Faculty Letter

Dear Faculty Member:

Thank you for teaching at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center this semester. You represent one of ten institutions that provide over 60 undergraduate or graduate degree programs at the Center. This combined effort creates numerous learning options for students of all ages including face-to-face instruction, two-way video and web-based courses. Our extensive technology also facilitates the search and retrieval of library resources. Students can access information electronically from any college or university in Virginia.

Professional library assistance is available to you and your students through the Virginia Highlands Community College library. The VHCC library is open seven days a week. For hours of operation and other important information, go to http://www.vhcc.edu/library/.

Multiple support services are also available to you at the Higher Education Center. When you arrive at the Center, please stop by the Information Desk and let the receptionist on duty know that you are in the building.  Diane Powers, Callie Hietala, Linda Lovins and Eva Lewis can help you with most requests including emergency assistance. From any classroom in the Center or the courtesy phones on the first and second floor lobbies, dial “0” to reach the Information Desk. Also, please stop by or call the desk before leaving the building. This helps the staff know when classes are finished so they can store equipment and clean and secure the rooms.

Technical assistance is provided by Jeff Webb and his expert staff of technicians. Doug Viers, Nicky Rahley, Jeremy Mitchell or Jacob King can help you with video connections, computers, projectors or other equipment. The fastest way to reach one of them is to contact the Information Desk. They will radio a technician and have him or her come to your classroom   If you are teaching in one of the computer labs, please do not install software, cards or other peripherals to our computers without prior approval and assistance from Jeff, Doug, Nicky, Jeremy or Jacob.

TV monitors at the Information Desk and west end of the hallway display all of the special events that occur in the Center. Occasionally, a large event in the Grand Hall will “spill over” into the lobby and may require an unusual amount of parking. When such events are scheduled, we will give you and your students advanced notice, including decals for reserved parking. Each year, more than 1500 professional meetings, trade shows, and special events take place in the Grand Hall, Executive Auditorium, and other meeting rooms. A number of these events are conferences sponsored by the faculty and institutions that provide programs at the Center. If you are interested in developing a similar activity, Joyce Brooks will be happy to assist you.

If you need to use a faculty office or an additional classroom for breakout sessions, student projects, lab work, etc., contact Doug Viers at 619-4307 to make these arrangements. With numerous colleges and organizations sharing space in the Center, it is essential that we maintain a master schedule of room availability. If he is unavailable, the receptionist at the Information Desk can check the system for you.     

In closing, the staff and I welcome your suggestions for ways we can serve you and your students more effectively. I urge you to share your ideas with us. Please feel free to stop by my office in the Administrative Suite on the first floor or you can reach me by phone at 276-619-4305 or e-mail at rfowlkes@swcenter.edu. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Until then, best wishes for a productive and enjoyable semester!

Sincerely,
Rachel Fowlkes
Executive Director

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Classroom Phones

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Fast Facts About SWVHEC

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VHCC Library

Welcome!

The Library at Virginia Highlands Community College works with the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to provide resources and assistance to students enrolled in classes at the SWVHEC. Students are welcomed and encouraged to make use of the library at Virginia Highlands. The library is located on the first floor of the Learning Resources Center (LRC) building on the main campus of Virginia Highlands Community College next to parking lot 4.

ID Cards

A bar coded student photo identification card is available to students attending the Southwest VA Higher Education Center institutions from the VHCC Library. Ask for yours!

Be sure to ask a staff member for assistance or information.

http://www.vhcc.edu/library

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Faculty Library Letter

Faculty:

As the new semester gets underway, we would like to make you aware of services at VHCC Library that are available for faculty and students of the HEC. VHCC, serving as a library for the HEC, provides access to our collection of books, periodicals, videos and other materials. Faculty may put additional items on reserve to supplement their classes. We welcome faculty suggestions for additions to our collection. If funds are available, we will try to honor these requests.

In addition, VHCC provides access to the Internet, Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) sources, and databases obtained through the Virginia Community College System. We assist students in accessing their home institution libraries via the Internet, as well as helping them access institution specific databases. Several institutions provide interlibrary loan services through the web, and we assist students in making loan requests.

The VHCC Library has a direct dial number into the circulation desk. The number is 739-2LIB (2542). My personal direct dial number is 276.739.2512.

