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2008 Archive >> Back
to Current Campus Happenings Students return to warm welcome Police and Security Services welcomes students for spring semester  Known affectionately as the "Blue Light Special”, the JSRCC Department of Police and Security Services recently braved sub-freezing temperatures to welcome students, faculty and staff to campus with free coffee and doughnuts. According to Police Chief Garth Wheeler, these activities offer members of the college community opportunities to ask questions and learn about safety and security issues on campus. Consisting of 13 sworn officers, 10 security officers and four dispatchers, the department will be been busy this semester focusing on informing students about the Reynolds alert system, coordinating JSRCC Safety Day and developing a program to educate students, faculty and staff on highway and pedestrian safety. For more information about the Police and Security Services department, visit www.reynolds.edu/security. JSRCC hosts nursing completion ceremony
She attributes much of her success to the positive inspiration and influence she received from professors at JSRCC. In particular, Herrera recalls a police writing class that helped her tremendously – not only in the academy but in her daily work. “I truly believe that anyone considering this line of work should consider starting at Reynolds. I don’t think I would be as successful had I not started at JSRCC,” said Herrera. “The academics I had at Reynolds really helped me stay ahead of the game at the academy …I was the oldest female there and it was very challenging. They put the pressure on. They want to know early that you’re going to make it through.” Herrera has been a Richmond region resident since she was 14. A graduate of George Wythe High School, she now resides in Goochland County. She is married to a City of Richmond Police Sargeant, is a mother to three children and stepmother to four children. “I know I’ve been a role model to my children,” she says. “But I tell them to complete their studies earlier than I did.” Herrera has protected the State Capital for nine years and is also an active safety and women’s rights advocate. She frequently speaks at local schools, businesses and churches about domestic violence, cultural diversity, sexual harassment, crisis communication, workplace violence and bullying. She is also certified through the National Rifle Association to teach a “refuse to be a victim” class and has completed requirements to become a certified crime prevention specialist. Herrera is currently working on a bachelor’s degree in
Business Administration. Two of her daughters plan to enroll in JSRCC in coming
years – one as a full time student, the other as a dual enrollment student. Auto instructors offer safety and maintenance
tips Virginia-Nebraska Alliance offers internships
to promote diversity in Students interested in learning more about how to participate and admissions deadlines can contact Deborah Neely-Fisher at (804) 523-5741 or dneely-fisher@reynolds.edu or visit www.vanealliance.com. Former Governor’s Chief of Staff and local
political analyst lead JSRCC book discussion Nearly 100 Reynolds students inducted into Phi
Theta Kappa honor society Pair of Reynolds students honored as Commonwealth
Legacy Scholars A current student at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Briere is a science/teacher-prep major with a cumulative 3.8 grade point average. The former home-schooled student is the third child in a family of eight and is responsible for her own educational expenses. She plans to continue her education and obtain a master’s degree, working towards a career teaching 4 th and 5 th graders at a public school or on a Native American reservation. A home schooled student who has taken dual enrollment classes since 2005, Landrum is a current student at JSRCC and boast a 3.8 grade point average. She is currently working towards an associate’s degree in liberal arts while working part-time. Landrum has received numerous awards for her contributions to the community, including Henrico County’s Prudential Spirit community Award. After graduating from Reynolds, she plans to complete her bachelor’s degree and pursue a career in cosmetology, helping women realize their inner beauty and personal self-worth. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, in commending the 30 scholars, said “These outstanding students are Virginia’s future leaders. They represent the potential in all of our youth, and the difference that we each can make in the world.” The scholarships recognize students from across the commonwealth who have demonstrated academic excellence during high school as well as a commitment to developing their leadership skills. They will become mentors to future Legacy Scholars as they move through their academic programs and graduate from a Virginia Community College. Each scholarship bears the name of one of many philanthropy leaders who support Virginia’s Community Colleges. Students share life-changing
stories at 11 th Annual Scholarship Luncheon
“I want you to know that every bit of help counts,” said
Ron Ingram, recipient of the Alan Waters Memorial Scholarship. “The
scholarships help people like me go to school. I hope to one day teach
or open my own business where my two sons will be able to help me run it.” During the program, Rose Liggan also received the designation of Excellence in Service to J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College for her over 30 years of service to the College. She served as the Scholarship Coordinator for the College and Educational Foundation for most of her career A key initiative of the College is to increase the number of scholarships available to students. For more information on scholarships and how you can help remove barriers for students contact the JSRCC Educational Foundation at 523-5181 or visiting www.reynolds.edu/jsr_fnd/. Reynolds professor to help pilot electronic physics book  JSRCC Professor John Ochab is one of thirteen individuals that will form a core team to pilot the development and release of an open-source physics “flexbook” for Virginia. This electronic material will focus on high school physics and contain contemporary and emerging 21st century physics and modern laboratory experiments. The Virginia Physics “Flexbook” project is a collaborative effort of the Secretaries of Education and Technology and the Department of Education that seeks to elevate the quality of physics instruction across the Commonwealth. The core team is charged to create and compile supplemental materials relating to 21st century physics in an open-source format that can be used to strengthen physics content. Local emergency response teams participate in JSRCC mock shooter drill  J.
