Get to know Quinebaug Valley Community College! Learn about the great things happening at QVCC with our upcoming virtual information sessions. These virtual information sessions are designed to give prospective students a chance to learn more about the admissions process, financial aid, scholarships, specific programs of study, and transfer information. Q&A discussions are included in each session.
All virtual information sessions will be held at 5:30pm via Webex. Register for any of the following virtual information sessions at www.QVCC.edu/info-session:
ADMISSIONS Wednesday, December 2 @ 5:30pm Wednesday, December 16 @ 5:30pm
ADMISSIONS & FINANCIAL AID Wednesday, December 9 @ 5:30pm Wednesday, January 6 @ 5:30pm
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECE)
Learn about the ECE degree program and speak with Program Coordinator, Cindy Shirshac. Thursday, December 17 @ 5:30pm
COMPUTER SCIENCE, COMPUTER NETWORKING & CYBERSECURITY
Learn about Computer Networking, IT Support Services, Cybersecurity, and Computer Science Studies from Program Coordinator, Chris Parden. Tuesday, January 12 @ 5:30pm
HEALTHCARE
Learn about QVCC’s Healthcare Associate Degree and certificate programs, including Medical Assisting, Medical Laboratory Technician, Phlebotomy, and Pre-Nursing, as well as our Continuing Education and Workforce Development credit-free programs, i.e. CNA and Pharmacy Tech. Wednesday, January 13 @ 5:30pm
Questions? Contact Sarah Hendrick, Associate Director of Admissions (shendrick@qvcc.edu).
Not a QVCC student yet? Apply for free at www.QVCC.edu/apply!
This fall, Quinebaug Valley Community College is pleased to offer several new and exciting Performing Arts courses—all live online experiences from the comfort of your living room. Students can now earn college credit while having fun in classes like dance, guitar, and theatrical improvisation.
Movement as Creative Expression explores the elements of dance including classical and contemporary technique, choreography/composition, and performance. Students will engage with technical dance genres, participate in creative choreography, and work on collaborative projects.
Tap Danceis a percussive form of dance utilizing time, weight, coordination, speed, and rhythm. Students will gain an awareness of tap techniques, its origins, impact, and evolution. Both dances classes are a fun way to get a good workout from the comfort of the living room.
Guitar I and Guitar II courses encourage students to rock the guitar this fall. Both classes provide a basic foundation in guitar playing and musicianship. Guitar I is geared to students with no previous experience in the guitar or general music. Literacy in guitar notation and tab reading, and basic rhythms and chords will be developed. Guitar II is for students who have some experience with the guitar, know a few chords, and feel ready to take their playing to the next level.
Improvisation, also known as the “Yes, and” performing art form, is based on theatrical games where actors create scenes and characters on the spot. Employed by business leaders and professionals in all industries, improv training sharpens the mind and helps shy people learn to socialize as they tap their comedic impulses. This online course is for all students, including those new to improvisation, as well as those familiar with establishing support, trust, initiation, agreement, and the other tools used by those skillful improvisers seen on TV shows like SNL and Whose Line is It, Anyway?
Dance classes are taught by Nichola Johnson, a choreographer who holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. Johnson’s approach to education empowers the student to master technical elements and develop a rich personal style. Nichola is the Founder/Director of The Complex Performing and Creative Arts Centre in Northeastern Connecticut and serves on the faculties of many high school and college performing arts departments.
Guitar is taught by Chris Monti, a professional musician teaching guitar and playing music professionally for over 15 years. His eclectic style embraces rock & roll, country-blues, early jazz, and R+B. Singing and playing electric guitar and harmonica in several bands, he leads The Chris Monti Band, playing an upbeat mix of original dance music along with West African and Caribbean songs, and is a member of The Devilfish, a power trio dance band covering surf, mambo, cumbia, punk, blues, boogie and Latin pop.
Improvisation acting is taught by Tom Epstein, a performer who trained at NY-based Upright Citizens Brigade. Epstein is a house-team performer, coach, and instructor at P.I.G. (Providence Improv Guild www.improvpig.com), and an educator with degrees from Emerson College.
For more information regarding the Performing Arts courses, please contact Brian Kaufman at okaufman@qvcc.edu.
The first day of fall semester begins on Wednesday, August 26. To apply to the College, visit qvcc.edu/admissions-financial-aid/admissions/ and be sure to apply for Financial Aid. If you need assistance, please email the Admissions Department at admissions@qvcc.edu and they will be happy to assist you.
Quinebaug Valley Community College is donating personal protective equipment and supplies to help front-line workers at Day Kimball Healthcare in their response to the surge of patients during the COVID-19 outbreak.
QVCC is providing the hospital with disposable gloves and gowns, lab coats, masks, and safety glasses. The supplies come from the science department and certified nursing assistant, medical assisting, medical laboratory technician, and phlebotomy programs which are unable to run lab courses this spring.
“The College is happy to provide our community partner, Day Kimball Healthcare, with the supplies we are unable to use due to the closure of our physical locations,” said Rose R. Ellis, Ph.D, QVCC Campus CEO.
QVCC, along with all the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, transitioned to virtual learning as of March 23 for the remainder of the spring semester. College staff is telecommuting and available daily to assist current and future students for the summer and fall semesters.
Quinebaug Valley Community College has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Connecticut Healthy Campus Initiative (CHCI); funded by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), with the support of the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The overall purpose of the grant is to create an opioid education and awareness program.
With this grant, QVCC has the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our students, their families and the community. The idea to purse a grant developed from a small group of staff whom came together to discuss how to provide Narcan training to students at the College. From this idea and with research, the CHCI grant surfaced and the task force generated ideas for an entire program. The award will support our mission to not only reduce opioid- related overdose deaths, but to also reduce stigma and provide resources through education, campus campaigns, training, and a panel presentation.
The current task force members are Satina Salce, Katie Gregory, Jenn Hyatt and Paul Martland.
Professor Cindi Brassington’s Fictional Story with Real-World Issues
QVCC Professor of Allied Health, Cindi Brassington, has taught for 20 years and during the spring of 2018 Brassington ventured into a sabbatical penning her first novel, My Perfect Family. Brassington stated, “It is my hope that it will be my first of many writing projects as I enjoyed the creative process and trying something completely new to me. It is my sincere hope that it can be used in higher education.”
As a professor of Allied health, many of the complex issues addressed in her book are topics related not only to health care and human anatomy, but also to also complex issues of bioethics, scarcity of resources, patient autonomy and social justice. Brassington shared, “In my career I have found students connect to stories, both fiction and real-world, to spark their interest in science, humanities and the complexities of the world around them. My Perfect Family connects many of these themes, opening the door to inquiry and conversation.”
The setting for the novel is Lindenville Lake, which is fictional, but based on Brassington’s experiences living at her summer cottage on Staffordville Lake, in Stafford Springs, CT. Weaving in summer events of pontoon boat rides, bon fires and of course water skiing. Brassington has been an avid water skier since her teens and along with her husband, they have taught their own daughters and many others the sport.
Brassington self-published My Perfect Family and it is available through Amazon Kindle and paperback.
