Wabash Valley College (WVC, ) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Wabash Valley College (WVC) is one of four colleges that comprise the Illinois Eastern Community College (IECC) system. Wabash Valley College is located in Mt. Carmel, Illinois, a small town just off the Wabash River.

The IECC was founded in 1969 with three colleges and only a few hundred students. Since then, it has expanded to include four college campuses and service more than 25,000 students each year.

The IECC is governed by a Board of Trustees with seven members, elected by the District’s residents. The Board also includes a student member who is elected to advise the Board and represent the student population.

Information Summary

Ranks 78th in Illinois and 2240th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	60.0
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$5,270
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	17 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	67% / 17%
Enrollment Total (all students)	2,777

Academics

WVC offers students five transfer degrees that make it easy to continue education at a four-year college in Illinois. Students can also choose from WVC’s associate degrees and certificate programs, which prepare them to enter the workforce in either one or two years.

Four of the associate degrees (Fine Arts, Arts, Science, and Science and Arts) are designed to prepare students for further study at a four-year university. These academic tracks provide students a broad, liberal arts foundation in many different areas, which will prepare them for the rigors of continued and more specialized education at the university level.

The Associate in Applied Science is designed to lead directly to employment. Graduates of this program are thoroughly educated in the hands-on and real-life applications of their technical studies.

All students have full access to the WVC library, which provides extensive resources including book collections, academic archives, scholarly articles, audio-visual materials, and subject-specific resources and worksheets. Online, students can access any of the college’s thousands of catalogued works, connect to different databases with the campus subscription, or access free tutorials and academic resources.

Workforce Education

The Workforce Education program is an opportunity for firms to partner with WVC for company-wide education programs. It offers short-term training in conjunction with company standards to employees in surrounding counties. Customized education and training courses for employees can improve efficiency, standardize procedures, or update outdated skills.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Unique Programs

The Adult and Continuing Education program promotes lifelong learning among residents of the IECC district community. It offers a number of different training classes and workshops designed to update existing skills or teach students something new.

The Adult and Family Literacy program is designed to help families and children improve their reading, speaking, and writing skills. Services are offered to native English speakers and to speakers of English as a Second Language (ESL). The classes promote active engagement among all members of a family, teaching the benefits of literacy as an individual skill and a family lifestyle.

Adult learners seeking GED accreditation can take tuition-free classes to prepare for the GED test. Classes last either 8 weeks or 16 weeks and provide a broad foundational review in the subjects of math, social studies, science, reading, and writing.

Basic computer classes are also offered for free. District residents with little or no computer experience are welcome to attend classes that introduce them to basic computer hardware, the mouse and keyboard, and simple functions like sending emails or typing a word document.

Admissions

Students who are seeking a degree or certificate from WVC must provide a high school diploma or GED certificate as a pre-requisite to enrollment. Students can get Admission Forms and Student Information Forms at the Student Services Office on campus. Once they have filled out the application, they must request transcripts or GED scores from all necessary institutions and provide these documents to the Records Office.

Students who are still in high school may enroll in WVC courses as desired. They are free to attend any courses outside the regular high school day without special permission, but must obtain written consent from their high school principal if they want to take classes that interfere with their regular curriculum.

Financial Aid

WVC offers aid to students who demonstrate financial need. Students wishing to apply for financial aid should fill out the FAFSA, which is available for free online at www.fafsa.gov. This form determines a student’s eligibility for federal aid money in the forms of loans, grants, and work-study programs. It is also a required supplementary document for many third-party scholarships and aid programs.

If a student is seeking aid from veteran services or third-party competitions, they should meet with a financial aid representative and discuss their specific situation in person. The Financial Aid office has resources and materials that can help students find and apply for many additional sources of aid.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5224th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Illinois.

Students

Students at WVC enjoy a rich and diverse community culture. They participate in everything from peer advising to a campus radio show, 98.1 The Bash. There are a number of student organizations and clubs, including the Diesel Equipment Club, Student Nurses Association, and Agri-Technology Club.

There is a strong arts community that partners with the Wabash Valley Arts Council to present community theatre performances, plays, and musicals on-stage. Students on campus can also audition for parts in the Brubeck Arts Center or participate in the Performing Arts program.

Students in the industrial studies program recently founded the ongoing WVC Bike Build, a student project that applies concepts learned in class to a real-world and fun experiment: building a custom motorcycle. You can see updates on the bike’s progress online at the WVC Bike Build website.

Class materials and spirit wear are available from the campus bookstore, located in the student center. Here, students can pick up everything they need for each semester’s coursework, grab a bite to eat, or meet up with friends.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

WVC athletes participate in intercollegiate sports through the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). WVC is a member of the Great Rivers Athletic conference, and its teams compete in men’s basketball and baseball and women’s basketball, softball, and volleyball, among other sports.

Any student can enjoy the on-campus athletic facility, which includes a gym with stadium seating, a softball and baseball diamond, lighted tennis courts, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a soccer field.

Additional School Information

IECC and the WVC campus are going green with new sustainability projects and community education initiatives. The campus is doing its part by installing solar energy systems, lowering gas consumption, recycling, and choosing energy efficient products and services. The College also offers a certificate program in alternative bio-fuels, which trains students for a career in the rapidly growing green energy industry.

Bibliography

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges. Adult Education: Learning for Life. Print.

Illinois Eastern Community Colleges – Wabash Valley College. Student Handbook. Print.

Illinois Eastern Community College – Wabash Valley College. “Wabash Valley College – Home.” Web. 31 July 2011.

Wabash Valley College