Sargeant Reynolds Community College Police and Security Services Department
led a multi-jurisdictional active shooter mock drill recently on the College’s
Western Campus. The drill simulated two shooters coming to the College’s
campus intending to kill as many people as possible.
The mock drill involved joint training with the Virginia State Police, the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office, the Goochland Volunteer Fire -Rescue Association and nearly 50 volunteer participants. "The drill tested us in a lot of different ways," says JSRCC Police Chief Garth Wheeler. "One of our main goals was to find out how good our communication capabilities were and how we would interact with different agencies." The drill lasted about two hours, before the group gathered for an evaluation session. JSRCC is the second community college in the Virginia Community College System and the first institution in the Greater Richmond Region to conduct a mock active shooter drill. Renowned spoken word artist
performs in Lipman Auditorium Local author leads JSRCC books discussion Reynolds recently continued its “Around the World Through Books” discussion featuring  Scorched
Earth, written by bestselling author and Richmond-area resident David
L. Robbins. Robbins gave a vigorous and engaging presentation to more than
80 attendees by providing insights into his characters and novels, sound advice
for aspiring writers and a lively demonstration of his own vivid personality.
Attendees later had the opportunity to meet the author as he signed books and
chatted with students.“Around the World Through Books” is a free community event sponsored by JSRCC’s Multicultural Enrichment Council for the purpose of encouraging cultural diversity throughout the Reynolds campuses and communities. The next discussion will cover Boomsday, a humorous and timely novel by Christopher Buckley on November 12 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Gallery of Georgiadis Hall on JSRCC’s Parham Road Campus. Jeff Shapiro, a political analyst for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and Bill Leighty, former Chief of Staff to Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, will lead the discussion in an effort to connect the themes of the novel to the Presidential election. For more information about this event and the forum series, contact Laurie Weinberg at (804) 523-5021. JSRCC’s Malcolm T. Holmes selected for Leadership Program  Richmond JSRCC Director of Marketing and Public Relations & Special Assistant to the President Malcolm T. Holmes has been selected to participate in Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR), a non-profit community leadership development program that seeks to advance the Richmond region by educating, energizing and connecting a diverse group of local leaders to serve the community. Since 1980, more than 1,500 Richmonders have graduated from LMR. This year’s Leadership Quest class, the LMR flagship program, is one of the largest in the program’s history. It is divided into teams that will work collaboratively on action learning projects designed to move beyond the discussion of regional challenges to identification and implementation of sustainable, strategic solutions. In addition to his participation in LMR, Holmes has been elected vice-chair of the Carver Promise Board of Directors and has been appointed an associate trustee of the Board of Trustees for Friends Association for Children. MTV’s
Jose Tapia hosts "Decision 2008” forum JSRCC recently hosted “Decision 2008,” an interactive
forum featuring Jose Tapia from MTV’s Real World: Key West. The forum
is designed to help students and the general public learn more about each
political party before voting in the November presidential elections. Tapia
facilitated a discussion among more than 100 students, staff and faculty
members – covering several hot-button issues including Iraq, abortion,
immigration and the economy. The event was held in the Massey Library Technology
Center’s Lipman Auditorium.  Delegate
John O’Bannon takes a tour of the new Ivor and Maureen Massey Library
Technology Center Pictured (l-r): John Ambrose, Delegate John O’Bannon, Jim Cuthbertson (College Board), Malcolm Holmes, President Gary L. Rhodes. A warm welcome for
Reynolds students Police and Security
Services welcomes back students Known affectionately as the "Blue Light Special,” JSRCC Office of Police and Security Services recently welcomed back students, faculty and staff to campus with free coffee and doughnuts. According to Police Chief Garth Wheeler, these activities offer members of the college community opportunities to ask questions and learn about safety and security issues on campus. According to Chief Wheeler the department has been busy over the summer increasing campus security. Students will soon have the services of 25 Code Blue Emergency boxes, which will be located on each of the College’s three campuses. “The emergency boxes will be a valuable asset to the College community,” noted Chief Wheeler. “If a student or anyone on campus picks up the phone in an emergency box, they will automatically be connected to a Police and Security Services operator for assistance.” The Police and Security Services department has a number of activities and professional development sessions planned for students, faculty and staff this semester, to include sessions on “The Law and You” and “Gang Violence.” With 10 sworn officers, the department has plans to add six full-time security officers this semester. For more information about the Police and Security Services department, visit www.reynolds.edu/security. College remembers Sue Pahle Susan Pahle, former Coordinator of ESL at J.S.Reynolds, died on July 3, 2008. Many faculty and staff will recall that it was through Susan’s energetic leadership, starting in 1997, that the college’s comprehensive ESL Program was created. Under her direction, the ESL curriculum was redesigned and new testing and placement processes were implemented – vastly improving the quality of advising for ESL students. She reached out to English learners by organizing open houses and visiting adult education classes and community centers to increase the visibility of the ESL Program in the College’s service region. Enrollments increased dramatically; in Fall 1997 when the program was initiated, they were up 67 percent from the previous fall. Steady growth continued, from 70 students in Spring 1997 to 369 students by Spring 2003. Until it was fully funded by the college, Susan kept the program growing through grants and an innovative collaboration with the College’s non-credit corporate training division.
