@ WDS E-Newsletter - September 2005

Message from the Vice Chancellor
System Office Updates
College Submissions
Calendar of Events
Important Reminders
Workforce Development Academy
General News/Highlights

System Office Updates:

• The 3-3 Rule for Getting your Mailings Noticed, by Trenton Hightower, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Workforce Development Services

• Don Landis (Career Coach, PVCC), Charlie Peterson (Director of Outreach and Recruitment, JSRCC), Terri Vaughn-Ransome, College Connection Counselor, JSRCC) and VCCS Workforce Directors Leonard Sledge and Elizabeth Creamer recently attended a coffee at the Governor’s Mansion to recognize high school and community college personnel who have made significant contributions to the VCCS/VDOE Path to Industry Certification program.  Thanks to these professionals for their dedicated work on behalf of our WDS career pathway initiatives.

• The VCCS has issued a press release on the first statewide articulation agreement between high schools and community colleges.  The agreement provides students pursuing a career pathway in Web Technologies with up to 12 college credits for successful completion of identified community college courses and industry certifications.  Read the full press release for comments on the new agreement by Governor Mark Warner, Chancellor Glenn DuBois and Superintendent of Instruction Jo Lynne DeMary.
  
  
• Have you seen the billboards this month advertising for the CRC?
  
  

• Career Pathways: Education with a Purpose, a recently published book written and compiled by Dan Hull and published by CORD Communications features a section on Career Coaches in its chapter “Helping Students Make Career Choices.”  Governor Mark Warner is one of many national figures who endorsed the book.  The book will be released at the National Tech Prep Network Conference in Orlando September 29-October 1.  Governor Warner is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the National Tech Prep Network Conference.

• Congratulations to Thomas Nelson Community College whose Tech Prep program graduate, Jason Hall, will be one of four Tech Prep graduates in the country to present during the opening session of the National Tech Prep Conference in Orlando, FL September 29-October 1.  Jason was a Tech Prep CADD student at Woodside High School who then went on to attend Thomas Nelson Community College where he participated in the Design Co-op Program.  Through the co-op program, Jason received full tuition assistance from Northrop Grumman Newport News and two months of paid on the job experience at Northrop Grumman.  Jason is now a Marine Designer with the company.

• Congratulations to Diann Holt and the Tidewater Community College National Science Foundation team.  Dr. Holt’s article “Tech Prep and NSF-ATE Program ‘Reel in the Resources’” appears in the most recent issue of NTPN Connections.  The article describes TCC’s NSF project that has led to the expansion and improvement of the college’s articulation and dual-enrollment program and business/industry partnerships.
  
  
• Career Coaching in the Field
  
  

  Don Landis, Career Coach, Piedmont Virginia Community College, recently organized a Ropes Challenge Course as an introductory team-building exercise for a group of young adults who are working with Landis through the Bridges and Career Coaches initiatives.  Consisting of a series of “barriers” including high wires that must be traversed and rock walls that must be scaled, the ropes challenge course provides a novel and experiential approach to teaching perseverance, team work, and leadership skills.  For high school students participating in PVCC’s Career Coaches initiative, the outdoor challenge is just the first step in a year long program that includes early college placement testing and academic services, career mentoring and exploration, and program planning.  Don is one of 38 career coaches who are either in the field or scheduled to be hired by Fall 2005.

   

• Angie McAdams of Danville Community College and Karen Campbell of Tidewater Community College will represent the VCCS Career Coaches at the National Tech Prep Network Conference in Orlando, FL September 29-October 1.  The VCCS Career Coaches continue to aggressively learn…and market the new program. 

• The VCCS National Science Foundation project “Creating Pathways for the New IT Professional” will be presented at the National Tech Prep Network Conference in Orlando, FL, at the National Science Foundation ATE Conference in Washington D.C., and at the SIGITE (ACM Special Interest Group for Information Technology Education

• Institutes of Excellence Project Awards for FY2006 – Congratulations to the project coordinators at each of the colleges who received widespread support for their project from local business and industry representatives, educators, and employer services representatives!

• Path to Industry Certification Grids

College Submissions:

• Blue Ridge Community College -
  
  ~ On August 30, Blue Ridge Community College’s division of Workforce Services and Continuing Education (WSCE) held a graduation ceremony and dinner for 35 students who recently completed the High Performance Manufacturing program.  This brings the total number of graduates from this program to 68 and representing 35 companies in our service area.  Selma Ferris, the graduate spokesperson for her class, said “The program teaches the students various aspects of the whole business of manufacturing—not just out on the factory floor, but also accounting, project teams, engineering, and a little bit of everything.  And, that level of knowledge makes them better employees.”
  
