2020: What a year!
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, WCC faculty, staff and students quickly had to transition to an all-online learning environment in the spring semester. WCC is fortunate to have many faculty with expertise in teaching in an online environment. These faculty were able to support others during the transition.
Even with the transition to online, some programs with face-to-face requirements, e.g., health, occupational, and workforce programs, had to delay completion until summer.
Once safe to do so, and permissible, WCC renewed face-to-face offerings, adhering to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), including social distancing, wearing of facemasks, and heightened emphasis on sanitizing regimes. Those programs with required face-to-face learning components continued into fall with adherence to CDC guidelines.
Necessity has indeed been the mother of invention this year. While the pandemic precluded the college from having an in-person graduation ceremony, WCC held a virtual recognition event with hopes of having a subsequent in-person event. The WCC Library, renamed the Learning Resource Center, has been reconfigured to accommodate social distancing for students who need a place to access their online courses. In addition to the online tutoring that was already available for many subjects, Zoom technology provided a means for students to meet “face-to-face” with faculty, staff, and tutors. EDUPrep, WCC’s collaborative professional development offered for, and with, our k12 partners, was also offered through a virtual environment. And the WCC Choir, while unable to perform in-person, amazingly provided online performances celebrating the Fourth of July and the holidays.
Looking forward to 2021, the college is hopeful that the Governor’s proposed reinstatement of funding for G3 – Get Skilled, Get a Job, and Give Back, will be approved in the Legislature. With the loss of jobs due to the pandemic, and with talent development being the #1 concern of Virginia Businesses (Virginia of Commerce Blueprint Virginia 2025 Plan), G3 funding will make training for high-demand careers more accessible for Virginians. Recent data from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Re-Employing Virginians (REV) initiative show a high level of interest in education and training through Virginia’s Community Colleges.
Over 40,000 inquiries regarding REV funds were received system-wide in just the last few weeks of 2020, with over 400 inquiries specific to WCC. While REV funds are tied to narrowly defined criteria, access to the funds for those who qualify has been extended into 2021. Both REV and possible G3 funds will expand access to high-demand programs.
All of us at WCC look forward to a post-pandemic time when we can offer more in-person courses.
Hopefully, depending upon Legislative action, there will be increased access to G3 eligible programs to support those who are seeking to advance their career and to meet the needs of our area industry and business. And we certainly look forward to the time when we can again offer in-person opportunities for cultural enrichment, including the WCC Jamboree, Theater Programs, hosting the Chautauqua Festival balloon glow, the WCC Concert Band, and WCC Choir performances, the Halloween Celebration, and more.
In the meantime, WCC continues to provide quality instruction, both online and safely in person by following CDC and Virginia Department of Health guidelines. Times are challenging, but they will get better, and WCC is here for our students and our community.
We thank everyone in our service area for their continued support as we look forward to another year of serving our communities.
Sincerely,
Dean E. Sprinkle, Ph.D.
President
