Wytheville Community College: A Comprehensive Overview

Wytheville Community College (WCC) stands as a vital educational hub in Southwest Virginia, offering a diverse array of programs and services to meet the evolving needs of its students and the surrounding community. From its humble beginnings as a branch of Virginia Tech to its current status as a comprehensive community college, WCC has consistently adapted to provide accessible and high-quality education.

Directions to the Campus

Navigating to Wytheville Community College is straightforward, regardless of the direction you're coming from:

From the East (Roanoke): Take Interstate 81 South to Exit 73 (Wytheville). Follow Main Street approximately one mile. The WCC campus is on the right.
From the West (Abingdon): Take Interstate 81 North to Exit 73 (Wytheville). Follow Main Street approximately one mile. The WCC campus is on the right.
From the North (Bland): Take Interstate 77 South to Interstate 81 North. Take Exit 73 (Wytheville). Follow Main Street approximately one mile. The WCC campus is on the right.
From the South (Galax): Take Interstate 77 North to Interstate 81 South. Follow I-81 for approximately 9 miles to Exit 73 (Wytheville). Follow Main Street approximately one mile. The WCC campus is on the right.

Parking Information

With a few exceptions, most parking on campus is not restricted, and students, faculty, and staff are not required to have a parking permit or tag. Visitors are welcome to park in any unmarked spaces and do not require a special permit. There are reserved visitor spaces in Parking Lot D in front of Carroll Hall and in Parking Lot A in front of Smyth Hall. Hybrid vehicle parking is available in front of Smyth Hall (Parking Lot A). Several parking spaces are marked as state vehicle parking only, and these spaces are located in Lot D near Carroll Hall and Lot A near Smyth Hall. Handicapped spaces are available in front of Bland (Lot B) Carroll (Lot D), Galax (Lot E), Grayson (Lot C) and Smyth (Lot A) Halls. Hybrid, state vehicle and handicapped parking are enforced.

Academic Programs

WCC offers a comprehensive range of programs designed to cater to various educational and career aspirations. These programs are meticulously crafted to align with the standards set by the State Board of Community Colleges while also addressing the specific needs and opportunities within the college's service region. The college provides:

General Education
College Transfer Programs
Career & Technical Education
Workforce Development
Cooperative Education

General Education

The programs in general education at WCC emphasize broad learning that goes beyond job training and skill development. Each degree and certificate program of the college contains prescribed general education courses, including academic courses in the humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, wellness, and communication skills. General education is that portion of the collegiate experience that addresses the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values characteristic of educated persons. It is unbounded by disciplines and honors the connections among bodies of knowledge.

Read also: About Grossmont Community College

WCC is committed to offering its students programs that encompass the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required by each individual to be more effective as a person, a worker, a consumer, and a citizen. Through a combination of general education courses, specialized courses in the major field, and student development courses, graduates are provided with a collegiate experience that supports the development of the following general education goals. Student Learning Outcomes for Each of the General Education Goal Areas Minimum Requirements for Associate Degrees

College Transfer Programs

The college transfer programs include first and second-year courses in arts and sciences and pre-professional courses that transfer to four-year colleges and universities. Students are encouraged to meet with their WCC advisor, contact their four-year transfer institution, and to take advantage of the Transfer Va Portal when choosing courses in their program. Associate Degree Programs are designed with two primary goals in mind: (1) to offer the student a widely accepted program of general preparation for upper-division work in her or her chosen professional field, stressing a balance of required courses common to most baccalaureate degree programs; and (2) to offer maximum flexibility so that the student may select specific courses that may be required at the college or university to which transfer is contemplated.

Certificates

Uniform Certificate of General Studies (24.0199; 80.000)

Associate of Science

Business Administration, AS (24.0101)
Education, AS (24.0101)
Health Science, AS (30.0101; 80.000)
Science, AS (30.0101; 80.000)
Science, Major in Computer Science, AS (30.0101: 80.000)
Science, Major in Engineering, AS (24.0101)
Science, Major in Mathematics, AS (30.0101; 80.000)
Science, Major in Veterinary Preparation, AS (30.0101; 80.000)
Social Science, AS (45.0101; 80.000)
Social Science, Major in Communication, AS (45.0101; 80.000)
Social Science, Major in Community & Provider Services, AS (45.0101; 80.000)
Social Science, Major in Computer Information Systems, AS (45.0101; 80.000)
Social Science, Major in Developmental Disabilities, AS (45.0101; 80.000)
Social Science, Major in Human Services, AS (45.0101; 80.000)
Social Science, Major in Substance Abuse, AS (45.0101; 80.000)

Career & Technical Education Programs

The career and technical education programs are designed to meet the increasing demands for technicians, para- professional workers, and skilled craftsmen for employment in industry, business, the professions, and government. These programs serve as initial training for students preparing to enter the job market for the first time, as a supplement to work experience for persons who are preparing for advancement in their present lines of work, or as retraining for persons who must develop new skills for the present job market.

