Educational Services

The Office of Secondary School Programs

The Office of Secondary School Programs includes two programs – Dual Enrollment Program and Early College Scholars. These programs are designed to increase opportunities for students in high school on the Peninsula. By partnering with local school divisions, the Office works to increase college and career readiness of area students, thereby meeting the educational and workforce needs of the community.

Dual Enrollment (DE)

Email: Dual Enrollment

 The Dual Enrollment Program provides opportunities for qualified high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college coursework and earn college credit while still in high school. Students participating in the program should be aware of the following requirements and features:

• Following the College’s standard admissions requirements, DE students must apply to the College.
• DE courses are taught by full- or part-time faculty who meet VCCS credentialing requirements.
• DE courses offered in the high schools follow a community college course outline, which include the same content as campus-based courses, and use college-approved textbooks. DE students may also take classes on campus.
• DE courses are generally accepted at Virginia private and public colleges. Students should contact their intended four-year institution to discuss the applicability of DE coursework.

 Advantages of Dual Enrollment (DE)

• DE provides college-level instruction to high school students during regular high school hours.
• DE may accelerate a student’s college career by providing quality and affordable education close to home.
• DE enriches opportunities for outstanding high school students in both academic and career-technical education.
• DE provides access to college resources, facilities, and services.
• DE students may enter college with credits applicable to their degree program.
• DE students gain an understanding of the rigor of college work as well as an understanding of faculty expectations.

Eligibility for Dual Enrollment (DE)

The amount of effort and work necessary to succeed in DE courses is greater than in typical high school courses. Credit and grades earned in DE courses become part of the student’s permanent college transcript. To do well in these courses, it is important for students to realize the differences between DE and a typical high school course.

Although high school students are normally not qualified for general admission, colleges may offer admission to those students who meet additional criteria. Dual Enrollment is restricted to high school juniors and seniors and home-schooled students studying at the junior or senior level.

Home-schooled students must provide one of the following: a copy of the homeschool agreement approved by the school district, a letter from the local school board, or a copy of the letter filed by the parent/legal guardian declaring homeschool for religious exemption.

Documentation of parental/legal guardian permission is required for all DE students.

Once students have met all admission and, if appropriate, prerequisite requirements, they will receive a DE registration form from their DE Coordinator. The form must be signed and returned by the DE Coordinator prior to registration. Students are responsible for ensuring that all requirements have been satisfied and submitted prior to the registration deadline. Note: Class registration will not occur after registration deadline dates. Registration dates and deadlines are available on the academic calendar or email Dual Enrollment for assistance.  

All students admitted under this section must demonstrate college readiness by meeting the criteria below. 

Students interested in Dual Enrollment in their high school should talk with their school counselor about Dual Enrollment opportunities. Students interested in enrolling in college courses on the Virginia Peninsula campus should email our Dual Enrollment Coordinators.

Dual Enrollment students are not eligible to take developmental courses or receive financial aid. For more information, please visit our Dual Enrollment website.

Great Expectations

Tel: 757-825-3453 or visit the Great Expectations website

Great Expectations helps Virginia’s foster youth complete high school, gain access to a community college education, and transition successfully from the foster care system to living independently. Virginia Peninsula Community College offers foster youth a feasible path to a four-year degree, a wide range of general and technical two-year degrees, or other workforce credential that provide skills with the goal of earning a family-sustaining income in the future. The Great Expectations Coach reaches out to current and former foster youth (ages 17-26), helping them consider their career options and what community colleges have to offer. Together they explore the person’s skills, values, and interests, and match them to higher education options. They help with college applications and guide young people through the financial aid process. Once a student has enrolled, the coach provides intensive, “high touch” support to ensure these students succeed. This active support includes:

• Regular check-ins
• Individualized tutoring
• Help applying for college admission and financial aid
• Career exploration and coaching
• Help applying for and keeping a job
• Life skills training, including managing finances and healthy relationships
• Personalized counseling and academic advising
• Peer mentors
• Summer Prep Program

The Great Expectations Coach also focuses on ways to help at-risk youth overcome well-documented barriers to life success, including housing, transportation, and medical and childcare issues. Contact the Great Expectation Coach at 757-825-3453 or visit our Great Expectations website.

Single Stop Program 

Tel: 757-825-3817 or visit the Single Stop Program online

Single Stop connects students to resources and benefits that may help remove some of the barriers to success. 

