General Information

The College

New River Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning operating under a state-wide system of community colleges. The college serves those who live in the counties of Floyd, Giles, Pulaski, Montgomery, and the city of Radford.

The college acts under policies set up by the State Board of Community Colleges and the local Community College Board. The school is funded mainly with state funds, but the participating localities also add to the support of the college.

The college is open on a year-round basis under the semester system. Classes are held from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Since college credit courses are offered in the evening and on weekends, students who work may also attend college.

History

In 1959 New River Community College began offering vocational/technical courses as a vocational/technical school to residents in the New River Valley. It is one of five colleges which developed from existing vocational/ technical schools into community colleges under 1966 General Assembly legislation which formed the Virginia Community College System.

The Local Board was set up in August 1969, and the college was named New River Community College in October 1969. The college continued the career/ technical education degrees in Machine Shop, Drafting and Design, Auto Mechanics, Practical Nursing, Industrial Electricity, Electronics, Instrumentation, Clerk Typing, and Stenography.

Programs leading to the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Accounting, Business Management and Secretarial Science were added in the fall term of 1970. Degree programs designed for transfer to four-year colleges were also offered at that time. These included the Associate of Arts Degree program in Liberal Arts and the Associate in Science Degree programs in Science, Education, Business Administration, and General Studies.

Localities & Facilities

The college is located on a one-hundred acre site at the intersection of U.S. Routes 11 and 100 in Dublin, Virginia. The campus provides modern, well-equipped facilities for the vocational/technical programs as well as for university-parallel programs.

The facilities contain labs for Administrative Support Technology, Accounting, Automotive, Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Electronics, Electricity, Forensic Science, Information Technology, Instrumentation, Machine Shop, Natural Science classes, Nursing, Programmable Logic Controllers, and Welding.

Besides the special labs, there are general classrooms, a large lecture room, a modern library, a learning lab, a spacious industrial training room, a student center, an auditorium, and faculty and administrative offices.

The college’s Christiansburg site, located in the New River Valley Mall, offers increased educational opportunities to residents of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski counties and the city of Radford. Faculty from the college’s teaching divisions provide high quality instruction equivalent to on-campus instruction.

In addition to the Dublin and Christiansburg locations, the college makes use of public schools, industrial plants, and other facilities off campus to provide instruction that is closer to the people served by the college.

Programs

New River Community College offers programs two years beyond the high school level.

Career/Technical Education The career and technical education degrees are designed to meet the demand for technicians, semi-professional workers, and skilled craftsmen in the New River Valley who will be employed in industry, business, the professions, and government.

University Parallel/College Transfer Education The university parallel/college transfer degrees include college freshman and sophomore courses in arts and sciences and pre-professional education. These courses meet the standards for transfer to baccalaureate degree programs in four-year colleges and universities.

General Education The courses in general education include common knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed by an individual to be effective as a person, a worker, a consumer, and a citizen.

Continuing Education Degree credit and non-degree credit courses are offered during the day and evening hours for adults in the region wishing to continue learning.

Customized Training Programs Customized training is offered where specific employment chances are open for new or expanding industry. Customized training programs are coordinated with Virginia’s economic growth efforts and with the needs of employers.

Developmental Courses Basic or developmental courses are designed to prepare people for admission to college transfer and career/technical education courses of study in the community college. These courses are designed to assist the person with basic skills and knowledge needed to succeed in other community college programs.

Recognition

The college, part of the Virginia Community College System, is governed by the State Board for Community Colleges in Virginia. The college’s associate degree courses are approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

The college has been fully approved by the State Department of Education for payment of veterans’ benefits as well as by other state and federal agencies for funding. Also, this school is authorized under Federal Law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

The college is an institutional member of the American Association of Community Colleges and a number of other state and national organizations.

Accreditation

NRCC is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of New River Community College.

International & Intercultural Education

New River Community College affirms the importance of multiculturalism and international awareness. The college is committed to addressing international/intercultural education issues as an integral part of the student’s academic and social development. Through the institution’s curricula as well as through extra-curricular activities, New River Community College supports efforts to foster understanding of international concepts and issues so that students can be well prepared for employment, life and citizenship in the New River Valley, the state of Virginia, the United States and the world. To this end, the college encourages and supports the development of the many aspects of international/intercultural education and pledges to promote knowledge, understanding and appreciation of other peoples and cultures.

