APRIL 2018
NCI staff and faculty briefed U.S. Senator
-three percent of the certificate
Tim Kaine on their most urgent and criti-
completers reside in Virginia.
cal need, health and human services.
Telehealth includes a variety of
“NCI’s role in addressing healthcare and
technologies that supports long
basic human needs is to provide the post-
distance
secondary education solutions needed to
physicians to diagnose and pre-
enable professionals to best serve people
scribe necessary treatment with-
regardless of where they live,” said
out physically seeing the pa-
Melany Stowe, NCI Assistant Director of
tient.
Academics and Communications.
healthcare,
enables
“At NCI, we are providing the
Janie Brazier detailed the high demand
certification and knowledge need-
locally and statewide for individuals with
ed to imagine a world where quality
social work degrees. Brazier is an onsite
healthcare is for everyone.
faculty member at NCI for Longwood Uni-
training people to provide
versity’s bachelor of social work.
She
healthcare access anytime, anywhere,”
also develops unique professional devel-
said Mandy McGhee, NCI's facilitator of
opment opportunities for community
the telehealth program.
service boards and other agencies.
We are quality
Dr. Kathy Wibberly, University of Virginia
In addition to degrees and profession-
Telehealth Center, detailed the amount
al development, in partnership with the
of work in delivering quality telehealth
University of Virginia, NCI has awarded
certificate programs via NCI that had
almost 900 telehealth certifications. Sixty
already occurred.
NCI facilitated a college and career day for fifth grade students from Patrick Henry Elementary School. Students met with NCI staff and faculty to learn more about their educational backgrounds and careers representing a wide range of experience including engineering, education, law enforcement, military, and healthcare. “The exposure my students received today by visiting with so many professionals from different walks of life is immeasurable. Students were able to engage with these adults and learn what challenges and obstacles they overcame to be in the positions they are today. They learned that these people took different paths to
reach their career goals, and that’s ok. You have to find what works for you,” shared Cameron Cooper, principal of Patrick Henry Elementary School.
“We are moving from a hub and spoke model to a consumer direct model and quality training is needed,” said Wibberly. She is excited about UVA’s partnership with NCI and looks forward to continuing to provide global opportunities for learners to earn a variety of telehealth certifications. “NCI is proposing education, in partnership with providers, as part of the solution to any problem, including health and human services,” said Stowe.
Our group fabricated a critical component part that will be used in the produc-
tion of current and future orders for a new product. Following this prototype process, production quantities will be produced by one of our local suppliers. This entire process utilizes local labor along with locally owned equipment at NCI to help ActivWall grow its business. Duke Ferrell, President
Radford
University’s
Department
of
contributing factors, including poverty,
correlations between opioid abuse and
Counselor Education faculty were at New
loss of manufacturing employers, and
lack of educational attainment. “If we
College Institute (NCI) to provide a semi-
cultural tendencies toward addiction.
look at areas where opioid abuse is
nar regarding substance abuse and treatment options and to gauge interest for a Master’s Degree in Counseling to be offered onsite at NCI.
“Through this session, I learned that Radford seems to really care about our com-
munity and that is not a surprise to me because they have dealt with similar is-
Those interested included employees
sues in their immediate community. The
from regional hospitals, community ser-
discussion
vices board, social services, private prac-
hopefully catch on
tice, mental health, peer recovery, sub-
to other agencies,
stance abuse, higher education, and in-
politicians, and the
terested citizens. Dr. Alan Forrest and Dr.
citizens. We desper-
Keith Davis from the Radford University
ately
Department of Counselor Education facil-
guidance and edu-
itated the seminar and interest session.
cation in order to
Forrest shared that there are projected to be 1,400 deaths in the Commonwealth of Virginia this year due to opioid abuse. The statistics make it clear that opioid addiction is a serious challenge in many
need
tricia Smith, Mental Health Case Manager at Piedmont Com-
Directly following the professional de-
munity Services.
velopment training, Davis and Forrest
just a problem in Virginia, but across the
master’s degree level professionals to
nation.
meet the need of addiction treatment
economic factors contribute to opioid
abuse. Forrest, Davis, and local professionals in attendance discussed these
ularly opioid addiction,” shared Blevins.
oid crisis,” said Pa-
of the solution to opioid abuse is more
socio-
issues associated with addiction, partic-
respond to the opi-
ginia. Forrest noted that opioids are not and
The lack of education compounds the
more
Those in attendance agreed that one part
cultural
communities that are undereducated.
will
communities throughout Southwest Vir-
Various
high, these are often populations and
throughout the region.