Susan left the college in 2005 to start her own company, Language Works, but the program continues to thrive on the foundation that she established. Between Spring 2007 and Spring 2008, there were more than 1000 ESL enrollments. To honor Susan’s work, the ESL faculty is supporting the Pahle family’s decision to create a memorial scholarship for ESL students. Contributions can be directed to the J. Sargeant Reynolds Educational Foundation at 804.523.5181 Richmond high school students practice teaching
in City schools “My counselor encouraged me to participate in the program,” said Mikala from Armstrong High School. “I help my little cousins when they need help with homework and always enjoyed it. Being in the classroom was fun.” “I miss some of my students from class already,” said Monique from Armstrong High School. “I love kids and I think the kids enjoyed having someone close to their age to help out in class.” In addition to real-life teaching experience, the 14 participating students also earned college credit for their course work. Students studied theories of multiple intelligences and practiced alternative teaching methods for several different learning styles. Freeman appointed to JSRCC College Board for third term  The Henrico County Board of Supervisors recently appointed J. Douglas Freeman, Sr. to his third term on the J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Board. He served previously for eight years on the College Board before his term limit was reached in 2005. Freeman has served for the past three years on the College’s Foundation Board. A graduate of Princeton University, Freeman also holds an A.A.S. degree in horticulture from Reynolds. The 2008-09 JSRCC College Board members include: Benjamin L. Alexander, Maureen Moslow-Benway, Dr. James H. Bowles, Jr., Robert E. Comet, Jr., AIA, Mark A. Creery, Sr., James Cuthbertson, Beverley G. Donati, Dr. Rondle E. Edwards, J. Douglas Freeman, Sr., Gerald E. Kilgore, George Long, Doris E. McCray, Shawn L. Peterson, Dr. William A. Rees and Harold Watkins. My summer vacation… This picture was taken from a billboard
by my wife, Helen, and I while staying near beautiful West Lake in
1John S. Ochab, Ph.D.,
Associate Professor of Physics, has been with JSRCC for three years and
teachers both the general college and university physics courses.
Friday-only classes
estimated to save students more than While many colleges across the country are scheduling classes four days per week to help students cope with the rising fuel costs, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College is piloting Fuel $mart Fridays—a class schedule that allows students to drive to campus only one day a week and still earn a full load of credits for the semester. With an average student commuting 20 miles daily, he will save driving 80 miles per week or 1,280 miles over a 16-week semester by participating in the Fuel $mart Friday program. With gas at $4.00 per gallon, the student can potentially save over $1,080 per semester in vehicle operating costs* by attending classes on Friday only. All classes will be held on the College’s Parham Road Campus. They are scheduled as follows: 8 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.; noon - 2:40 p.m.; 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.; 7 p.m. - 9:50 p.m. “We’re all feeling the crunch at the gas pump,” said Gary L. Rhodes, JSRCC president. “Here at the College, over 80 percent of our students work and some are on fixed incomes. This is just one way that we can help them further their education despite the rising cost of gas.” The College has added additional benefits for students participating
in the Fuel $mart Friday program, including additional tutors being available
and expanded bookstore hours. Registration for fall semester and Fuel $mart
Friday classes is currently underway. * According to the AAA website, the composite national average in 2007 to operate a vehicle was 52.2 cents a mile when gasoline costs an average $2.50 per gallon. By adding a 62.5% increase for gasoline costing its current average of $4.00 per gallon rate, it will cost a student an estimated 84.8 cents to travel a mile during the 2008 fall semester A student traveling 1280 less miles a semester will save on the average $1085.44.
