1.2 Virginia Community College System
1.2.0 Purpose
[Reference:
Section 2 – I.
Purpose - VCCS Policy Manual]
The general purpose of the VCCS, under the direction of the State Board for Community Colleges (State Board), is to establish and administer public community colleges in selected communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. The community college program is designed to serve the educational needs of qualified post-high school age youth and adults to prepare them for employment, for advanced collegiate education, and for improved citizenship.
1.2.1 Definition of a Community College page top
[Reference:
Section 2 – II.
Definition of a Community College - VCCS Policy Manual]
A community college is defined as a comprehensive institution of higher education offering programs of instruction generally extending not more than two years beyond the high school level. These programs include, but are not be limited to, courses in occupational/ technical fields, the liberal arts and sciences, general education, continuing adult education, and pre-college and pre-technical preparatory programs. Special training programs may be offered to meet the economic needs of the region in which the college is located as well as other services to meet regional cultural and educational needs.
1.2.2 Service Region Established for Virginia Highlands Community College page top
[Reference:
Section 2 – III.
Community College Service Regions - VCCS Policy Manual]
The State Board established service regions for each of the community colleges within the VCCS. The service region for VHCC is Washington County, the western portion of Smyth County and the City of Bristol.
1.2.3 Programs Mandated for the Colleges of the VCCS page top
[Reference: Section 2 –
IV
Types of Programs - VCCS Policy Manual]
The content of each curriculum offered by the community college conforms to statewide criteria set by the State Board and takes into consideration regional needs and opportunities. The State Board sets minimum standards and authorizes the issuance by institutions of appropriate associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas to individuals who satisfactorily complete the course and program requirements. To avoid unnecessary duplication of services, the State Board may enter into a cooperative agreement with an existing agency to provide one or more of the programs listed on the following pages. In determining the curricula to be offered by each community college, the State Board takes into consideration the varying needs of the communities served and the substantiated requests of interested local governing bodies, employers, and individuals. These programs shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. Career/Technical Education
The career/technical education programs shall be designed to meet the increasing demand for technicians, semiprofessional workers, and skilled craftsmen for employment in industry, business, the professions, and government. These programs, which normally require two years or less of training beyond high school, may include preparation for agricultural, business, engineering, health and medical, industrial, service, and other technical and occupational fields. The curricula shall be planned primarily to meet the needs for workers in the region being served by the community college, but the State Board may designate certain community colleges as centers to serve larger areas of the state in offering expensive and highly specialized occupational and technical education programs.
B. College Transfer Education
The college transfer programs shall include college freshman and sophomore courses in arts and sciences and pre-professional programs meeting standards acceptable for transfer to baccalaureate degree programs. These programs shall be of equal grade and quality to those provided in the four-year, degree-granting institutions to facilitate the transfer of students from the community college to four-year colleges and universities.
C. General Education
General education is that portion of
the collegiate experience that addresses the
knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values
characteristic of educated persons. It is unbounded
by disciplines and honors the connections among
bodies of knowledge. VCCS degree graduates will
demonstrate competency in the following general
education areas:
The associate degree programs within
the Virginia Community College System support a
collegiate experience that focuses on the above
definition and attendant areas. The general
education outcomes shall be included in the catalog
of each college.
D. Continuing Adult Education
Adult education programs shall be offered to enable the adults in the region to continue their learning experiences. This work may include both degree credit and non-degree credit work offered during the day and evening hours.
E. Developmental Programs
Developmental or preparatory programs shall be offered to prepare individuals for admission to the college transfer programs and the
career/technical programs in the community college. These developmental programs shall be designed to develop the basic skills and understandings necessary to succeed in other community college programs.
F. Specialized Regional and Community Services
The facilities and personnel of each community college shall be available to provide specialized services to help meet the cultural and educational needs of the region served by the community college. This service includes programs not conducted in classrooms such as cultural events, workshops, meetings, lectures, conferences, seminars, and special community projects which are designed to provide needed cultural and educational opportunities for the citizens of the region. The community college shall work cooperatively with other local and State agencies interested in developing such services. The community college facilities shall also be available insofar as possible to four-year colleges and universities desiring to offer extension programs at the level of the third and fourth year of college and of graduate education in the region, subject to the prior approval of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).
1.2.4 VCCS Mission
& Values Statements page top
[Reference:
About the VCCS – VCCS Mission – VCCS Website]
The State Board for Community Colleges
adopted a revised mission statement at its board meeting
in November 2009:
VCCS Mission Statement
We give everyone the opportunity to learn and develop
the right skills so lives and communities are
strengthened.
