4. Key Topics Researched at WCC
WCC History, Demographics & Mission
Governance
Admissions
Academics
Student Life
Finance
Foundation
Alumni
Current Issues
5. WCC History & Demographics
History of WCC
Wytheville Community College is a two-year
comprehensive community college
Demographics
Increased from 1,400 FTE’s in the last 4 years.
Many of the students are without High School diplomas or GEDs
2% African American population
Growing Hispanic population
6. U.S Community College Comparison
Wytheville Community
U.S. Community Colleges College
1,177 total number of • 1 of 26 in Virginia
U.S. community colleges Community College System
33% FT faculty, 66% PT • 21% FT faculty, 79% PT
11.7M students enrolled, • 2,477 FTE’s, 32% FT, 68%
40% FT, 60% PT PT
Average age 29 • Average age 28
58% women • 64% women
36% minorities • 5.2 % minorities
7. Mission Statements
The mission of U.S. community colleges community is to
identify and respond to the educational needs of adult
learners within a specified service area (Cohen & Brawer,
1996; Vaughan, 1997; Gleazer, 1980).
The mission of Wytheville Community College is to
provide a quality, comprehensive education for the
citizens of the counties of Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth,
and Wythe and the city of Galax.
8. Governance
Chancellor,
Virginia
WCC College Board
Community
College System
College
President of WCC
Committees
9. Admissions
Access #1 mission - “on ramp” to higher education
Pre-testing in high school
Dual enrollment
Early advising
“Types” of students
Guaranteed admission – selective programs
Wytheville/Bland Foundation
Federal Grants
Tuition costs
10. Academics
3 campus locations
Programs of Study
Lack of self confidence
Academic vs. personal support
Remediation
College success class requirement
Success with a 2-yr. degree
Certificates
11. Interesting Data about WCC
Student Enrollment
WCC Graduation Rate 34%
33% VT Graduation Rate 55%
67%
Full Time Part Time
12. Student Life
“Like a family”
ARC Center
Clubs and sports
Faculty involvement
13. Finance
Funding sources
Tuition & Fees
State Allocation - VCCS
Board of Supervisors
Financial Aid
Effects of recent budget cuts
Tuition compared to 4 year schools
Grant opportunities
15. Cost Comparison – Virginia Tech
Description Cost
Virginia Tech– Tuition & Fees for 1 Year $9,589
Wytheville Community College – Tuition & Fees for 1 $3,270
Year
Savings for 1 Year $6,319
4 Years at Virginia Tech $41,948
2 Years at WCC + 2 Years at Virginia Tech $25,661
Savings for a 4 Year Undergraduate Education $16,287
16. Cost Comparison – Washington & Lee
Description Cost
Washington & Lee – Tuition & Fees for 1 Year $31,175
Wytheville Community College – Tuition & Fees for 1 $3,270
Year
Savings for 1 Year $27,905
4 Years at Washington & Lee $136,379
2 Years at WCC + 2 Years at Washington & Lee $75,624
Savings for a 4 Year Undergraduate Education $60,754
17. Foundation
Foundation began in 1981
Worth $5.2 million now
Capital campaign in 2001 raised $1.3 million
which funded the Snyder Auditorium
Current fundraising efforts
18. Alumni
Current involvement with Alumni
Issues related to Alumni
Transfer student loyalty
Tracking
Shortage of personnel
19. Current Issues
Budget Cuts
Tuition goals
Faculty Recruitment
Full time vs. Adjunct Faculty
Buildings
Possible restructuring
Achieve 2015
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden speaks on the
Community College summit
20. References
Hirt, J. B. (2006). Where you work matters. Where you work matters: Student
affairs administration at different types of institutions (pp. 185-209).
Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
Virginia Community College System. (2010). Retrieved September 25, 2010, from
http://vccs.edu/
Virginia Education Wizard. (2010). College Cost Calculator. Retrieved December 1,
2010, from https://www.vawizard.org/vccs/Main.action
Wytheville Community College. (2010). Wytheville Community College. Retrieved
December 1, 2010, from http://www.wcc.vccs.edu/
*Stemmed from O/R work @ VT in 1963, 1967 joined VCCS*President White has been @ WCC since ?, Has worked SWVA CCS for over 30 yearsBrief History:The Virginia Community College System was established during the 1966 session of the General Assembly. Wytheville Community College became a member of the system on July 1, 1967. In the first year of its operation, the college’s enrollment rose to 837 and the number of full-time faculty members increased to 21. The college’s enrollment has grown to over 4,000 students in 2009-2010, with more than 40 full-time and 140 part-time faculty.
