Retention Services
Welcome to the Retention Services site. The primary focus of the retention office is to increase the retention, persistence, degree attainment, and graduation rate of students admitted to the College. Program personnel work collaboratively with the campus community to ensure that this objective is met. Retention activities are coordinated through the Advising/Retention Services and Alliance for Excellence Offices and includes the following components:
- The "One Great Hour" Retention Referral System - an on-line "early warning" strategy designed to help retain students who are at risk of failure. It is based on the premise that faculty will spend a minimum of one hour a week reviewing their class rolls to identify "at-risk" students. The goal is to take actions to help minimize the negative consequences of the students’ activities and behavior. If behaviors don’t improve after talking with the student about their concerns, the faculty member can refer the student to the retention office for further intervention. The retention staff will make effort to contact the student, assess the situation and help the student develop the appropriate plan of action. Common reasons for making a referral are: missing class; tardy to class; no show to class; not capable of work; re-evaluation of educational goals; problem adjusting to classroom environment; financial difficulties; and having difficulties outside of class.
- Student Success Program - intrusive advising for academic warning and academic probation students
- Hot Topic Workshop Series – weekly staff facilitated workshops on a variety of study skills/self-help topics to help students gain the necessary skills for academic success.
- Hot Success Web Tips – where you will find easily readable and printable success tips designed to present information that facilitates learning and student performance.
- Black Student Retention Project
- Alliance for Excellence - a partnership between the Black church, community and Virginia Western Community College. This collaborative effort promotes an awareness of higher education opportunities and stresses academic excellence in the Black
community. In addition to Virginia Western, other Alliance programs are available at
Central Virginia, Danville, and Patrick Henry Community Colleges. Alliance for Excellence
is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and all donations made to the organization are tax
deductible.
Contact Us
Dr. Gloria Lindsay
Alliance for Excellence/Retention Services Office
Chapman Hall Room 105
540-857-7583
glindsay@virginiawestern.edu
Cheryl Hilton
Assistant Coordinator, Retention Services
Chapman Hall Room 121
540-857-6328
chilton@virginiawestern.edu
