by Patsy Joyner

A Happy New Year to everyone!

Paul D. Camp Community College reopens Monday, Jan. 3, and spring semester classes start Monday, Jan. 10. A reminder — in addition to traditional credit and noncredit offerings, a number of special programs are available at PDCCC, such as Student Support Services, Tech Prep and Dual Enrollment.

Student Support Services Program

Student Support Services is a federally funded program designed to assist select college students. The goal of the program is to increase the probability that students will successfully complete their educational goals.

To equip students with necessary college survival skills, the program offers free tutoring, counseling, cultural and educational enrichment, and assistance for students desiring to transfer to a four-year institution. The staff also acts as a liaison between students and the various college offices to ensure that students have access to all appropriate college and community services.

Knowing the many obstacles and challenges that can hinder performance in college, the staff guides students through successful completion of their course of study by monitoring academic progress and providing the support needed for success.

Participation in the Student Support Services program is voluntary, and acceptance into the program is based on criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education.

Students may refer themselves to this program or be referred by a counselor, instructor, or other staff member. Applications for Student Support Services are available in the SSS offices at the Franklin and Hobbs Suffolk campuses.

Tech Prep

Provided at each of the 23 Virginia community colleges, the Tech Prep program is designed to develop, improve and promote career pathways for the emerging workforce that lead to high-demand, high-wage careers.

Tech Prep career pathways begin in high school and contain an integrated curriculum of core academics and career and technical education that continues through an associate degree, industry certification or licensure, or registered apprenticeship.

Tech Prep program options at PDCCC include administrative support technology, early childhood education, health sciences, industrial technology and marketing management. Students enrolled in these programs take courses such as accounting, keyboarding, records management, machine transcription, computer information systems, desktop publishing/multimedia, web advertising, child development, life planning, nutrition/wellness, nursing skills, health/nursing assistant, pharmacology, architectural drawing/design, technology foundations and many other valuable technical courses.

Dual Enrollment

In the Dual Enrollment Program, eligible juniors and seniors can receive college credit while still in high school. Dual Enrollment courses can be transferred to all Virginia Community colleges and most four-year colleges and universities.

Taking college-level classes in high school saves time and money and can possibly save students a whole year of college. Through dual credit, it may be possible to earn a bachelor’s degree in three years or finish a two-year program in one year.

To be eligible, high school juniors and seniors must be16 by the end of the semester enrolled, approved by the high school principal for course registration, accepted for admission by the college and qualified for the demands of a college-level course by successfully completing the college placement test.

For information on other options available at PDCCC, call 569-6700, or visit www.pdc.edu.

DR. PATSY JOYNER is the vice president for institutional advancement at Paul D. Camp Community College. Her e-mail address is pjoyner@pc.vccs.edu.