Student Development
Counseling Services
As a service to students, the College maintains a staff of Academic Counselors who assist students in making decisions regarding their educational, vocational, and career plans. As a part of this assistance, students have access to career exploration tools through the Virginia Education Wizard, the Career Services page under Student Support on the college website, and through the College Success Skills (SDV 100 ) course. Occupational/educational information, as well as financial assistance and employment data, are also available at no cost to CVCC students. Academic Counselors make referrals to appropriate community agencies when a need exists that can be better met by another agency. All academic counseling sessions are confidential, and students may request services from the Academic Counselor of their choice.
Recruitment and Retention
Students in our area high schools and the community are kept informed of the offerings of CVCC through a variety of channels. We offer college tours, participate in high school visits, attend college fairs and community events, as well as host open house events on campus and at the off-site centers. Academic Counselors on the main campus are available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Off-site Center counselors are available during varying times. Please contact the chosen Center for their hours of operation.
CVCC places the utmost importance on supporting and retaining our entire student population. The primary focus of retention services is to increase each student’s chances for academic success leading to the student’s academic or career goals. Academic Counselors work collaboratively with the campus community in support of its focus. Programs such as Brainfuse (online tutoring), Navigate early alert system, and various workshops throughout each semester are in place to enhance retention efforts.
Faculty Advising
An academic advising system is an important element in providing individualized attention that many students require. A faculty member may be designated as a student’s advisor to provide educational advice in the student’s field of specialization. Faculty advisors assist students in planning their academic career at CVCC. Students planning to transfer to four-year colleges are advised by Academic Counselors in the Counseling Department. Faculty advisors will refer students to an Academic Counselor for concerns outside the advisor’s expertise. Students assigned to a faculty advisor should consult with them before enrollment and are encouraged to confer with them frequently regarding academic matters. Students who are not assigned a program specific faculty advisor may meet with any Academic Counselor of their choice to assist with academic advising and enrollment planning.
Career Services
CVCC provides advising and career services to promote student success by helping students identify career and educational goals, develop plans to reach those goals, and connect with college and community resources that can help them achieve success. Services are provided for students in both transfer and occupational/technical programs to promote student retention, completion, and successful transition to the workplace or to transfer to a four-year college. These services are available to all students on campus and at the off-site centers.
Learning Commons
The Bedford Hall Learning Commons is an area dedicated to your academic success. The Library, Writing Center, Math Achievement Learning Lab (MALL), Distance Education - online learning, and Student Success Center - tutoring and proctored testing are all located in the Learning Commons.
College Success Program
The college success program acquaints new students with the policies and resources of the College. Orientation to college life begins before enrollment when the student meets with an Academic Counselor to discuss their educational interests, provide placement test and/or multiple measures interpretation, and information on career exploration for the undecided student. The student will also meet with an Academic Counselor to plan their academic program. If the student is interested in a selective admissions allied health program, the Academic Counselor will assist the student through the referral process.
All curricular students placed in at least one developmental education course must take the student success course (SDV 100 , SDV 101, SDV 106, or SDV 108) in their first semester of enrollment at the community college. All curricular students, except those in career studies certificate programs, must enroll in SDV 100 , SDV 101, SDV 106, or SDV 108 within the first 15 credit hours of enrollment. The requirement may be waived for students who hold an associate degree or bachelor degree from a regionally accredited institution. Other requests for a waiver may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Services for Students with Documented Disabilities
Consistent with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, (ADA), the VCCS guarantees that no qualified individual shall by reason of disability be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of college. Each qualified person shall receive appropriate, reasonable accommodations upon request to ensure full and equal access to educational opportunities, programs, and activities.
