News from around the VCCS
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A text-only version can be accessed online (http://www.vccs.edu/statewide-syllabus/) .
Chancellor’s Statewide Syllabus with logo
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
In this issue:
• Statewide survey documents extent of food and housing insecurity at Virginia’s Community Colleges; GCC shows how this tough story can be reported in a sympathetic manner
• VCCS top scholars honored in virtual PTK event
• Bidens bring their campaign for free community college to TCC
• VCCS Chancellor makes case for Workforce Pell grants
• Patrick Henry Community College uses Covid $$ for student debt relief
• CFAC chair: VCCS should be proud of its response to a year of challenge
• Registration opens soon for Ed Equity VA summer institute
• New River students contribute to project that’s out of this world
• MECC welcomes back Mountain Music School
• Other higher-ed news of note
• VCCS events calendar link
“The numbers are sobering, but it’s important that we have a realistic picture of the challenges that students face, so we can try to help wherever and whenever we can.” –VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois The first-ever statewide survey of students at Virginia’s Community Colleges shows about a third sometimes don’t know where their next meal is coming from. And more than 40 percent have experienced housing insecurity in the previous year.
“If it wasn’t for funding from Germanna Cares, there’s no way I would have been able to make it.” A word of tribute to Germanna Community College student Sierra Pierce, who shared her story with local media outlets seeking to humanize the results of the Hope Center national survey on student needs.
The #RealCollege Survey showed nearly half of GCC students had experienced food or housing insecurity. The survey results help to quantify the extent of the challenges facing our students and have been distributed to each of our colleges.
(https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/survey-results-show-scope-of-need-among-germanna-students/article_f83f5e39-9295-5e60-9683-b5bd30da2b50.html)
“In earning PTK honors, you have taken an important step in establishing yourself as a leader. Leaders confront challenges. They adapt and overcome. They excel in dire circumstances. And they help others see the way forward.” –VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois
The top students at Virginia’s Community Colleges were celebrated for their academic performances at the springtime Phi Theta Kappa honors ceremony April 21, and also were challenged to help meet the needs of a changing world.
(https://www.vccs.edu/blog/top-students-at-virginias-community-colleges-receive-challenge-the-world-needs-leaders/)
The president and first lady traveled to Tidewater Community College May 3rd to make the case for Mr. Biden’s “American Families Plan,” which, among other things, would provide two years of free community college for all Americans. Our blog story covers the Biden visit to TCC, and several additional angles on the story.
“We have to put an end to the false narrative that a bachelor’s degree is the only path to a fulfilling career and a livable salary. Quite frankly, it’s shortsighted to assume everyone has the time, resources and interest in dedicating four years or longer to earn a diploma.” VCCS Chancellor Glenn DuBois went to bat in Inside Higher Ed for the idea of extending federal Pell Grants to students in workforce training programs.
(https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2021/04/22/lets-not-underestimate-value-short-term-workforce-credentials-letter)
“When we saw that we could use our stimulus to help our students, it was not a question. That’s what we were going to do.” Patrick Henry Community College President Angeline Godwin announced last week that the college will use some of its federal pandemic relief funds to pay down student debt.
Students with a GPA of at least 2.0 who have an outstanding debt to the college that began on or after March 13, 2020 will be notified by mail that their debt has been paid. PHCC is devoting $1.4 million in pandemic relief funds to debt forgiveness and other student stipends.
(https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/health/coronavirus/patrick-henry-community-college-to-pay-off-student-debt-accrued-during-covid-19/)
“Endless zoom conferences will never replace the magic of the classroom. But on an optimistic note, students became better writers, which will serve them well when they transfer to senior institutions.” Charles Errico, Chair of the Chancellor’s Faculty Advisory Committee, offers a few thoughts about a most unusual year when academics were transformed by the coronavirus pandemic.
(https://www.vccs.edu/blog/virginias-community-colleges-should-be-proud-of-our-response-to-a-very-challenging-year/)
Registration opens May 17 for Virginia’s Education Equity Summer Institute. Sponsored by the State Dept. of Education, “Ed Equity VA” will bring together educators, school leaders, and education policymakers from across the state to raise discourse and action around culturally responsive and inclusive educator practices and leadership. The virtual conference is free of charge and runs June 15-17. It’s open to all educators.
“I’ll be signing up so I can add to what I’ve read on this important topic,” said Carla Kimbrough, VCCS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. “One of the goals of Opportunity 2027, our new VCCS Strategic Plan, is supporting excellence in teaching. The institute’s topics align well with our Strategic Plan by offering educators information about culturally responsive teaching. I hope we’ll have strong participation from our community colleges.”
(http://www.virginiaisforlearners.virginia.gov/ed-equity-va/)
Here’s another welcome sign of recovery from the pandemic: after being cancelled last year due to COVID-19, Mountain Empire’s Mountain Music School will be back this coming summer. The five-day event in July will be staged at MECC’S Center for Workforce Innovation at Appalachia to allow space for social distancing. As a health precaution, class sizes also will be limited and concerts and workshops will not be held this year. MECC’S Mountain Music School provides opportunities for students age 10 and up to experience traditional old-time music with fun and supportive instruction.
Other Higher Ed News of Note:
• “For jobs that require an associate’s degree or higher, the strongest demand is for workers with skills in the broad areas of computer and math, management, healthcare practitioners and business and finance.” Economist Christine Chmura says the outlook is good for this spring’s college graduates. –Richmond Times-Dispatch (https://richmond.com/business/economic-impact-good-news-for-graduates-looking-for-work-the-economy-is-improving/article_61aa63c1-a63e-5694-aa14-76ee6d3cec9c.html)
• “Getting our words and images right is particularly important as we address societal and educational inequity and as we begin to rebuild the post-pandemic economy.” VP of strategic engagement at the Lumina Foundation argues it’s a false choice to pit “skills-based” against “traditional” higher-ed. –Inside Higher Ed (https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2021/04/28/either-or-definitions-skills-present-false-choice-higher-education-opinion)
• In an ongoing effort to make its campus more welcoming to all, VMI has decided to remove Stonewall Jackson’s name from buildings, but is keeping the mural glorifying the Battle of Newmarket in its chapel. –Roanoke Times (https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/vmi-to-remove-stonewall-jacksons-name-from-buildings-contextualize-art/article_a3e7cc14-ac81-11eb-bd2d-bbc4bcb44e59.html)
• The Washington and Lee Board of Trustees will announce its name change decision in June, almost a year after the formation of a special committee to reconsider the university’s relationship to Robert E. Lee. –Roanoke Times (https://roanoke.com/news/state-and-regional/washington-and-lee-name-change-decision-will-be-made-in-june-rector-says/article_ea28540c-af72-11eb-87f2-37527a2701e1.html)
• Already bracing for an enrollment crash expected to hit in 2025, higher education got more bad news this week: The U.S. birth rate fell 4 percent in 2020, marking the lowest number of births since 1979 and the sixth consecutive year of declining birth rates. –Chronicle of Higher Ed (https://www.chronicle.com/article/a-historic-decline-in-u-s-births-signals-more-enrollment-troubles?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_2314369_nl_Academe-Today_date_20210510&cid=at&source=&sourceId) (free signup required)
• New law in Arizona will let community colleges there grant four-year degrees. –AZ Central (https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2021/05/04/arizona-community-colleges-can-now-offer-bachelor-degrees-smart/4945997001/)
To see the VCCS Events Calendar, clickhttps://www.vccs.edu/news-and-events/#event-calendar here (https://www.vccs.edu/news-and-events/#event-calendar) .https://www.vccs.edu/news-and-events/#event-calendar
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