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Blue Ridge Community College 2014-2015 Catalog and Student Handbook
Services for Students Advising The Advising Center offers educational support services to enrolled students. These services help students acquire skills and access resources and information that are necessary for academic success. Trained academic advisors are available to help students establish their occupational and educational goals, and to identify and address obstacles to academic achievement. In compliance with VCCS policy, BRCC does not provide counseling for mental health issues; therefore, academic advisors will provide appropriate referrals for students needing assistance related to mental health. A mental health resource page is available online at community.brcc.edu/ mental_health. Academic advisement services include, but are not limited to:
Services for Students
Academic Advising and Support Academic advisors work with degree and non-degree seeking students to help them select courses and programs that meet their occupational and educational goals. Academic advisors also provide information and resources on the transfer requirements of four-year colleges and universities. Students are strongly encouraged to schedule appointments when seeking assistance for academic advising, but walk-in services are available. Through course offerings, workshops, and advising sessions, students may learn how to manage time, study more effectively, and minimize test anxiety. Academic advisors will also refer students to appropriate professionals and community support services if personal problems are inhibiting the learning process.
Career Services The Office of Career Services provides resources and services to assist students and graduates in creating career plans that will allow students to obtain rewarding and stable careers, as well as preparing students and alumni for the job search process. Comprehensive career resources, advising sessions, and classroom presentations help students learn how to acquire self-knowledge, knowledge of careers and employers, and the lifelong ability to conduct an effective job search. Graduates and current students also are notified of job listings through the electronic job postings on the Career Services web page at http://community.brcc.edu/ communityjobpostings/. Students should contact Career Services at 540-453-2237 for additional information.
Placement Testing Students who wish to enroll in a curriculum or in English or mathematics classes are required to take an adaptive, computerized, untimed test, unless they are exempt. The testing helps to ensure that students either possess at the time of admission, or acquire through appropriate developmental studies, the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics. Students may be required to meet minimum levels of reading proficiency in order to enroll in most college-level courses. Students who have scores of 500/Reading, 500/Writing, and/ or 520/Math on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or ACT scores of 21 or higher English/Reading and 22 or higher in Math, or who have successfully completed developmental or college-level English and mathematics are exempt from taking the English and math Virginia Placement Tests (VPT), except for students interested in taking math courses at the MTH 173 level or above. Students with baccalaureate degrees may also be exempt from placement testing, although they are strongly encouraged to test in order to ensure success in collegelevel English and mathematics courses. The Virginia Placement Tests (VPT) are administered Monday - Saturday during the academic semesters in the Testing Center. For testing hours, please go to www.brcc.edu/services/ testingcenter/ (During breaks and holidays, hours may vary and are posted on the website.)
The Testing Center The Testing Center provides instructional resources in a variety of disciplines for students. Placement testing and make-up testing are also scheduled in the Testing Center. The Testing Center is equipped with calculators and microcomputers. The center located on the second floor of the Houff Student Center is open Monday through Saturday. For placement testing and proctored testing hours, please go to www.brcc.edu/services/ testingcenter/ (During breaks and holidays, hours may vary and are posted on the website.)
Disability Services The mission of Office of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities the support services needed to access the College and its programs. Any individual who has a documented physical or mental disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities is eligible for services. Relevant, qualifying documentation of the disability is required in order to obtain requested services. Students must contact the Disability Services Coordinator to be considered for any accommodation. For contact information, please visit the web at www.brcc.edu/services/disability/.