Join us Saturday, December 3rd, as the Met Live in HD series continues with a performance of Handel's Rodelinda. Order lunch in advance from McAlister's Deli by calling 819-9422.

Doors open at 11 a.m. and the performance will begin at 12:30 p.m. (please note the time change) in Whitman Theater. The performance is scheduled to run approximately 4 hours, 15 minutes with two intermissions. Scott Williamson, General & Artistic Director of Opera Roanoke, will present a discussion of this opera prior to the performance.

Sensational in the 2004 Met premiere of Stephen Wadsworth’s much-heralded production, Renée Fleming reprises the title role. She’s joined by Stephanie Blythe and countertenor Andreas Scholl, and Baroque specialist Harry Bicket conducts. 

General admission prices are $20 for adults, $18 for Met Members, Opera Roanoke Subscribers and senior citizens, students and children are free. Contact Tara Nepper (tnepper@virginiawestern.edu or 857-6492) for more information.

Radford University BSW (Social Work) Information & Application Process Session
Thursday Evening, December 1, 2011
6:00pm until 7:30pm
Room 608, Roanoke Higher Education Center
[2012 Term of Entry for Roanoke is Fall 2012]
All articulation students and others who plan to apply or reactivate for fall 2012 should plan to attend this session. Prospective students will meet the Roanoke BSW Coordinator/Advisor, be briefed on specific steps that should take in the application process and financial aid readiness, learn about BSW program requirements and standards including the development of the BSW portfolio. Some prospects who have decided to proceed with admissions for next fall have been advised to submit their applications at this time. (It is not required). It is recommended that students bring copies of their unofficial transcripts if they have questions about what will transfer and what will be needed. A print-out from “My VWCC” will suffice.
Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP to the RU Roanoke Office (540-767-6190) or via e-mail (ruroanoke@radford.edu) no later than Wednesday, Nov 30.

■Radford University B. S. Interdisciplinary Studies [PreK-6] Licensure Program
Information & Application Process Session
Friday Afternoon, December 16, 2011
4:00pm until 6:00pm
Room 602, Roanoke Higher Education Center
[2012 Term of Entry for Roanoke is Summer Session I (May, 2011)]
Hosted by College of Education Academic Advising Center Coordinator, Donna Dunn and Eulah Price, RU-RHEC Site Coordinator
This is a critical meeting for all prospective students who plan to apply for admission to the Summer 2012 cohort which begins May 2012. Bear in mind that this program only admits students in Roanoke once per year (Summer Session I). Their application process needs to begin immediately. Those who attend will hear about the application timeline, procedures in admission to RU, testing requirements for eventual admission to the RU Teacher Preparation Program, financial aid planning, etc. All students should plan for a general meeting which will begin at 4pm followed by individual consultation and transcript review by Donna Dunn. Again, we urge students to bring unofficial transcript print-outs. Those who plan to apply may also present sealed copies of their official transcripts to Ms. Dunn. It is encouraged that students bring their completed RU Roanoke Applications if they have already decided to proceed with the application process. RSVP no later than Wednesday, December 14 by dialing 767-6190 or e-mailing ruroanoke@radford.edu

We will be holding our last event for the semester this Thursday, December 1. We will be having a Career Bytes seminar on Winning Interviewing Skills. You can register to attend at 12:15pm or 5:15pm. The seminar lasts 30 minutes. You can register by calling 857-7298 or emailing rrice@virginiawestern.edu. This is the Last Chance to get that 3rd stamp you may be needing on your Hall Career Center Passport in order to be eligible for prize drawings. ALL PASSPORTS MUST BE TURNED IN BY DECEMBER 5 TO BE ENTERED INTO DRAWINGS.

Deck the Halls with... POINSETTIAS 

Horticulture Club Poinsettia Sales

Friday, December 2 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM

Saturday, December 3 from 9:00 to 11:00 AM

Monday, December 5 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM

VWCC Greenhouse

Colors available: Marble, Pink, Red, White

 Sizes and Prices: 

  4"  $4.50 each                  6" singles   $7.00 each                     7 "& 7 1/2" $12.00 each   

           4 1/2" Hip Hop Euphorbia $2.50      White flowering plant that will make a great addition to your poinsettia display.   

Poinsettia prices include foil wrap and bow

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Orchids and Boston Fern also available:

Assorted Orchid varieties $15.00 each, 10" Boston Fern baskets $10.00 each     

Visit us  in the greenhouse this week where you will find beautiful poinsettias for Christmas decorating and gift giving. Thank you for supporting the VWCC Horticulture Club and the Community Arboretum. Hope to see you at the sales!

Post submitted by Clark BeCraft

Psi Beta Information Session - Psychology Honors Society 

Tuesday, November 29^th at 3:30 in D106

 Fall Application Deadline: Monday, December 5, 2011

Applications can be picked up at the sessions and from Lora Vasiliauskas in D112a or email her at lvasiliauskas@virginiawestern.edu

“HOT TOPIC” SESSION 

 STUDY TO THE TEST QUESTIONS

When:            Wednesday, November 30; 1:00 p.m.
Where:           Business Science Building, Room 320

Facilitator:     Ms. Edna Whittier

This session encourages students to become “test confident.” Confident test takers are prepared because they study “to the test questions.” Techniques include: creating and following a study schedule for effective recall, dealing with test distractions, time limits and test anxiety, preparing study notes that match your learning style, finding a clearer understanding of what to expect on an exam, recognizing course material as either background or test material. The session includes a handout of test taking tips for different kinds of tests.

Ms. Desiree Frye
Retention Services
Virginia Western Community College
(540) 857-7583

As part of the deficit-reduction efforts, Congress is attempting to cut Pell funding in their 2012 budget.  In light of this, there is a nationwide push to help save Federal Pell Grant funding from being slashed by Congress.  NAICU and the Student Aid Alliance are asking people to visit this website and “sign off” on their support of the Pell Grant program.  Here is the website:  http://action.studentaidalliance.org/5371/save-student-aid-statement-support/

The House wants to maintain the maximum grant of $5,550.  In order to do so under the current budgetary constraints, it wants to make changes to the Pell Grant eligibility rules. These changes include:

• A reduction in the maximum number of semesters that students can receive the Pell Grant from 18 to 12,
• An elimination of Pell Grant eligibility for students that are attending school less than half-time,
• A reduction in the amount of a student’s personal earnings that can be excluded from a Pell Grant award calculation,
• A cut to the maximum family income that would automatically qualify a student for the maximum grant from $30,000 to $15,000
• The proposal would also end Pell Grant eligibility for students who qualify for less than 10 percent of the maximum grant.

The Senate wants to maintain the maximum grant by adding supplemental funding to the program. The supplemental funding that the Senate proposes would be paid for by the provision in its proposal that ends the interest-free benefit on the Subsidized Stafford loans during an undergraduate borrower’s six-month grace period after leaving school.  This would mean that students with subsidized Stafford loans would start to accrue interest six months earlier and their loans would cost more in the loan run.

Neither of these proposals has become law yet and both are still in the negotiating stage.  However, your voice can make a difference!  Please take two minutes to click on the website listed above and also spread the word to your family and friends.