Library

The New River Community College Library serves the educational and informational needs of the students, faculty, and staff of the college, as well as the citizens, businesses and industries of the New River Valley. It provides the basic tools necessary for education and research, including the latest in information and educational technology.

Students and researchers have access to a library collection of 35,000 books and periodicals, over 48,000 e-books, and 15,000 media and streaming video titles. The library’s membership in the VIVA (Virtual Library of Virginia) consortium provides an extensive collection of research databases consisting of the latest journal, magazine and newspaper articles; research reports; dissertations; specialized resources and more. Faculty, staff and students may access these resources 24/7 from off-campus via the college’s proxy server.

Students may utilize a variety of course-related software and wireless Internet service through the vast array of computers housed in the library. Equipment necessary for viewing media as well as laptops, scanners and a photocopier can also be found. Additional library services include: reference assistance, class and individualized instruction, embedded librarians, 24/7 online chat assistance, textbook reserves, group study rooms and Interlibrary Loan.

Distance Education & Off-Campus Services

New River’s commitment to increasing educational access is realized through the college’s distance education efforts. The distance education program is part of the college’s determination to increase educational access and student success. This program is for students who need to pursue academic goals outside the traditional classroom setting. Currently, the program offers over 270 online courses, which are available in most degrees and certificates. The degrees listed below can be fulfilled entirely by completing distance education courses:

• Associate of Arts and Sciences in Business Administration
• Associate of Arts and Sciences in General Studies
• Associate of Arts and Sciences in Liberal Arts
• Associate of Arts and Sciences in Science
• Associate of Applied Science in Accounting
• Associate of Applied Science in Administrative Support Technology
• Associate of Applied Sciences
• Associate of Applied Science in Business Management
• Associate of Applied Science in Business Management with a Specialization in Marketing Management
• Associate of Applied Science in Administrative Support Technology with a Specialization in Medical Administrative Support
• Associate of Applied Science in Administrative Support Technology with a Specialization in Paralegal Administrative Support
• Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies

The Distance Education department, in conjunction with the Information Technology department, coordinates the college’s instructional technology efforts. Through the effective use of various mobile technologies, instructional programs are developed and distributed throughout the region, state, and nation. Downlink and distribution capabilities for teleconferencing are available. To assist in the development and delivery of instruction in the region, the college possesses dedicated distance learning classrooms, electronic lecture halls, and production facilities.

Christiansburg Location New River Community College’s Christiansburg site, located inside New River Valley Mall, offers increased educational opportunities to residents of the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and the city of Radford. An extensive range of programs are offered at this site which include courses in:

• college transfer
• game technology
• computer aided drafting
• engineering
• IT networking
• physics
• career development
• career/technical education areas

Services offered at this site include:

• a distance learning classroom
• distance learning courses/course support
• registration and payment for all NRCC courses
• placement testing
• computer labs
• science labs
• learning resource support
• workforce development classes
• NRCC Middle College classes

Off-Campus Instruction New River Community College provides classroom-based educational opportunities throughout the service area to meet the needs of the region’s residents. Faculty from the college’s two teaching divisions (Arts & Sciences and Business & Technologies) provide high quality instruction equivalent to on-campus instruction.

Division of Arts and Sciences

The Arts and Sciences Division administers the transfer degrees and other programs and professional development training in the following areas:

Early Childhood Development
Human Services
Nursing
Nurse Aide
Practical Nursing

For more information, contact the Division Office at (540) 674-3611.

Cultural Enrichment The college offers a variety of courses for personal enrichment and enjoyment on the New River Community College campus and at sites located throughout the New River Valley.

The facilities and personnel of the college provide specialized services in response to identified needs. These services include cultural events, workshops, lectures, conferences, seminars and special community projects which are designed to provide cultural and educational opportunities for the citizens of the New River Valley.

Courses and workshops often result from requests by individuals or groups within the region. Non-credit offerings are supported entirely by fees paid by participants.

Facility Usage Community groups and organizations may also make special arrangements to use college facilities for their own programs or meetings by contacting the Division of Arts and Sciences at (540) 674-3611.

Early Learning Center The Early Learning Center is licensed by the State of Virginia and is accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs (NAECP) through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The center provides:

1. A practicum setting for student interns in the Early Childhood Development and Human Services programs.
2. Child care facilities for NRCC students, faculty, and staff who have children between the ages of 3 to 5.
3. Parent education and opportunities for parent involvement.
4. A learning and play environment for preschoolers.