Please do not assume a knowledge of computers on the part of your students. While the number of HEC students owning computers increases every year, many of these students have minimal computer skills. We feel that a "Library Orientation" which includes a section on how to access the resources available to students at VHCC and their institution would be most helpful. These orientations also include instruction on how students can access these resources from their home or office. If you are offering distance education classes, you may want to encourage the students to ask for assistance at the Virginia Highlands Library.

Library orientations can be tailored to your specific class needs. These may be taught at VHCC or in a HEC classroom. If you are interested in an orientation for your classes, please contact us, and we will try to schedule one for you.

Joel Rudy
Reference and Bibliographic Instruction Librarian
jrudy@vhcc.edu

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VHCC Library Schedule

Please visit www.vhcc.edu/library or telephone 276-739-2LIB (2542) for assistance.

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Request Forms

Adobe Reader is required for these forms.

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Local Restaurants

Order out for lunch or dinner, they deliver!

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Student Letter

Southwest Virginia
Higher Education Center
Summer Semester 2012

Welcome to the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SWVHEC)! We are pleased that you are pursuing your educational goals with us. For your convenience, the most up to date information relating to classes at the Center, including cancellations, is available on our website, http://www.swcenter.edu.

The SWVHEC is generally open 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays and Sundays when classes are scheduled. Consult the current lobby directory or our website (www.swcenter.edu) for up-to-date information. The Administrative offices are open 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, university representatives can meet with students after hours by appointment.

Several institutions are a part of the SWVHEC partnership. So that you may know who they are when classes are listed on our lobby directory, the names and abbreviations of the SWVHEC partners are listed below for your convenience.

Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Products – No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the Center or parking lots. Exceptions are made for attendees at special events that have a permit from  the Virginia Department of Alcohol Beverage Control. Beverages permitted by the ABC Board for a specific event in the building are ONLY for attendees of said event. The SWVHEC is a tobacco-free facility and no tobacco products are allowed in the building.

Children – Children in the facility are to be supervised at all times by a responsible adult. Children may not attend classes unless they are registered or invited to participate for a specific instructional purpose (e.g. to make a presentation).

Classrooms – All of the classrooms, labs, and large spaces are scheduled by Joyce Brooks or Doug Viers and assigned to institutions for specific courses or events. Do not assume when a room is unoccupied that you can use it for a project, study group, breakout session, etc., Instead, contact Joyce at 619-4349 or email her at jbrooks@swcenter.edu. She will schedule a room for you. Students are always welcome to meet in the lobby areas and Le Cafe when their project or group activity is not disruptive to others.

Please leave the classrooms neat by placing all cups and trash in the waste cans. Recycle cans and plastic bottles.

Code of Conduct – Students must adhere to the standards of conduct established by the college or university in which they are enrolled.

Computers – Resource Center and Computer Lab:

Computers are available in the Resource Center, located on the second floor in the back corridor, for use by registered students, faculty and guests. To access the lab, obtain an access card from the Information Desk in the front lobby. Please refer to our Computer Lab Policies for more information. The classroom  computer labs on the second floor are for scheduled classes ONLY. They are not available for personal use. Tobacco products, food and drinks are not allowed in the Resource Center and Computer Labs.

Please check at the Information Desk or call the SWVHEC, (619-4300) if you need to use the Resource Center at night to ensure that the building will be open.

Computers may be used from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.  However, when classes are not in session, lab hours may be reduced from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  At times when classes are cancelled or dismissed early, the SWVHEC Resource Center may close early.  Students who need access to a computer at other times are welcome to use them at the Virginia Highlands Community College library.  Check their website at http://www.vhcc.edu/library/ for hours of operation.  Keep in mind that the Higher Education Center and VHCC are closed for holidays and inclement weather.  Don't get caught "off guard."  Check the holiday schedule and plan accordingly.

Faculty, students, and guests have free access to the printers in the labs.  However, paper is not provided.  Students may bring their own paper for the printer in the Resource Center or they may purchase paper at the Information Desk in packets of twenty-five sheets for a cost of $0.25 per packet.

Copies – Copies may be made for $0.05 per page at the Information Desk. 

E-mail – E-mail accounts are available to all registered students. You may access your email account from the SWVHEC Resource Center. Please inquire with your institution’s on-site representative for details.

Emergency – Make sure family members know the name of your course(s), the sponsoring institution, and the classroom number. This will help us get an emergency message to you promptly. The emergency number to call is (276) 619-4300.

Faculty – While many of the faculty who teach at the SWVHEC are in the building regularly, most have office space on their respective main campus. If you need to get in touch with your instructor, please consult your course syllabus or the site director for telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.