Resources include:

• Benefits Screening to learn whether you qualify for federal and state benefits, such as food and nutrition programs (SNAP, WIC), health insurance, utility services and more.
• Health Care Enrollment
• Legal Counseling
• Financial Counseling
• Referrals - Connect to campus and off-campus resources

Learning Resources Center

Tel: 757-825-2877

The Learning Resources Center (LRC) provides various instructional resources for students, faculty, and the community. The Historic Triangle Campus LRC is located in Room 100. The Hampton Campus LRC is located in Kecoughtan Hall, Room 228. The Learning Resource Center includes the Library and the Tutor Zone.

Library

Tel: 757-825-2877 or visit the Library online 

Libraries are located on the Hampton Campus in Kecoughtan Hall, Room 228 and at the Historic Triangle Campus, Room 100. The library offers a wealth of information resources in all formats for students and faculty. In addition to a book collection of more than 50,000 volumes, the library provides instructional media and reference services, along with access to hundreds of online database resources. Reference librarians are available to assist with research requests during the library’s operating hours. Research inquiries can also be submitted after hours through the state of Virginia’s LRC Live link located on the Virginia Peninsula Community College Library’s homepage. The library participates in the Virginia Tidewater Consortium program which allows students, faculty, and staff of member institutions to borrow materials and use the facilities of consortium libraries.

Technology Assistance

Tel: 757-825-2993 or visit the Technology Assistance website

Technology assistance at the Hampton Campus is located inside the Library in Kecoughtan Hall. Technology assistance is available at the Historic Triangle Campus inside the Library, Room 100. The library’s technology assistance services provide computer and related technology help to students, faculty, and staff.

Canvas Administration and Support for Academic Technologies

Tel: 757-825-2819 or email Canvas Administration and Support 

Support for the College’s Learning Management System, Canvas, and the use of academic technologies is available in the form of workshops, one-on-one sessions for students, faculty and staff, webinars, and more.

Tutor Zone

Tel: 757-825-2940 or visit the Tutor Zone online

The Tutor Zone is located inside the library on each campus. The Tutor Zone consists of the Math Center, Writing Center, and Peer Tutoring Center. Along with in-person tutoring, the college offers Brainfuse, an online tutoring service. Brainfuse is available to all students, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Math Center 

Tel: 757-825-2884 or visit the Math Center online  

The Math Center is in the library on both the Hampton and Historic Triangle Campuses. The Math Center offers individual tutoring to all students at the College who use mathematics in their classes and who require assistance. In addition, a variety of instructional materials are available to help students review and improve their mathematical skills. Hours vary according to the academic year and are posted in the facility and on the Math Center web page.

Writing Center 

757-825-2940 or visit the Writing Center online

The Writing Center is in the library on the Hampton and Historic Triangle Campuses. Its mission is to provide help in all aspects of the writing process, from preliminary brainstorming and outlining, to analysis and composition. All students, whether enrolled in English class or not, may use the Writing Center for assistance with writing skills. Individualized sessions are offered to help students think critically about their own writing and to offer suggestions that help make students’ writing stronger. Sample student essays and tutorial books are among the materials available for student use. Hours vary according to the academic year and are posted on the Writing Center web page.

Peer Tutoring Center

Tel: 757-825-2940 or visit the Peer Tutoring Center online

The Peer Tutoring Center is in the library on both the Hampton and Historic Triangle Campuses. The mission of Peer Tutoring is to support student proficiency of course material through interaction with Peer Tutors. Peer Tutors are students - your fellow students - who have taken the class and passed with an ‘A.’ They can help students tackle tough parts of the class by offering advice and helpful approaches to conquering concepts. Peer Tutors assist in a range of courses from biology and chemistry to accounting and languages. Subject and Peer Tutor availability change from semester to semester. Hours vary according to the academic year and are posted on the Peer Tutoring Center web page. 

Success Coaching

Tel:  757-825-3527 at the Hampton Campus or 757-258-6709 at the Williamsburg Campus or visit the GPS Coaching online 

The Gator Pathway Success coaching office provides academic support to students through personalized one-on-one meetings with trained professionals. GPS coaches help students improve skills like time management, study habits, and test preparation, and can also assist with navigating college life and connecting students with other resources.