>>See the 2007 Archive >>See the 2006 Archive JSRCC hosts summer nursing
completion ceremony JSRCC recently recognized 25 students who completed
the Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing. The ceremony
opened with words of welcome by JSRCC President Dr. Gary
Rhodes and Care Advantage President Deborah Johnston, RN.
State Farm awards
$15,000 to JSRCC Auto Technology Program The J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College Automotive Technology
program received a $15,000 gift from State Farm Insurance to
assist in paying tuition and to purchase books and tools for
students preparing to enter the auto repair industry. Executive Women International local chapter awards more than $15,000 to JSRCC students The Richmond Chapter of Executive Women International
(EWI) recently The JSRCC recipients include: Latoya Douglas (Human
Services), Jeanette Gilbo (Nursing), Sherika Gillison-Chew (Education),
Rashiba Hill (Business Administration), Ronald Ingram (Automotive
Technology), Christie Johnson (Business Administration), Marvin
Jones (Business Administration), Tanya Shelton (Health Records
Coding) and Kelly Toomey (Medical Field). Gilbo was also submitted
to EWI Corporate to be eligible for an additional $2,500 scholarship. Future Students Enjoy
Initial Summer Orientation Program JSRCC prepares teachers
for urban schools >> read the full press release
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College partnered with Piedmont Virginia Community College to host this year’s Learning Communities Summer Institute (LCSI). During this intensive workshop, 25 JSRCC faculty focused on implementation of learning communities (LCs) and LC-related strategies. An essential characteristic of learning communities is collaboration across disciplines, and the LCSI amplified this spirit by collaborating both across discipline and across institutional lines. Learning communities are a kind of co-registration or block scheduling that enables students to take courses together. The courses themselves are typically linked by integrated themes and assignments, developed through ongoing faculty collaboration. Considerable research indicates that learning communities have a positive impact on student persistence, retention and graduation rates. Essentially, students who perceive themselves as members of a community, tethered to their college experience, are more likely to be successful in their courses and programs. Unsurprisingly both students and faculty show higher levels of satisfaction as the result of participation in learning communities.
Other partners include the U.S. Small Business Administration,
the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, New Visions New
Ventures, the Technology Resource Center, the Greater Richmond
Small Business Development Center, the Chesterfield County Department
of Economic Development, the Henrico County Economic Development
Authority, the City of Richmond Department of Economics, Hanover
County Economic Development and the City of Richmond Office of
Minority Business Development.
“Freedom Writers” essay
contest winners announced
National
youth violence expert addresses campus safety Environmentalist Lois Gibbs urges Reynolds students to  protect
their communitiesLois Gibbs, an American environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, recently visited J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College to share her personal story of Love Canal, New York – an entire neighborhood built on a toxic waste dump that was declared the first environmental disaster area in the United States. “The biggest lesson I learned was that it is not about
science, it’s about politics,” said Gibbs. The U.S. environmental law known as Superfund was created in 1980 in response to the Love Canal disaster. The Superfund law protects the public from abandoned toxic waste sites. Gibbs lives in Virginia and now serves as the executive director for the Center for Health, Environment and Justice – an organization that helps families and communities that are facing environmental risks. Gibbs encouraged Reynolds students to recycle and discontinue using harmful or non-biodegradable products, such as plastics made with PVC - better known as vinyl. For more information, visit www.chej.org or www.pvcfree.org. Middle College - an “extreme
make-over” for many Richmonders LaVon shared how her GED opened the door to becoming an assistant manager at a local restaurant. “While being an assistant manager might not sound glamorous, it wouldn’t have been possible without my GED. I want you to know it’s tough out in the real world. And without your GED, it’s really tough. I’ve been there.” Sherika served as the moderator of the forum that featured her fellow graduates. She received a round of applause from her husband and three children after sharing her exciting story of how she went from entering the Middle College with no job to now enjoying a full-time job with benefits allowing her to choose the doctors for her family. The Middle College program is a Virginia Community College System initiative designed to offer a college opportunity to individuals between 18 and 24 who have not completed high school. This college recovery program is designed for those individuals who have had a desire to pursue college coursework, but need to attain a GED certificate first. The Middle College has worked with 400 students since 2003, serving about 100 students each year. Currently about 75 students are expected to graduate from the program in May. >> Click here to see more photosA visit with friends from Ghana
Students thank College friends
for their sweet support Record number participates in
Classified Council Scholarship Bowl >> Click
here to see more photos JSR Students visit General Assembly 
A cadre of JSRCC students recently participated in “Community College
Day” at the General Assembly.
