Admissions & Advising Center helps new, returning students

Every student at PVCC was new at some point. The process of enrolling in the college can be quite an endeavor. What to study, which classes to take and where to get financial aid are all questions that need answers.

For those just beginning this process there is help available at the Admissions and Advising Center.

Located in room 144, just through the South entrance, the Admissions and Advising Center is the first point of contact for every prospective student, though returning students may find the services offered valuable as well.

Returning students may notice that the center has changed, as some of the services offered have been moved to different areas of the building, while others have been brought to the center to provide a centralized location.

The center is comprised of four full-time staff advisors, two full-time and one part-time administrative assistants, as well as the Dean of Student Services, Mary Lee Walsh.

A rotating schedule of 60 full-time teaching faculty are also available to help with student questions.

The Coordinator of Admissions and Transfer, Kemper Steele, said, “We help students get into the correct major with the right classes, give general advice such as time management, transfer advising for students interested in going onto four year institutions and even help with the FAFSA. The best part about it is that the services that we have always been providing are now in one location, which really benefits the students.”

In addition to the services described by Steele, their website states, “The Admissions & Advising Center staff can explain the admissions and registration process at the College, refer you to appropriate resources, process graduation applications, assist Veterans with benefits, determine residency status and process transcript requests. They also can arrange for you to tour the campus. The Admissions & Advising Center also maintains student records and is ready to assist you with any questions during your tenure as a student at PVCC.”

Beyond the change in centralized services offered at the center, the hours have also been modified from previous semesters.

Steele said “We just extended the hours on Monday nights to better serve our evening student population. We really want to recognize that we have different student populations and we want to provide the same level of service to all of them.”

The center’s hours are Monday from 8 a.m. though 7 p.m., Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

For more information about the center or to set up an appointment, call 434-961-6551 or visit their website at pvcc.edu/admissions.

BRIAN ROBERTS
FORUM STAFF WRITER