With the school year underway, students in general are very excited about being among friends, interacting with their teachers, engaging in activities designed to increase their academic knowledge and involvement in extracurricular activities.  There is one group of students who are especially excited – the class of 2015 – the current high school seniors.  This will truly be a “watershed” year for this group and to them, we at ESCC offer “Congratulations” on getting to this point in your academic career.
This is also the time of year when many of our area seniors are thinking about what they will do post- graduation and for many of them college is a top priority.  Eastern Shore Community College joins the Accomack and Northampton County Public and Independent school systems in encouraging students to take the challenge set forth by the Commonwealth and be “the One” who submits application materials to at least one college or university during Virginia College Application Week.

Virginia College Application Week (VCAW), November 17-21, is a part of the national initiative to increase the number of students who will enroll in our colleges and universities across the nation. The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) acknowledge that  attending college begins with submitting an application, and thus high school students are challenged to apply to at least one postsecondary institution.

Allow me share with you a few reasons why I believe community colleges in general and ESCC in particular warrants your consideration as a place to enter the arena of higher education.

1. Options. Community colleges offer both academic transfer and workforce programs. Through the statewide Guaranteed Admissions Agreement, students who graduate with a transfer Associate’s degree from ESCC and a minimum grade point average may obtain GUARANTEED admission to more than 20 of the commonwealth’s colleges and universities, including Virginia Tech, VCU, James Madison, and Liberty University.  Additionally, students may be eligible for Transfer Grants to assist with tuition at a four-year institution.  For those desiring to prepare themselves to go directly into the workforce, ESCC prepares individuals for careers such as nursing, medical assistants, welding and HVAC technicians. If you are not sure which option you want to try, ESCC is the perfect place to explore your options.
2. Affordability.  Average annual tuition and fees for a full-time student at community colleges average $3,900, versus $9,919 at a public four-year college or university and $22,695 at a private institution. In addition, students can live at home and save on housing and food. Many students will find that they are eligible for financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and work-study to help meet expenses while attending ESCC.
3. Quality Instruction. Community College  classes are taught by faculty whose primary focus is teaching and student learning.  ESCC is fully accredited by our regional accrediting agency – The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges  (SACSCOC), the same agency that also accredits UVA, ODU, etc. Students have easy access to ESCC’s faculty who are willing to work with students and want to help them be successful.
4. Support Services. Eastern Shore Community College offers a variety of services to assist students in the attainment of their educational goals. These services include counseling, advising, tutorial support, financial aid, support for veterans and active duty military along with and library services. Numerous computer labs are available to students for use in completing assignments.
5. Convenience. ESCC offers classes at times that are convenient for students, day and evening and Saturdays.   ESCC has expanded its on-line offerings to include courses such as German, Japanese, Russian, Economics, and Statistics to meet student needs.  Students are not required to be full-time and can have a part-time enrollment status to accommodate their lifestyle as needed.

If you think Community Colleges can’t prepare you to get where you want to go in life, here is a listing of  a few individuals who started in a community college: J. Craig Venter, the person who mapped the human genome; Richard Carmona, former U.S. surgeon general; Eileen Collins, the first NASA female space shuttle commander; Nick Nolte, actor; Eddie Murphy, comedian/actor;  Harry Reid, Senate majority leader; Halle Berry, actress; and Nolan Ryan, retired baseball pitcher.

“Be the One” and start your future today at ESCC:  “Where tomorrow begins!”