by Patsy Joyner

Since coming on board in July, Dr. Paul Wm. Conco, new president of Paul D. Camp Community College, continues to meet with people across the college’s service region on what he coins his “listening” tour.

To increase awareness of the college, he has also initiated a “Quick Facts” sheet to share wherever he goes, which is outlined below:

PDCCC Quick Facts

PDCCC is a small, rural, comprehensive, two-year college in Southeast Virginia.

An advocate of education, Paul D. Camp, along with his brothers, founded Camp Manufacturing (lumber) Co. in 1887. It was later known as Union Camp Corp., and finally International Paper, before officials announced its closing in October 2009.

The college was built on land donated by Camps’ daughters almost 50 years after his death.

Additional interesting college facts include the following:

• Founded: 1970, Franklin Campus opened 1971, Hobbs Suffolk Campus 1995, Smithfield Center 1993

• President: Dr. Paul Wm. Conco, 2010

• Campuses and sites: Franklin Campus, 100 N. College Drive, Franklin, 569-6700; Hobbs Suffolk Campus, 271 Kenyon Road, Suffolk, 757-925-6300; Smithfield Center, 253 James St., Smithfield, 757-925-6340; www.pdc.edu

• Tuition: In-State $108.50 per credit hour. Tuition and fees at PDCCC are less than half of the comparable cost of attending Virginia’s public four-year institutions.

• Enrollment: Over 2,600 full- and part-time students. Full time, 27 percent; part time, 73 percent; males, 32 percent; females, 68 percent; students older than 24, 40 percent

• Career coaches: Coaches assist students and their parents with college preparations and exploring career choices.

• Dual enrollment: Classes are offered in area high schools.

• Distance education: PDCCC uses the Blackboard course management system to host instruction, assignments, discussions and tests. About one-third of students are enrolled at some level in distance education courses.

• Financial aid: More than 40 percent of students received some type of financial aid in 2010, totaling more than $3.7 million. Over 30 local scholarships are available.

• Online tools: PDCCC promotes registration with the VCCS Virginia Education Wizard, an online one-stop resource that helps students and their families make informed decisions about college and career choices. www.VaWizard.org

• Clubs, organizations and programs: Faith Unleashed in Everyday Life, Literary Club, Nursing Student Association, Phi Theta Kappa honor society, the Science Club, Student Ambassadors program, Student Government Association, The Student Voice newsletter, Student Support Services program, Western Tidewater Tech Prep/Career Pathways and Upward Bound program.

• Technology: PDCCC has more than 280 computers on its campuses and sites, including its workforce development centers. Wireless Internet is available at all locations; students can register, pay for classes and receive grades online.

• Degrees and certificates: Associate degree programs in business administration, education, general studies, science, administration of justice, administrative support technology, early childhood development, industrial technology, management and nursing. PDCCC also offers four, one-year certificates and 26 career studies certificates that can be earned in less than one year.

• Admissions agreements: Through guaranteed admissions agreements, PDCCC students with an associate’s degree and a minimum GPA can transfer to more than 20 four-year colleges and universities in the state.

• Faculty, staff and administration: Approximately 150 full- and part-time faculty and staff employed.

• Workforce development: Training and services are available at the college’s Regional Workforce Development Center on the Franklin Campus, the City of Suffolk Workforce Development Center, Hobbs Suffolk Campus and the PDCCC Smithfield Center. From July 2009 to June 2010, 252 Career Readiness Certificates were awarded.

• Economic impact: PDCCC is the fourth largest employer in the city of Franklin. The college has a budget of over $10 million.

For more information on options available at PDCCC, visit www.pdc.edu, or call 569-6700.

DR. PATSY JOYNER is the vice president for institutional advancement at Paul D. Camp Community College. Her email address is pjoyner@pc.vccs.edu.