General Information

Operations Information & Policies

Inclement Weather

When the weather creates hazardous travel conditions, the College administration will make a decision about canceling or delaying classes. Closings will be announced on the College’s website www.tncc.edu and social media (such as Facebook and Twitter). Administrators will also notify the following television and radio stations regarding the cancellation of classes and operations of the college:

Electronic Communication (Email)

Thomas Nelson Community College issues student email addresses to all active students. Email is the primary means for official communication within Thomas Nelson. The College has the right to expect that such communications will be received and read in a timely fashion. Official email communications are intended to meet only the academic and administrative needs of the campus community and will be used for College business (academic and administrative) only. Students are expected to check their Thomas Nelson email account on a regular basis in order to remain informed of College communications. It is recommended that students check email accounts daily. Students are responsible for the consequences of not reading College email communications in a timely fashion. All use of email will be consistent with other Thomas Nelson policies and as stated in the Thomas Nelson Student Handbook.

Telephones

A TDD is available through the Office of Student Success, Hampton Campus, Room 323 Hastings hall for the hearing impaired.

Switchboard

Should a student need to reach a faculty or staff member or an administrative office and not know the phone number, the student may call the switchboard at 757-825-2700. Operation hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. On the Historic Triangle Campus, the student may call 757-253-4300 between the hours of 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.

After-Hours Contact Procedure

Campus Police maintains a contact number to be used during nonworking hours. If a student needs the assistance of a campus police officer after 10 p.m. Monday - Friday, or on weekends and holidays, he or she should call 9/879-3649 from any Thomas Nelson office phone or 757/879-3649 from any residential or cellular phone. The hearing impaired should use the Virginia Relay System, 7-1-1.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

The Emergency Action Plan contains basic responses to several potential emergencies that the campus could experience. The events within the EAP include fire, medical emergencies, severe weather and active shooters. All Thomas Nelson students and employees are encouraged to become familiar with these procedures to assist in enhancing safety. Please select EAP  to review our plan.

Medical Emergencies

If a medical emergency arises between 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday - Friday, call the Office of Campus Police, 757-825-2732. After 10 p.m. Monday - Friday, or on weekends and holidays, the Office of Campus Police can be reached by dialing 9/879-3649. Call boxes are located throughout the Hampton campus.

The hearing impaired should use the Virginia Relay System, 7-1-1-. If the caller is unable to get help when calling either of these numbers, contact the Rescue Squad by dialing 911 from any pay phone or 9-911 from any College office or classroom telephone.

Emergency Evacuation Procedures

In the event of an emergency where the building must be evacuated, activate the College fire alarm system from any pull box. Faculty, staff, and students, other than those assigned specific duties, will:

1. Ensure that all lights, office machines, electrical devices, etc. are turned off.
2. Close and lock all safes, file cabinets, and other record repositories.
3. Evacuate all buildings, closing office/classroom doors as they leave their respective areas, taking all personal belongings with them. In the event that a physically challenged student is in a class during an emergency, the instructor conducting the class will be responsible for ensuring that the individual is evacuated along with the rest of the students. Remember that the elevator is reserved for physically challenged persons. Do not use the elevator in case of fire.
4. Comply with directions issued by authorized college personnel. All personnel will be directed to the nearest area assembly point until further instructions are received.
5. Remain calm and move promptly to area assembly points.
6. Remain on campus and do not enter the building until a verbal all-clear signal has been given by Campus Police or Physical Plant.

Workplace Violence Prevention and Threat Assessment

Thomas Nelson is committed to the prevention of violence on campus and provides guidance on how to access supporting programs and assistance. Please select violence prevention and threat assessment   to review additional information. 

Weapons Policy

Thomas Nelson follows the guidelines of the State Board for Community Colleges with regard to weapons on campus.

Pursuant to State Board for Community Colleges Regulation 8VAC95-10-20, effective January 30, 2013, “[p]ossession or carrying of any weapon by any person, except a police officer, is prohibited on college property in academic buildings, administrative office buildings, student centers, child care centers, dining facilities and places of the kind where people congregate, or while attending any college-sponsored sporting, entertainment or educational events. Entry upon the aforementioned college property in violation of this prohibition is expressly forbidden.”

Building Hours

College buildings are unlocked by 6 a.m., Monday - Friday. Buildings are usually locked at 10:30 p.m. Those who need to get into any building at times other than when the buildings are open must contact Campus Police dispatch at 757/825-2732 for information concerning access procedures.

Children on Campus

College policy dictates that no child under the age of 15 years old may be left unsupervised at any time while on the Thomas Nelson campus, unless approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs. Any person who leaves a child unattended may be subject to disciplinary action or, in the case of a non-student, criminal action.