Emphasis in the center is placed on creative learning experiences with music, stories, art materials, blocks, dramatic play, science, and language development. The program is structured toward problem solving abilities. Self-help and independence are encouraged in all possible ways.

Selection of children is based on age and availability of space. Fees are determined by the number of days and hours a child attends the program.

A professional staff is employed by the NRCC Early Learning Center, which is open Monday through Friday and is closed during NRCC’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring, and summer breaks.

Division of Business & Technologies

The Division of Business and Technologies administers programs and professional development training in the following areas:

• Accounting
• Administrative Support Technology
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
• Architecture
• Automotive
• Business Management
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronics Technology
• Engineering Design Technology
• Game Design Technology
• Instrumentation and Control Automation
• Information Technology
• Machining
• Marketing
• Medical Office Systems
• Mobile and Web Application Development
• Network and Technical Support
• Paralegal Studies
• Police Science
• Welding

For more information, contact the Division Office at (540) 674-3607.

Workforce Development and External Relations

New River Community College offers workforce development programs and activities through the Office of Workforce Development and External Relations. NRCC is a member of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers.

Credit and non-credit programs/activities are customized to meet the customers’ training, retraining and professional and personal development needs. Workforce Development includes the following functions:

• Apprenticeship training
• Community service
• Computer training
• Rapid Response
• Transitional Programs
• Workforce training (customized for employers)
• Open enrollment courses for the public
• WorkKeys®

Other departments in the Office of Workforce Development and External Relations include:

• Career Coaches
• Career Pathways
• Enrollment Management
• Public Information Office
• SkillsUSA

Workforce Development also offers online courses that are informative, convenient, and highly interactive. Likewise, the courses are project-oriented and include lessons, hands-on assignments, discussion areas, and more. To learn about online non-credit course offerings, visit www.nr.edu/workforce/online courses.html or call (540) 674-3613.

Apprenticeship Related Instruction (ARI)

Training highly skilled workers through apprenticeship is a solid investment for employers. Employers drive the on-the-job training and the curriculum for the related instruction provided to workers in the program.

The related instruction is designed to provide apprentices with the knowledge of the theoretical and technical subjects related to their trade.

Each registered apprentice completes a minimum of 2000 hours of supervised on-the job work experience in a specific trade, and a recommended minimum of 144 hours of related instruction for each year of apprenticeship. Depending on the occupation, the length of apprenticeship varies between one and six years, with four years of on-the-job training being the average.

Related instruction is based on the specific trade areas and the courses are developed in cooperation with industry leaders. Specialized curriculums are designed to meet specific needs within the trade as well as meet employer needs. Apprenticeship related instruction is planned by working directly with sponsoring employers to develop the appropriate academic, technical and core course work for the apprentices. For more information on apprenticeship related instruction call (540) 674-3600, ext. 4352 or email pryan@nr.edu.

Career Readiness Certificate

The Career Readiness Certificate is based on established WorkKeys® assessment tests. To earn the certificate, individuals undergo testing related to reading, applied math, and locating information through the WorkKeys® skills testing program.

Individuals can earn three levels of Career Readiness Certificates based on their test performance: Bronze, Silver or Gold. This multi-level approach enables individuals to advance through the Silver and Gold certifications as they refine their skills.

Career seekers can obtain Career Readiness Certificates by taking WorkKeys® assessment tests. For more information about the Career Readiness Certificate, call (540) 674-3600, ext. 4352 or email pryan@nr.edu.

Rapid Response

The western region Virginia Rapid Response unit is based at New River Community College. The purpose of Rapid Response is to work with companies to provide information and transition services to employees involved in layoffs and closures.

The western region encompasses 39 cities and counties from Alleghany and Bath counties to the north on the West Virginia border, Halifax County to the south on the North Carolina border, and Lee County to the west on the Kentucky and Tennessee borders.

Tailored, no-cost services include: job search assistance, financial management seminars, on-site employment transition resources, stress management seminars, assistance filing unemployment insurance claims, labor market information, and other information as needed. Details are available from Beckie Cox, NRCC Rapid Response coordinator at (540) 674-3600, ext. 4284, or email at bcox@nr.edu.