Documentation Required by the Virginia Community College System (VCCS)
In order to provide appropriate, reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities who seek them, colleges should require:
- Documentation from a qualified professional that includes a full clinical description and current functional limitations
- Documentation should also include information about the methodology used to make a diagnosis
- Specific results of the assessments used
- Specific assessment scores based on adult norms
- Having such additional information will assist colleges in engaging in a deliberative and collaborative decision-making process that considers each student’s unique situation and experience, but not where requesting such information becomes overly burdensome to a student
Educational Access
- Students are responsible for self-identification to Student Accessibility Services (SAS)
- Documentation based on adult norms is required
- An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is not accepted as the main source of documentation
- Academic adjustments may include, but are not limited to:
- Education auxiliary assistance
- Assistive technology
- American Sign Language Interpreters
- Text materials
Procedure for Requesting Accommodations
- The student will apply online by completing the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Application for Services
- Please refer to the website for Guidelines for SAS Documentation and Services
- The student will schedule an appointment with SAS to review documentation provided and assist in determining appropriate college accommodations
- Early consultation regarding accommodations is essential
- Requests for Fall accommodations begin in February
- Requests for Spring and Summer accommodations begin in October
- Late requests will be honored to the best of our ability but could result in a delay
- Accommodation letters for student-specific accommodations are prepared each semester for the student to give to each of their faculty members/instructors
- If there are concerns related to the process, the student is to contact SAS immediately
Temporary Disabilities
Surgeries, hospitalization, and accidents may cause temporary disabilities. SAS works with individual students to find solutions to best suit their academic needs. Student contact is essential in planning or working with an emergency situation.
Students who believe they have been discriminated against based on disability may seek relief through the ADA Grievance Procedure.
Additional information may be found on the College’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS) website.
Distance Education
The Distance Education Center provides coordination and support for the distance learning courses offered by CVCC. These courses are available for enrollment by all students but are best suited for those students who are self-motivated; comfortable with independent learning and study; or those who are unable to attend regularly scheduled classes. They provide the same content and quality as traditional courses taught on campus while offering students flexibility in their schedules. These Distance Education courses include web-based, hybrid, and synchronous online courses.
The Distance Education Center is located on the second floor of Bedford Hall Learning Commoms. Normal hours of operation are Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Synchronous Online Courses
Courses are live, real-time courses. Students will be able to attend classes on the main campus or at CVCC’s off-campus centers in Amherst, Appomattox, and Bedford. Students can usually attend courses from home or from any location with a broadband connection. Staff on the main campus and off-campus sites will provide support and training for enrolled students. Students will see and hear the instructors and instructional materials and will be able to interact with the instructor and other students in the course. Students are required to purchase a headset with microphone for two-way communication. Since the courses are real-time, the days and times of the courses are fixed.
Hybrid Courses
Hybrid Courses blend face-to-face instruction with online instruction and activities. Internet access is required since much of the course material, activities, and interaction is accomplished through a management system called Canvas.
Web-based/Internet
Courses allow students the flexibility of completing their coursework online. Students enrolled in these courses have a Canvas account and student email account provided by the VCCS to access the course materials and communicate with and send assignments to their instructors. Some courses may require attendance for on-campus labs or proctored testing which are noted in the course footnotes on our website.
Faculty and Staff Resources
The Distance Education Center houses a Faculty & Staff Resource area which provides assistance and hardware/software support to faculty who are developing and teaching distance education courses. Training sessions are offered for faculty and students in new instructional technologies. Additionally, Staff of the Center provide assistance to students having trouble with access to their online course(s) or questions about student email.
Library
The primary mission of the library is to support the learning needs of the student body by providing access to primary and secondary learning resources in print, audiovisual, and electronic formats; and to give assistance in the development of skills necessary for their effective utilization. Access to resources will include items immediately available on campus, supplied through interlibrary loan or a database, and delivered or transmitted from another location. The library’s secondary mission is to assist faculty, staff, and administration with their research needs and, to a lesser extent, to make materials and reference assistance available to members of the surrounding community.
Hours (when classes are in session)
Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
When the College is not in session, hours are posted at the entrance to the library.
Conduct in the Library
The Library is a facility for quiet study, browsing, and reading as well as the site for securing information and learning resources. Please ask for assistance if you do not find what you need. Someone is scheduled at the desk at all times to help you. Please refrain from loud talking or other behavior which would impede others’ ability to study. Smoking, tobacco, and cell phone use are not permitted.
Ethical Information Access
Recognizing that expanded access to information in many formats includes the responsibility for its ethical usage, the Library will follow the security procedures adopted by the VCCS and will abide by copyright guidelines in regard to all materials.
