Your Seven Day Forecast

2023-8-21

Affirmative Steps to Welcome Everyone

By Quentin R. Johnson, Ph.D.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that disallowed affirmative action in the admissions policies of some of our nation's institutions of higher learning. The recent decision specifically examined practices at Harvard College in Massachusetts and at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

According to a court document, "Both Harvard and UNC employ a highly selective admissions process to make their decisions. Admissions to each school can depend on a student's grades, recommendation letters, or extracurricular involvement. It can also depend on their race."

In a pair of decisions, the Court determined, "Harvard's and UNC's admissions programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."

The practice of affirmative action in college admissions can be traced back to the 1950s when the Court first ruled against race-based segregation in public education. Racial classifications considered in a positive manner were permitted when the intent was to help institutions overcome the effects of past segregation. In more recent years, the Court has emphasized the educational value of diversity on campuses because diversity encourages understanding across racial barriers, helps break down race-based stereotypes, promotes learning outcomes, and better prepares students to enter the professional world.

If the objective is to offer quality education to a diverse student body, Virginia's community colleges can serve as an example. A recent assessment across the Commonwealth's 23 community colleges found that white students made up approximately half of the student population and those who identified with other racial or ethnic groups represented the other half. This level of diversity seems representative of Virginia's demographic makeup.

Matthew S. Dunn, Career and Transfer Counselor at Southside Virginia Community College, explains some of the policies that have helped community colleges attain this important goal. First, he says, "There is no upfront cost to applying for anyone." After that, admission is assured. With the one small exception of people who are registered with Virginia State Police as sexual offenders, "Everyone is accepted."

Students do not need to gather recommendation letters. There is no litmus test that awards bonus points for specific extracurricular activities. No preferences are given to children of alumni or relatives of donors. There is no extra benefit or detriment given to students who belong to certain racial, ethnic, religious, or gender-based groups. There are no required admissions tests. College Navigators simply use information, such as a student's high school grades and level of math achievement, to help determine a comfortable starting point.

For students who hope to complete their education journeys at one of Virginia's selective senior institutions, community colleges can help smooth the way. Mr. Dunn explains, "We have Guaranteed Acceptance Agreements with 35 of Virginia's four-year institutions. If a student finishes the two-year Associate of Arts and Sciences degree and meets or exceeds the minimum grade point average set by the institution, and they apply on time, they are accepted. 

Furthermore, a new platform for transfer students, called Transfer VA, is in development. Its objective is to have two tracks, one in humanities and the other in STEM-H, which is Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Health, that would be universally accepted by all four-year partners."

At SVCC and at all of Virginia's community colleges, everyone, absolutely everyone, is welcome. Always. The doors are open and opportunity awaits. Visit southside.edu for more information.

Dr. Quentin R. Johnson is president of Southside Virginia Community College, an institution of higher learning that provides a wide variety of education opportunities to a diverse student population within a service area that spans ten counties and the City of Emporia. He can be reached via email at quentin.johnson@southside.edu.

 

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August 2023
College Community Connections
Southside Virginia Community College
2023-8-21
By Editor at Mon, 2023/08/21 - 01:04

COMCAST IS THE FIRST INTERNET PROVIDER TO OFFER A BACK-UP CONNECTIVITY DEVICE DESIGNED TO KEEP CUSTOMERS CONNECTED DURING A STORM

Xfinity’s Storm-Ready WiFi Equipped with Cellular Back-Up Enabling Customers to Work and Stream Without Interruption  Device Doubles as a WiFi Extender; Delivers Strong WiFi Signal to Hard-to-Reach Corners of the Home

PHILADELPHIA, PA – August 15, 2023 – Today Comcast becomes the first Internet Provider to offer a product designed to maintain connectivity when a storm hits, trees are down, or a customer experiences a local outage, with the launch of Storm-Ready WiFi.

With severe weather impacting many parts of the country, there has never been a greater need for a back-up connectivity solution. Comcast’s new Storm-Ready WiFi device is equipped with cellular back-up and a four-hour rechargeable battery, more than enough power to keep customers up and running for the average power outage in the U.S. of two hours*. Storm-Ready WiFi gives customers peace of mind that they’ll be able to maintain connectivity at home, as it provides a seamless connection with auto failover. When the power goes out, the customer’s network is automatically transitioned to cellular back-up so they can continue the use of their Internet.

