R-CCC President’s Column Monthly in 2022

January 27, 2022

We are off to a great start in the new year at Roanoke-Chowan Community College!

Enrollment in curriculum programs at our college has increased 22% from last year.  This is the first time in 10 years, that the college has experienced as much growth in student enrollment.  We are pleased to have so many students on campus pursuing their college and career goals.

To start the new year, I am especially pleased to announce the addition of Dr. LaToya McNeill Wiley as our new vice president of administrative and fiscal services.  Dr. Wiley comes to us with much experience in financial management, operations, and business administration. She is an impressive addition to our leadership team and will play an important role as we continue to strive for excellence and achieve the mission of our college.

This is an important time of the year for our college as we continue to prepare for an upcoming review by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).  R-CCC faculty, staff, and students have been developing a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).  The QEP is a required component of the ten-year review, and it requires colleges to focus on an issue that could positively impact student learning outcomes and/or student success.  The college’s work on topic selection began in 2019 and after data review and surveys of numerous campus stakeholders, the college has chosen advising as its broad topic. 

Advising is one of the central goals of the student services division of the college, as well as our faculty advisors.  Not to be confused with registration, advising has taken on a more holistic approach.  Students are coming to us with greater and more varied needs.  Some students are struggling to find their career paths; some are in need of mentors to guide them; and some need to be connected to community resources beyond the scope of the college’s services.  Increasingly, advising has expanded to facilitate learning about oneself, self-advocacy, and to include other critical life skills. 

We know the value of good advising in supporting student success, progression, and retention.  With advising as the intensive focus of our QEP, we can evaluate the data, review best practices, and revise our model to address any gaps in our process.  This QEP will be impactful, which is what SACSCOC expects to see in their review of our college. 

There has never been a better time to enroll in community college full-time to pursue your career goals. Student services and faculty advisors are available to assist and advise you. Resources are available to all eligible students for tuition support, including grants and scholarships.

Let this year be the one to make your career dreams come true!  To apply to the college’s degree, diploma, or certificate programs, visit www.roanokechowan.edu and click on ‘Apply Now’.