Strolling through the crowded hallways of the General Assembly Building,
the students shared their personal stories with lawmakers. Reynolds professor discusses hearing loss and sign language on public radio JSRCC American Sign Language and Interpreter Education Coordinator Bruce A. Sofinski joins University of Virginia Audiologist Mani Aguilar in an interview with Sarah McConnell from With Good Reason, a radio show broadcast in partnership with public radio stations in Virginia and Washington D.C. Their segment “Hear Today, Hear Tomorrow,” discusses hearing loss prevention and the popularity of American Sign Language. >> Listen to the   A
Conversation With The Times-Dispatch
JSRCC President Dr. Gary L. Rhodes
joined Virginia Commonwealth University President Dr. Eugene Trani for a
discussion with members of the Richmond Times-Dispatch's editorial staff
and newsroom. JSRCC hosts nursing completion
ceremony Fundamentals of Nursing - Kelly Hennessey VCU guarantees transfer for Reynolds
Engineering students “With so many jobs being outsourced overseas, it is important to have an understanding of business and commerce,” Jamison said. “Companies want people who get it. So you need to know how to read a balance sheet if you want to be valuable to a company.” In addition to opportunities to receive up to $3,500 a year in renewable
scholarships, Jamison also reminded students about guaranteed admission agreements
between VCU’s School of Engineering and JSRCC. Reynolds History professor publishes “demonology” dissertation Reynolds President appointed to regional workforce task force JSRCC President Dr. Gary L. Rhodes has been appointed by City of Richmond Mayor Doug Wilder to serve on a Regional Partnership Team – designed to develop a strategy for a regional workforce initiative and explore a regional workforce development area. In addition to providing governance and policy direction for regional alignment efforts, the team will explore merging the City of Richmond and the Capital Area Workforce Investment Boards. The task force’s work is scheduled to occur from January through July and will be facilitated by Dr. William Bosher, former Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Success tips shared with new Reynolds students  New JSRCC students were welcomed at this spring semester’s Student Orientation Advising and Registration (SOAR) program, where existing students and faculty shared essential tips for a successful college career. In addition to receiving a full college orientation, attendees participated in The Reynolds Experience – an interactive game show that presented important information about financial aid, placement tests and registration. Students were later given campus tours. “At Reynolds, we try to connect students to resources within the College that will help them meet their goals,” said Meg Buchanan Foster, Counselor for First Year Initiatives. “We’re always looking for opportunities to showcase our academic, advising, career and financial services.” The SOAR program is administered through the Office of First Year Initiatives, which helps provide a successful start for new students at JSRCC through a variety of programs. For more information, call (804) 523-5917 or e-mail soar@reynolds.edu.  Students
receive goodie bags for exam week Reynolds students received free exam packs this week from the Office of Student Life to help get through a busy and important part of the semester. Essential goodie bag items included candy, highlighters, note cards, pencils and snacks. Reynolds book discussion series continues with The Bastard of Instanbul The College recently hosted another successful “Around the World Through  Books” discussion
featuring The Bastard of Istanbul, written by award-winning Turkish
author Elif Shafak. In an engaging and passionate manner, Shafak
unfolds the tragedy and roots of two families, one Turkish and
one Armenian, who have been tied together since the 1915 Armenian
deportations.JSRCC Professors Dr. Mayda Topoushian and Dr. Ghazal Hashmi lead the discussion while Mediterranean refreshments were served. The book discussions are free, community events sponsored by JSRCC’s Multicultural Enrichment Council for the purpose of encouraging cultural diversity throughout the Reynolds campuses and communities. For more information visit www.reynolds.edu/book. Community College Horticulture Students from across Virginia  Help Decorate Governor’s Mansion for the Holidays Richmond – Community college horticulture students from across the commonwealth spent the day at Virginia’s Executive Mansion, helping decorate the historic residence for the holiday season. First Lady Anne Holton greeted the students and thanked them for their hard work. “It’s not every day you get to come in here and decorate,” said Sheryl Hall, a Virginia