Student Services
The Student Handbook is filled with information pertinent to practical and personal student needs. The information provided in the handbook is critical to the Virginia Christian College experience, policy, procedures, and personal development. Each student is required to read the Handbook and expected to adhere to the standards therein.
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"The opportunity to be a part of the Virginia Christian College family has been nothing short of an answered prayer. The classes are engaging and the professors are top-notch. I was happy to find that the classes and coursework fit into my busy schedule while helping me to excel in leadership and develop in ministry. During a pandemic, it was truly a blessing to find a community of believers to connect and to grow with academically and in life."
-Natasha P.
New Student Orientation
All new students must participate in new student orientation, which is offered both virtually and digitally to accommodate students’ busy schedules. All new students are required to attend the virtual student orientation which is typically held the Saturday prior to the start of the Fall and Spring semesters via Zoom. Students are also encouraged to download the latest version of the student handbook (see below) and review the content. Students are expected to adhere to standards of the academic community which are explained in the handbook.
Mentored Academic Success
All students will receive academic and student support through the Mentored Academic Success Program, in which they will be assigned a Faculty Advisor and Student Success Coach. The faculty and peer mentors teach strategies for college success assess students’ progress in their courses and sharpen study skills. Mentored Academic Success was designed to provide academic support and develop the competencies necessary to thrive in a college setting.
- Faculty Advisors: Each student will be assigned a Faculty Advisor who will provide information that will assist students in planning their degree plan and meeting their specific educational goals. This includes access to course rotations and course recommendations to meet the general education and specific degree requirements for graduation. Students are responsible for their degree progression and completion. Advisors are available to guide students’ course selections each semester to help ensure that the courses being taken are a part of the degree plan for their major. It is the responsibility of the student to notify their advisor of any changes they make to their course selections. Failure to do so may result in additional time to complete their Virginia Christian College degree. Students should talk with their advisors when considering any changes to their major, minor, or course selections. The process of changing majors, adding or dropping a minor, adding or dropping a class, or requesting a course substitution is initiated at the VACC office so a student must talk with their advisor before any of these actions can be taken.
- Student Success Coaches: Upon admission, each student is assigned a Success Coach who will provide support outside of the classroom to help ensure success inside the classroom. This includes helping the student bridge the gaps between personal and academic challenges through advocacy, clarifying policies, and access to relevant resources. SSCs are assigned based on the student's last name:
- A-I: Kelly Sweat; ksweat@vacc.edu
- J-R: Towera Loper; tloper@vacc.edu
- S-Z: Dwight Riddick;
driddick@vacc.edu
- Expressing Concerns: Virginia Christian College is a caring community and desires to see our students holistically succeed. We recognize that the college years can present challenging life events that are hard to handle alone. Upon admission, each student is connected with a Faculty Advisor. However, you may be aware of a student who is not connected with an advisor and is struggling with any number of issues such as academics, grief, time management, relationships, etc. Many people can help, but if you don’t know where to turn, please contact the administrative office at 703.445.9056 and ask to speak with the Director of Student Success, Dwight Riddick or you may reach him at driddick@vacc.edu.
Please note that students can contact their professors, faculty advisor, success coach, or any department by phone and email, and expect to receive a response from the respective person/department within 24-48 hours of contact.
The Writing Center
At Virginia Christian College, we understand the crucial role effective writing plays in your academic success. Adjusting to academic writing can be challenging, so to support you in honing your writing skills, we have established a dedicated Writing Center that can provide you with real-time research and writing assistance:
- 4-week College Research and Writing Course: This course is offered at the beginning of each semester. It is designed to enhance your proficiency in academic writing.
- Tutor.com: Tutor.com provides 24/7, 1-on-1, and on-demand tutoring and writing assistance. They connect you with qualified tutors who can provide feedback on your writing, address specific questions, and offer insights to elevate the quality of your work.
- Research Tools: We have compiled several research and writing tools to help with finding scholarly sources, citations, paraphrasing, and even creating a basic PowerPoint presentation.
These valuable services come to you free of charge. Tutor.com and the Research Tools can be located in Populi under the "Library" tab. Whether you are looking for guidance on structuring your essays, citing sources, or improving your overall writing technique, our Writing Center is here to assist you throughout your academic journey.
Ministry and Student Outreach
There are several services that students who join Virginia Christian College can access and enjoy. Among them are the following:
- Monthly Chapel - Students are invited to attend our virtual Chapel every 4th Thursday at 7:00 pm. This is a highlight of our college community, as we gather, share, reflect, connect, and grow in our spiritual journey.
- Acts of Service – Students will volunteer at a designated area of outreach once a semester. There will be a list of venues provided for students to choose from. Students will have the head of the venue to complete a service log at the conclusion of the event.
- Mission Trip – Students are required to participate in missions trips. There will be a trip scheduled each summer. Announcements will be made via the website, Populi, and social media.
Student Access
Student Records, Privacy, & Confidentiality
Virginia Christian College places a strong emphasis on safeguarding student records and the privacy of our students during online activities. Virginia Christian College provides confidentiality of student records, except for that permitted by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). Student records are maintained in hard copy and computerized forms, both for internal use in connection with its academic programs and records. Student records will be retained for five (5) years beyond the student's final term of enrollment, with the exception of transcripts and academic records which shall be retained and preserved for fifty (50) years.
When students are engaged in online learning, privacy shall be addressed two-fold: 1) ensuring that the person logging in to course resources is the student registered for the course; and 2) ensuring that the person participating in the course is the student registered for the course. The College uses Populi, which offers a secure portal for all online academic activity to ensure that all information is protected through the College’s security measures. To verify that the person logging in to the course is the student registered for the course, each student uses a unique username and password for accessing College resources. The student shall be the only person with access to the student’s information. To ensure that the person participating in the course is the student registered for the course, faculty shall require students to turn on their camera unless there are extenuating circumstances the student has shared during the class session.
Change of Information
Students who began their educational journey with VCC after fall of 2014 should change their information through the College’s education management system, Populi. However, those enrolled prior to that time should immediately notify the Office of any changes in name, mailing address, telephone, E-mail, Fax, pager, or cell phone numbers.
Student Complaints
If a student wishes to submit a formal complaint, they must do so in the following ways:
- To VCC: Students may submit all complaints in writing to the Director of Student Success via email at driddick@vabiblecollege.edu. Students must indicate the nature of their complaint, explain their complaint in detail, and provide the basis of their complaint by explaining what standard was violated. The DSS office is responsible for responding to the student, directing the resolution process, and recording the final resolution of the complaint. If the student is still dissatisfied after conferring with the DSS, a complaint may be submitted to the Vice President of Academic Affairs via email at sjanuary@vabiblecollege.edu.
- To FERPA: Students have the right to file complaints with the FERPA office concerning alleged violations by the College or failure to comply with the act. This may be done by accessing the FERPA Complaint Form @ http://familypolicy.ed.gov/sites/fpco.ed.gov/files/E_Complaint_Form-ED.EMVC_.001.1_SRXV2.v071015.pdf.
- To SCHEV: If a student has a complaint or desires information about our religious exempt status or applicability of those requirements to the institution, may contact the SCHEV office at 101 North Fourteenth Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
- To TRACS: Students may also submit a complaint with TRACS via telephone: 434. 525-9539, email: info@tracs.org, or mail: P.O. Box 328, Forest, Virginia 24551.
- To Dept. of Education: Students may also file a complaint with the Department of Education through this link https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/how-can-i-submit-complaint-about-how-my-college-is-administering-my-financial-aid.