First Aid Kit – A well-equipped first-aid kit is available at the Information Desk.

Food and Drinks – Vending Machines are located in Le Café, otherwise known as the student lounge, on the first floor. They are equipped to change dollar bills. If you lose money in a vending machine, leave your name and the amount of money lost with the Information Desk and your money will be refunded. Beverages are allowed in all classrooms except the computer laboratory – but please be careful not to spill. If you do, please clean the spill immediately. The Information Desk staff can provide cleaning supplies if you need them.

Honor Code – All SWVHEC partner institutions subscribe to an HONOR CODE, designed to assure all students an academic community of trust, honor, and fair competition. The SWVHEC supports this premise and expects all students to act appropriately. An all-purpose pledge that can be written on any examination is: “I have neither given nor received help on this exam.” Lying, cheating, or stealing will not be tolerated at the SWVHEC, and can result in dismissal or sanctions by the institution in which the student is enrolled.

Illegal Drugs – The possession and/or use of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited.  Violators will be reported to the proper authorities for further action.

Information Line – Before driving long distances to attend regularly scheduled classes, consider calling the SWVHEC Information Line at 276-619-4308. Cancellations due to weather, instructor’s illness, etc., will be recorded daily, if we have been advised, as well as program updates and events.

Library – The Virginia Highlands Community College library is available to assist students at the Higher Education Center. Although any of the library staff can help you, Joel Rudy is our Reference and Bibliographic Instruction librarian. He is available to work with you individually or during a class meeting. To contact Joel, dial 739-2512 or email him at jrudy@vhcc.edu.

The library is located on the first floor of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) at Virginia Highlands Community College. Library hours are Monday – Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

VHCC library cards are free to all students and available at the VHCC library. You will need your student ID or some form of registration verification when you request a library card.

In addition to the VHCC Library, SWVHEC students can access their home campus library in the Center’s Resource Lab. The Resource lab is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. when classes are in session.

Microwave Oven & Refrigerator – For your convenience, Le Café (the student lounge) is equipped with a microwave and a refrigerator. Students are welcome to use both. DO NOT leave food in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours or it will be discarded.

Parking – For your safety and that of other students, carefully observe the traffic signs and arrows in the parking lot. You may park anywhere in the parking lot without a parking permit except in the handicapped spaces. On special occasions, such as the Virginia Highlands Festival, we may offer a reserved parking area. Also, please observe the 30-minute time limit in the spaces designated for Bookstore customers, loading and unloading, and other short visits to the building.

Pencil Sharpeners – Pencil sharpeners are located at the main Information Desk and in classrooms throughout the building.

Persons with Disabilities – In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed into law, extending equal protection to persons with disabilities in the private sector, public institutions, employment, communications and public accommodations. In compliance with this act, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is committed to making its facilities accessible and usable to all persons with a disability. If you are a prospective or current student with a disability and desire assistive devices, services or other accommodations, please notify your college or university site representative. If you are a guest with a disability and desire assistive devices, services or other accommodations, please notify the Information Desk at 276-619-4300.

The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation.

Printers - Printers are available in the computer classrooms and the Resource Center free of charge.  However, students and faculty must bring their own paper or purchase it at The Information Desk for 25 cents per pack.

Registration – Student registration and payments are currently handled through the partner institutions. Please see the appropriate college representative for assistance.

Resource Center – Computers are available in the Resource Center, located on the second floor in the back corridor, for use by registered students, faculty and guests. To access the lab, obtain an access card from the Information Desk in the front lobby. Please refer to our Computer Lab Policies for more information. The classroom  computer labs on the second floor are for scheduled classes ONLY. They are not available for personal use. Tobacco products, food and drinks are not allowed in the Resource Center and Computer Labs.

Please check at the Information Desk or call the SWVHEC, (619-4300) if you need to use the Resource Center at night to ensure that the building will be open.

Computers may be used from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.  However, when classes are not in session, lab hours may be reduced from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  At times when classes are cancelled or dismissed early, the SWVHEC Resource Center may close early.  Students who need access to a computer at other times are welcome to use them at the Virginia Highlands Community College library.  Check their website at http://www.vhcc.edu/library/ for hours of operation.  Keep in mind that the Higher Education Center and VHCC are closed for holidays and inclement weather.  Don't get caught "off guard."  Check the holiday schedule and plan accordingly.