Having a GPS coach is like having a friendly guide for your VPCC college journey.  Your GPS Coach will get to know you - your strengths, how you study, your academic & career goals, and what skills, talents, & values you bring to your college experience. 

What We Offer:

• Academic Skill Development - Learn strategies for time management, note-taking, reading comprehension, and test preparation.
• Personalized Action Plans - Identify your strengths and challenges, then design a road map to overcome barriers and reach your goals.
• Goal Setting & Accountability - Stay focused and motivated with regular check-ins and progress tracking.
• Connection to Resources - Get lined up for tutoring, technology support, and even food or housing assistance.
• Balancing Responsibilities -  Discover ways to manage school, work, and personal life without feeling overwhelmed.

Testing Center

Tel: 757-825-3540 or visit the Testing Center online

Testing Services are offered on both campuses. The Hampton Testing Center is in Kecoughtan Hall, Room 254, and the Historic Triangle Testing Center is in Room 123. 

The Testing Center offers the following proctored services:

• Accommodated testing
• Placement testing
• Make-up exams

Exams are proctored by appointment only through Navigate.

Students:

• Appointments must be made at least two days in advance. Please notify your instructor of your appointment date and time.
• Exams must start at least two hours prior to the center closing.
• The Placement Test must start at least three hours prior to the center closing.
• Belongings must be placed in an available locker. Bring only what is necessary for testing, as space is limited.

Academic Advising

Visit Academic Advising online or use Navigate to make appointments

Academic Advising assists students with a wide range of services related to programs of study, curricula planning, transfer, college and career resources, and support services. It is designed to enable students to develop and attain their academic, personal, and career goals. The advising program focuses on the development of a continuous relationship between academic advisors, faculty mentors, support staff and administrators to support each student’s growth in these areas. Students are highly encouraged to meet with an academic advisor to obtain information and assistance with their educational planning.

Students enrolled in curricular degree and certificate programs are assigned an academic advisor within their academic division. New students at Virginia Peninsula Community College should meet with their assigned academic advisor within the first semester to explore program options and develop their educational and career objectives. Continuing students are encouraged to meet with their advisor each semester to discuss progress towards goal completion. It is best practice to make these appointments before the beginning of a new semester.

To take full advantage of advising services, students should schedule an appointment with their assigned academic advisor using Navigate. Log into myVPCC and click on Navigate. Make an appointment with your advisor. Before your appointment, review your program of study in the correct course catalog under the Degrees and Programs section. During the appointment be an active participant and define and develop your educational, transfer, and career plan. During your appointment you will also learn how to register for classes using Navigate. 

Transfer planning is encouraged beginning with your first semester. Advisors are available on each campus and online to assist students who plan to transfer to another college. Advisors provide students with transfer information about Virginia’s 4-year and out-of-state institutions, that include applications, transfer guides, and catalog.

College Success Skills (SDV 100 or SDV 101)

All curricular students are required to take the one-credit College Success Skills course during their first semester of attendance. The objective of the College orientation program is to assist incoming students in becoming adequately acquainted with college life. 

College Success Skills Waiver

Applicants to the College, who have completed a two-year or four-year academic degree at a regionally accredited U.S. institution of higher education, may request a waiver of the College Success Skills (SDV 100 ) course. Students requesting a waiver of SDV 100  will be required to fulfill program requirements by the election of additional credit hours to compensate for the course waiver. Students receiving a waiver for the SDV 100  course assume all responsibility for knowledge of the college’s policies on curricular requirements, scholastic honesty, and standards of conduct for the student body. The College may substitute other transfer credit earned to satisfy the total credit hour requirement of the degree. Students who have completed SDV 100  at another VCCS institution can receive transfer credit for the course

TRiO Support Services

Visit us online at TRiO Support Services.

This is a federally funded program designed to provide free academic support and encouragement to students who face economic, social, and cultural barriers to higher education. The program offers academic/career/personal counseling, assistance with scholarship access, tutoring, development of an individualized educational success plan, college success skills development and cultural/educational/enrichment activities to current Virginia Peninsula student participants. Services are available to enrolled students who meet the federal eligibility requirements and program guidelines. For more information, contact the Hampton Campus at 757-825-3596, or the Historic Triangle Campus at 757-253-6537, or visit TRiO Support Services.

