THE BIG 3 AT CVCC

CVCC doesn’t exist without our students – in fact, students are our future. That’s why we are thrilled to be involved with 3 statewide initiatives which align with our own Mission, Vision, and One-College Model.

The One-College Model is comprised of our 4 Schools: the School of Health Education, the School of General Education, the School of Community Development & Public Services Education, and the School of Career & Technical Education. Enrollment Managers are assigned to each school, so that students can integrate advising, program sequences, and degree goals with one advisor throughout their entire college career. The intended result is to enhance equity, retention, and involvement for all students. It’s time to make our plans a reality, and through these special initiatives — The Rural College Leaders

Program, The NC Reconnect Program, and the NC Guided Pathways Program — CVCC will make strides in educational achievement.

We want our students to feel prepared and confident about their time at CVCC, and with our involvement in the NC Guided Pathways to Success Program, we can stay in touch with the routes that lead to high-impact jobs in the community.

According to the NC Student Success Center, the Four Pillars of Guided Pathways are: Clarify the paths; Help students get on a path; Help students stay on their path; and Ensure students are learning. This requires effort from day one, but it can be accomplished through a restructured College Preparation course. “I am very excited about all three of the new initiatives in which

CVCC is participating,” says Dr. Jonathan Loss, Dean of Enrollment Management at CVCC. “Each initiative is designed to help us, as a college, equitably meet the needs of our local community in providing workforce and educational credentials to all those who desire to earn them.”

Dr. Loss further explains that, after analysis of relevant data, CVCC designed 3 key strategies to increase equitable success for all students. These strategies include instituting a college-wide new student orientation, developing structured pathways with stackable credentials for all degree programs, and implementing timely transitional courses like ACA 122 - College Student Success or work-based learning opportunities. Currently, the CVCC College Preparation course (ACA-122) can be taken at any point in the program sequence, but in order to provide the holistic advising that keeps students on track for academic achievement, ACA122 will be required for each student’s first semester. Hopefully, with careful attention to NC Guided Pathways to Success research and continued communication with our students, ACA-122 will have a positive influence on the educational journey. participate in this three-year program, CVCC is already taking action to increase student success through events such as KEY Day student orientation.

“CVCC had the opportunity to apply for the Rural College Leaders program one year ago and was accepted into the program, along with nine additional rural community colleges,” says Dr. Felicia Simmons, VP for Diversity and Engagement at CVCC.

The Rural College Leaders Program equips North Carolina Community Colleges with the tools needed to improve student outcomes and advance equity at their institutions. As one of 10 community colleges selected to

“The initiative is centered around a Student Success Model for NC which includes Recruitment, Student Success: Equity in Access, Retention and Completion/Economic Mobility/Community Uplift. We have reviewed our data and identified key individuals and goals to assist with designing the student Success Vision for our institution.” Occurring

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every Fall semester, KEY Day will engage new or returning students with sessions about campus resources, student organizations, learning assistance programs, and other information about life at CVCC. Through personal discussion and a well-rounded orientation, KEY Day empowers students to lead to a successful college career. It will also help CVCC leaders identify specific motivators for current student success and continued progress.

Finally, CVCC is honored to be one of 5 North Carolina Community Colleges selected for the third cohort of the NC Reconnect Program. This initiative aims to engage adult learners and improve their retention rates until the degree is fully complete. Thanks to the assets and support of the NC Reconnect Program, CVCC hopes to identify, engage with, and assist adult learners who started their education at CVCC but stopped out for any number of reasons. Once reengaged with the college, we will continue to support their academic journey and keep them enrolled through the completion of their degree programs.

How will this be possible? Our One-College Model will provide structured program pathways that streamline all communication with Student Services. In addition, these program pathways will build on stackable credentials and continuing education opportunities to provide certificates and diplomas, so learners of all ages and goals can earn their college degree one step at a time.