Faculty, students, and guest have free access to the printers in the labs.  However, paper is not provided.  Students may bring their own paper for the printer in the Resource Center or they may purchase paper at the Information Desk in packets of twenty-five sheets for a cost of $0.25 per packet.

Restrooms – Restrooms are located at the east and west end on the first floor, and the east end of the second floor. Please help us keep these rooms clean by alerting us when they need service. Tobacco, chewing gum, etc. are not appropriate in the fixtures.

Smoking Policy – Smoking or the use of any tobacco product, is not permitted in the building.  Our smoking area is outside the Executive Auditorium at the west end of the building.

Student Mailboxes – Student mailboxes for distance learning students (handouts, returned homework, and exams) are located at the Information Desk.

Telephones – Courtesy telephones are located in the main lobby, adjacent to the Information Desk and on the second floor near the restrooms. These phones will permit local calls at no charge. Long distance and collect calls may be accessed with a calling card or credit card.

Tobacco Products – The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is a tobacco-free facility.

Video checkout Procedures – To check out a videotape, complete a request form at the Information Desk. All institutions, with the exception of ODU store the tapes behind the Information Desk. Most tapes may be checked out for 24 hours, unless prior arrangements are made with your site director.

Weapons – Possession and/or use of weapons or any object that could be used to assault another person are prohibited on the premises of the SWVHEC.  Violators will be reported to the proper authorities for further action.

Weather Cancellations – In the event of inclement weather, call the SWVHEC Information Line at (276) 619-4308, check our website (www.swcenter.edu), or listen to your local television or radio station. Do not assume when classes are cancelled at the university’s main campus or at Virginia Highlands Community College that your class at the HEC is also cancelled. Many times our classes meet when other institutions are closed or are operating on a snow delay.

We are proud of our SWVHEC and hope you enjoy being here. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Revised 7/6/10

SWVHEC does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Office.

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Video Checkout Instructions

Students must complete a class videotape check-out form. This form is located at the information desk.

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Ways to Guarantee a Good Class at the Higher Education Center

We welcome you as an instructor to the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center (SWVHEC). Our role is to provide administrative and technical support while you are working in the Center. To do that, we need your help to make things run smoothly. Please stop at the Information Desk on your way to class to let us know you are here. We may have messages for you, or returned homework or projects in your faculty mailbox behind the Information Desk. Also, please stop at the Information Desk on your way out to let us know that your class is over. This helps us know who is still in the building late in the evening.

Administrative Office Suite:

The Administrative Office Suite is located on the First Floor. It is open from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you cannot be here before 5:00 p.m., you will need to make an appointment with your site director. If the door is locked, please ring the doorbell or go to the Information Desk located at the East end of the hall and the receptionist on duty will contact your site director for you. In the Administrative Office Suite, you will find the Staff of the Higher Education Center as well as the Site Directors for the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University, Radford University, and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School:

The state of Virginia has fostered the concept that “gifted and talented” students, by virtue of their characteristics and needs, require specialized curriculum to foster the full development of their potential. Governor’s Schools were created to provide special opportunities for motivated secondary students.  Most of the Governor’s Schools provide specific curricular areas such as science, mathematics, the arts and/or technology at centrally located sites. Unfortunately, the distance between schools, the rugged terrain, and the harsh winter weather serve as formidable impediments to providing a traditional, single building Governor’s School. The solution is a “virtual” Governor’s School, which uses distance learning and Internet technologies to provide a curriculum especially designed for gifted and talented students. The A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School currently serves 16 school districts with 45 high schools utilizing a wide range of communication technologies. Utilizing the leading edge of technology, the A. Linwood Holton Governor’s School serves to meet the unique needs of the region.

Arts Array:

Faculty and students who attend classes at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center or Virginia Highlands Community College may participate in the Arts Array program free of charge. College for Older Adults students and Weekend Adult Lifetime Learning (WALL) students  may purchase an Arts Array pass for $10.00 Films, musical events, lectures, and dramatic productions are scheduled throughout the semester. Current schedule.

Breakout Rooms:

If you require break out rooms for your class, please have your site director contact Joyce Brooks or Doug Viers at least 48 hours in advance of your class.

Cancellation of Class Meeting:

If circumstances require that you cancel a class meeting, notify your institution’s Site Director and the Information Desk at the Center ASAP at (276) 619-4300. Remind your students to check the Center’s Information Line for up-to-date schedule changes. A telephone call can prevent an unnecessary trip to the Center. The Information Line telephone number is (276) 619-4308.

