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SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE<br />
LOOKING BACK<br />
MOVING FORWARD<br />
THE PRESIDENCY OF
Reflecting<br />
Reflecting on my five years at the helm of Southside Virginia<br />
Community College, I am proud that the college family, collectively,<br />
strived towards building magnificent opportunities for our constituents<br />
as opposed to just coming to work. It reminds me of the ancient story<br />
of the bricklayers who were asked what they were doing; one said, laying brick, one said doing my work so I can<br />
earn my pay and go home; and one said building a cathedral. One was doing his job, one was advancing himself<br />
and his family, and one was building a superior work to benefit others.<br />
By pulling our college together through the development of a Strategic Plan, “One College, One Mission”, I<br />
endeavored to engage our staff so that they were not just going through the motions but embracing the creation of<br />
something strong and solid and lasting.<br />
America’s community colleges, and especially Southside Virginia Community College, champion so many of<br />
the values that I treasure, both professionally and personally. Community colleges are guided by a commitment to<br />
opportunity, serving a diverse population through institutions that are inclusive, accessible, and affordable.<br />
Particularly, community colleges remain committed to bridging the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots.’<br />
And community colleges have become the primary pathway for minorities and other underrepresented<br />
populations to enter and succeed in the higher education arena.<br />
The college’s successful re-accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools<br />
Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is an accomplishment that carries such pride and significance. This<br />
accreditation affirms the institution’s continuing commitment to integrity and its capacity to provide effective<br />
programs and services based on specific standards. Accreditation is necessary for <strong>SVCC</strong> to participate in<br />
Federal Financial Aid programs and for transfer credit acceptance by other universities and colleges.<br />
Other “cathedrals” have been built to provide additional opportunities, such as creating the<br />
Center for Information Technology and Excellence (CITE) Lab at the Lake Country Advanced Knowledge<br />
Center in South Hill, and building a new, state-of-the-art welding lab at the Southside Virginia Education<br />
Center in Greensville County.<br />
One of the largest accomplishments during my tenure was when the college partnered with the state’s<br />
electric cooperatives and others to establish the Commonwealth’s first Power Line Worker Training Program<br />
to meet the growing demand for power line workers. Because of these efforts, <strong>SVCC</strong> now stands as a<br />
leader in Virginia’s Fast<strong>Forward</strong> program, an initiative through which students in short-term training<br />
courses earn industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields.<br />
Earning a GED, a degree, becoming a nurse, finding passion, making friends, belonging, playing<br />
a sport, attending a cultural event, traveling, learning, exploring, accomplishing a goal, finding oneself,<br />
becoming a teacher, transferring to a four-year school, driving a truck, all these are bricks in the<br />
successful <strong>SVCC</strong> cathedral; of which I am so proud.<br />
And speaking of cathedrals, as I ride off into the sunset of my retirement, I am extremely proud of the<br />
new construction being completed on the Christanna Campus. The $12 million dollar Learning Resources<br />
and Student Services Center is a progressive step towards the future of our beloved Southside Virginia and<br />
a very large ‘cathedral’ for the community and the people we so significantly serve.