Western Community College horticulture student. “I could never turn down an opportunity to say I decorated the governor’s mansion.” “It’s a wonderful experience,” added Dena Parker, a student of J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. “It’s a hands-on opportunity you carry with you.” The students worked under the direction of Amy Bridge, the director of the Executive Mansion and Tommy Autry, owner of Tommy’s Garden in Richmond. The students assisted with several projects, including creating centerpieces, decorating the chairs of the grand dining room, and assembling the greens that will be hung throughout the mansion’s first floor. >> Read the full story & see more photographs JSRCC participates in fitness walk All three Reynolds campuses participated in a 15 minute fitness walk – part of Commonhealth’s Keep the Beat program to help prevent and control high blood pressure. Commonhealth is a Virginia resource that encourages healthy eating, exercise and lifestyles. The Keep the Beat program provides tips on how to manage and prevent high blood pressure, offers blood pressure screenings and coordinates monthly challenges. Anthony Booker is the College’s first Student LEAP Award grand prize winner  Anthony Booker, 22, is a student at the Middle College and recently received a Student LEAP Award for demonstrating one of the 11 positive learning environment behaviors. Award winners can redeem LEAP certificates at the Business Office for a $5 Wawa gift card. Each month, winners are pooled and a grand prize winner is drawn and receives a $25 gift card for Regal Cinemas. JSRCC is committed to providing a positive learning environment in which all faculty, staff, and students can learn together in a setting that encourages the free exchange of ideas and information. To accomplish this goal, members of the college have established 11 expectations for learning. Faculty and staff members may award students for demonstrating one or more of the following principles: punctuality, courtesy, consideration, focus, accountability, participation, preparation, privacy, professionalism, respect and responsibility. Reynolds Career, Employment, and
Transfer Center partners with U.S. Navy and VUU marketing students to
host Halloween Expo Congratulations PTK inductees JSRCC builds a community of stronger families The Office of Student Life and the Early Childhood Develo  pment
Department joined forces to offer “A Community Building Stronger Families,” a reading and crafts fair designed to recognize the many JSRCC students that juggle work, school and family. The fair included storytelling, crafts, healthy snack ideas and homework tips for both parents and kids. Every child also received a free, age-appropriate book as a give-away. “It is kind of like a back-to-school night, except the kids get to see where their parents go to school,” said Student Life Coordinator Kemper Steele. Community exhibitors included Read Aloud Virginia, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority and United Way Airs, a 2-1-1 service that connects people with important community programs and volunteer opportunities. Author attempts to revive “wild fermentation” 
The JSRCC Sustainable Agriculture Club recently hosted an evening featuring Sandor Katz (aka Sandorkraut), a food fermentation revivalist, activist and author of Wild Fermentation: The Flavor, Nutrition, and Craft of Live-culture Foods. Katz travels widely to teach and promote food fermentation. Fermentation creates compelling flavors, preserves food and adds nutrients. Katz shared the simplicity of fermenting food, presented the health benefits of kimchi, sauerkraut and other live-culture ferments, and discussed the diversity of fermented foods and drinks consumed around the world. “We live in what I call a bubble of refrigeration,” said Katz. “But that is fairly new and still not available in many parts of the world. Fermentation is an ideal way for many cultures to get from seasons of relative abundance to seasons of relative scarcity…it is the most effective way to preserve nutrients in food.” The most profound benefits of fermented foods, Katz says, are
live cultures – natural bacteria that are essential for digestion.
Flavor is another benefit of fermentation, although Katz admits that what
is considered flavorful by some, others “wouldn’t touch.” Stories from the Middle College 10th Annual Scholarship Luncheon Creates Personal Connections Since the College’s Scholarship Program began  in
1983, nearly $3.5 million has been awarded to more than 2,000 students – removing
one of the most common barriers to attending college. Recently, at the 10th
Annual Scholarship Luncheon, scholarship benefactors were able to make personal
connections and see first-hand how they have touched the lives of JSRCC student
recipients.
