News

Thomas Nelson's men's basketball game against Southside Virginia Community College scheduled for Jan. 22 has been postponed because of the weather. A makeup date hasn't been announced.   The Gators (9-1 overall, 2-0 in the New South Athletic Conference) are scheduled to play again Jan. 29 at home against the College of Southern Maryland. Tipoff is at 3 p.m.   Here is the rest of the schedule:  Feb. 5: vs. Carolina Christian, 3 p.m.  Feb. 6: TPLS Christian Academy, 4 p.m.

Having started the first two weeks of its spring semester classes online in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Thomas Nelson (becoming Virginia Peninsula Community College) is poised to resume in-person classes Monday, Jan. 24. Conditions permitting given this weekend's weather forecasts, classes will take place on campuses in Hampton and Williamsburg as well as satellite sites.

The 2022 holiday schedule has been approved. Unless otherwise announced, the College will be closed on the following dates:

Sharena Marsh is among four students participating in the College’s Presidential Ambassador Program for 2021-22. She serves as an ambassador at the Historic Triangle campus in Williamsburg.

When not at work, May Carlson can often be found running; the longer the distance the better, too. May Carlson admits to being “a geek” as a youth. She wasn’t athletic or interested in sports. So when she went from running 5ks to half-marathons to marathons, and even longer distances, in about six years, it surprised her. “I never thought I could do it,” she said about finishing a 5k, adding she often wondered why people would run. “Now I'm obsessed.”

The VCCS Student Success Center, in collaboration with the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, is pleased to offer the only system-wide award specifically for adjunct faculty members.

Thomas Nelson Community College’s Fifth-Year Interim Report to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) earned a stellar review. The news came Jan. 12 when the commission revealed that the College complies with all 22 of its accreditation standards. The Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Impact Report also met the commission’s expectations, according to Thomas Nelson’s Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness Steven Felker, who received the SACSCOC letter.

Juwuan Brown's big game against Central International College helped Thomas Nelson's basketball team improve to 9-1 overall. Juwaun Brown, a freshman from Williamsburg, was named the New South Athletic Conference player of the week after leading Thomas Nelson’s men’s basketball team to a 91-77 victory over Central International College. He had 20 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks and one steal as the Gators improved to 9-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

Thomas Nelson has all the parts needed for a successful ballroom dance team. Pam Roberts, who works in the business office, is an enthusiastic adviser for the student organization. Students have expressed interest. A time and place for practices has been secured. The College has a great ballroom dance tradition. The only thing missing is a list of events. Unfortunately, there is nothing on the horizon, either. “With the covid guidelines, there have not been any college competitions,” Roberts said.

Thomas Nelson’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students at two-year colleges, recently conducted a survey regarding online learning. The results taught its members a lot. The survey was conducted last semester, when students had the option of in-person learning, online learning, or a hybrid model. “We thought since campus is open, students would be satisfied with whatever they were taking because they had options to take classes in different manners,” said Lisa Barron, a co-chair of the organization.

Falling temperatures of late prompted Thomas Nelson safety officials to offer helpful recommendations for enduring the cold weather. Personal and family member safety

College officials have approved the 2022 holiday schedule. Unless otherwise announced, the College will be closed on the following dates:

Thomas Nelson (becoming Virginia Peninsula Community College) will be closed Monday, Jan. 17 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.  While spring classes will remain virtual through Jan. 21, offices on campuses in Hampton and Williamsburg will reopen Tuesday, Jan. 18. Also on Jan.18, some in-person classes in career and technical programs, including allied health, and skilled trades courses will resume meeting on campus as scheduled.

With the mental well-being of students becoming more and more important, Thomas Nelson is taking another step to show support. TimelyCare, a new telehealth program for students, is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “If you just look at the national statistics, anywhere from 25 to 30 percent of students have a formal diagnosis of a mental health disorder,” said Richard Hurst, the coordinator of Disability Support Services and a counselor at the College.

Megan Barnard credits Thomas Nelson Community College for helping her find the right career path. Megan Barnard always has been interested in science, always found it interesting. “It always been a knack for me,” she said. “Some people have a knack for math. Some people have a knack for history. Science has just always been my thing.”

The coronavirus pandemic has affected so many aspects of everyday life, probably none more so than education. Students, faculty, staff and administrations from pre-school through college are trying to cope with the changes. Making things more difficult is no one knows when the education system in the United States will return to its pre-pandemic ways. How long will online learning last? Will it become the new norm?