Parking Decals/Vehicle Registration

All vehicles must be registered with the Parking Services Office and display a current College vehicle parking permit. Failure to register a vehicle and display a current parking permit may result in a parking citation, towing, or wheel locking of the vehicle. Information on how to obtain a parking decal can be found at https://tncc.edu/police/parking.

Visitors may park in a visitor’s parking space or in any non-designated parking space. Visitors choosing to park in a non-designated parking space must obtain a visitor’s parking permit from the Parking Services Office with Campus Police and display it on the front dashboard of the vehicle. The Parking Office is located in Diggs Hall, Room 155 Hampton Campus and Room 122 at the Historic Triangle Campus. The office of Campus Police is located in Diggs Hall, Room 153 and Room 115, Historic Triangle Campus. Prospective students are requested to display a temporary parking permit obtained from the Admissions Office in Griffin Hall, Hampton Campus Room 201 or Room 112 on the Historic Triangle Campus.

Photo ID Required

Thomas Nelson Community College photo IDs are required and are available in the Photo ID Office. To obtain a photo ID, faculty, staff, and students must present their drivers license, DMV issued ID card, passport, or military ID card along with their current semester schedule and EMPL# or student ID#.

The Photo ID offices are located in Room 109 in Diggs Hall, Hampton Campus and Room 111, Historic Triangle Campus. For additional information, please call 757/825-3593 in Hampton and 757/253-6521 at the Historic Triangle Campus.

Lost & Found Property

The Office of Campus Police is the receiving department for all found or abandoned property. If a student finds an item, he or she may turn it in to the Campus Police in Diggs Hall, Room 153 or Room 112, Historic Triangle Campus. The Campus Police will make every effort to return the property to its rightful owner. Those who have lost property can report to Room 112, Historic Triangle Campus, Monday - Friday, during normal business hours to claim their property. Proof of ownership will be required (brand name, color, ID marks, etc.), as well as a photo ID.

Property left at the Historic Triangle Campus for more than one month will be transported and stored at the Hampton Campus.

All unclaimed property will be handled in the following manner:

1. Property valued at $100 or less will be held for three months.
2. Property valued in excess of $100 will be held for five months.

Bulletin Boards

Notices pertaining to College functions and activities are posted regularly on designated bulletin boards around campus. Any items to be posted must be approved by the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee. Defacing or destroying signs, posters, notices, etc. that have been approved for posting is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct; all violators are subject to disciplinary action, or in the case of a non-student, criminal action.

Instructional and Departmental Staff

(All phone numbers are included in the 757 area code.) All offices are located in Hampton unless specified otherwise.

Introduction

Thomas Nelson Community College is a two-year institution of higher education established in 1967 as part of a statewide system of 23 community colleges. It primarily serves the residents of the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City and York. The College operates under policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and with the guidance of the Thomas Nelson Community College Board. The administration of the College is directly responsible to the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). The College is financed primarily by state funds, supplemented by contributions from the participating localities, the federal government, student tuition and fees, and private organizations and individuals.

The College provides financially accessible, high quality, comprehensive educational programs and services to meet the educational needs of citizens of all ages and to support the economic development of the Commonwealth. To this end, the college offers:

• associate’s degree programs to prepare individuals for careers as technical and paraprofessional workers;
• associate’s degree programs to prepare individuals for transfer, as upper-division students, to baccalaureate degree programs at four-year institutions;
• programs to prepare individuals for careers as technicians and skilled and semi-skilled workers;
• certificate programs to prepare individuals for further instructional programs;
• eCampus course options;
• student development services to assist individuals with decisions regarding occupational, educational, and personal goals;
• industrial training programs for new or expanding businesses, industries, and professions;
• continuing education programs, including credit and non-credit courses, seminars and workshops for individuals who wish to continue or expand their learning experiences, and;
• cultural and educational opportunities for the community.

Accreditation

Thomas Nelson Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) to award associate degree curricula. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Thomas Nelson Community College.

History

Thomas Nelson Community College is named in honor of Thomas Nelson, Jr., who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an early colonial governor of the Commonwealth. Thomas Nelson, Jr., was a merchant in early Yorktown and served in the Virginia militia during the Revolutionary War. He was very active in leading a segment of the Virginia militia during the siege of Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis. During the siege, the story is that one of Nelson’s men informed him that Cornwallis had set up headquarters in the Nelson House. When the soldier asked what should be done, Nelson is said to have responded, “Blow the damn thing down.” Today one of the cannonballs is still lodged in the wall. Thomas Nelson, Jr., spent his fortune to aid the revolutionary cause and died a pauper.

The 1966 session of the Virginia General Assembly in active legislation established a statewide system of comprehensive community colleges. A local committee investigated the need for and feasibility of a community college for the region and requested that the State Board for Community Colleges approve an application to establish Thomas Nelson Community College. A site almost in the population center of the Peninsula area was selected and a local board of advisors was appointed. After the site was purchased by the City of Hampton, construction began on the initial phase of four buildings in August 1967, and the cornerstone was laid December 5, 1967. Construction was completed, and 1,232 students began classes on September 20, 1968. Thomas Nelson Community College graduated its first class of students with associate degrees on June 13, 1970. Since 1970, the College has graduated more than 14,000 students and has provided credit and non-credit instruction to many more residents of the Peninsula and nearby communities.