Transitional Programs www.nr.edu/transitional

Adult Education programs assist adults in raising their educational and skills levels in a variety of programming: Workforce Development, Secondary Credentialing (GED® and Adult High School), English as a Second Language, and PluggedInVA. Learners have the opportunity to develop personal career pathways, receiving the instruction they need to journey down those pathways. Workforce Development courses help adults raise their basic skills and employability in order to attain or retain employment or advance in their present job. Secondary Credentialing courses include GED® and High School Diploma. The High School Diploma program provides a computer assisted instructional method to allow students to gain credits toward a High School diploma. Learners must be at least 18 years old to enroll in Adult Education programs. If you desire to enroll in an Adult Education Workforce Development, GED Preparation, or high school diploma course, you are asked to call (540) 674-3682 or email AdultBasicEd@nr.edu. If you would like to register to take the GED® Examination, call (540) 674-3652 or email GED@nr.edu. NRCC is an Official Pearson Vue Testing Center for the 21st Century GED®. In addition to courses being offered in each locality, Distance Education is also offered. For questions or to enroll in an Adult Education program through Distance Education, call (540) 674-3682 or email ABEDE@nr.edu.

English as a Second Language courses include EL-Civics and ESL Bridge. EL Civics courses assist second language learners in developing their English skills in order to better understand and navigate governmental, educational, workplace systems, and key institutions. The ESL Bridge course is designed to support ESL learners as they bridge into college or employment. All people desiring to enroll in the ESL program are encouraged to call (540) 674-3682 or email ESL@nr.edu.

PluggedInVA programs offer adult learners a contextualized educational program as well as technical training in college courses in an effort to develop necessary skills for the workplace at entry level jobs in targeted industries. The PluggedInVA training model includes College & Career Readiness, College & Career Success, Occupational Training at the college level, a Capstone Project, Entrepreneurship Training, and Job Placement. All people desiring to enroll in a PluggedInVA Training program are encouraged to call (540) 674-3682 or email AdultBasicEd@nr.edu.

Great Expectations helps foster youth in the New River Valley complete high school, transition to the community college, and move from foster care independent living. Program participants receive support to help them live productive and fulfilling lives.

Program components include: mentoring and tutoring, help with applying for college admission and financial aid, career exploration and coaching, help with applying for and keeping a job, life skills training - including managing finances, and personalized counseling.

Contact the Great Expectations program at (540) 674-3645 or by emailing GE@nr.edu.

Middle College is a free college-entry program for young adults under the age of 24 who need to attain a GED® or high school diploma and want to transition to New River Community College. Middle College students receive academic assistance in preparing for the GED® or high school diploma as well as a career development course that assists them in making a career decision and successfully transitioning to NRCC. Additionally, Middle College students receive assistance with the college admission, financial aid and registration processes. Middle College students also have an opportunity to attain a Virginia’s Career Readiness Certificate, which verifies employable skills. For more information, call (540) 674-3645 or email middlecollege@nr.edu. Information can also be obtained on the program’s website: http://www.nr.edu/middlecollege.

On Ramp is a financial assistance program for dislocated workers to provide assistance with the college entrance process, career counseling/planning, and navigating the financial aid process. Participants can enroll in credit or noncredit courses or assessments that can lead to an industry certification, a state licensure, or other workforce credentials to help them become employed. Individuals must meet eligibility criteria in order to participate in the On Ramp program. For more information, call (540) 674-3645 or email onramp@nr.edu.

WorkKeys®

New River Community College uses the ACT WorkKeys System® as a tool that defines, measures and communicates workplace skills for employers, employees, students, and educators. This information provides the basis for systematic training programs to close skill gaps, ensuring a qualified productive workforce in Virginia.

WorkKeys® has become a widely accepted common language for skills definition among employers, educators/trainers, and potential/incumbent employees. The power of the WorkKeys® system lies in its: objectivity, simplicity, compliance with federal law (ADA, EEOC) and legal defensibility.

There are three components to the WorkKeys® system:

• Job profiling which identifies the basic employability skills required on the job,
• Assessment of skill levels of potential or incumbent workers, and
• Training to close any skills gap that exists between the skills required and those demonstrated.

For more information about WorkKeys®, call (540) 674-3600, ext. 4352 or email pryan@nr.edu.

Career Coaches

Virginia Community Colleges Career Coaches are community college employees who are based in local high schools to help high school students define their career aspirations and to recognize community college and other postsecondary programs, including apprenticeships and workforce training, that can help students achieve their educational and financial goals.

