Local SVCC Recognized as Finalist in National Bellwether College Consortium 2024

Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) was a finalist in the 2024 Bellwether College Consortium. The SVCC team went to San Antonio, Texas to compete for the Bellwether Award at the annual Community College Futures Assembly. The college was selected from numerous applicants nationwide, with 29 community colleges from 18 states competing for the award.

The competition had three categories: Instructional Programs and Services, Workforce Development, and Planning, Governance, and Finance. SVCC competed in the Workforce Development category, placing it among the top 10% of community colleges in this category.

Participants were asked to discuss how they addressed a significant issue affecting community colleges and provide replicable examples of lessons learned. SVCC's presentation, titled 'Industry Collaboration for Workforce Development: SVCC’s Power Line Worker School', focused on the Power Line Worker program, its inception, and the benefits of effective industry collaboration.

Although SVCC did not win the top prize, its President, Dr. Quentin R. Johnson, appreciated the chance to compete for the 2024 Bellwether Award. He saw it as a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with other community colleges nationwide.

The Bellwether College Consortium consists of award-winning colleges that address critical issues facing community colleges. They do this through relevant research and by promoting and replicating best practices in workforce development, instructional programs and services, and planning governance and finance.

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