• The fifth president of Southside Virginia<br />
Community College (<strong>SVCC</strong>) is Dr. Alfred Allison Roberts,<br />
of Emporia, Virginia. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s<br />
Community Colleges, said Roberts assumes his new post<br />
on August 1, 2014, replacing retiring president, Dr. John<br />
J. Cavan.<br />
• Grand opening event for the Learning Resources<br />
and Student Services Building recently completed<br />
on the John H. Daniel Campus is held at start of 2014<br />
fall semester.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> sponsors a meet and greet event with new<br />
<strong>SVCC</strong> president, Dr. Roberts on September 9, 2014 at the<br />
Estes Community Center in Chase City.<br />
• Health Career Fair for more than 200 high school<br />
students held at Estes Community Center features medivac<br />
helicopter, emergency medical techs, nursing programs<br />
and more.<br />
• Governor Terry McAuliffe announces more<br />
than 50,000 residents in southern Virginia will be<br />
positively impacted by a new workforce collaboration<br />
among three area community colleges. Called “Southern<br />
Virginia Works,” the colleges - Danville Community College<br />
(DCC), Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) and<br />
Southside Virginia Community College (<strong>SVCC</strong>) - plan to<br />
boost the number of workforce credentials earned by<br />
Southern Virginians through community college programs<br />
by 1,500 in the next year.<br />
• Dr. Tara Carter named vice president for Academic<br />
and Student Services and Keith Harkins named vice<br />
president for Workforce Development and Continuing<br />
Education as the college reorganizes.<br />
• An inspirational message of loyalty and values,<br />
tributes to inspirational leaders and inspirational acts of<br />
generosity were the order of the evening at Virginia State<br />
University’s 2015 Founder’s Day Convocation. Dr. Alfred A.<br />
Roberts keynoted the celebration of the 133rd anniversary<br />
of the institution’s founding in 1882.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> basketball team captures the 2015 USA National<br />
Prep Championship title led by coaches Dennis Smith and<br />
Vincent Brown.<br />
• Precision Machining classes, also known as Integrated<br />
Machining, available in Greensville County through <strong>SVCC</strong>.<br />
The program offers a two-year Career Studies Certificate at<br />
the Southside Virginia Education<br />
Center located at the Government<br />
Complex of Greensville County.<br />
• A total of 1,200 students<br />
graduate with degrees,<br />
diplomas and certificates in<br />
May 2015. The commencement<br />
speaker, Dr. Dietra Trent, in her<br />
role as Virginia Secretary of<br />
Education, works collaboratively<br />
with Virginia’s colleges and<br />
universities, libraries, museums and the State Council for<br />
Higher Education.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> awards the 20,000th Career Readiness<br />
Certificate becoming the first college in the VCCS to<br />
reach the benchmark.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> named to The Chronicle of Higher<br />
Education’s 2015 Great Colleges to Work For and<br />
receives this distinction for 2016 and 2017.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> Foundation holds a room-naming ceremony<br />
for multiple rooms in the New Learning Resources and<br />
Student Services Building at the John H. Daniel Campus.<br />
• Chancellor Glenn DuBois inaugurates the new<br />
president on October 30, 2015. “To our students, as I<br />
continue this journey of service and leadership, I pledge<br />
to you a commitment to the best education, training, and<br />
service we can provide to meet your needs,” Dr. Roberts said.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> begins offering free career training to<br />
qualified recipients through Virginia’s EleVAte SNAP<br />
Employment & Training Pilot project. The United States<br />
Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides funding for<br />
this project.<br />
• The Information Technology Department at <strong>SVCC</strong><br />
acknowledged as one of the “Top 10” of technology<br />
savvy community colleges in the nation by the Center for<br />
Digital Education (CDE). Now in its eleventh year, the<br />
survey analyzes how community colleges use a range of<br />
technologies to improve services to students, faculty, staff<br />
and community at large.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> students attend and participate in the<br />
Hampton University Minority Men’s Health Initiative,<br />
a program to promote and deliver the highest quality<br />
of research, education, training, and outreach to combat<br />
and eliminate health disparities affecting minority men.<br />
• The first and only Power Line Worker Training<br />
Program in Virginia starts classes at <strong>SVCC</strong>’s Occupational/<br />
Technical Center at Pickett Park on March 1, 2016.<br />
• The members of “Make It Happen” meet with<br />
Dr. Roberts discussing the importance of education. Dr.<br />
Roberts established the “Make It Happen” program in<br />
1997, to increase the enrollment of African American males<br />
in post-secondary education and enhance their academic<br />
success for <strong>SVCC</strong>. This program continues today under<br />
the leadership of Dr. John Hicks.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> celebrates its 46th commencement on May<br />
14, 2016 on the Christanna Campus in Alberta. The 1,268<br />
eligible candidates for graduation enjoy the commencement<br />
address by Martha Reed, assistant professor of Biology.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> hosts the Great Book Giveaway at the<br />
Southern Virginia Higher Education Center in South Boston.<br />
Thanks to a generous donation from Dollar General<br />
Distribution Center, 17,000 books are free to the public.