To meet these goals, Citizens Advisory Committees provide, in partnership with industry and the community, information and advice to enable continuous updating of curricula, course content, technology, and faculty knowledge of current industry practices. Preparation for successful employment may encompass many aspects of education that extend beyond the classroom, such as cooperative education and internships that are conducive to success in the workplace. Associate of Applied Science Degree programs are designed primarily to prepare the student for employment immediately upon graduation from the community college. Thus, these programs contain a large number of specialized courses.

WCC offers both two-year diploma and one-year certificate programs for those students interested in immediate employment in selected occupational fields. The program is designed to facilitate transition into an appropriate AAS degree program at a later date. Students interested in such options should plan their programs carefully with their advisors and counselors at WCC.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Administrative Support Technology (52.0499)
- Specialization in Health Information Management (52.0499)
- Specialization in Legal Assistant (52.0499)
Business Management & Leadership (52.0299)
Corrections Science (43.0102)
Criminal Justice (43.0103)
Dental Hygiene (51.0602)
EMS Emergency Medical Services Technology (offered in partnership with Southwest Virginia Community College) (51.0904)
Information Systems Technology (11.0101)
Machine Technology (48.0599)
Medical Laboratory Technology (51.1004)
Nursing (51.3801)
Physical Therapist Assistant (51.0806)
Technical Studies

Certificate (C)

Clerical Studies (52.0499)
Machine Tool Operations (48.0599)
Medical Office Clerk (51.0799)
Practical Nursing (51.3901)

Career Studies Certificate (CSC)

A significant portion of the student population served by WCC is comprised of part-time evening or online students. Many of these individuals need and desire post-secondary continuing education programs of study that are of less than conventional one- or two-year duration. Such students have specific occupational, industrial, and/or professional goals that can best be realized through short-term programs. The options included within the Career Studies program represent a variety of career and academic pursuits. Each may be viewed as a mini-curriculum which is part of a broader range of educational possibilities within a given career field. The length of these programs varies from approximately one to two semesters of full-time academic work. Admissions to the Career Studies Certificate program is based upon the general requirements for admission to the college, although some specialized areas may have additional admission requirements (see full program description).

Carpentry I (46.0000)
Carpentry II (46.0000)
Clerical Assistant (52.0408)
Corrections Science I
Corrections Science II
Criminal Justice I
Criminal Justice II
Cybersecurity and Networking Foundations (15.0303)
Dental Assisting (51.0601)
Electrical I (46.0000)
Electrical II (46.0000)
Electronic Medical Records Specialist (51.0707)
File Clerk (52.0408)
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) I (46.0000)
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) II (46.0000)
Human Services - Developmental Disabilities (51.1508)
Human Services - Integrated Discipline (51.1504)
Human Services - Mental Health (51.1504)
Human Services - Substance Abuse (51.1501)
Legal Assisting (51.1599)
Machine Technology I (48.0599)
Machine Technology II (48.0599)
Medical Coding (52.0499)
Medical Transcriptionist (51.0708)
Pharmacy Technician (51.0805)
Phlebotomy (51.1004)
Plumbing I (46.0000)
Plumbing II (46.0000)
Public Health (51.1599)
Web Design and Office Applications (11.0101)
Welding I
Welding II

Workforce Development

FastForward Credential Programs:
- Automotive Systems Technology
- Industrial Maintenance
- Powerline Worker
- Commercial Truck Driving Class A
- Welding
- Underground Power
Employer Training Services
Manufacturing Technology Center
Continuing Education

Continuing Education

WCC realizes that education is a continuing lifelong process. All individuals in the collegeâs service region need the opportunity to develop and increase their knowledge in their personal, community, and work environments. Continuing Education is the outreach arm of the college dedicated to meeting the ongoing educational needs of the community.

WCC offers a wide range of programs: transfer programs for the first two years of a baccalaureate degree, technical programs to prepare for a successful career, developmental courses to assist in a successful transition to college, Workforce Development for job preparedness, and continuing education for the life of learning we all must live.

Additional Educational Opportunities

Community Services
College Facilities and Services
Regional Programming
Developmental Courses
Cooperative Education/Internships
Dual Enrollment

Developmental Courses

Developmental courses do not fulfill degree requirements. They are designed to help students overcome academic deficiencies and build the foundation needed to succeed in college-level courses.