50% of U.S. undergrads enrolled in CC’s (serve 240,000 students)CC grew in the 1960’s and 70’s at the rate of 1/weekWCC demo’s are typical of u.s community colleges, minority challengeFunding difference
-member of VCCS-reports to chancellor of vccs, state board, and cc board-board has 13 members-board consists of community members for the 6 surrounding communities-bureaucracy is one of the issues mentioned in Joan Hirt’s article and the org chart demonstrates that
Anyone is accepted as long as they show ability to benefitDr. Catron-Wood and President White agreed WCC is an “on-ramp” to higher education for their studentsSignificant resources are spent on remediationPresident White feels standards are too high – lowering them would lower remediation resourcesTypes – first generation, unemployed, low socioeconomic status – commonality – lack of self-confidence
3 campus locations – Wytheville, Crossroads in Galax, LPN Construction Management (20% of students attend), and Smyth County Education Center – workforce development, pre-employment training, business seminarsOld Dominion BS degree option23 degreee programs offeredARC Center, Project AIM (Ability in Motion) to increase retention and grad rates of students at or below poverty levelRemediation – President White’s thoughts, not always necessaryPrograms of Study(Number of degrees in 2008-2009 in parentheses)BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (19 awarded)Accounting and Related ServicesBusiness Administration, Management and OperationsCOMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (3 awarded)Computer and Information SciencesCONSTRUCTION TRADES (2 awarded)Construction TradesENGINEERING TECHNICIAN (5 awarded)CAD/CADD Drafting and/or Design Technology/TechnicianElectrical/Electronic/Communications Engr Technology/TechnicianIndustrial Technology/TechnicianFAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (0 awarded)Child Care Provider/AssistantLIBERAL ARTS (66 awarded)Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesLiberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesMEDICAL ADMINISTRATION (0 awarded)Health and Medical Administrative ServicesMEDICAL SUPPORT AND TECHNOLOGY (40 awarded)Clinical/Medical Laboratory TechnicianDental Assisting/AssistantDental Hygiene/HygienistRadiologic Technology/Science - RadiographerNURSING AND EMERGENCY MEDICINE (109 awarded)Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse TrainingNursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATION (35 awarded)Business Operations Support and Secretarial ServicesPRODUCTION TRADES (29 awarded)Precision Metal WorkingSECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (36 awarded)CorrectionsCriminal Justice/Law Enforcement AdministrationTHERAPY AND COUNSELING (156 awarded)Mental and Social Health Services and Allied ProfessionsPhysical Therapist Assistant
Low, students drop out to meet family obligations, have to work.A lot of certificate and diploma programs
*Most students are part time and also work, come to campus for classes and then leave*ARC Center and AIM programNJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) - Men’s basketball, very successful in VCCS, and women’s volleyball – cancelled baseball program because of budget cuts*Wildcats, Maroon and White*Dean of students also Athletic Director*Each club must have faculty advisor, approximately 20 clubs, some even Greek Life, Christian, Academic, SGA
$139700 from local Boards of Supervisors, anything 5 ft from building cannot be covered with state money, also get money from bookstore and vendingRestructuring and streamlining processes; want to provide the same services with fewer resourcesSummer Pell money is now available; majority of students qualify for financial aid, excited about launching a book rental program in JanuaryTuition at community colleges is to be ½ of 4-year state schoolsThere are lots of grants for the school to apply for but they have to be a good value; don’t want to spend a lot of admin time overseeing it
Top 3 sources – State, T&F, and Local Approp.VT top 3 – tuition, state, and grants and contracts and auxilaries @ 16%VT – State appropriations 25%VT – Tuition and Fees 27%VT – No local approp. (biggest difference)VT – Grants and contracts 22% (big difference)
*One of first in Virginia for a community college, $300K annually in gifts, $2M in form of grants from TCUses funds for scholarships, equipment and to fund capital projects*Achieve 2015, next big campaign (VCCS initiative), calls for $1.9M each year for the next 5 years, challenge for WCC
Don’t really spend a lot of time maximizing benefits from alumni because they feel most of the transfer students are closer to their 4-year institutionDon’t track most of the alumni or focus campaigning initiatives toward alumniThe office is also currently restructuring and they have had a shortage of personnel to focus on alumni.
Achieve 2015 Goals:Challenges:*keep tuition @ ½ of 4 yr.*student retention and graduation rates*AOTC – American Opportunity Tax Credit, to expire end of 2010, in addition to Pell Grant*Typically students borrow low amount, loans increasing, 38% have loans*Significant # of Presidents to retire in next 5 years, shortage of FT qualified teachers.
