Brightpoint Community College, previously known as John Tyler Community College, is a public institution of higher education established as part of a statewide system of community colleges. Brightpoint primarily serves the residents of the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg, as well as the counties of Amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Surry and Sussex.
Brightpoint operates under policies established by the State Board for Community Colleges and the College Board. It is financed by student tuition and state funds, supplemented by contributions from the 10 localities in its service region.
History of the College
John Tyler Community College opened the doors of its Chester Campus in Chesterfield County on October 2, 1967, as a result of the 1964 passage of the legislation establishing two-year technical colleges across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since its opening, the Chester Campus has grown to include three academic buildings, a workforce center, an administrative building, a student center, and a physical plant facility.
To meet the increasing needs of the service area, the college began offering classes in the Midlothian area of Chesterfield County in 1981. Classes were held in various locations, including the Watkins Annex and the Featherstone Professional Center until May 2000 when the college opened its Midlothian Campus. The Midlothian Campus currently includes three academic buildings, an administrative building, and a warehouse physical plant facility.
During the 2021-2022 academic year, the college served over 11,400 students. On July 1, 2022, John Tyler Community College officially changed its name to Brightpoint Community College.
Institutional Purpose
College Mission
Brightpoint Community College provides quality educational opportunities that inspire student success and community vitality.
College Vision
A success story for every student.
College Goals
- Advance equity in access, inclusion, and completion by strengthening our student and academic supports, particularly for our underserved populations of students.
- Expand and enhance our funding and finance models to include flexible financial options for students.
- Provide educational and career pathways through expanded partnerships and experiential learning options for students
- Identify and invest in innovative processes and equity practices to improve and promote a culture of professional excellence and student success.
VCCS Code of Ethics
Brightpoint’s faculty and staff also abide by the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Code of Ethics:
- We are committed to learning environments that foster academic integrity.
- We will foster in all disciplines a mutual respect and openness for the freedom of responsible student thought, research, and discussion on all sides of academic issues to facilitate balanced and thorough academic analysis for all participants.
- We will be good stewards of our resources and make effective and efficient use of them, thereby ensuring accountability to the Commonwealth and to the communities we serve.
- We will maintain the confidentiality and security of information entrusted to us and share information only when authorized or required by law to do so.
- We will not accept any gift, favor, loan, service, business or professional opportunity from anyone knowing (or when it should be known) that it is offered in order to improperly influence the performance of our public duties. We will avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
- We will offer good faith and fair dealings to all those we serve and to each other. Our communications will be civil and professional.
- We will offer employment opportunities in accordance with State, Federal and System policies supporting the rights and recognizing the needs of all citizens regardless of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation.
- We encourage and expect all members of the community to act in good faith and bring to the attention of the appropriate official any violation or potential violation of these principles.
Purpose of the Virginia Community College System
The basic purposes of the comprehensive community college, as prescribed by the General Assembly of Virginia in the Community College Act of 1966, are to prepare students for employment, for advanced collegiate education and for improved citizenship. In accordance with this purpose, the College offers the following:
- Freshman and sophomore courses for transfer to baccalaureate degree programs-the Associate of Arts, Associate of Fine Arts, and Associate of Science degrees;
- Occupational and technical programs leading to the Associate of Applied Science and the Associate of Applied Arts degrees;
- Vocational education leading directly to employment -Certificates and Career Studies Certificates; and
- Courses in general and continuing education in all fields.
Career and Education Consortium (CEC)
The Career and Education Consortium (CEC) coordinates ongoing collaboration between Brightpoint, public school divisions, employers, universities, state and local government and the community-at-large to offer high-quality academic programs and career preparation for all students in the region. The CEC provides professional development for educators, markets college and career preparation, and serves the counties of Amelia, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Prince George, Surry and Sussex and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg. Please visit the Career and Education Consortium page on the college website for additional information.
Accreditations
Brightpoint Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, certificates, and career studies certificates. Questions about the accreditation of Brightpoint Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
The Funeral Services Associate Degree Program is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE), 992 Mantua Pike, Suite 108, Woodbury Heights, NJ 08097; 816-233-3747; http://www.abfse.org; and is approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers.
The Nursing Program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia 30326; 404-975-5000, info@acenursing.org; www.acenursing.org. Approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
The Emergency Medical Services Program is accredited by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services upon the recommendation of the Division of Educational Development, Virginia Office of EMS,1041 Technology Park Drive, Glen Allen, VA 23059; 804-888-9100.
The Emergency Medical Services, Paramedic Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP), 8301 Lakeview Parkway Suite 111-312, Rowlett, TX 75088; 214-703-8445; Fax 214-703-8992; www.coaemsp.org.
The Precision Machining Technology Program is accredited by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills, Inc. (NIMS), 10565 Fairfax Blvd, Suite 10, Fairfax, VA 22030; 844-839-6467.
This institution is approved to offer GI Bill® educational benefits by the Virginia State Approving Agency. GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.”
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