“I’m not sure how I would have paid for college
if it wasn’t for this scholarship,” said Laura Briere, 18, recipient
of the Reynolds Family Legacy Scholarship. “I am taking one semester
at a time.” “They say you can’t see the wind beneath your wings, but mine is right here,” said the mother of five to Person. “This has had a rippling effect on my family. My 19 year-old is now a student at Reynolds – all from one gush of wind.” A key initiative of the College is to increase the number of
scholarships available to students. For more student testimonials or information
on scholarships and how you can help remove barriers for students contact
the JSRCC Educational Foundation. Reynolds Book Discussion Series Continues with What is the What
The program is a free community event sponsored by JSRCC’s
Multicultural Enrichment Committee for the purpose of encouraging cultural
diversity throughout the Reynolds campuses and communities. The next book
discussion is scheduled for November 29th from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the
Gallery and will feature Bastard of Istanbul by author Elif Shafak. Forum features international exchange faculty from Netherlands
What do college students in Amsterdam have in common with students attending J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College? With the exception of putting mayonnaise on French fries and taking public transportation or riding bicycles to class instead of driving cars, more than you might imagine. International exchange faculty Frans van Eekelen and
Bob Bogaard fielded a myriad of questions from Reynolds students at a forum
recently held on the Parham Road Campus. The presenters covered a wide range
of topical areas including global warming, immigration, transportation and
state-supported public education. They also discussed universal “Our country has a very diverse population,” said
Bogaard. “But everyone has at least two languages and our literacy
rate is close to 100 percent.” Reynolds Faculty Studies Best Practices for Troubled Students Several faculty and staff recently attended a webinar entitled “Responding to Troubled and At-Risk Students” to gain best practices in threat assessment and responding to troubled students. Gary Pavela, J.D., a faculty member at University of Maryland and Paul Joffee, Ph.D., clinical psychologist for the Counseling Center at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign were presenters. The presenters used recent incidents of violence at other schools, colleges and universities, including Virginia Tech and Columbine as case studies for presenting best practices. Among the many pieces of advice given, Mr. Pavela strongly emphasized the importance of institutions creating a culture that actively engages students. “You have to get into their heads and into their hearts,” said Pavela about students. “Pay attention to your school and your campus culture.” Dr. Ivan Harrell, coordinator for student affairs at JSRCC, emphasized how important it is for faculty and staff members to recognize students who may be troubled and at-risk. “There are some warning signs; but it can often be an isolated incident. Some students don’t necessarily understand what appropriate behavior is in an educational environment.” He further emphasized how important it is for faculty and staff to notify Police and Security Services when interacting with a student who may be exhibiting behavior that could be dangerous to him/herself or others. Police and Security Services and the Office of Student Affairs work very closely to address these types of situations and connect students with needed resources. Faculty and staff are encouraged to contact the
Office of Student Affairs at (804) 523-5296 if they have any questions
about working with troubled or at-risk students. The handouts from the
presentation can be found at: Reynolds.edu
Reynolds Professor of Biology Dr. James H. Martin III opened the evening with his presentation “Real CSI – The Skeletal Remains.” Martin used male and female skulls and other bones to demonstrate how crime scene investigators determine the gender of human remains. “I hope through my presentation people will watch crime shows like CSI and have an understanding of what really goes on during a crime investigation,” said Martin. “CSI is a fine show for entertainment, but tonight I’ll show that it isn’t very realistic.” Following Martin, Associate Professor of Geology David
H. Walz took the audience on a scenic tour of the North American continent.
Using his personal photos, Waltz showed the diversified continent is full
of arid deserts bounded by majestic, snow-covered mountain chains; rocky,
shelly, and sandy shorelines; great, sinuous river systems; expansive, flat
steppes; active, slow-moving glaciers; and semi-tropical and grassed savannahs. Associate Professor of Natural Science James E. Ezell closed the program with his presentation “Expedition to the Galapagos.” Ezell shared experiences from his trip this past summer to the Galapagos Islands. During his presentation he described the unique and special characteristics of the islands' geology, flora and fauna. “I want to share with the students the beauty of an untouched area,” said Ezell. “I want them to know there are still areas in the world that are largely still untouched by man.” >> Click here to see more photos Chancellor's
taskforce on campus safety holds public hearing at Reynolds
Nine JSRCC students are enrolled in a Police Cadet Program with the City of Richmond Police Department’s first cadet class. For the next three years, the cadets will attend classes as well as work in a civilian capacity with the police department. Students completing this certificate may transfer the credits to the Administration of Justice AAS program at Reynolds or transfer to VCU's Criminal Justice program. “I want to be able to talk to people and change their perspective of how people in my neighborhood think of police,” said JSRCC student Daryl Goldsmith. “I want them to see that police officers are the same as us, but they care enough to enforce the laws and do what is right.” The program is a pathway for those who wish to become
police officers or to serve in some other capacity of law enforcement. It
was developed to fill a critical shortage in law enforcement in Richmond
and the surrounding areas. Students learn about issues pertaining to criminal
justice and law enforcement in a modern society including law and order,
police-citizen conflict, crime prevention, collecting evidence, conducting
criminal investigations, the juvenile justice system, and the interface between
police and other criminal justice agencies. Groover Published in Professional
Journal Richard Groover’s presentation paper entitled “Impact of an Environmental Science Class on College Students” has been published in Conference Proceedings, a journal of the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). The publication contains keynote addresses, synopses of general sessions, workshops, and symposia, and submitted presentation papers from the largest annual international environmental education conference. Groover is an assistant professor of biology at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College. According to its website, NAAEE is the professional
association for environmental education. Members promote professional excellence
in non-formal organizations, K-12 classrooms, universities (both instructors
and students), government agencies, and corporate settings throughout North
America and in over 55 other countries. Since 1971, the Association has
created opportunities for its members to improve their skills in creating
and delivering programs and services that teach people how to think, not
what to think.