Cooperative Education/Internships

Co-op/internship students are employed part-time at work experience sites in positions related to their future career goals. The typical work week is 10-25 hours, depending upon the number of credits to be earned. It is preferred that students take advantage of the Internship Program (without pay) while working at non-profit entities.

Dual Enrollment

WCC is certified by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) and provides dual enrollment opportunities to area high school students at their respective high schools.

Campus Locations

Wytheville Community College operates three education centers, which enhance the educational opportunities available through the college.

Wytheville Community College â Wytheville campus: 1000 East Main Street, Wytheville, Virginia 24382. Phone: (276) 223-4700, TDD Hearing Impaired: (276) 223-4849, Toll-Free: (800) 468-1195
WCC at the Crossroads Institute: 1117 East Stuart Drive, Galax, Virginia 24333. Phone: (276) 744-4974. WCC offers classes at The Crossroads Institute location in Galax. It is located at 1117 East Stuart Drive (Rt. 58) in Galax. WCC at Crossroads, with its electronic and lecture classrooms, computer labs, and conference rooms, provides space for industrial training, community meetings, curricular classes, workshops, seminars, teleconferences, and more. Special programs available there include: LPN Programs and Construction Technologies. Educational activities at the center include day and evening courses, business- and industry-related training, pre-employment training, seminars for small business owners, and personal development workshops.
WCC at the Henderson: 203 N. Church Street, Marion, VA 24354. Phone: (276) 783-1777. For more information regarding WCC educational opportunities in Smyth County, call WCC at the Henderson at (276) 783-1777.
WCC WEST: 1520 N. Campus HistoryIn 1962, a steering committee composed of area citizens was organized to obtain support for a college in Wytheville. After approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the General Assembly, the Wythe County-owned Simmerman Building was chosen as the first site of the college. Programs housed in WCC WEST provide training needs for occupational and skilled trades such as automotive technology, off-road diesel, and welding. For more information regarding educational and training opportunities at WCC WEST, call (276) 223-4867.

A Rich History

In 1962, a steering committee composed of area citizens was organized to obtain support for a college in Wytheville. After approval by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the General Assembly, the Wythe County-owned Simmerman Building was chosen as the first site of the college.

Wytheville Community College welcomed its first students in September 1963, as a two-year branch of Virginia Tech. During its first year of operation, the college enrolled 107 students and employed five full-time faculty members.

The Virginia Community College System was established during the 1966 session of the General Assembly. WCC became a member of the system on July 1, 1967. In the first year of its operation, the collegeâs enrollment rose to 837 and the number of full-time faculty members increased to 21. The collegeâs enrollment for 2017-18 was 3,400, with 39 full-time and 145 adjunct faculty. WCC also employs 25 administrators, 37 full-time support staff, and 48 part-time employees.

Acquisition of property for the permanent site began in 1965, when a tract of 103 acres was purchased from the Wytheville Knitting Mill Corporation by the County of Wythe and the Town of Wytheville. Approximately three acres adjoining the campus on the east were purchased by the college in 1975. In 1979, the State Board for Community Colleges approved a gift of land (approximately 42 acres) from Helen Janssen Wetzel, Elsa L. Bowman, and Helene L. Master. The gift of land was made in memory of Mr. Richard C. Wetzel, Dr. John E. Livingood, and Mr. Harry Janssen, an industrial pioneer in the American textile industry and builder of the old Wytheville Knitting Mills.

The first building on the permanent site, Fincastle Hall, was occupied in September of 1968. Bland Hall, which now houses primarily the college's administrative offices, and an occupational-technical classroom building, Carroll Hall, were occupied during the 1970-71 academic year. A nursing and allied health building, Galax Hall, was completed in the spring of 1973. An occupational-technical building, Grayson Hall, was dedicated in the spring of 1985. Smyth Hall, the college's learning resource center, was completed and dedicated in the spring of 1998.

School Colors and Mascot

In June of 1998, the President of WCC officially declared the school colors to be maroon and white. The official school mascot is the wildcat.

Commitment to Student Success

WCC has offerings for those interested in day, evening, weekend, and online courses. WCC is proud to now have served multiple generations of families in our community. We hope that you will be among those who chose to further their education or enhance their work skills through our credit or non-credit offerings. Our dedicated faculty and staff are focused on the needs of our students, and the college has strong collaborative partnerships with business, industry, government, schools, and universities to ensure that we work together to meet those needs. At WCC we strive to make connecting as easy as possible. If you experience issues connecting with a person or department at WCC, please call (276) 223-4700 and press 0 to speak to an operator.

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