Accreditation
Wor-Wic is a state-approved two-year college. It is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801, 267-284-5011. The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Several of Wor-Wic’s programs have specialized accreditations.
History
In June of 1975, the State Board for Community Colleges approved a proposal for the creation of a community college to serve the postsecondary vocational and technical education needs of the residents of Worcester and Wicomico counties. The college was designated to operate as a “college without walls.” In November of 1975, the college’s board of trustees appointed Dr. Arnold H. Maner to serve as president of the college. Continuing education courses were offered in the fall of 1975, and the college opened its doors to credit program students in the fall of 1976. In 1989, state legislation was enacted to allow Somerset County residents to attend Wor-Wic at the in-county tuition rate.
After almost 20 years of leasing classroom and office space at various locations in its service area, the college purchased 173 acres of land on the southeast corner of Route 50 and Walston Switch Road in Salisbury. Construction was started in 1993, and the campus officially opened in the fall of 1994. In 1997, the college purchased 29 additional acres of land adjoining the campus to the south of the existing property, bringing the total college-owned acreage to more than 200. Henson Hall was built in 1999, providing a home on campus for Wor-Wic’s nursing and radiologic technology programs. In the summer of 2000, Maner retired, and Dr. Ray Hoy was named Wor-Wic’s second president.
Guerrieri Hall opened in the fall of 2001 to provide office and classroom space for the college’s criminal justice department and the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy. A new Student Center (subsequently named Hazel Center) was opened in the summer of 2005, providing food service, assembly and additional activity and study space for Wor-Wic’s growing student body. The Jordan Center was added in the fall of 2006, providing child care facilities and additional classrooms for students in the human services department. In 2007, the Workforce Development Center (subsequently named Fulton-Owen Hall) opened, providing a new home for the college’s continuing education and workforce development division, the business department and the hotel-motel-restaurant management department.
In 2011, the college purchased 12 additional acres of land adjoining the campus. Also in 2011, emergency medical services, nursing and radiologic technology were moved out of Henson Hall into a new Allied Health Building (subsequently named Shockley Hall), which made room in Henson Hall for the expansion of science courses and allied health classes offered through the continuing education and workforce development division.
Throughout its history, Wor-Wic has worked to respond to community growth and educational needs. The Patricia and Alan Guerrieri Technology Center opened in the spring of 2023 to modernize and expand career education options, with welding, HVACR, metal fabrication and plumbing labs; a CDL simulation lab; and other hands-on instruction areas for electro-mechanical, construction, electrical and alternative energy programs; as well as a community makerspace open to the public. In the summer of 2023, Hoy retired, and Dr. Deborah Casey was named Wor-Wic’s third president.
Mission
Wor-Wic Community College empowers a diverse population of students to achieve success by delivering high quality, affordable education, professional training, workforce development opportunities and comprehensive student services that strengthen economic growth and improve the quality of life on the Lower Eastern Shore.
Vision
Wor-Wic will be a dynamic leader partnering with the diverse communities of the Lower Eastern Shore to develop a world-class workforce and deliver excellence in education and training.
Values
Accessibility is providing educational services for all members of the community regardless of geographic, physical or economic limitations.
Community is creating a sense of belonging through collaboration and cooperation among employees, students and stakeholders to meet the needs of the service area.
Diversity is embracing all people, ideas and experiences by creating an inclusive, equitable, safe and supportive environment.
Integrity is exemplifying honest and ethical behavior to ensure mutual respect, responsibility and accountability among employees, students and the community.
Innovation is adopting new and creative ideas and emerging technologies to enhance learning, services and institutional effectiveness.
Learning is focusing on student success through student-centered approaches and academic support strategies.
Excellence is exhibiting the highest level of performance, professionalism and standards.
Assessment of Academic Programs and Student Services
In accordance with Wor-Wic’s mission to provide high quality programs, the college engages in routine, systematic assessment processes to ensure continuous improvement of student learning and success. The college’s assessment process determines to what extent students are attaining stated student learning outcomes. To that end, student academic performance data are collected in the aggregate, at the course, program and institutional levels. Assessment practices related to student information adhere to the Acceptable Use of Technology Resources policy and the Privacy of Student Records policy. In addition, students are asked to participate in a number of collegewide surveys to provide feedback on the quality of academic and student services. The results of the surveys are analyzed by college officials in order to continually improve teaching and learning, as well as institutional procedures. For questions regarding the assessment process, contact the director of institutional assessment and effectiveness at 410-334-2966.
|