General Information
The Library is located on the first floor of Bedford Hall Learning Commons on the main campus. An elevator is available in the lobby to reach classrooms, and the Writing Center, Student Success Center, Distance Education Center, and Math Acheivement Learning Lab. Our Library houses approximately 26,000 volumes and subscribes to approximately 100 periodicals. Other resources of the Library include compact disks and visual material. A local area network provides access to the online catalog, and databases, available through remote online access. The Library also has a collection of popular reading materials and classic/popular movies on DVD. Trained personnel are on duty to assist students. Hours of operation are posted in various locations.
Library Cards
Students of the College are issued a Library/Student ID card to check out materials from the Library. Students from other colleges and adults from the community may use the Library and may request a card but may check out only a limited number of items. Public school students may use the Library but may not check out materials unless they are dual enrollment students. Students must show their Library/Student ID card to check out Library materials. Replacement cards are $10.00.
Loan Periods
- The loan period for books and compact disks is four weeks, and they may be renewed unless someone else has requested them.
- DVDs are loaned out for one week.
- Items may be renewed over the phone if the due date has not passed; if overdue, they must be returned to the Library in order to be renewed.
- Periodicals (magazines, journals, and newspapers) do not circulate.
- Reference books may be used in the Library only.
Lost Books/Damaged Materials
If an item is not returned within 30 days, an overdue notice will be sent. If not returned within 30 days, it will be assumed to be lost. The Library will bill the person $50.00 per item. The Office of Admissions and Records, in cooperation with the Library, will not issue a transcript while Library materials are outstanding. Students may not complete the registration process until past Library obligations have been cleared.
When any materials are damaged, the borrower must pay for the cost of repairing them unless they are damaged beyond repair. Then, the borrower must pay for replacing each item , which is $50.00 per item. Items lost by the borrower must be replaced at $50.00 per item.
Reserve Materials
These materials are kept on the Reserve shelves by faculty for the use of their classes, and are circulated for a period of time less than the regular loan period. There are three reserve loan periods:
- Closed: The user must check out the item to be used in the Library only.
- One Day: The user checks out the item any time one day and returns it the next day the Library is open.
- One Week: The user checks out the item for seven days.
Gifts
The Library is happy to receive gift books which fit within our curriculum guidelines, are current, and in good condition. Donations with restrictions as to usage or housing cannot be accepted and the Library reserves the right to dispose of items as it deems appropriate.
Borrowing Privileges from Area Libraries
All currently enrolled CVCC students may borrow materials from Lynchburg College and Lynchburg Public Library. If you wish to borrow materials from Lynchburg College, please come to the circulation desk in the CVCC Library and request a borrower’s form. Current students who are non-residents of the City of Lynchburg may borrow books from the Lynchburg Public Library without paying a fee if they secure a form at the CVCC circulation desk.
InterLibrary Loan
Materials not owned by CVCC may be loaned to us by another Library. Forms are available at the desk and on the Library’s website to request that a book, magazine article, etc. be secured from another institution that owns it. The Library does have access to materials not available in our facility. Borrowing material through interLibrary loan usually takes from three to ten days.
Placement Testing
The Library administers placement tests for Dual Enrollment Students for the College. Students who wish to take placement tests must begin tests by 5:30 p.m. when the Library closes at 7:30 and 2:30 p.m. when the Library closes at 5:00 p.m. Those wishing to take the assessment tests must have applied for admission to the College and bring a form of photo identification to show to the Library desk attendant.
Veterans Services
We proudly support our military students by providing an on-campus Veterans Resource Center (VRC) located in the Amherst Building, Room 2126. The VRC consists of an office area for the Veterans Coordinator and a study area with computers and internet access for student veterans.
The Veterans Coordinator is your link between the college and the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), assisting you in applying for educational funding, offering guidance on VA regulations, and certifying your enrollment to the DVA.
For more information go to our web page at: https://www.centralvirginia.edu/Student-Support/Veterans.
Montgomery GI Bill® - Active Duty (Chapter 30)
The MGIB-AD program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service (Chapter 31)
VR&E’s primary benefit program is vocational rehabilitation services for veterans who have a service connected disability. To receive services a veteran must be found both eligible and entitled.
If you are using VocRehab benefits, you are required to provide Form 28-1905 or a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility as soon as possible. Once the form or COE is provided, no tuition payment is due from the student. Please note, in order to enroll for the next semester, the student is required to pay any remaining tuition balance.
Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)
The Post 9/11 GI Bill® provides up to 36 months of educational benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs. Benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. The Post 9/11 GI Bill® may pay the following: full tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and an annual book stipend.
If you are using Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits, you are required to provide a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility as soon as possible. Once the COE is provided, no tuition payment is due from the student. Please note, in order to enroll for the next semester, the student is required to pay any remaining tuition balance.
Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program® (Chapter 35)
DEA provides education and training opportunities to eligible spouses and dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. The program offers up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs.
Montgomery GI Bill® - Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606)
The MGIB-SR program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Eligibility for this program is determined by the Selected Reserve components.
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program
VMSDEP provides education benefits to spouses and children of military service members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who served in covered military combat and has been rated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90 percent permanently disabled as a result of such service. The program may pay for tuition and fees at any state supported college or university. Benefits are available for up to 4 academic years.
Dependent Children Tuition Waiver
The surviving spouse and any child between the ages of 16 and 25 of an individual who was killed in the line of duty while employed or serving as a law-enforcement officer, including as a campus police officer, sworn law-enforcement officer, firefighter, special forest warden, member of a rescue squad, special agent of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority, state correctional, regional or local jail officer, regional jail or jail farm superintendent, sheriff, or deputy sheriff; member of the Virginia National Guard, or member of the Virginia Defense Force, is entitled to a waiver of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at any public institution of higher education.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Military Tuition Assistance
Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which assistance is awarded. If a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of TA funds originally awarded. To comply with the United States Department of Defense policy, Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) will return any unearned TA funds on a proportional basis through at least a 60% portion of the period for which the funds were provided. If a service member stopsattending due to a military service obligation, CVCC’s Business Office will work with that service member to identify solutions that will not result in a student debt for the returned portion (see Tuition Refund Exception Policy below).
Withdrawals
A student’s official withdrawal date is determined by using the last date of attendance that is documented and submitted to the Admissions and Records Office. This official withdrawal date is used to calculate the earned percentage of TA based on the following formula:
| Number of Days Completed |
= Percentage of TA earned |
| Total Days of the Course (start to end date) |
The amount of TA funding that is earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. For example, if a student completed 30% of the course, he/she earned 30% of the TA funds that he/she was originally scheduled to receive, therefore, this portion will be retained by CVCC and paid toward the student’s balance. The remainder of unearned funds (70%) would be returned to the TA program. If this results in an unpaid tuition balance, payment would be the responsibility of the student. Once the student has attended 60% of the period for which TA funds were approved, the student is considered to have earned 100% of the TA funds.
Interpretation
Authority for interpretation of this policy rests with the Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services in conjunction with the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs.
Authority
Virginia Community College System Policy Manual, Section 4.3.2 “Tuition Refunds”
Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Tuition Guidelines (Military Students)
Tuition Refund Exception Policy (Military Students)
Purpose: Central Virginia Community College (CVCC) policy statement providing for the tuition relief, refund, and reinstatement of military students whose service in the uniformed services has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from continuing their education.
Policy: It is the policy of CVCC to provide for the tuition relief, refund, and reinstatement of military students whose active military duty during a time of national emergency has required their sudden withdrawal or prolonged absence from continuing their education, as described in the Code of Virginia (§23-9.6:2). The policy is consistent with the Code of Virginia (§ 23-9.6:2), the corresponding guidelines of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Policy 4.3.2.3 (Policy on Refunds, Credits and Reinstatement as a Result of Military Service).
Responsibilities: It is the responsibility of military students to initiate the processes outlined in the policy. Military students on active military duty who are called away due to a national emergency should notify the appropriate College officials and provide a copy of their Orders as soon as possible to initiate the processes outlined in the policy.
Procedures: For purposes of this section, military services are defined as service (whether voluntary or involuntary) on active duty in the Armed Forces, including such service by a member of the National Guard or Reserve, when mobilized or deployed for a period of more than 30 days.
