Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Established in 1972, Piedmont Virginia Community College is situated on a beautiful 114-acre campus in the rolling hills of Albemarle County, Virginia. The college is a two-year community college and as such strives to meet the educational needs of a diverse population. Students attending PVCC have several different educational opportunities including programs that offer transfer degrees to 4-year colleges, associate’s degrees, para-professional certificates and diplomas. Students wishing to simply take a class in order to improve professional skills or meet personal enrichment goals may do so as well.

Though Piedmont Virginia Community College doesn’t offer an organized athletics program, there are several intramural and club sports that students seeking competitive play may participate in. There are also numerous student clubs and organizations available to students in addition to honor societies. There is no on-campus housing but the college does dedicate a portion of their site to helping students find off-campus housing based on several different factors.

The V. Earl Dickenson Building is home to PVCC’s Fine Arts and Performance Hall where students interested in art, dance, music and theater may showcase their talents. The performances and exhibitions are open to students, faculty and the public and provide a wonderful cultural venue for performers and observers alike.

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Information Summary

Ranks 56th in Virginia and 2295th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	59.4
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$6,590
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	14 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	66% / 48%
Enrollment Total (all students)	5,445

Academics

PVCC seeks to meet the needs of a diverse community. Because they understand that there are many different levels of educational needs, students may choose from seven different degree and certificate programs. In addition to entire programs, the school also offers courses intended for personal enrichment and skill enhancement.

Students earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.) graduate from PVCC with the skills necessary to work in a technical field. This degree typically takes two years to complete and most require between 65-72 credit hours.

Both Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degrees are designed for students who wish to complete the first two years of a four-year degree at PVCC. The reasons for doing this include a huge tuition and housing savings over higher-cost universities and the desire to stay closer to home. These degrees require two years or 60-63 credit hours to complete.

The Career Pathways Program is designed to assist high school students and adults to take classes in order to meet the requirements of entry into a degree or certificate program at PVCC.

The Career Studies Certificate programs are designed to either enhance current job skills or provide enough condensed knowledge for students to begin a new career. These programs are typically short, requiring only one or two semesters or 9-12 credit hours.

Certificates usually take two to three semesters to complete and prepare students for employment in a certain job area or provides specialization within a field. A certificate requires 30-46 credit hours.

Finally, PVCC offers a variety of workforce certificates and courses that are both credit and non-credit. These take anywhere from a half-day to several months to complete and meet a variety of needs. Some applications for this program include meeting CEU requirements for professional licensure programs, beginning new careers, enhancing job skills, specializing in particular fields or simple personal gratification.

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Admissions

Application to Piedmont Virginia Community College is an 11-step process. There are SAT/ACT requirements but students who have taken them may submit the scores in order to receive an exemption from the mandatory placement tests. There are also some programs that do not require a high school diploma though students wishing to transfer to a four-year school in order to complete a baccalaureate should be aware that the transfer university will most likely require proof of high school graduation.

Students wishing to pursue a certificate or diploma from PVCC should complete the online Virginia Community College System application. Once the application is complete, students will receive a username and ID number. In addition to the application, students should apply for financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The college recommends that students complete the form prior to March 31.

After completing the applications, students need to make an appointment to meet with an admissions advisor in order to review the admissions process and determine educational and professional goals. Students applying for entrance into any of the allied health programs will need to submit high school transcripts. Students who wish to transfer credits from another college will need to submit official transcripts as well.

The next step in the Piedmont Virginia Community College admissions process is to take placement tests. These are required of any student applying for financial aid or whose program requires math or English courses. There is no fee to take the test. There are also exemption situations such as high SAT/ACT scores, completion of college-level math or English, and high AP test scores in English or math. After this step is complete students meet with an academic advisor to review test scores and/or finalize an academic plan. Students may then register and pay for classes.

As all information from the school including financial aid and class information is disseminated via email, students will need to activate an account with MyPVCC. Finally, there are parking stickers required for students that wish to park on-campus.

Athletics

Though PVCC doesn’t offer an intercollegiate athletics organization, there are several club sports that students may participate in including tennis, golf, basketball, soccer and volleyball. These sports are organized through the Recreational Sports Director. The school has four different tennis courts, a basketball court, and a multi-purpose athletic field. There is also a cross-country trail so that students may enjoy the scenic campus while walking, hiking and jogging.

In addition, the school offers a fitness center that has all the bells and whistle necessary for a good workout including treadmills, ellipticals, spin bikes, free weights and selectorized machines.

Bibliography

“Piedmont Virginia Community College Galleries.” The Hook. Better Publications, LLC – The Hook. 2011. Web 30 July 2011.

PVCC Piedmont Virginia Community College. Opportunity. Access. Excellence. Piedmont Virginia Community College. 2011. Web. 30 July 2011.

Piedmont Virginia Community College