College for Older Adults:

The College for Older Adults (COA) at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is designed for learners over the age of 50 and is taught by instructors who are also in that age bracket. The program offers short non-credit courses in a relaxed daytime format. There is a fee of $40 per term, whether taking one or all classes offered. Class topics vary from term to term. Ramsey White is the director.

Computers:

Computers are available in the Resource Center, located on the second floor, for use by registered students and faculty. Any student or center guest that wishes to use the Lab must obtain an access card from the Information Desk in the front lobby. Please refer to our Computer Lab Policies for more information. Our computer labs on the second floor are for scheduled classes ONLY. They are not for homework assignments or research. Tobacco products, food and drinks are not allowed in the Resource Center and Computer Labs.

At times when classes are cancelled or dismissed early, the SWVHEC Resource Center may close early. Please check at the Information Desk or call the SWVHEC if you need to use the Resource Center at night to ensure that the building will be open. Students may bring their own paper for the printer in the Resource Center or they may purchase paper at the Information Desk in packets of twenty-five sheets for a cost of $0.25 per packet.

Computers may be used from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.  However, when classes are not in session, computer access will be from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  Students who need access to a computer at other times are welcome to use them at the Virginia Highlands Community College library.  Check their website at http://www.vhcc.edu/library/ for hours of operation.  Keep in mind that the Higher Education Center and VHCC are closed for holidays and inclement weather.  Don't get caught "Off guard."  Check the holiday schedule and plan accordingly.

Eating in the Classrooms:

We strongly prefer that students eat in the student lounge (Le Café). Occasionally, instructors choose to shorten a class by teaching through a dinner break or ordering pizza to the classroom. Food left in classrooms draws ants and mice. The instructor is the person responsible and should ask students to clean up all drink cans, pizza boxes, trash, etc. The Information Desk staff will provide extra garbage bags upon request. If you will bring the trash bags to the Information Desk, we will take them to the dumpsters. Menus and phone numbers of restaurants that deliver to the Center are listed on the Restaurants link above.

Equipment Requests:

Most equipment -- overhead projectors, flip charts and stands, monitors, DVD's and VCR's -- are located in the classroom or the classroom closet.  Many classrooms are now equipped with multimedia projectors.  Specialized equipment that is not in the classroom is available by request.  If you know you will need a piece of equipment, please request it at least one day in advance so that we can arrange for it to be in your classroom.  Compete an equipment request form and leave it at the information desk.  If you request equipment on the day of your class, don't be surprised if it is in use by another instructor.

Faculty Offices, Lounge, and Restrooms:

Faculty office space is  located on the 2nd floor in the Faculty Lounge. All offices are shared spaces and available for your use while teaching in the Center. Each space is equipped with a computer. The printer is shared by all of the offices. If you need additional office space, please talk with your institution’s Site Director.

The Faculty and Staff Lounge and Restrooms are on the 2^nd floor at the west end of the building. Students and student assistants are not permitted in the Faculty and Staff Lounge/Restroom.  The entry code to doors in the Faculty and Staff Lounge/Restroom and the Faculty Office Suite can be obtained from your Site Director. Please do not give this code to anyone other than faculty or authorized staff.

Information Desk:

The Information Desk in the main lobby is staffed when the Center is open. For emergencies, technical assistance, and other requests, simply stop by or call 619-4300 (“0” if you are inside the building). Please introduce yourself to Jessica, Callie, Eva, Diane and Linda. They will be happy to assist you.

Library:

Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) provides library services for Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center students. Joel Rudy is the Reference and Bibliographic Instruction Librarian and is eager to meet with you to discuss the numerous library resources that are available. The librarians can work with you individually or during a class meeting. To schedule instruction for your class, contact Joel in the VHCC Library by dialing (276) 739-2542 or jrudy@vhcc.edu.

The library is located on the first floor of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) at Virginia Highlands Community College. For library hours, please visit http://www.vhcc.edu/library/

VHCC library cards are free to all students and available at the VHCC library. Students will need their student ID or some form of identification when they request a library card.

Students can also access their home campus library in the Higher Education Center’s Resource Lab. The Virtual Library of Virginia or VIVA is available in the Lab as well as in the VHCC Library. The SWVHEC Resource Lab is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. when classes are in session.

Photocopying:

Because of the volume of requests, and the speed of our machines, the HEC has found it necessary to set the following guidelines:

Information Desk Copier:

Administrative Copier:

Printing - Students may bring their own paper for the printer in the Resource Center or they may purchase paper at the Information Desk in packets of twenty-five sheets for a cost of $0.25 per packet.

