Dr. Jeannetta Hollins presented her first student forum Nov. 28 and the emphasis was on what she could learn from them, not what they could learn from her.
"I'm in the position to ensure that your experience is a quality experience, a rigorous one, one that is indicative of the real world," said Hollins, the interim vice president for Enrollment and Student Services at Virginia Peninsula Community College. "There's no perfect place, but we cannot improve if we don't hear the voices of our students. I need you to help me to improve our college experience."
About a dozen people were on hand for the 90-minute session at the Peninsula Workforce Development Center. Students shared why they chose the College (close to home, affordable, accessible), what prompts them to return (finishing what they started, meeting requirements to transfer), and what they would improve (better orientation to help promote a sense of community, more campus tours, more help with teacher-student dynamics).
Hollins stressed students' needs change often, sometimes from year to year, so it's important to have these discussions. Her plan is to have one a semester, but if students want them more often, she will adjust. It's about the students.
"I want to ensure that as you leave here and you represent our college, you leave with the tools and the resources that you need to be successful, not just in the classroom, but when it comes to developing relationships with your colleagues and your peers," she said.