VHCC
newsletter
September 2009
Volume 12, Issue 9
Summer of ‘69
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A groovy party is planned on Saturday,
Oct. 24, at the Southwest Virginia Higher
Education Center to celebrate VHCC’s 40th
Anniversary and raise funds to support
scholarship programs provided by the VHCC
Educational Foundation.
The theme of the event, “the summer of
69,” was chosen to commemorate a time when
the first 232 students attended orientation
and then enrolled in classes at VHCC. The
upcoming celebration will include live music
from local rock band Phantom, silent and live
auctions, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar.
The evening will begin with a silent
auction at 7 p.m. Phantom will begin playing
at 8 p.m. and the live auction will be held
during one of the band breaks. Casual attire or
1960s theme dress is suggested.
All community members are encouraged
to attend this celebration.
For additional information, please contact
the VHCC Public Relations office at (276) 7392456 or [email protected]. Tickets are $25
each or $40 per couple and can be charged
online at www.vhcc.edu/summer69 or by
phone at (276) 739-2449.
VHCC News is produced each month by Anne Dunham of the Office of Institutional
Advancement. If you would like to suggest information for the newsletter, please send
your ideas to [email protected] or contact her by phone at 276-739-2456. VHCC is an
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution.
Virginia Highlands Community College
www.vhcc.edu or call 276-739-2400
Para la ayuda en español, llama por favor (276) 739-2436
We The People
Historical Re-enactor David Winship acted as the VHCC town crier on Sept. 17,
encouraging the campus community to join in a celebration of Constitution Day by
signing a replica of the historic document and reflecting on the words that were written
222 years ago.
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our
Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America,”
Winship read as supporters looked on.
Constitution Day, formerly known as Citizenship Day, was established by Congress
in 2004 and is observed by educational institutions throughout the nation.
“Constitution Day is designed to promote awareness about the Constitution and
its importance in American history,” said Associate Professor of History & Political
Science Sara Combs, who organized the event. “Everyone knows about the Fourth of
July and that the Declaration of Independence was signed on that day, but very few
people know that the Constitution was signed on Sept. 17.”
Members of the VHCC Percussion Ensemble set the mood for the event by playing
“Yankee Doodle” as the crowd gathered.
Chancellor Outlines Presidential Search
Dr. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of
Virginia’s Community Colleges, recently
outlined the process for replacing retiring
VHCC President David Wilkin and said
he expects the new president to take the
reigns sometime in Spring 2010 "probably
right around graduation time."
The process has already begun with
an invitation to campus employees,
students and community members to
participate in a survey listing the qualities
that are important in the next president.
Dr. DuBois said the position
will be advertised nationally and
about 100 applicants are expected.
Each application will be screened by a
committee of community college leaders
and VHCC board members. Finalists
will be forwarded to the State Board for
Community Colleges and those that make
the final cut will be invited to the VHCC
campus, where local community members
will have an opportunity to meet them.
The local input will help Dr. DuBois
make his final choice.
Dr. Wilkin has served as president
since 1995. His retirement is effective June
30, 2010.
National Day of Service
The VHCC campus community participated
Sept. 11 in the National Day of Service by
performing community service projects throughout
the service region and attending a candlelight vigil
at Porterfield Square.
About 100 students, faculty and staff members
took part in the local event, which was part of a
national observance signed into law by President
Obama. Each Sept. 11, Americans are encouraged
to remember those killed on Sept. 11, 2001, in the
terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and to
remember the brave first responders who answered
the call for help.
VHCC students participated by(photos,
clockwise) building dog houses for Holly Help
Spay and Neuter, mulching around flower beds at
the Bristol Virginia Sheriff’s Department, writing
letters to members of the military, and attending
the candlelight vigil ceremony that featured
Washington County Sheriff Fred Newman as a
keynote speaker.
Workplace Harassment Policy Outlined
Horticulture Helpers
Horticulture Student Terry Dalton (standing) talks to sixth
graders who attended Conservation Farm Field Day 2009 at
Highland Dairy Farm recently. Dalton was one of 10 VHCC
students who led students through a hands-on educational
program that was aligned with the Virginia Standards of
Learning.
VHCC and the Commonwealth of Virginia strictly prohibit
harassment of any employee, applicant for employment, vendor,
contractor or volunteer, on the basis of an individual’s race, sex, color,
national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, political
affiliation, or disability.
VHCC and the Commonwealth will not tolerate any form of
retaliation directed against an employee or third party who either
complains about harassment or who participates in any investigation
concerning harassment.
Workplace harassment is defined as any unwelcome verbal, written
or physical conduct that either denigrates or shows hostility or aversion
towards a person on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion,
sexual orientation, age, veteran status, political affiliation or disability
that: (1) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or
offensive work environment; (2) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably
interfering with an employee’s work performance; or (3) affects an
employee’s employment opportunities or compensation.
Employees and third parties are encouraged to report incidents of
workplace harassment as soon as possible after the incident occurs.
Complaints may be filed with Human Resources, the President,
the Vice-Presidents or the employee’s supervisor. Individuals alleging
harassment are never required to file a complaint with the alleged
harasser. If you have questions or concerns or would like more
information, please contact the Human Resource Office.