SVCC Offers Education Without Breaking the Bank
Is there any better reason to go to a community college than the opportunity to save money? Sure there is, according to Southside Virginia Community College President  John J. Cavan, but saving is important, also.
“Community colleges offer the same educational opportunities as more expensive four year universities. Students can attain their first two years of college at SVCC and then transfer to schools that will offer them the exact same outcome—a baccalaureate degree. The savings is just an added bonus, “ Dr. Cavan said.
The point is brought home quite realistically in a recent article that appeared in The Chronicle of Higher Education on October 22, 2010. The article is entitled, “Here’s Your Diploma. Now Here’s Your Mop.” It is the story of Sam Fanning who graduated from Eastern Michigan University last year and is now working as a custodian at the school. After receiving his degree in network and information-technology administration, he was unable to find work so took a job as a custodian at the student center.
With student loans of about $35,000 looming, Fanning notes he wanted to get a job so he could begin making the payments of about $500 a month.
The good part about obtaining your first two years of post-high school education at the community college is that the cost is much lower. Two semesters at SVCC cost $3,075 as compared with about $15,700 for two semesters at Longwood University (including room and board) or $17, 300 at University of Virginia (including room and board) or $13,800 at Virginia State (including room and board). Private colleges will cost even more from about $20,000 a year for St. Paul’s College to $50,000 for the University of Richmond.
Southside Virginia Community College has been in the business of education for more than four decades. The college has graduated more than 12,000 students and currently serves almost 10,000 people per year. There are two main campuses, located in Alberta and Keysville, and five permanent off-campus sites as well as about 50 other locations where classes are taught.
The University Parallel Program offers the first two years of a four-year degree in areas such as General Studies, Business Administration, Education, Liberal Arts and Science. Students transfer to colleges such as Virginia Tech, Christopher Newport, Virginia State, Hampton University, Longwood, James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Virginia Union, and Virginia Commonwealth University. A community college student in Virginia with an associate’s degree and a minimum grade point average and prescribed course of study may obtain guaranteed admission to more than 20 of the commonwealth’s colleges and universities.
“At SVCC, our faculty and staff care for our students. We offer excellent learning experiences as well as top notch counselors to steer students in the direction they want to go,” Dr. Cavan said.
“In this economy and job market, SVCC just makes sense and the story of Mr. Fanning and his student loans is a cautionary tale future students must heed,” Dr. Cavan said.
While the article points out that all is not bleak for Fanning (he may attend graduate school at Eastern Michigan since employees receive free tuition), he still faces paying back a lot of money. He notes “I don’t feel incompetent, I just feel like my potential isn’t being used.”
Another plus for SVCC students is the availability of financial aid. Students who feel they cannot afford college should definitely apply for aid and see what type of funding is available. For the 2009-2010 year which includes fall 2009, spring 2010 and summer 2010, the financial aid office at SVCC disbursed over $12 million to students in some form of financial aid. Also, 81% of students who are degree or certificate seeking students receive some type of aid at Southside Virginia Community College, according to Sally Tharrington, Director of Financial Aid at SVCC.
So far for the 2010-2011 year, the school has disbursed almost $6 million in financial aid for the fall semester alone.
Tharrington added, “We encourage all students to apply for financial aid. Students must be seeking a certificate or degree in order to be eligible for financial aid.”
So, the community college is a place where educational dreams can come true without ‘breaking the bank.’ The opportunities are endless, the classes are transferrable and SVCC is located in your backyard.
For more information about SVCC, visit the college website at www.southside.edu, see the Career Coach at your high school, or call 1-888-220-SVCC for more information today.
(c) 2011. Southside Virginia Community College. All rights reserved.
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