Nearly two full busloads of Reynolds students and staff
recently traveled to FedExField for the Washington Redskins tough loss against
the New York Giants. The Redskins ended the first half leading the game 17-3,
but struggled in the second half and were defeated 24-7. Police and Security Services Host Open House  JSRCC Police and Security Services recently hosted an open house featuring facility tours, information on the College’s new emergency communications system and emergency procedures. Campus police operate the College’s 5911 emergency line and are available round-the-clock to assist students, faculty and staff. "Our department strives to provide the safest environment we possibly can on each of our campuses,” said JSRCC Police Chief Garth Wheeler. “We have made many improvements over the past several years including a camera system downtown, sworn police personnel at each campus, a college safety program and most importantly - the emergency communications center which serves as the hub for a safer college community." >> Click here to see more photos New Criminal Justice Program to Address Law Enforcement Personnel Shortage  Reynolds
faculty member Sara Jessie recently joined Hanover County Sheriff
Colonel Stuart V. Cook to introduce a new Criminal Justice Career
Study Certificate program to the Hanover County School Board.
Designed primarily for those wishing to enter the law enforcement field and for those workers already in the criminal justice field who want to upgrade their skills, the certificate program will help fill the void of qualified local law enforcement personnel. “Students that complete the certificate program will have the background and foundation to help them enter the law enforcement field or to gain essential tools that will assist them in advancing in the profession,” said JSRCC School of Business Dean, Dr. Erica Meredith. The certificate program consists of six classes that will automatically transfer if a student pursues an Administration of Justice Associates Degree at Reynolds. "This is another great example where Hanover Public Schools and Hanover County officials have pooled together their resources with J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in a strategic manner to make Hanover County a great place to live for years ahead...in this case an effort to provide a trained workforce in law enforcement,” said Rhodes. >> Click here to see more photosOSL Showcases Student Clubs  JSRCC’s Office of Student Life recently hosted a Student Club Fair to showcase student clubs and recruit new members. Applications were also available for students considering starting new clubs. Interest in student clubs has grown in recent years – last year the number of JSRCC student clubs increased from 12 to 19.“The priority for students is academics, but it is so important for them to also be engaged in activities outside of class,” said Kemper Steele, JSRCC Coordinator for Student Life. “Students coming together is what makes college an exciting place to learn and grow.” >> Click here to see more photos Reynolds
Hosts Health Fair for City of Richmond Head Start Children OSL Celebrates with Welcome Back Parties
"The welcome back parties are fun
ways to show our students, faculty, and staff how excited we
are to have them back at school,” notes Kemper Steele,
Coordinator for Student Life. “The first couple weeks of
school are always busy, and we just thought these parties would
be a nice break during the day and a good opportunity for everyone
to catch up after summer break. >> Click here to see more photos School
of Nursing and Allied Health, Student Life partner
for Asthma Walk Join the School of Nursing and Allied
Health and Student Life as they “Blow the Whistle
on Asthma” by taking a short walk (2.6 miles) around Innsbrook to
help raise money Reynolds’ Breathers Homepage: |
healthcare
profession
The
parties were open to all students, staff and faculty and offered pizza, soft
drinks, pool, foosball, air hockey and popular video games on big screens.“We
really wanted to do something fun to start the new year,” said Student
Life Coordinator Kemper Steele. “It has been nice for students to catch
up with each other, with professors and, also, to meet new people.”
Hangzhou,
China. You can imagine the déjà vu. Apparently,
it is an ad for local real estate. Our three week China tour, centered
in Hong Kong/Kowloon, included flights to Beijing and Hangzhou, with shorter
excursions to Shanghai and Shaoxing. Traveling in China was both an exciting
and educational experience.
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The
Office of Student Life recently celebrated the return of students
back to campus by conducting welcome back parties on each Reynolds
campus. The celebrations included free ice cream, pizza and drinks.
Student also received a free JSRCC survival backpack full of school
items that will assist them during the semester.
for
the over 300,000 Virginians who suffer from asthma.