Paul D. Camp Community College is proud to be among the 23 community colleges across Virginia that provide access to educational options, which lead to jobs and opportunities for a better life for the citizens we serve.

According to the Virginia Community College System’s website, the 23 colleges on 40 campuses “are committed to serving Virginia families, helping them acquire the knowledge and skills to seize the opportunities of today and tomorrow.”

The following are fast facts from the website.

Virginia’s Community Colleges

281,243 — The number of students Virginia’s Community Colleges are serving in 2009-2010 in credit courses, up 7 percent from the year before.

3 out of 5 — The ratio of Virginia’s public undergraduate college students who were enrolled in Virginia’s Community Colleges in fall 2008.

18,400 — The number of degrees, diplomas and certificates earned last year at Virginia’s community colleges

About one third — The average tuition and fees at Virginia’s community colleges ($3,225 in 2010-2011) compared to the same tuition and mandatory fees at Virginia’s public four-year institutions for in-state undergraduates ($8,822)

32,550 — The number of high school juniors and seniors earning college credit while in high school through Virginia’s community college dual enrollment courses.

36 percent — The percentage of bachelor’s degree recipients in 2007-2008 who had some community college experience.

65 percent — The percentage of Virginia community college graduates in transfer-oriented programs who pursue a bachelor’s degree.

253,186 — The number of people who participate in workforce training programs and services each year at Virginia’s community colleges

Community College Online Courses

Beyond the traditional class formats, today’s colleges provide an ever-increasing number of distance education options to ensure access to higher education, and Paul D. Camp Community College is no exception.

Simply put, distance education is a formal educational process in which the majority of instruction occurs when students and instructors are not in the same place. In most cases, distance education is a structured learning experience delivered away from an academic institution in an alternate location such as work or home.

Many students choose distance education offerings to accommodate their busy work schedules and family responsibilities.

In addition to web-enhanced courses that partially rely on the Internet for delivery, and interactive video classes, which are synchronous with student and teacher interaction in real time, PDCCC offers many online courses through its distance education program.

Online courses rely on the Internet and course management software as the basis for all course delivery, which includes content and materials and interaction between students and instructors. However, some online courses require participation in face-to-face settings (proctored exams, for example).

In either case, students taking an online class for the first time must attend a mandatory Blackboard training session.

Blackboard is the Internet-based course management system used by colleges in the Virginia Community College System. Supporting flexible teaching and learning through tools that facilitate online collaboration and communication between instructors and students, Blackboard allows instructors to post grades and assignments, conduct discussions and virtual chats, and administer on-line quizzes, tests and exams, in addition to having students submit assignments.

Students can choose online courses from PDCCC or from other community colleges in the VCCS.

PDCCC Online Courses for Fall Semester

More than 40 PDCCC online courses are scheduled for fall semester, including introduction to computerized accounting, advanced desktop publishing, general biology, introductory microbiology, small business management, communication in management, public speaking, principles of macroeconomics, introduction to cultural geography, history of western civilization, U.S. history; introduction to game design and development, principles of marketing, music appreciation, meteorology, aerobic fitness, practical reasoning, social ethics, child psychology, survey of the New Testament, beginning Spanish and more. Visit www.pdc.edu and check out the course offerings for the fall semester, which begins Aug. 19.