The purpose of the VCCS Career Coaches Program is to empower students to make informed decisions about their career and educational plans and to prepare students for success in postsecondary education and training.

NRCC’s Career Coaches are located in:

Auburn High School,
Blacksburg High School,
Christiansburg High School,
Eastern Montgomery High School,
Floyd County High School,
Pulaski County High School and
Radford High School.

Career Pathways

Career Pathways allows students to earn college credit in high school. Students have the experience, knowledge, and opportunity to make an informed choice about their future career. The college credit earned through dual enrollment will count toward a degree in the same field at New River Community College. For more information regarding Career Pathways, visit the website at www.nr.edu/cpathways/.

The Virginia Community College System (VCCS) is a leader in the development of career pathways in the commonwealth. As defined in the state’s first strategic plan for a career pathways system, Bridging Business and Education for the 21st Century Workforce, career pathways are connected education and training programs and support services that enable individuals to secure employment with a specific occupational sector and to advance over time to successively higher levels of education or employment in that sector.

Virginia’s Community Colleges offer multiple career pathway programs and services including:

• Middle College
• Apprenticeship Related Instruction
• Postsecondary Perkins
• Career Coaches
• Career Readiness Certificate, and more.

Career Pathways are targeted to the emerging, unemployed and underemployed, and incumbent workforces. VCCS career pathway programs and services target populations ranging from public school students to incumbent or displaced workers.

Career Pathways programs deliver success by:

• Providing employers with a connection to a skilled workforce
• Providing Virginia residents with education and training to develop and adapt their skills to a changing economy

Career Pathways include the following elements:

• Connections to employers
• Articulation to higher levels of education and training
• Career planning services and educational advising
• Credentials that count in the workplace such as certifications, licensures, degrees, and certificates
• Experience-based learning including cooperative education, internships, service learning, and business-based projects.

Enrollment Management

NRCC works with prospective students by providing assistance with admissions applications, the registration process and general acclimation into the collegiate experience. Other goals of the office include keeping area high school guidance counselors apprised of NRCC programs and services; routine visits to high schools to administer placement tests and provide assistance to prospective students; organizing new student information sessions during the summer; and providing tours of campus and the NRV Mall site in Christiansburg. Deborah Kennedy is the director of enrollment management and can be reached by telephone at (540) 674-3690 or email at dkennedy@nr.edu.

Public Information Office

The Public Information Office promotes the college, its programs and its benefit to the surrounding area by planning and implementing college-wide publications, promoting internal relations, and coordinating media coverage of college events and programs. The office garners external support for the college in the form of marketing, public relations, public information and related activities.

SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel.

SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including health occupations. It was formerly known as VICA (Vocational Industrial Clubs of America). For more information contact Deborah Tripp, SkillsUSA Virginia Students Specialist, at dtripp@nr.edu or visit the website www.vaskillsusa.org.

World Languages Institute (WLI)

World Languages Institute offers online college credit language classes such as Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Russian supported by a special arrangement with Northern Virginia Community College. More information about WLI college credit courses is available by contacting Linda Claussen at 540-674-3600, ext. 4364.

In addition to these ongoing college credit offerings, the WLI also offers non-credit options in conjunction with online learning providers. These online courses run for six weeks and include subjects such as Beginning Conversational French, Conversational Japanese, Instant Italian and Spanish for Law Enforcement. More details about ed2go courses at NRCC may be found by visiting www.ed2go.com/nrcc .

WLI also offers flexible, non-credit options for business, industry and non-profit organizations. For further information about customized language training for business, industry and non-profit organizations, contact Rowh at 540-674-3600, ext. 4241.

Grading for Workforce Development CE Classes

The following grading system is used for non-credit classes:

NRCC Educational Foundation, Inc.

Established in 1980, the NRCC Educational Foundation, Inc., is a nonprofit corporation which secures voluntary support and manages, invests, and expends such funds solely for the benefit of New River Community College.

The Foundation Board of Directors, representing the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, and Pulaski, and the city of Radford, volunteer their expertise and service on behalf of the college and community.

The Foundation assists New River Community College in a variety of ways: through the endowment and distribution of scholarship funds, the purchase of equipment and furnishings, and the financial support of academic and community enrichment programs.

For more information, call (540) 674-3618.