Resource Center and Computer Lab:

Computers are available in the Resource Center, located on the second floor in the back corridor, for use by registered students, faculty and guests. To access the lab, obtain an access card from the Information Desk in the front lobby. Please refer to our Computer Lab Policies for more information. The classroom  computer labs on the second floor are for scheduled classes ONLY. They are not available for personal use. Tobacco products, food and drinks are not allowed in the Resource Center and Computer Labs.

Please check at the Information Desk or call the SWVHEC, (619-4300) if you need to use the Resource Center at night to ensure that the building will be open.

Computers may be used from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.  However, when classes are not in session, lab hours may be reduced from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  At times when classes are cancelled or dismissed early, the SWVHEC Resource Center may close early.  Students who need access to a computer at other times are welcome to use them at the Virginia Highlands Community College library.  Check their website at http://www.vhcc.edu/library/ for hours of operation.  Keep in mind that the Higher Education Center and VHCC are closed for holidays and inclement weather.  Don't get caught "off guard."  Check the holiday schedule and plan accordingly.

Faculty, students, and guest have free access to the printers in the labs.  However, paper is not provided.  Students may bring their own paper for the printer in the Resource Center or they may purchase paper at the Information Desk in packets of twenty-five sheets for a cost of $0.25 per packet.

Southwest Virginia Education and Training Network (SVETN):

The Southwest Virginia Education and Training Network (SVETN) is a consortium of sixteen school divisions and nine higher education institutions within a thirteen county region that fans eastward from Cumberland Gap to Bluefield, Wytheville, and Hillsville. Forty-nine classrooms in high schools, colleges and universities are linked by dedicated fiber-optic cables for televised distance learning. By means of the SVETN’s unique video-switching technology, multiple sessions of up to four sites each may be combined simultaneously creating numerous “virtual classrooms” in which, for ease of communication, teacher and students continuously see and hear one another. Sometimes referred to as southwestern Virginia’s “fiber optic network,” the images are of cable television quality and are accompanied by synchronized sound. The SVETN high schools provide geographically convenient venues for the colleges’ evening courses, continuing education classes, and in-service training for schools, public agencies, and community organizations. SVETN also serves consortium members with a growing roster of web-based distance learning offerings for secondary students under the designation of Elite Learning. The online classes are developed by teachers in the consortium in the same spirit of resource sharing as the ITV offerings. Classes taught using the teacher-directed interactive TV system and Elite Learning online help members meet important curriculum needs including foreign language and dual enrollment as well as other advanced level high school courses. Room 130 is the SVETN classroom. The SVETN staff is headquartered at the Higher Education Center. More information about SVETN can be found at http://www.svetn.org/

Technical Support:

Jeff Webb,  Doug Viers, Jeremy Mitchell, Nicky Rahley and Jacob King are responsible for the computer network and audiovisual equipment at the Center. Please talk with Doug Viers at least one week in advance if you have special technical needs (e.g., new software installation). If you have a technical failure during class, contact the Information Desk by dialing “0”. The receptionist will radio the technician who is on duty.

Telephones:

Each classroom is equipped with a telephone to connect you with extensions inside the building. If you need assistance quickly, dial “0” for the Information Desk Receptionist. He/she can radio the technical or custodial staff or contact 911.

Telephones for calls outside of the building are located in the first and second floor lobbies, faculty offices, and faculty lounge.

TV Equipment:

The two-way interactive TV equipment is highly sensitive. DO NOT change the settings or make any adjustments to the computer that operates the system. It is dedicated exclusively to the transmission/reception of TV courses and cannot be used for any other purpose.

If you need a laptop computer/projector for a class lecture or assignment, make arrangements with a member of the Technical Staff (Jeff, Doug, Jeremy, Nicky or Jacob)

Virginia Cooperative Extension:

The Southwest District Office is a part of Virginia Cooperative Extension, an educational outreach program of Virginia Tech and Virginia State Universities. VCE provides research based information through a system of campus and locally based educators.

The Southwest District of Virginia Cooperative Extension is made up of eighteen county extension units. In addition, one 4-H Educational Center and two Agriculture Research and Extension Centers are located in the district. County Extension staff includes forty-five Extension Agents, thirty-two Program Assistants/Technicians, and twenty-four Secretaries. The Southwest District staff consists of:

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