To better support the needs of the communities it serves, the College provides credit and non-credit training in the greater Williamsburg area. It opened a permanent site in Williamsburg in 1999 and the site was officially designated the Historic Triangle campus in 2003. Today, the College provides both credit and non-credit training at its new permanent facility at 4601 Opportunity Way, as well as noncredit and customized training at its new site in the Thomas Nelson Workforce Center (Prudential Towne Building) 4135 Ironbound Rd. In August 2007, the College opened the Southeast Higher Education Center which expanded access to the citizens of the Southeast Newport News community. Through a partnership with the Achievable Dream Middle and High School, the College offers an array of credit courses. The College is committed to meeting the educational and training needs of the local population.

In the 1990s, the College expanded its emphasis on workforce development with additional programs to serve the needs of employers in our service region. In 2001, the College moved into the Peninsula Workforce Development Center, adjacent to the Hampton campus.

Vision Statement

As the Peninsula’s Community College, Thomas Nelson is committed to excellence, recognized for student success, and dedicated to meeting the needs of our community.

Mission Statement

Thomas Nelson Community College changes lives, empowers students to succeed, and enhances the civic and economic vitality of the Peninsula community through high quality education and workforce training, excellent services, and innovative partnerships.

Philosophy

At Thomas Nelson Community learning is fostered, lives are changed, excellence is an attitude, and responsiveness to our students and community is paramount.

Core Values

The College’s strength lies in our value system. The core values embody the principles, ideals, and beliefs of our students, faculty, staff, administrators, and College Board. Our values are the foundation of our actions and they reflect what is important to us and what we strive to be as members of the Thomas Nelson community:

• Students First – We are passionate about our students’ success and their futures, and are committed to providing outstanding education and training opportunities in a supportive collegiate environment that will equip students to compete in the global workforce.
• Educational Excellence – We value high standards for learning and appreciate our dedicated faculty and staff who create learning environments that stimulate intellectual growth and academic achievement, encourage life-long learning, and help students realize their dreams.
• Community Responsiveness – We affirm our commitment to meeting the education and workforce training needs of our community and to building strong innovative partnerships that support the economic vitality of the region.
• Integrity – We expect everyone to take responsibility for their actions, to engage in ethical behavior, and to impart honesty, trust and transparency in all interactions.
• Diversity – We are committed to exploring and understanding our similarities and differences and fostering inclusive working and learning environments that promote respect and appreciation for our diverse cultures, beliefs, lifestyles and perspectives.
• Mutual Respect & Shared Governance – We value the contributions of everyone, encourage the sharing of ideas, and commit to equitable treatment in all that we do. We acknowledge a shared responsibility for institutional success and improvement, and commit to shared decision making characterized by broad participation, openness and teamwork.

Code of Ethics

Thomas Nelson Community College is committed to supporting a collaborative environment noteworthy for its civility, integrity and mutual respect. The Code of Ethics establishes high standards of professionalism for employees and students.

• Excellence – We establish high standards in and out of the classroom and strive for excellence in all we do.
• Respect – We respect every individual and practice civility in our communication and conduct.
• Integrity – We reflect the principles of honesty, fairness and integrity in our communication and action to create a just and equitable learning and working environment.
• Diversity – We promote an inclusive working and learning environment with respect for and understanding of our individual differences, diverse cultures, and beliefs.
• Responsibility – We are accountable for our decisions and actions, and we exercise good stewardship of human and material resources.
• Compliance – We uphold the regulations, codes and statutes of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the policies, procedures and protocols of Virginia’s Community Colleges and Thomas Nelson Community College.
• Cooperation – We are committed to working collaboratively to achieve our goals.

Copyright Defined

Copyright is defined as a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States to the creators of “original works of authorship.” These works include such intellectual property as literary, photographic, dramatic, musical, artistic, computer software, movies, websites and certain other intellectual works. This protection is broad and can include both published and unpublished works.

Copyright infringement takes place when a person duplicates intellectual property, such as mentioned above, without the consent of the property’s creator. In many cases, this consent must be in writing.

Academic Fair Use

The definition of fair use is unclear. According to the United States Copyright Office “There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission.” In an effort to guide the understanding of what is considered fair use, the following four guidelines were created and must be considered.

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes
2. The nature of the copyrighted work
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work

If someone is planning to use all or part of a work for an educational project it is always advisable to contact the creator of the work for permission.

Campus Copyright Contact

If you have questions regarding copyright and academic fair use please contact the Director for Learning Resources at 757/825-2871.