SWCC

Southwest Virginia Community College is a two-year institution of higher education established as a part of a state-wide system of community colleges serving primarily the residents of the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson (partial), Russell and Tazewell. The College operates under policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the Local College Board. The institution is financed primarily by State funds supplemented by contributions from the participating localities.

The College operates on the semester system and is open on a year-round basis. Classes normally are held from 8 am through 9 pm. The availability of college credit courses in the evening allows the student who must work while going to college the opportunity to coordinate college activities with part-time employment. Any student may enroll for evening and/or daytime classes.

The 1966 General Assembly of Virginia authorized the establishment of a state-wide system of comprehensive community colleges and appointed a separate State Board to develop a Master Plan for a state-wide system of community college education in Virginia.

The Master Plan designated a community college to be established in the area serving the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson (partial), Russell and Tazewell. A delegation of local citizens met with State officials to determine the feasibility of immediate development of a community college for the region. A local College Board was appointed in the summer of 1967, the Local Board recommended that the college be named Southwest Virginia Community College and that Dr. Charles R. King be appointed as president. Dr. J. Mark Estepp is the current SwVCC president.

The College opened to students in the fall of 1968 with an initial enrollment of 710 students. Fall 2006 credit enrollment was 3,580 unduplicated headcount students. In addition, approximately 15,000 area residents were served through non-credit and community service programs during 2006.

Southwest Virginia Community College, as a comprehensive institution of higher education, dedicates its services to area citizens. Believing that each person should be given an opportunity for continuing personal and intellectual development, the College assumes responsibility as a catalyst in the life of the individual and the community. SWCC provides citizens the means for improving skills; expanding knowledge as well as cultural, aesthetic and global awareness; and encouraging economic development and responsible citizenship.

Southwest Virginia Community College offers programs of traditional classroom instruction and technologically enhanced courses generally extending not more than two years beyond high school. Educational opportunities for adults and college-age youth include instruction in associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs, as well as in continuing education. Counseling services and other student development programs assist students with decisions on occupational, educational, and personal goals.

To implement these broadly conceived purposes, the College provides many options:

• Occupational Technical Education meets the demand for technicians, paraprofessionals, and skilled craft persons for employment in industry, business, the professions, and government through curricula planned primarily to satisfy needs for and of workers within the SVCC service region.

• College Transfer Education offers college courses in the arts and sciences and pre-professional education designed to transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

• General Education encompasses the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and perspectives each student needs to improve as an individual, a worker, a consumer, and a citizen of the community and the world. General education encourages creative and critical thinking by helping students recognize the connections among bodies of knowledge through courses and special programs, such as honors seminars and across-the-curriculum programs.

• Developmental Education Courses help prepare individuals for admission to an occupational technical or college transfer curriculum by developing basic skills necessary for personal or academic endeavors.

• Continuing Education enables students to pursue learning experiences for work and personal enrichment which include degree and non-degree programs and courses at flexible times and locations. Work-force training responds to the changing needs of local industries.

• Specialized Regional and Community Services help meet the cultural and educational needs of the region by offering non-classroom and non-credit programs, cultural and arts events, workshops, meetings, lectures, exhibits, conferences, teleconferences, seminars, sports and recreation, and special community projects.