Abstract
Building a GIS "Core" within Virginia's Community College System
Track: Teaching with GIS in Higher Education
Authors: George McLeod, Rodney Clayton, William Wyatt, David Webb, John McGee
Tidewater, Virginia Western, and John Tyler Community Colleges have partnered with the Virginia Geospatial Extension Program and the Virginia Space Grant Consortium in the Geospatial Technician Education through Virginia's Community Colleges' (GTEVCC) project. This NSF funded project project has created model academic pathways, provided faculty with geospatial resources and professional development opportunities, and has developed a web portal to promote these endeavors.
In early 2010, the Virginia Community College Geospatial Portal (http://www.vccsgis.org/) was launched. The portal provides a collaborative space where instructors using geospatial technologies may share resources, event information, and career listings. In midsummer 2010, a residential workshop for faculty from institutions across Virginia was held at Virginia Tech. This workshop developed a core group of geospatially literate faculty from community colleges and public secondary schools. The project team provides ongoing support and expertise to these faculty. Future plans for the GTEVCC project will also be discussed in detail.