Southwest Virginia Community College (SVCC, SVCC, SWVCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Southwest Virginia Community College (SVCC) is a two-year college set up to provide higher education to the residents of Russell, Buchanan, Tazewell, and Dickenson counties. The history of the college dates back to 1966 when the establishment of a state-wide system of community colleges was authorized by the General Assembly of the state of Virginia and it was decided to set up a college to serve the adjoining counties. The local College Board recommended the establishment of the Southwest Virginia Community College in 1967 and the college started admitting students in 1968. The Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) is located outside of Richlands, Virginia on the border of the counties of Tazewell and Russell. The 2010 total enrollment at Southwest Virginia Community College was 3,758 students.

Southwest Virginia Community College offers educational programs such as associate degrees, diplomas, and certificate programs, as well as continuing education programs for adults and youths. The Southwest Virginia Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for awarding associate degrees.

Information Summary

Ranks 85th in Virginia and 3295th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	46.4
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$6,003
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	28 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	58% / 46%
Enrollment Total (all students)	2,373

Academics

The academic programs offered by Southwest Virginia Community College include Occupational Technical Education, College Transfer Education, General Education, Developmental Education Courses, Continuing Education, and Specialized Regional and Community Services programs.

Southwest Virginia Community College offers Associate of Arts and Sciences degrees in Business Administration, Education, Engineering, General Studies, and Liberal Arts. The college also offers Associate of Applied Science degree in areas such as Business Technology, Health Technology, Engineering Technology, Human Service Technology, Public Services Technology, and Technical Studies.

Southwest Virginia Community College offers various diploma and certificate programs in areas like Welding, Banking, Photography, Practical Nursing, Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning, and Financial Services/Bookkeeping.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

Southwest Virginia Community College has an open-door admissions policy and accepts any candidate who is competent to benefit from the college education. Candidates who have a high school diploma or equivalent or who are 18 years or older can seek admission in the college. Students are required to submit the admission application form and official transcripts from all high schools, colleges, or universities previously attended. Students are usually required to meet with the college counselor for finalizing their courses. First-time college students or those who plan to take English and Math courses are required to take the ASSET or COMPASS placement test for initial placement in reading, writing, and math classes. Students can seek exemption from the placement test based on their SAT/ACT scores. While evaluating admission applications, the first priority is given to qualified students who are domiciliary residents of the political subdivisions supporting the college.

International students need to submit the application for admission and a certificate of finances to demonstrate availability of funds to finance the education expenses for a year. They are required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English by submitting their TOEFL scores.

Financial Aid

Southwest Virginia Community College participates in a variety of financial aid programs to help students meet their educational expenses. The different forms of financial aid available to students include: federal and state grants, work-study opportunities, and scholarships.

To apply for financial aid from the Southwest Virginia Community College, students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education. They are also recommended to submit the SWCC Financial Aid application.

Different types of federal and state aid programs that provide financial assistance to the students of Southwest Virginia Community College include the Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, College Scholarship Assistance Program (CSAP), Commonwealth Grants (COMMA), and Part-Time Tuition Assistance Program (PTAP).

Different student employment options include on-campus part-time employment and off-campus part-time employment – community service, state work-study, and other regular part-time jobs. To be eligible to receive the work-study award, the students of the Southwest Virginia Community College must be full time students and the number of work hours cannot exceed more than 8 hours per week. Various scholarships available for the students of the Southwest Virginia Community College include the Ted W. Abolin Memorial Scholarship, Adair Scholarships, Joseph Allen Addison Memorial Scholarship, and Alpha Natural Resources Scholarship.

It must be noted that the Southwest Virginia Community College does not participate in Federal Family Student loan programs.

Student Financial Aid Details

Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Virginia.

Students

The students at Southwest Virginia Community College have a number of resources to make their educational experience worthwhile. Various Student Development Services are available to the students. Some of these include Academic Advisement, Virtual Advising, Assessment, and Career Planning and Employment. Academic advisors work closely with students to help them select the right courses, follow educational plans, and address academic concerns. The Career Resource Center provides assistance with career planning, job search strategies, and conducts counseling sessions and workshops. The college bookstore, located in Buchanan Hall, sells textbooks, supplies, and college clothing. Hot food is available for students in the Food Services section in Buchanan Hall. Many vending machines are also present throughout the campus.

There are more than 20 student organizations at Southwest Virginia Community College. These student organizations provide an excellent platform for students to get involved in planning activities and developing their leadership skills. These include the Art Club, Helping Minds Club, Phi Theta Kappa, and Multimedia Club. The Student Government Association (SGA) represents the interests of the students and serves as the student’s voice.

The library at the Earl E. & Dorothy J. Dellinger Learning Resources Center stocks reference text books, journals, periodicals, electronic books, databases, and audio books/CDs and videos/DVDs.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

Southwest Virginia Community College encourages students to participate in intramural programs and form sports clubs. There are baseball and basketball clubs on the campus and students also participate in the SWCC Flag Football Championship.

Bibliography

Southwest Virginia Community College. Admissions. Web. 8 August 2011.

Southwest Virginia Community College. Students. Web. 8 August 2011.

Southwest Virginia Community College. Southwest Virginia Community College Student Affairs Manual. 2010. Print.

Southwest Virginia Community College