  WSCE decided to make these events not just graduations, but also class reunions, in an effort to keep the students connected to BRCC and to encourage them to continue their education in credit programs such as the Associate in Applied Science Technical Studies Degree program, with a concentration in Manufacturing Technology.  Students completing the 126 hour non-credit High Performance Manufacturing Technologist certificate program can articulate nine hours of credit into the AAS Technical Studies program. Excellent press coverage was received for the High Performance Manufacturing graduation, with the event featured on two area TV stations and in one local newspaper.
  
  ~ The response to the recently established Career Switcher program at BRCC   has exceeded expectations, reports Patty Lotts in the WSCE division where the program is housed.  More than 50 inquiries have been received with strong interest expressed in all three areas—English as a Second Language, Math, and Science.  The Career Switcher program also has received excellent press coverage having recently been featured on local TV news and in two different articles in one local newspaper.
  
  ~ Mike Eller, Coordinator and Instructor of the BRCC Commercial Driving School led a driver safety, pre-trip inspection and driver skills training program for the mobile testing lab drivers of ComSonics.  Based in Harrisonburg, VA, ComSonics is a manufacturing, services, and research and development firm specializing in communications technologies for the cable television and telecommunications industry and is the largest CATV repair services provider in the world.   The drivers are based throughout the United States, and once each year they are invited to the Harrisonburg facility for training, and this year ComSonics chose BRCC’s WSCE division to be the training provider during their “Safety Week.”
  
  
• Community College Workforce Alliance
  
  

  The Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA) is bringing the "Disney Experience" to the greater Richmond area following a five year sabbatical. The new program from the Disney Institute offers a one-day seminar entitled "Keys to Excellence" with four 90 minute Disney program specialties - Disney Leadership, Disney Management, Disney Service and Disney Loyalty.
  
  CCWA appreciates the support of their sponsors in bringing you this new and unique opportunity - HCA Richmond Hospitals (Gold) - Best Practices (Silver) - Owens & Minor (Bronze) and our host institutions, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and John Tyler Community College.
  
  The Disney Institute can help you and your managers determine the effectiveness of your organization's culture and provide a spark of energy, excitement and innovation you never thought possible. There are no prerequisites for the program - however, registrants will receive a pre-program assessment tool for use in action planning with their teams!
  
  The program will be presented on Tuesday, November 8th from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Nicholas Center, John Tyler Community College, Chester Campus. Programs are presented by experienced Disney trainers and the registration fee, $425, includes breakfast and lunch. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be awarded, CPEs for accountants, and Disney is also registered with the American College for Healthcare Executives.
  
  The Community College Workforce Alliance would appreciate your support in conveying this great opportunity to your college leadership and area businesses. Special credits CPEs for accountants and ACHE credits for health care executives are awarded.
  
  Click here for program information and registration procedures. For more information on this or for sponsorship opportunities, contact Dean Kristin Martin, CCWA, at (804) 706-5252

• Eastern Shore Community College
  

  Mr. Edgar L. Swain IV has accepted the position of Dean of Workforce Development and Continuing Education. Mr. Swain will begin his duties at ESCC in early October. Mr. Swain grew up in eastern North Carolina in the Ahoskie area. His Bachelors in Education and Masters in Education are both from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is ABD (all but dissertation) in a doctoral program at West Virginia University and expects to complete that degree in May 2007. Currently, he is Dean for Workforce Education at Eastern West Virginia Community/Technical College in Moorefield, West Virginia. His 18 year career includes five years of community college experience at the executive level in a rural district; 14 years experience in education/training program design primarily for adults in the workplace; 11 years experience in adult education program leadership and 15 years experience in non-traditional instruction design and delivery with significant use of technology. In addition to his current college, Mr. Swain has served at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, West Virginia, at West Virginia Northern Community College in Wheeling, West Virginia, at Georgia State University.

• Lord Fairfax Community College
  
  Summary of LFCC Regional “Staying A Step Ahead” Meetings –
  During June and July over 100 businesses, government and education professionals attended six breakfast/luncheon meetings in the LFCC service region . . .

• Tidewater Community College
  
  

  TCC OUPV Enrollees - Charles and Kathy Hall, who live aboard their cutter-rigged 33 foot sailboat First Light, are among the fall enrollees in the OUPV class at TCC’s downtown Norfolk campus. They have recently returned from 3 ½ years of cruising the North Atlantic – throughout the Caribbean to Venezuela, across the Atlantic to the Azores, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, England, Spain and France. They are excited about becoming more knowledgeable through this course, as their future plans include sailing to the South Pacific. They look forward to learning from the instructor and the other members of the class.

