7/7/2021

The following article was written by Director of Academic Outreach and Athletics Initiatives Tom Steele, who also directs the Ferrum Foundations program.

A group of Ferrum Foundations students.

Having a strong academic foundation is a cornerstone of success in college. The Ferrum Foundations program provides academic strategies that will ensure success at Ferrum College and beyond. Many first-year students come to college without the mindset and skill set required to transition from high school academics to the demands of the college-level classroom. Foundations helps bridge this academic gap. During the program, students learn academic strategies from successful upperclassmen, Ferrum professors, and staff members. The goal of Foundations is to make the transition to college life and academics less daunting.

Ferrum Foundations is a two-day experience. This year, students will arrive on August 16, 2021 to begin the program, which will take place August 17 and 18. Students will learn about developing relationships with professors and advisors, where to find academic success resources on campus, and how to employ strategies to reach their scholarly potential. The program is fast-paced, filled with useful information, and offers fun evening opportunities to round out the experience.

Rising senior Chelsea Zizzi ’22 participated in Foundations as a freshman and served as a peer mentor as a sophomore at Ferrum College. Chelsea shared, “I met some of my best friends through the Foundations program, who have been able to help me in both the academic world and the social world.” Making connections and developing success strategies are the focus of this two-day head start on success.

To learn more and to register for Ferrum Foundations, visit this webpage, which includes information about the program and an online application. For additional information, contact Tom Steele at tsteele@ferrum.edu.

5/12/2021

A few of the virtual ENG 461: Professional Writing students were able to pose for a photo. From left to right: Chelsea Zizzi, Ashley Dalton, Dr. Allison Harl, Bella Bettilyon, and Shela Muriel.

Last semester, ENG 461: Professional Writing students collaborated with the Southern Virginia Child Advocacy Center (SVCAC) to write two professional reports, which could be used to acquire and retain grant funding for the non-profit agency. 

“Collaborations like these benefit both the College and local non-profit organizations in a win, win relationship,” said Associate Professor of English Allison Harl, who led the professional writing course which was held virtually during the spring semester. 

One group of students surveyed local constituents’ perception of the SVCAC’s ability to meet the community’s needs in four categories: diversity (defined in the study as “the mixture of people within the community and offices), equity (“being impartial to all who are involved”), inclusion (“equality of obtaining services and practices that are needed”), and justice (“fairness within the programs for all communities”). 

After several weeks of research and the completion of the surveys, the first group found that SVCAC demonstrates strong diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. The only recommendation the students made was that the agency find out more about those beyond the Hispanic population that speak English as a second language. 

“Of course it’s not an easy thing to write about child abuse and the process alongside it, but this research has made me feel better about these situations because overall it was a good outcome with the SVCAC and their standing with the community,” said Ferrum junior Chelsea Zizzi ’22.

The other group collected data involving the social implications, particularly on children, of two casinos being built in the region, in Danville and Bristol. The students focused on the potential increase in violence, drugs, child trafficking, and other effects on children’s safety and wellbeing. This group found that violence and crime, including theft, illegal drug distribution, and child trafficking, typically increases in areas where casinos are built. 

“The Southern VA Child Advocacy Center provided an experiential community partnership opportunity for the Ferrum College Professional Writing students to practice their skills beyond the classroom,” said Harl.

Learn more about SVCAC here.