College Profiles

Paul D. Camp Community College

Background

Paul D. Camp Community College serves the rural residents of Southampton and Isle of Wight counties in southeastern Virginia with campuses in Franklin and Suffolk. Paul D. Camp Community College has an enrollment of close 1,468 students.

The college’s student body, faculty and staff mirror the racial diversity of the region, however, students of color do not succeed at the same levels as White students. Over 75 percent of entering students are required to take at least one developmental course, but Black students pass developmental writing and math at lower rates than White students. Students with the highest financial need are less likely to have at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average, compared to students with no financial need. Furthermore, the lowest-income students are twice as likely to be minority as those with no financial need. Black student graduation rates are half those of White students

Achieving the Dream Goals

The lack of persistence, particularly by Black students and White female students, and the low rate of success in developmental courses were identified as priorities by the college. It seeks to

• Improve retention;
• Narrow the performance gap between Black students and White students;
• Raise all students’ academic achievements;
• Increase students’ engagement in learning.

The college will offer professional development on how to use Blackboard™ software in instruction; increase student engagement, add instructional support and expand institutional research. Faculty will use Blackboard™ technologies in at least one of their courses each semester. Study groups and activities that promote interaction will be added as well. All degree programs will include at least one service-learning component.