This month we put the spotlight on Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC). PHCC is a comprehensive community college committed to enriching the quality of life in its service region through academic excellence, student success, workforce development, community engagement, and lifelong learning.
Discover how PHCC not only opens its doors, but also its parking lots, to assure success for all.
What’s an interesting fact about your business most people don’t know?
Patrick Henry Community College began as Patrick-Henry Branch College, a two-year branch of The University of Virginia, in 1962.
What would you like to share about your business or organization with our members?
PHCC is a comprehensive community college with a rich blend of academic transfer, applied science, and workforce training programs. We have created pathways that allow a student to move smoothly from a short-term career credit training series into a certificate or degree program. PHCC is an entrepreneurially minded, innovative college. We practice an entrepreneurial mindset in everything that we do as we look for the why and how, not if, we can accomplish what is necessary to serve our students and our community.
Why did you become involved in the SPTC?
Technology rests at the core of every academic and workforce program and initiative. Therefore, it is very important that we commit ourselves to be a part of the regional conversation and supporting the efforts to expand and improve technological advances and access.
How does being a member of the SPTC help you?
SPTC provides a strong networking opportunity so that we can learn about the work of others, and support them, while sharing our capacity and expertise.
What technology innovation have you uncovered prior, during, or post the COVID-19 pandemic?
PHCC was committed to excellence in online instruction years before COVID-19. We also initiated a computer laptop loaner program for students several years ago. These investments have paid tremendous dividends in the last few months. We have embraced active cooperative learning for over a decade, including creating a sense of community, inclusion, and belonging in an online classroom. More importantly, we have empowered our faculty, who know their academic subjects and their students best, to design the most effective virtual and hybrid learning environments. Since March, we have expanded our laptop loaner program capacity, purchased internet access devices for students, and “lit up” our parking lots as wi-fi hot spots.
What positive impact have you witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic?
We are committed to leveraging technology to continue our work and maintain quality, affordability, and access to the students and communities that we serve.
Name one thing tech-related that you have learned in the last month?
Universal broadband must absolutely be a top priority. If we cannot secure high-speed internet access throughout the state, especially in rural communities where even cell phones do not work well, we will make little real progress on any of the other initiatives. It is a fundamental “must-have-first,” as we build a sustainable technology infrastructure.
The SPTC Board of Directors are excited to share the good news that’s happening with all of our members. For more information on Patrick Henry Community College visit www.patrickhenry.edu or call 276-638-8777.
Want to be featured? Contact Rachel Reynolds at info@sptc-va.org for more information.