Admissions & Advising is a Great Place to Start

Skye Scott, staff writer

When a student walks into the Main Building on the Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) campus, one of the first things they will see is the glass doors behind which sit the many desks and people who make up the Admissions and Advising Center.

Many students have already come into contact with the people working there, because it is typically the first place new PVCC students go for information.

“It’s really where all students get started. Whether it’s one class or a degree … big questions, little questions; this is just kind of a starting point for everyone, and it’s a reference point for everyone,” said Robyn Lane, an administrative assistant in the Admissions and Advising center who specializes in helping students claim in-state tuition.

The staff who work in the Admissions and Advising center are knowledgeable in their specific fields. They strive to provide excellent and efficient care to each and every student who comes into the office.

Both Kelley Bennett, an administrative assistant, and Kristin Wentland, an academic advisor, said they wish students would proactively seek advising before registering for classes, so as to have the perfect schedule.

Kemper Steele, Coordinator of Transfer and Advising, said there are national statistics that show students who seek advising and support while at college do better than students who do not. He also said, “The biggest reason why they are successful by seeking advising is they stay on track. … If you do it on your own, without seeking help, you’re more at risk to possibly get off track.”

Steele said they are working on coming up with better ways to reach students who can not come onto campus. One possibility is through virtual advising.

Both Bennett and Steele said they hope students see the Admissions Office as a valuable resource. Steele also added that he hopes students see the office as “ warm, inviting and accessible.” He wants students to “walk in and kind of have a sense of comfort and trust that … they are going to be taken care of.”

Wentland said, “I hope [students] feel comfortable coming in to ask us any type of question, because I feel like we are the hub of the college. We have a lot of information and we can get you to the right place if we don’t know the exact answer. So just come to see us, come to talk to use, don’t be afraid of us.”

You can directly contact the Admissions and Advising center at 434-961-6551 or on campus in Room M144.