• <strong>SVCC</strong> recognizes the Virginia Tobacco Region<br />
Revitalization Commission in August 2016 as a partner that<br />
has been, and continues to be, instrumental in providing resources<br />
to students in the form of scholarships and in the development and<br />
expansion of programs.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> offers a diversion program, in collaboration with the<br />
Commonwealth Attorneys of Brunswick, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg<br />
and Greensville counties. The program is for offenders between<br />
the ages of 18 through 25 and is designed as an alternative<br />
sentencing option for approved criminal offenses.<br />
• Ribbon cut to officially open the Welding Lab located<br />
at Southside Virginia Education Center in Greensville on March<br />
14, 2017. Partners providing funding for this state-of-the-art<br />
facility include Fluor, Virginia Tobacco Commission, Dominion<br />
Virginia Power, Greensville County and American Equipment<br />
Company (Ameco).<br />
<strong>SVCC</strong>, delivers the commencement address at the <strong>SVCC</strong><br />
graduation ceremony on May 13, 2017, at the John H. Daniel Campus.<br />
• The new training laboratory enhancing workforce readiness in Information<br />
Technology officially opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 30, 2017.<br />
Located at the Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center in South Hill, the<br />
new Center for Information Technology Excellence (CITE) lab simulates the work<br />
environment of large data centers.<br />
• Through Dr. Roberts’ leadership, the college maintains financial<br />
stability during enrollment and budget declines.<br />
• Dr. Roberts distributes annual reports to the community<br />
during each full year of his tenure.<br />
• The college’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a part of the<br />
reaccreditation process, is unveiled in mid-summer 2018.<br />
The primary goal is to enhance student competencies in literacy<br />
through awareness and application of the reading process.<br />
• Under the guidance of Bernadette Battle, coordinator<br />
of counseling, WISE (Women In Search of Opportunities) begins<br />
at <strong>SVCC</strong> for professional and academic enhancement, engaging<br />
in the cultivation of self-esteem and self-advocacy, utilization of<br />
professional mentoring, guidance and role-modeling and<br />
access to networking opportunities for females.<br />
• Stephen E. Parker, Director, Education and Workforce,<br />
National Governor’s Association (NGA), a proud graduate of<br />
the Road to Now<br />
2014-2019
• The Go-TEC (Great Opportunities in Technology and<br />
Engineering Careers) collaborative was one of nine<br />
regional projects announced by Governor Ralph Northam<br />
to receive funding through GO Virginia (Growth and<br />
Opportunity for Virginia). It was the only project chosen for<br />
funding in Region 3, which includes the cities of Danville<br />
and Martinsville; and the counties of Pittsylvania, Halifax,<br />
Henry, Patrick, Amelia, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte,<br />
Cumberland, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, and<br />
Prince Edward.<br />
• “You made it. Give yourselves a round of<br />
applause,” said Virginia First Lady Pamela Northam<br />
as a greeting to the class of 2018 of Southside Virginia<br />
Community College at Commencement on May 12 at the<br />
John H. Daniel Campus in Keysville. Under blue skies and<br />
what Mrs. Northam called ‘Texas Heat’, <strong>SVCC</strong> celebrated<br />
946 credit graduates along with 238 students receiving<br />
workforce credentials.<br />
• College students benefit from Microsoft<br />
Scholarships as local company embraces colleges’ IT<br />
program training workers for data center employment.<br />
• Dr. Roberts recognized by Administration of<br />
Justice program for his support that allows <strong>SVCC</strong> to<br />
annually recognize area law enforcement professionals as<br />
well as corrections officers and employees for outstanding<br />
service to the community.<br />
• Governor Terry McAuliffe attends Power Line<br />
Worker graduation becoming the honorary 100th<br />
graduate of the program on November 21, 2017.<br />
• A partnership between the Virginia, Maryland<br />
& Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives<br />
(VMDAEC) and Southside Virginia Community College<br />
(<strong>SVCC</strong>) is making it possible for those training as<br />
apprentice linemen to climb to the top of their careers<br />
through advanced education. The VMDAEC represents<br />
15 co-ops in the Mid-Atlantic region and trains over 100<br />
apprentices per year.<br />
• Governor Ralph Northam tours the Power Line<br />
Worker Training Program at the Occupational/<br />
Technical Center at Pickett Park and meets with members<br />
of the Power Industry and <strong>SVCC</strong> president.<br />
SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA<br />
COMMUNITY COLLEGE<br />
• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools<br />
Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmed<br />
accreditation for Southside Virginia Community College<br />
on June 14, 2018. The SACSCOC is the regional body<br />
for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education<br />
institutions in the Southern states.<br />
• A Signing Ceremony of the Articulation<br />
Agreement between Averett University’s Department of<br />
Sociology and Criminal Justice and <strong>SVCC</strong> Administration<br />
of Justice Program held on November 30, 2018 in Alberta.<br />
• Ground Breaking Ceremony starts the process for<br />
construction of the $12 million Learning Resources and<br />
Student Center on Christanna Campus.<br />
• <strong>SVCC</strong> is one of 75 not-for-profit organizations<br />
receiving a grant to host an NEA Big Read project, featuring<br />
the book A Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines.<br />
• Construction of the new building on Christanna<br />
Campus continues with plans for a January 2020 opening.