Tuition and Required Fees
Should a military student as defined above, be called to active duty after the census date, the military student should take the following steps:
The military student contacts the Veteran’s Coordinator to discuss their options and for assistance dropping or withdrawing from classes. If the military student is receiving active duty or veterans’ education benefits, tuition assistance, or financial aid, the military student is required to speak with the Veteran’s Coordinator to discuss implications/consequences of withdrawing. When applicable, CVCC will fully refund tuition and fees.
Textbooks
CVCC contracts with an external bookstore for textbooks. Refunds for textbooks are made according to the contracted bookstore’s policy and are handled independently.
Academic Credit
Students who are called to active duty or are mobilized, meaning serving in the uniformed services, as described in Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines, will have the opportunity to receive an incomplete grade (“I”) until released from active duty (for reservists) or mobilization (for active military personnel). All course requirements shall be completed within one year from the date of release from active duty or mobilization.
Students may be given the option of taking their examinations prior to regularly scheduled times as an exception to VCCS policy 5.6.1 in accordance with the Virginia Tuition Relief, Refund, and Reinstatement Guidelines.
Careful consideration will be given, and special options are available for students who receive student financial aid or Veterans Administration benefits.
Reinstatement
General Provision: Military students as defined above shall be assured a reasonable opportunity to be reinstated in the same programs of study without having to re-apply for admission if they return after a cumulative absence of not more than five years so long as the military student provides notice of intent to return to the institution not later than three years after the completion of the period of service.
Specific Program of Study: the military student shall be reinstated in the same program of study in which he or she had been enrolled prior to withdrawal. Exceptions may be made in cases where the program has been discontinued by the college or the program has specialized accreditation and selective admission requirements. In the latter case, reinstatement shall be consistent with any relevant standards of the respective accrediting agency. A student, who was admitted to a program but did not begin attendance because of service in the uniformed services, shall be allowed to defer his or her enrollment in the program until reinstatement to the college as described above. A student returning from active duty or mobilization should contact the Veteran’s Coordinator and submit the updated DD-214 to determine the impact of absence from the program and to review available options when a program is no longer available or suitable.
Deferral of Enrollment
A student who has been admitted to the College and/or to an academic program as well as called to active duty or mobilized before the last day to drop courses with tuition refund for the initial term of enrollment in the College or in that program’s courses, shall be permitted to defer enrollment in the College or the program’s courses under the same conditions delineated above for return to the College and/or program reinstatement. At the time of requesting deferred enrollment, the student must provide documentation of the call to active duty or mobilization and of the end of the period of service as required.
Documentation
Military students who are called to active duty must provide a copy of their Active Duty Orders to preserve his or her prerogatives under this policy and to initiate any of the above processes. The Orders must be provided as soon as is reasonably possible
Grievance Policy for Veterans
The Virginia State Approving Agency (SAA), is the approving authority of education and training programs for Virginia. Our office investigates complaints of GI Bill beneficiaries. While most complaints should initially follow the school grievance policy, if the situation cannot be resolved at the school, the beneficiary should contact our office via email saa@dvs.virginia.gov.
Workforce Development
CVCC’s Workforce Development specializes in development, planning, and delivery of educational and technical programs, services, and training. CVCC serves businesses, job seekers, and the community to enhance economic prosperity and quality of life in the Greater Lynchburg Region. CVCC measures success by advancing the region’s workforce by delivering costeffective and innovative workforce solutions. Services include:
FastForward Credentialing Programming
CVCC’s FastForward Programming provides intensive and short-term training for individuals striving for a new career, professional development, and responding to area businesses for skilled applicants in high-demand fields. Nationally recognized credentialing programs certify the skills most needed by area employers and to help job seekers launch rewarding careers.
Student Development
CVCC is an active partner in the region’s efforts to develop career pathways to meet the future needs of area employers. Programs range from summer academies for area school-age youth to employer-sponsored internships for high school students.
Distance Learning
CVCC offers superior online training in a variety of trending topics for 21st Century skills. Students can explore a variety of topics, gain access to expert instruction, learn on a flexible schedule, and receive continuing education units (CEUs) upon successful completion.
Business Services and Customized Training
CVCC provides customized business and training services to help businesses, schools, and organizations prosper. Workforce professional staff can assess training and development needs; design programs unique to each organization; deliver industry-specific customized learning and training programs; provide coaching, consulting, and facilitation services; and, offer cost-effective competitive rates.
