So it’s after midnight and I can’t sleep. Plagued by rogue acronyms, I’ve dragged myself from bed to rant about the errant and rampant use of VCC. I’m disturbed by the reduction of our academic institution to a few small letters. To me (a Valencia alum), the institution of Valencia is one of strong academic rigor, including a first-rate honors program and one of the largest graduating classes among two-year colleges.
Valencia possesses faculty members who care more about student learning than the modest incomes they earn and an administration that supports and encourages ways to make the student experience the center of our work. With a team devoted solely to helping new tenure-track professors understand multiple student learning styles, Valencia excels. Additional pedagogical highlights include the weaving of four core competencies in the full curriculum: think, value, communicate and act.
The foundation is privileged to call friends our myriad, loyal donors, including community members, organizations and businesses, as well as Valencia staff and faculty, who willingly put students first so generations of bright, up-and-coming scholars can have a shot at a stellar education.
Valencia has been featured in Time Magazine and USA Today and on National Public Radio. It boasts the largest university-transfer rate of 1,200 community colleges in the country. This summer, it was named the top community college nationwide by the Lumina Foundation for ground-breaking work reducing the achievement gaps from students of diverse backgrounds. The MDC Foundation last week recognized this accomplishment by awarding a $700,000 grant to expand the project.
It seems a shame to limit a college that knows no bounds to a simple acronym.
Filed under: donors, faculty and staff, random thoughts
valencia foundation blog
geraldine gallagher
JillW
C. Cofield
A. Alvarez
megan miller
You have a point, I mean what’s in a name? In this case, a bit more than most students know. Many years ago, the college tried to find a distinctive way to identify Valencia from other neighboring community colleges. Using the full name ‘Valencia’ sets us apart. This way the accomplishments of students & faculty are not jumbled up with our other CC friends: SCC, DBCC, BCC etc. One other thing about Valencia is that we serve two counties- Orange & Osceola- while many other CC friends are named after the one county they support. In passing conversation or listening to the radio, do you really know which CC people are talking about? Maybe. But you’ll never confuse VALENCIA.
I think Valencia should change their name to VAL-STATE , that sounds the best
I truly fail to see how an acronym could make seem unimportant the accomplishes of a school, or even think that students, alumni or staff might find it disrespectful.
Personally, I like the way VCC looks and sound. Then again, I also love the name Valencia and it so happens that I was born in Valencia, Venezuela. Or, maybe I am just lazy and think Valencia Community College is too long. It really depends on the occasion.
Does it matter what I call it? To me it doesn’t.
I just try to keep up with the great work the school produces, stay involved when I can with the community and overall just being proud of my education and experiences there. In the long run, I think those are the things that really matter.
Do I think those “three little letters” do justice? Maybe not, who knows? But neither would 20, 76 or 820 if we don’t have proof of our excellence.
And man, do we have proof…
Wonderful words, not only is Valencia an awesome place for students it is an amazing place to work. The people that I have the pleasure to work with care so much about the student experience and provide and excellent opportunity for those up and coming students. I am grateful to be surrounded by such greatness. I am proud to tell people that I work at such a prestigous instituiton…the Great Valencia Community College.
valencia is not for me, either! let us not forget the importance of “community” in the name of our school!
I am glad to hear your passion for Valencia!
Its about time we all get behind Valencia… VCC is not for me either.
It’s great that you want Valencia to be recognized for its good work- as it deserves! And I agree, those three little letters just don’t do it justice.