Our students will be well-prepared for transfer to four-year colle<br />
directly to work, and to become better citizens. Additionally, we<br />
story through more effective messaging, branding, and market<br />
We will strive to assure that our students conclude their time w<br />
that is meaningful for their future. We will help our students vie<br />
credential as a stepping-stone to acquiring another one.<br />
While maintaining our focus on high quality standards, we will<br />
in which we help students achieve those high standards. We wi<br />
that create barriers to student success.<br />
We will continue to invest in our human resources by providing<br />
activities. We will practice inclusive and transparent communic<br />
and encourage innovation and risk-taking.<br />
We will make efficient and effective use of resources; expand de<br />
our donor base. We will provide the resources needed to deli<br />
assist each of our students in creating his or her life vision<br />
Southside Virginia Communit<br />
Meet and Greet the new <strong>SVCC</strong> President Al<br />
Roberts and his wife, Janet at Estes Community<br />
Center Event soon after taking office<br />
Farewell AL ROBERTS…<br />
1. Serve the Southside region as the leading provider<br />
of quality academic and workforce services.<br />
2. Assure regional economic vitality and individual pro<br />
by tripling the number of credentials awarded.<br />
3. Provide student-centered support services to promo<br />
4. Develop its status as a premier place to work in the S<br />
5. Provide resources to sustain and advance the Colleg<br />
Southside Virginia Community College will . . .<br />
One College, One<br />
strategic plan 201<br />
One College, One Mission<br />
strategic plan 2015–2021<br />
Southside Virginia Community College will . . .<br />
1. Serve the Southside region as the leading provider<br />
of quality academic and workforce services.<br />
Our students will be well-prepared for transfer to four-year colleges and universities, to go<br />
directly to work, and to become better citizens. Additionally, we will do a better job of telling our<br />
story through more effective messaging, branding, and marketing.<br />
2. Assure regional economic vitality and individual prosperity<br />
by tripling the number of credentials awarded.<br />
We will strive to assure that our students conclude their time with us having acquired a credential<br />
that is meaningful for their future. We will help our students view the attainment of each<br />
credential as a stepping-stone to acquiring another one.<br />
3. Provide student-centered support services to promote success.<br />
While maintaining our focus on high quality standards, we will examine and reinvent the ways<br />
in which we help students achieve those high standards. We will identify and eliminate practices<br />
that create barriers to student success.<br />
4. Develop its status as a premier place to work in the Southside region.<br />
We will continue to invest in our human resources by providing quality professional development<br />
activities. We will practice inclusive and transparent communication; promote and value diversity;<br />
and encourage innovation and risk-taking.<br />
5. Provide resources to sustain and advance the College mission.<br />
We will make efficient and effective use of resources; expand development activities; and grow<br />
our donor base. We will provide the resources needed to deliver learning experiences that<br />
assist each of our students in creating his or her life vision.<br />
Southside Virginia Community College<br />
"Al Roberts’ deep commitment to both education and<br />
his community set him apart. Through his leadership and<br />
service, he made the entire Southside region a better place<br />
to live and work."<br />
Peter Blake, Director<br />
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia<br />