Dr. Leanna Blevins, Executive Director of New College Institute, pointed out the
hosted an information session to determine interest in offering a Master’s in Counselor Education through New College Institute. For more information, contact
Ruby
Jones
at
rjones@newcollegeinstitute.org or 276– 403–5605.
It was only fitting for U.S. Senator Tim
wanted to help people, so I decided to
Even though many of the graduates are
Kaine to spend time listening to New Col-
start the BSW (Bachelor of Social Work
labeled as “non-traditional students” be-
lege Institute (NCI) alumni and students:
Degree) with three school-aged children
cause they did not go on to earn their de-
after all, in 2006, as the former Governor
and a husband at home. My BSW has al-
grees directly after high school, Tim Hall
of Virginia, he signed legislation to estab-
lowed me greater opportunities in my ca-
noted that he preferred for this category
lish NCI.
reer, and now I really enjoy the work that I
of student to be known for the mantra,
do. I would not have been able to com-
“we don’t quit.” Even though Hall held
plete my educational goals if NCI had not
career and family responsibilities, he
been available to me. The education and
would work well into the night to com-
my professors were great,” said Julia
plete his schoolwork. Hall attended NCI to
Campbell, a Norfolk State University at NCI
earn his MBA from Averett University in
graduate in 2011.
2007 that provided the background and
A room full of students and graduates shared a similar message: despite challenges and obstacles in life, NCI created an opportunity to earn their degree and improve their lives.
Warren Rodgers completed his Bachelor of
uproot my family and go to a traditional
I started the traditional route in school, but landed a great job and decided to put off completing my bachelor’s degree. Later, I moved to Martinsville, and I met with a professor here at NCI and decided to join a cohort. During my last year of school, I interned with Hooker Furniture and now work there today. NCI not only helped me earn my education, but connected me with my employer.
campus. Even though online education was
Michael Esdaile, 2013 Virginia
available, I needed to be in a classroom
Commonwealth University at NCI
Social Work Degree from Norfolk State University at NCI in 2014. Though he started as a traditional college student, he felt he wasn’t truly ready to earn his education. “Later, I decided that I wanted to be in a position to help others better their lives as I was bettering my life. NCI was the perfect opportunity because I could not
with a peer group. The schedule allowed me to work full-time. There were long nights and weekends, but it was worth it,” shared Rodgers, Executive Director of Southside Survivor Response Center. “I was one that would go back to school and then quit, go back to school and then quit. When I enrolled at NCI, I gained a family in my cohort of students who are
there to support and encourage me all along the way. I will graduate in May, and I am proud that I have completed my goal,” added Marquita Kirby, current Longwood University student at NCI. “I was a product of the textile industry for as long as I could work there. Then, I went on to earn my GED and attended Patrick Henry Community College. Then, I decided that I wanted to pursue something even greater. I knew that I loved people and
education for him to step into his current role as County Administrator for Henry County. Kaine extended many thanks to the students for sharing their stories, which will help inform him of policy needs for the future, especially as non-traditional or “we don’t quit” students continue overcoming obstacles
and
improving
their
lives
through programs such as those offered at
NCI.
Joan Rogers, the 2017 Lula White Johnson Distinguished Teaching Award recipient, facilitated and moderated the forum - The Opioid Epidemic and its Effect on our Community and Children. Joan is an adjunct faculty member for Longwood University at New College Institute.
NCI partners with schools, organizations, students, and families to create a college-going culture in Southern Virginia.
Seniors in the Longwood elementary education program at NCI are in local elementary schools one day a week and conclude their experience teaching three lessons - science, social studies and math.