  
  
• Wytheville Community College
  

  The Crossroads Institute (CI) in Galax officially opened on June 27th

  • WCC instruction at 2 local high schools and The Galax Education Center was absorbed into the new facil
  • Fall 2005 enrollment at CI now exceeds the Fall 2004 enrollment at the other regional sites
  • Workforce Development and traditional education offerings are offered at CI
  • New and unique Cooperative Technical Trade programs are housed at CI
  • The CTT programs at CI are DPOR accepted and provide a direct path to Journeyman Licensure exams for Electricians and Plumbers

WDS Calendar of Events (July/August):

• September 19-20, 2005 – CRC Peer Conference, ( Charlottesville, VA)
• September 21, 2005 – State Tech Prep Directors Meeting, ( Richmond, VA)
• September 21 – 23, 2005 – VP/Provosts Meeting, ( Blacksburg, VA)
• September 27 - WDS Advisory Council Steering Committee Conference Call
• September 29-Oct. 1 – VCCA Annual Convention – (Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke, VA)
• October 4 – Technology Council Meeting (Sweet Briar)
• October 5 – Technology Council Meeting (Sweet Briar)
• October 13 – 14, Career Coaches Planning Meeting ( Richmond)
• October 18 – Advisory Council of Presidents, ( Richmond)
• October 19 – Advisory Council of Presidents, ( Richmond)
• October 27 – Chancellor’s Faculty Advisory Committee Meeting, Richmond

Reminders:

• A “Call for Presenters” has been issued by the WDS Advisory Council for their annual WDS Peer Group Conference – Deadline for submissions is October 1, 2005.

Workforce Development Academy:

• How to Write A Business Plan - UVA Roanoke Center, November 2, 2005, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  Instructor: Maureen Wellen, Fee: $75

  How many times do you hear “do you have a business plan?” Whether applying for a grant, starting a business, determining a budget, or setting organizational goals, this workshop will teach practical techniques to organize your thoughts, evaluate the feasibility of your idea, and detail the steps necessary to get started. The participant will get business plan writing tips on where to spend your time and how to stay focused on the activities that drive success.

• Marketing Plan 101 - UVA Roanoke Center, November 3 , 2005, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
  Instructor: Maureen Wellen, Fee: $75

  Are you responsible for achieving revenue or growth goals for your business? This workshop provides a roadmap to achieve your target. Learn how to develop a plan that will highlight your product or service’s unique value to customers, how to select tactics that are most effective and how to avoid common pitfalls. Participants will leave with a workbook that incorporates the principles learned in class and an outline for completing your own marketing plan.

• Workforce Development Professional Competencies - Part 1
  November 28, 29, 30, 2005 (Part 2 is February 27, 28 and March 1, 2006)
  UVA’s Zehmer Hall Conference Center in Charlottesville

  Course starts on Monday, November 28 th at 10:00 a.m. and adjourns on Wednesday, November 30 th at 1:00 p.m. This course is an intensive program to enhance your skills as a successful workforce development practitioner. Hear from private and public sector experts. Share best practices. Network with workforce development professionals. Join the eighty five workforce development practitioners from around the Commonwealth who have completed this program. Contact Barbara Kessler, Program Director, Workforce Development Academy at bkessler@virginia.edu or 434-243-5337 for more information on program fees, lodging and course information.

General News/Highlights:

• GLOBAL BIOTECH INFORMATION FIRM LAUNCHES TRAINING SATELLITE AT TCC - Unique partnership will bring scientists, engineers from around the world to Hampton Roads
  
  
• Family finds new place to call home - for the time being
  Southwest Virginia Enterprise – Wytheville - Sept. 13, 2005
  "I feel like I'm on a roller-coaster, and I'm waiting to get off the ride," she said. Kevin Francis had been attending community college in Louisiana, now is attending Wytheville Community College.
  
  
• Faculty Frets About Declining Student Quality
  Inside Higher Education – Sept. 13
  Community college professors cite most concern, but they like their jobs the most, too, UCLA survey finds.
  
  
• New Town Development Update
  The Dog Street Journal – Sept. 12
  ... Additionally, this building will house a workforce training facility run by ThomasNelsonCommunityCollege and the James City economic development office.
  
  
• Council Action Allows Some Handley Graduates to Get Tuition for LFCC
  Winchester Star, VA - Sep 6, 2005
  Council President Charles T. Gaynor told School Board members the city would pay for one year’s worth of tuition at Lord Fairfax Community College for John Handley High School graduates who qualify for the Free or Reduced School Lunch Program.
  
  
• Top State Schools Official Is Stepping Down
  Washington Post – Sept. 8
  
  
• The Senate’s Higher Ed Act
  Inside Higher Education – Sept. 8
  College groups generally prefer its bipartisan bill to the House’s version of the key legislation.
  
  
• Va. Governor Rivals Wrangle on Schools
  Washington Post – Sept. 7
  Democratic gubernatorial candidate Timothy M. Kaine accused his Republican opponent of wanting to roll back billions of dollars in spending on public schools that the Virginia General Assembly approved last year.
  

WDS System Office Staff

Front Row -L-R, Marilyn Jackson, Rose Johnson and Heather Felts Back Row -L-R, Gloria Westerman, Elizabeth Creamer, Liz Riley, Leonard Sledge, Wendy Kang, Nicki Coyle and MaChere Dickerson