Wytheville Community College is pleased to announce an increase in student enrollment for the Fall 2023 semester. Since Fall 2022, WCC’s Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) enrollment has increased by 10 plus percent, indicating significant growth. WCC President Dean Sprinkle attributes the increase to a variety of reasons. “Faculty and staff at WCC are committed to investing in our students and are continually striving to meet their needs. For example, we have implemented an innovative plan to ease our students’ transition into college,” Sprinkle stated.
While FTE is up across the Virginia Community College System, WCC is one of three community colleges that are up by double digits.
WCC Biology students
WCC Biology students
By providing small group advising sessions, for instance, WCC’s newest students are able to get one-on-one attention and time from WCC staff. Students become acquainted with the campus, courses, and programs. Academic advisors, financial aid advisors, scholarship managers, and program deans are on hand to assist with registration and with plans to make each student’s education affordable. Students in these small group sessions are provided lunch and are able to talk with their new classmates, meet several of their teachers, and participate in a campus tour.
Other contributing factors to enrollment increase include:
WCC Criminal Justice students
New and Revitalized Programs: WCC continually invests in program expansions for academic and workforce programs, ensuring that students can access a wide range of disciplines and courses that align with their interests and career goals. WCC recently hired a full-time education instructor to revitalize the education program with hopes of increasing interest in K-12 teaching careers.
Thanks to a grant and other funding, WCC is strategically implementing virtual reality and up-to-date equipment in our programs. With the growing need for healthcare workers, WCC has implemented advancements in all its healthcare programs that will assist in graduating highly trained healthcare providers. WCC is also in the process of building a new Pharmacy Technology lab that will provide students with the latest equipment that mimics a state-of-the-art working pharmacy.
WCC Workforce and Occupational Programs added a new facility in Marion, Virginia this year. WCC WEST (Workforce, Education, Skills, Training) houses new technical programs such as automotive technology and off-road diesel training.
WCC Sociology students
High School Programs: WCC’s Dual Enrollment Program has also seen significant increases this fall, with a 17 plus percent increase from 2020. Students can earn college credits or an associate degree while in high school through concurrent enrollment in high school and in college.
WCC also partners with the Wytheville Wythe-Bland Chamber of Commerce, Wythe and Bland County Public Schools, and area manufacturing and healthcare industries to provide a Manufacturing Excellence Program and a Healthcare Excellence Program. These programs are designed to introduce high school students to a variety of careers, either in manufacturing or in healthcare. As part of the two programs, high school students tour and interact with the college’s programs, as well as the region’s healthcare and manufacturing facilities. Students gain practical experience and interact with professionals in their fields before participating in a graduation ceremony on WCC’s campus.
Scholarships and Financial Aid: WCC is committed to making higher education accessible to students from all walks of life. Last year, WCC became one of the few community colleges in the state to offer promise scholarships to each high school, private school, or home school student in the region who qualifies. These “last dollar” scholarships contribute to WCC’s status as the US Department of Education’s “seventeenth most affordable college in the nation” (https://collegecost.ed.gov/affordability). “Last dollar” scholarships are applied after all other scholarships, financial aid, and grants are awarded.
WCC also offers over 200 privately funded scholarships for recent high school graduates as well as for returning adult students who qualify.
Community Involvement: WCC is engaged with our local communities. Students who receive the Wythe-Bland Foundation Scholarship, the Twin County Community Foundation Scholarship, or the Smyth Promise Program Scholarship give back to their communities who support them by volunteering at local nonprofit organizations.
WCC also supports a variety of community cultural events such as the WCC Concert Band, the WCC Community Choir, the WCC Theatre, and a monthly Old Time and Bluegrass Jamboree.
“As enrollment numbers increase at WCC and across the Virginia Community College System,” Sprinkle added, “WCC will continue to invest in our students and in the communities that we serve. We are committed to finding innovative ways to enhance the educational experience and prepare students for success in an ever-changing world. It is our hope that these students will return to our area and continue to contribute to the region’s economy.”
WCC’s spring semester begins on January 8, 2024, and registration is now underway. For more information about WCC’s programs or financial aid opportunities, please visit www.wcc.vccs.edu., or call (276) 223-4700.
