Opening of New College Institute Means Access to Four-Year Degrees
dr. barry dorsey, education, four-year degrees, new college institute,
It’s been a long time coming‚ but obtaining a four-year college degree in the Martinsville-Henry County region just got a lot easier.
New College Institute‚ approved in 2006 by the state General Assembly‚ has been needed for quite some time‚ says Leanna Blevins‚ associate director of the institute.
Plans for offering a four-year degree in the region were jump-started in 2004 by a $50 million challenge grant from the Harvest Foundation‚ a nonprofit organization focused on education‚ health and welfare in Henry County. New College Institute – or NCI – is expected to increase the number of college graduates in the region and provide educational offerings that support economic development and growth‚ Blevins says.
“We have a community college‚ but no public four-year college here or in neighboring counties‚” she says. “There’s been no access point for people to obtain a public‚ post-secondary degree.”
The institute will offer third- and fourth-year coursework leading to a bacca laureate degree as it works in concert with other two- and four-year campuses in Virginia. Programs will focus on fields of work that are most needed in the state or region – such as nursing‚ teaching and criminal justice.
Another key component of the pro grams is enhanced student services. Students will be given opportunities to interact with businesses and the not-for-profit community through internships‚ cooperative education and community service. Staff members‚ known as Knowl edge Managers‚ will support each student from enrollment through graduation.
The institute also will offer selected master’s degrees based on regional needs. According to New College’s executive director‚ Dr. Barry Dorsey‚ the ultimate goal is for the institute to become an independent public college or a branch campus of a four-year public institution.
As it takes shape‚ the institute will undergo evaluation by the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia. The council’s oversight will help ensure that NCI develops in the right direction.
The council also will play a role in determining whether the campus should become a standalone university or a branch of another college.
The institute will have classrooms‚ a computer lab and faculty office space in the renovated Shumate and Jessie building in Martinsville. Classes that require a lab component‚ such as nursing or science‚ will use space at Patrick Henry Community College.
“There’s absolutely a lot of excitement here about the NCI‚” Blevins says. “The local community is very supportive.”
One of the more innovative goals of the institute will be an outreach program to increase the number of local students who go on to obtain college degrees.
“It’s not ‘build it‚ they will come‚’” Blevins says. “We’re building it and we’re going out there‚ opening doors for people who in the past haven’t had doors opened for them.”
Story by Nancy Humphrey
Photo by Brian McCord
