The People of John Tyler Calendar and Annual Report 2009

Public-Spirited Programs
Faculty from the Division of Professional and
Technical Studies were also busy meeting with
community leaders to determine needs for new
programs in 2007. In the fall, the College began
offering a certificate program in homeland security.
The 30-credit-hour program is designed to provide
students with the knowledge and skills needed to
conduct a homeland security evaluation and to assess,
investigate and respond to terrorism incidents. For
local emergency management practitioners, the
program is an opportunity for academic growth and
specialized skill development.
The emergency medical services program also earned
full accreditation from the Commonwealth’s Office of
Emergency Medical Services to offer an intermediate
certificate program. The nursing program and funeral
services program were both reaccredited for the
next eight years. Graduates of the College’s nursing
programs continue to exceed the national average
for pass rates on the National Council Licensure
Examination (NCLEX). The second graduating class
from the Commonwealth Nursing Program’s John
Tyler cohort even had a 100 percent pass rate on the
NCLEX. A partnership between John Tyler and four
other Virginia Community College System (VCCS)
institutions, the Commonwealth Nursing Program
combines online education with clinicals taught in a
local hospital setting.
With the idea that community extends far beyond
our immediate surroundings, the College partnered
with Mountain Empire Community College (MECC)
to begin offering a funeral services program for
students in Southwestern Virginia. Students in the
program earn general studies credits at MECC, while
pursuing an associate in applied sciences degree in
funeral services through distance education courses
offered by John Tyler Community College. John
Tyler and Tidewater Community College are the
only two colleges in the Commonwealth that offer
academic programs in funeral services. MECC is the
first college to partner with John Tyler to bring this
much-needed program to campus through distance
education options. Representatives from MECC
and John Tyler, along with VCCS Chancellor Glenn
DuBois, met on June 13, 2007 to announce the
new program and sign an official
partnership agreement.
With the help of area employers
who make up the John Tyler
Community College Manufacturers’
Coalition, the College launched
a new program in the spring of 2007 designed to
prepare adults for entry-level jobs in manufacturing,
industry and the skilled trades. Quick Connect is
a free, seven-week evening program that is held
on the Chester Campus. Those who successfully
complete the program earn three
college credits, a Career Readiness
Certificate (silver level), an OSHA
certification and opportunities
for employment with companies
that are members of the John
Tyler Manufacturers’ Coalition.
Each class is limited to 25 people
selected through a rigorous
screening process. At the end of
the class, the College hosts a job
fair where program graduates can meet members of
the Manufacturers’ Coalition who have job openings.
Jobs available for Quick Connect graduates are
career-starters that generally pay $12/hour, plus
benefits. They include such positions as apprentice
machinists, brake operators, chemical technicians,
communications technicians, computer numerical
control (CNC) operators, gear cutters, machine
adjusters, machine operators, operations mechanics,
packaging production technicians and process
assistants.
Exciting Expansions and Additions
As bulldozers began clearing the ground for the addition of a second
academic building at the Midlothian Campus, growth was also taking
place at and around the Chester Campus.
The Chester Campus dates to 1967, and recent renovations there focus
on updating the space, as well as improving the buildings’ green qualities. Major renovations
in Godwin Hall will include the use of low-volatile-organic-compound (VOC) materials and
finishes. Improved roofing materials with additional insulation have been placed on the roofs of
Bird Hall, Goyne Hall and Godwin Hall, and a white coating will be applied to Moyar Hall and
the Nicholas Student Center. Building HVAC controls and light fixtures have also been swapped
out at Chester. All these updates are aimed at improving the buildings’ energy efficiency.
With rapid growth at nearby Fort Lee, the College also looked for ways to improve and
expand our services to military members and their families. Governor Timothy Kaine, Senior
Workforce Advisor to the Governor Daniel LeBlanc, and the Virginia Workforce Council
awarded a $200,000 grant to support military spouse training at Fort Lee. The resulting
program began in July 2007 and serves active-duty military spouses. It begins with orientation sessions at Army
Community Services (ACS) and various Family Readiness Groups and includes case management/registration
counseling by ACS and the Virginia Employment Commission. The ten-day training program is presented
at John Tyler Community College. Class size is limited to 20 military spouses, and topics include human
resources/job-finding skills and basic computer skills. Participants are bused from the post to the College, and
for those families who need it, child care is provided. The program’s schedule also permits military spouses to
place their children on school buses in the morning, attend training, and be there to meet the school buses in the
afternoon. In addition to the military spouse training program, the College’s Veterans Affairs Office assisted
more than 700 veterans and their family members with vocational rehabilitation services in 2007.
In October 2007, the Student Success Center rolled out AskOnline, a free online tutoring and academic advising
service for students. The program offers students help in three main ways – chat, an ask feature and discussion
boards. Topics covered include math, writing, accounting, grammar, statistics, Spanish, chemistry, history, biology,
psychology/sociology, anatomy/physiology, and computers/ITE.
Security improvements have also been a priority for the College. Security cameras were installed at the Chester
Campus, Midlothian Campus, and the nursing program facility. Emergency call boxes were installed in all buildings
on the Chester and Midlothian campuses.
Finally, the College looked to the future and began examining ways to reduce our environmental
impact. Revive: A Green Initiative of John Tyler aims to create ways for students, faculty,
staff and the entire community to reuse, reduce, restore and recycle for a greener planet. As an
initial step, the College’s Facilities Department began modifying its operating processes and
maintenance procedures to incorporate integrated pest management in grounds maintenance,
green housekeeping practices, and recycling when possible. In the fall of 2008, large singlestream
recycling containers were rolled out on campus. The College also often sponsors clothing,
shoe, and book drives to encourage community outreach and the reuse of materials.
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