“We salute Al's many years of dedication and<br />
commitment to providing southern Virginians with access<br />
to education and wish him all the best in his retirement.<br />
Without question, Al's openness, honesty and candor have<br />
helped establish a stronger <strong>SVCC</strong>/SVHEC partnership. For<br />
that we are most grateful.”<br />
Betty H. Adams, MBA, Ed.D.<br />
Executive Director, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center<br />
"Al has been a very good person to work with during<br />
his tenure. He understood the needs of the community and<br />
how best to achieve those needs. Al worked hard to put more<br />
focus on those programs that helped families thrive while staying<br />
part of the communities that Southside serves."<br />
Frank M Ruff Jr.<br />
15th Senate District<br />
“Throughout his career, Dr. Roberts has proven to be<br />
an outstanding advocate for Southside Virginia Community<br />
College as well as one for the entire geographical region.<br />
Robert F. Pecht, III<br />
<strong>SVCC</strong> Foundation President<br />
“For his entire career, Al’s leadership has inspired<br />
confidence. Just like the faculty, Al considered our students<br />
the College’s most important asset. He values his faculty both<br />
in word and deed which makes <strong>SVCC</strong> a great place to teach.<br />
We wish him the best but know he has ensured that the College<br />
is on the path for continued success for years to come.”<br />
Brent Richey<br />
Associate Professor of Math, President of Faculty Senate<br />
“Dr. Roberts leaves an indelible legacy at <strong>SVCC</strong>.<br />
We shall miss him, but his dedication and commitment to our<br />
mission and those we serve have been steadfast and their<br />
impact will continue for years to come.”<br />
Betsy B. Sharrett<br />
Board Chair<br />
Official photo of the outgoing President<br />
and his wife, Janet<br />
“Dr. Roberts’ ability to communicate, his sense of humor,<br />
and his commitment to <strong>SVCC</strong> inspires students, and this gives<br />
us a positive atmosphere to accomplish our goals.”<br />
Keonte’ T. Wilson<br />
<strong>SVCC</strong> Student
LOCAL<br />
BOARD<br />
FOR SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA<br />
COMMUNITY COLLEGE<br />
FOUNDATION<br />
BOARD<br />
OF DIRECTORS<br />
<strong>SVCC</strong><br />
SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA<br />
COMMUNITY COLLEGE<br />
Betsy B. Sharrett, Chairperson, City of Emporia<br />
J. Wesley Shepherd, Vice-Chair, Nottoway County<br />
Al Roberts, President and Secretary<br />
Marc L. Finney, Brunswick County<br />
Raymond A. Thomas, Brunswick County<br />
Ronald Thornhill, Brunswick County<br />
Donna Matthews, Buckingham County<br />
Thomas E. Locke, Charlotte County<br />
Gerald W. Watts, Charlotte County<br />
Brenda N. Parson, Greensville County<br />
Brenda Tune-Fuller, Halifax County<br />
Lawrence T. Wilkerson, Sr., Halifax County<br />
Sid M. Smyth, Lunenburg County<br />
Amanda L. Bowen, Mecklenburg County<br />
La-Freda F. Ogburn, Mecklenburg County<br />
Jeffrey C. Scales, Cumberland County<br />
Lisa Frazier-Tharpe, Prince Edward County<br />
Chris Bailey, Buffalo Junction<br />
Hazel B. Baker, Powhatan<br />
C. Butler Barrett, Emporia<br />
R.B. Clark, Keysville<br />
Carthan F. Currin, Ill, Richmond<br />
Shannon Feinman, Charlotte Court House<br />
Peter G. Hunt, South Hill<br />
Robert I. Ledbetter, Kenbridge<br />
Joseph F. Morrissette, Burkeville<br />
Stephen E. Parker, Washington, D.C.<br />
Robert F. Pecht, Ill, Lawrenceville<br />
Mary G. Reed, Rice<br />
Jerry D. Reynolds, South Hill<br />
Alfred A. Roberts, Emporia<br />
Jeremy Satterfield, Halifax<br />
Sid Smyth, Victoria<br />
J. Robert Snoddy, Dillwyn<br />
Sheryl D. Swinson, Farmville<br />
Robert C. Wrenn, Emporia<br />
Florence D. Kalbacker, Director Emeritus<br />
Russell 0. Slayton, Director Emeritus