Storm-Ready WiFi also doubles as a WiFi extender to deliver a strong WiFi signal to those hard-to-reach corners of the home. The device works with Xfinity gateways to create a wall-to-wall mesh network that seamlessly extends coverage throughout customers’ homes. Storm-Ready WiFi is also WiFi 6 capable, elevating the WiFi experience in the home with faster speeds, lower latency and increased bandwidth to power more devices in the ever-increasing connected homes of today.

“With so much of our daily lives dependent on WiFi connectivity, we knew our customers needed a product that could help keep them connected no matter what life throws at them – even during a storm,” said Emily Waldorf, SVP, Consumer Internet Services, Comcast Cable. “Storm-Ready WiFi is that solution. Not only does Storm-Ready WiFi extend coverage to deliver our best-in-class WiFi to hard-to-reach corners of the home, but it also gives customers the peace of mind that their connection at home can continue even when the power is out.”

Storm-Ready WiFi’s Key Features Usher in a New Era of Reliability:

Powered by the Xfinity 10G Network

The Xfinity 10G Network that powers Storm-Ready WiFi provides increased speed, capacity, reliability, and lower latency. Storm-Ready WiFi is just the beginning of the next-generation Internet experience Comcast will pioneer, with roll outs of multi-gig speeds to markets across the country planned for later this year.

Seamless, Always-On Connection and Unlimited Cellular Data

Storm-Ready WiFi automatically transitions to free unlimited cellular data during outages**. And its rechargeable back-up battery maintains reliable service for customers for up to 4 hours. 

Extended WiFi Coverage

In addition to providing back-up connectivity, Storm-Ready WiFi is one of the best WiFi extenders on the market today capable of delivering high-speeds over WiFi. It uses the Xfinity 10G Network and is WiFi 6-capable, which provides an added layer of strong, reliable WiFi coverage to help eliminate dead spots.

Quick, Easy Set Up with Auto Failover

Getting started with Storm-Ready WiFi is as simple as plugging it in and following the activation flow in the Xfinity app. No activation fees are required. The device simply integrates with customers’ existing Xfinity Gateway and WiFi network, as well as the Xfinity app, without any need to switch networks in-home. Any time the Storm-Ready WiFi transitions to cellular, customers will receive a notification and their devices will automatically maintain connectivity.

Recycled Materials
Comcast’s commitment to sustainable innovation includes reducing materials, increasing recyclability, and utilizing recycled materials in products. Storm-Ready WiFi is Comcast’s first device designed using recycled materials, with the casing made from 65% post-consumer recycled plastic.

Great Value

For the low price of $7 a month for 36 months, customers can purchase Storm-Ready WiFi that comes backed with WiFi extending capabilities that stretch speeds to all corners of the home, a back-up cellular connection, unlimited cellular data, a 4-hour back-up battery that gives customers the peace of mind that they’ll always be connected, even when the power goes out.  

Xfinity’s Storm-Ready WiFi goes on sale today. The device will be available for purchase at Xfinity Stores and on www.xfinity.com.

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August 2023
2023-8-21

New State Record Saugeye

RICHMOND, VA- the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is thrilled to announce that on May 29th, 2023, Brittany Watkins from Henderson, North Carolina landed a 6-pound, 8 ounce Saugeye from the Virginia portion of Lake Gaston.  Ms. Watkins caught the trophy-sized fish with a crankbait.  The fish measured 25 ¼ inches, with a girth of 14 ½ inches and was officially weighed at Bobcat's Bait and Tackle in Clarksville, VA.   

After biologist verification and review by the State Record Committee, Ms. Watkin's catch was certified and is recognized as the current Virginia State Record Saugeye.  The Saugeye surpassed the previous record of 6 pounds, 0 ounces caught by Michael Miller in 2022 from the Staunton River.   

For more information on Saugeye, please visit: dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/fish/saugeye/ 

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August 2023
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)
2023-8-21