Eligibility Criteria

Students are selected to participate in the program, based on the following criteria:

• be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident,
• be accepted or currently enrolled at Virginia Peninsula Community College,
• be seeking an associate degree,
• be planning to graduate and immediately transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a bachelor’s degree, and
• show need for academic support.

Students must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

• have a family taxable income that meets appropriate federal guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Education to receive the Pell Grant,
• be a first-generation college student (neither parent has graduated from a four-year college/university), or
• have a documented disability.

Office of Accessibility Services

Tel: 757/825-2867 or oas@vpcc.edu or Office of Accessibility

Virginia Peninsula Community College is committed to creating an accessible environment for students with disabilities, while allowing students the opportunity for growth, greater responsibility and empowerment.

Virginia Peninsula Community College complies with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides reasonable accommodations to its employees, students and those persons receiving services from the College who are entitled to such accommodations by law. Employees and persons receiving services from the College who have disabilities that require accommodations are responsible for informing the Office of Student Accessibility Services of their disabilities that require such accommodations. Reasonable accommodations may include but are not necessarily limited to the following:

• Making existing facilities used by students and employees accessible to, and usable by individuals with disabilities.
• Acquiring or modifying equipment, desks, and devices.
• Adjusting or modifying examinations, training or academic materials, and policies.
• Modifying academic or work schedules.
• Providing other reasonable assistance as required.

The Office of Student Accessibility Services provides and coordinates unique and comprehensive services and accommodations in compliance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act of Amended, of 2008, and the Rehabilitation Act. Amendments of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. All information pertaining to a student’s disability is confidential.

Coordinated services are structured to enable students with documented learning, physical and psychological disabilities to receive equal access to a college education and to all aspects of the college experience. The Office of Student Accessibility and Resources identifies students’ level of abilities and provides services that include assessment, academic accommodations, academic advisement, and individualized counseling. Documentation must be provided to support the need for accommodations. Students who wish to receive accommodations must register with this office. Accommodations are not retroactive. Requests for accommodations should be made to the educational accessibility office at least 30 days before classes begin.

College personnel will refer students to the Office of Accessibility Services when the student discloses a need for assistance or accommodations. By regulation, personnel cannot ask about disabilities, but if the student chooses to disclose the information, then college personnel will make the appropriate referrals. Students who have been hospitalized (for medical or psychiatric reasons) unexpectedly during the semester should contact the Office of Accessibility Services for support and access to college resources. The office is located at 99 Thomas Nelson Drive, Hampton, VA 23666 and 4601 Opportunity Way, Williamsburg, VA 23188, or call 757-825-2833. For more information contact the Office of Accessibility Resources.

Student Life and Leadership

Tel: 757-825-2863 or 757-258-6588 or Campus Life

The Office of Student Life and Leadership implements, coordinates, and integrates the operation of campus organizations and activities for students. The Office of Student Life and Leadership is the hub for extracurricular programs and services. Students can obtain information on clubs and organizations, community service opportunities and scholarships, opportunities for leadership development, students’ rights and responsibilities, activities, and events. The office provides a variety of educational, cultural, volunteer, and social experiences, and assists in integrating them with college instructional programs. Additionally, help is provided to individual students, informal groups, faculty, and staff to develop new activities and services that meet the needs of the college community. All campus wide activities and events of interest appear in the monthly Student Navigator, Virginia Peninsula Web calendar and Virginia Peninsula Facebook page. For further information, contact the Student Life and Leadership staff in Room 224 Kecoughtan Hall in Hampton at 757/825-2863 and Room 106B at the Historic Triangle Campus or at 757-258-6588.

Office of Athletics and Intramurals

Tel: 757-825-2988 or VPCC Gators

In support of Virginia Peninsula Community College’s mission, the Office of Athletics recruits and develops a diverse population of student athletes that will compete at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), club/recreational, and intramural levels of athletics. The office is committed to supporting student athletes to reach their full potential in their pursuit of achieving academic and athletic success. By providing engaging experiences through athletic participation, student athletes are afforded opportunities to develop skills for lifelong learning to become positive contributors in their respective communities. Students have options to participate in various sports based on their athletic skills and level of commitment. 

Alumni Affairs

Tel: 757-825-2719 or Alumni & Friends

Virginia Peninsula Community College actively seeks to stay in contact with graduates and former students of the college. Information about current college events and activities and the successes of our alumni are posted on the web site and published in an alumni newsletter. For further information, contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs or by calling 757-825-2719.