NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

 

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

I.      History and Organization

 

A.   College History

 

·      1964     -     Northern Virginia Technical College was established.

·      1965     -     First classes were opened with 761 students and 46 faculty and staff.

·      1966     -     The College was renamed Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC).

·      1968     -     Dr. Richard J. Ernst became the College’s second president.

·     1969     -   The original plan of establishing one central campus and four satellite centers was changed to a concept of five campuses supported by a central administration.

·      1988     -     Semester system began at NVCC.

·      1998     -     Dr. Richard J. Ernst retired and Dr. Belle S. Wheelan became NVCC’s

                                    third president.

 

B.   Population Served  - Virginia Planning District Eight (P.D. 8)                                        

 

·      Counties:    Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William

·      Cities:         Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park

 

C.   Organization                                     

 

·      State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)

Certain activities of the College come under the supervision of SCHEV, a body which plays a prominent role in planning for higher education in the Commonwealth.

 

·      Virginia Community College System (VCCS)

NVCC is one of 23 colleges within VCCS which is governed by the State Board for Community Colleges.

 

·      College Board

NVCC has a local advisory board of 11 members.

 

·      College Administration

The President chairs and is assisted by two advisory bodies: the Administrative Council and the College Forum.  The Administrative Council is composed of the Provosts from the six campuses, the Dean of Academic and Student Services, the Dean of Financial and Administrative Services, the Director of College Marketing and Public Affairs, the Dean of Information Technology, and the Dean of Workforce Development. The College Forum is composed of elected and appointed representatives of the teaching faculty, administrative faculty, classified staff, and students.

 

        D.  The Campuses and the Extended Learning Institute

 

 

·      Alexandria Campus                         

The Alexandria Campus is located in Alexandria and primarily serves the residents of the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, Falls Church and eastern Fairfax County. The Campus grew from one building constructed on a 22.5 acre site in 1969 to three buildings on 51.4 acres in 1980.  Additions to the original Bisdorf Building and the Engineering/Automotive Technology Building were opened in 1980.  In that year, the John Tyler School was also purchased from the City of Alexandria and incorporated as part of the campus.  The Alexandria Campus also maintains classrooms in leased temporary facilities at off-campus locations.

 

 

·      Annandale Campus                         

The Annandale Campus is located in central Fairfax County and primarily serves the residents of the County.  This campus began as one building constructed in 1967 on a 78 acre site.  In 1969, three buildings were erected and the TV/Technical Building followed in 1970.  The Nursing Building was completed in 1972.  The Brault Building, which houses college staff, was completed in 1984.  The Richard J. Ernst Community Cultural Center, which serves the College and the community, was completed in 1990.  The McDiarmid Building was completed in 1997.  The Annandale Campus also provides off-campus instruction at various locations.

 

 

·      Loudoun Campus

The Loudoun Campus is located in Sterling and primarily serves the residents of northern Fairfax County and Loudoun County.  Construction was begun on a 91.4 acre site in 1972 and completed in 1974 with four permanent buildings and the temporary Interior Design Building and greenhouse/laboratories.  The Loudoun Campus also maintains classrooms in leased temporary off-campus facilities.

 

 

·      Manassas Campus

The Manassas Campus is located in western Prince William County on a 100 acre site next to the Manassas National Battlefield. The campus primarily serves the residents of western Prince William and Fairfax counties and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. Specialized credit programs offered only at Manassas Campus include Aviation certificates and degrees at the Manassas Airport location; a Carpentry-Framing Certificate in conjunction with the Industry-Education Alliance and Northern Virginia Builders’ Association; a Stone Carving certificate; and Welding certificates.  In 1999, the Mary Louise Jackson Amphitheater was opened.

 

 

·      Woodbridge Campus

The Woodbridge Campus is located in eastern Prince William County and primarily serves the residents of the County.  Classes were offered in temporary, community facilities from 1972 through 1975.  Campus construction began in 1974 on a 109 acre site.  A four-story building was completed by 1975; Phase II of this building was completed in 1990.  The campus has also added the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning buildings, and several temporary facilities.  The Woodbridge Campus provides off-campus instruction at several locations including area high schools and the Quantico and Fort Belvoir military bases.

 

·       Extended Learning Institute

The Extended Learning Institute (ELI) developed its first distance education courses in January 1975, and now offers over 100 courses taught by approximately sixty full-time NVCC faculty.  ELI credits transfer to other colleges the same as credits of any other NVCC course.  Course offerings are designed to provide learning opportunities to those who may not be able to take advantage of the more traditional classroom-based courses.  ELI students use television, video, computer conferencing, voice mail, and printed materials that are chiefly self-instructional.  ELI instructors are usually available by phone several days each week and keep regular office hours.  ELI students may take all, or some, of their courses toward an associate degree in Business Administration, General Studies or Engineering.

 

 

 

II.     Accreditation, Degrees, Certificates and Curricula Offered

 

A.   Accreditation

 

NVCC is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate in Applied Arts, Associate in Applied Science, and certificates in selected occupational areas.

 

Curricula of the College are approved by the NVCC Board and by the State Board.  The two-year, associate degree programs are also approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.

 

Health technologies programs are accredited by the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the National League for Nursing, or the American Physical Therapy Association.  The Veterinary Technology program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.  See the individual program descriptions for additional details.

 

B.   Degrees, Certificates and Curricula Offered

 

·      Degrees and Certificates:

Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), Associate in Applied Arts (A.A.A.), Associate in Applied Sciences (A.A.S.), Certificates (at least 30 credits), Career Studies Certificates (between 9 and 29 credits).

 

·      Curricula:

The College offers 77 majors and 162 different curricula.