Frye, Associate Professor, Electricity and Betty Domjahn, Tech Prep and Perkins Coordinator at VHCC, Dean, Melinda Leland was able to develop a semester long, non-credit course to provide refresher training in the four WorkKeys areas for 26 students.  Utilizing KeyTrain software, students spent a minimum of one hour per week, working through sample test questions. 
  
  Professor Frye was eager to help the students in his class obtain this certification.  “These guys are a sharp bunch and I know they will be well prepared for the workforce when they graduate with their certificate in electricity, but sometimes a company has different requirements for hiring. We wanted to make sure we set our students up to be successful in finding a job,” said Mr. Frye.
  
  The catalyst for the class was VHCC Student, Tim Schaeffer.  “I applied for a job at Eastman Chemical Company in the maintenance department last fall. I didn’t know CBI offered the testing so I drove all the way to Knoxville, Tennessee to take the tests.  When I missed the required score on the Reading for Information test by just one point, I didn’t want to drive all the way to Knoxville to retake the test,” Schaeffer said.  “I was speaking with my college counselor and found out that CBI could provide the training and testing so I talked with Mr. Frye and Dean Leland.  They were very helpful in setting up the preparation class and testing not just for me, but anyone in the electricity class that wanted to participate. I have since taken Reading for Information again and received the score I needed.” 
  
  Twenty-two students took the Applied Technology test and the three tests required for the CRC.  Nine students received a gold Virginia Career Readiness Certificate and 10 received silver Virginia Career Readiness Certificates. 

• Virginia Western Community College (VWCC)
  
  Virginia Western Community College’s Workforce Development Services/Lifelong Learning Division lost a valued colleague and friend on August 11 with the passing of Nadine Carson, Administrative & Support Specialist at The Greenfield Education and Training Center. With over 20 years’ experience with VWCC’s continuing education, Center for Business, Industry and Technology and WDS/LL offices, Nadine offered a wealth of knowledge to the College and outstanding customer service to our corporate partners. According to her supervisor, “many of our clients knew and liked Nadine and would contact her directly, rather than calling their workforce coordinator, when they were seeking development of customized training classes!” Nadine, 58, fought a courageous battle with cancer over the past year and is survived by her mother, one daughter, one son, four grandchildren and many other friends and relatives.
  
  Virginia Western’s Workforce Division graduated its third Intensive Welder Training Program (IWTP) career studies certificate class on August 14 at The Greenfield Center. IWTP began in 2006 in response to the business community’s great need for more welders. A VCCS Institutes of Excellence grant funded the development of the initial program. Students participate in 400 hours (18 credits) of welding, math, drafting and student development, programming over a 3.5 month time period. A job shadowing component and 40-hour internship are included in the program, as well as site visits to employers. One of the students’ favorite days allows time for employers to present information on their companies to the students. Twelve to 15 employers normally participate and students enjoy being “courted,” particularly because most have had difficulty locating employment in the past. This is the first time they have been pursued by employers!
  
  This year’s class of nine students who began the program on May 1, 2008 resulted in seven students completing all of the academic course requirements. Additionally, two students received perfect attendance certificates for not having missed a single day of classes. As of graduation, all of the students had either accepted employment or had very good prospects for jobs with starting wages in the $12-15 per hour range. Welders continue to be highly sought after in the Roanoke Valley, and the IWTP class provides employers not only with well trained welders, but also with employees who have demonstrated their ability to arrive on time for an extended period, take direction and problem solve, and work as a team.