History of the College
Jefferson College of Health Sciences, formerly the Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley College of Health Sciences, traces its roots to the early 1900s. The College was borne from Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley School of Nursing, established from a 1965 merger of the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing, founded in 1914, and the Lewis-Gale School of Nursing, founded in 1911. The Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley School of Nursing was controlled by the Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley Board of Directors through the hospital administration, which subsequently delegated the responsibility of the school to the Director of Nursing Education and the faculty.
In 1980, motivated by national trends in nursing education, a task force investigated the possibility of establishing a hospital-based college. In 1982, Community Hospital of Roanoke Valley College of Health Sciences emerged as the first hospital-based college in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The first allied health program, Respiratory Therapy, was developed that same year.
In subsequent years, additional programs were added at the associate degree level. Then in 1995, the College received permission from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to begin its first baccalaureate degree programs. In 1997, the College was proud to offer the first Physician Assistant program in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In October 2003, the College officially changed its name to Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Adding Jefferson to the name returned the College to its roots as the descendant of the Jefferson Hospital School of Nursing and highlights the College's pride of its Virginia heritage and location on downtown Roanoke"s Jefferson Street.
In 2004, JCHS was moved to a Carnegie Level III institution, granting it the authority to confer master of science degrees. The first master of science program at the College was the master of science in nursing. The inaugural class begun their studies in Fall 2005.
Jefferson College of Health Sciences, an affiliate of Carilion Health System, offers certificate, associate, baccalaureate, and master of science degrees in nursing and allied health programs.
Mission, Purpose, Vision and Values
The mission, purpose, vision and values of Jefferson College of Health Sciences provide the foundation for the academic endeavors of the institution. These statements reflect the College’s commitment to the learning process and the expanding global climate of healthcare and education.
Mission
Jefferson College of Health Sciences prepares, within a scholarly environment, ethical, knowledgeable, competent and caring healthcare professionals.
Purpose and Values
Founded in 1982, Jefferson College of Health Sciences, located in Roanoke, Va., is a private institution offering baccalaureate and associate degree programs, and certificate programs, exclusively in healthcare disciplines.
The Jefferson College community values:
· excellence and innovation in education;
· integration of contemporary technologies;
· community-campus partnerships;
· diversity of person and thought;
· integrity in personal and professional life;
· personal, professional and scholarly development;
· commitment to lifelong learning.
Based on these values, we believe:
· The college is a partnership of people. Our students, faculty, staff and alumni are our principal assets.
· Teaching is our primary mission and we recognize the contribution of scholarly activity to the learning process.
· A foundation in general education prepares students intellectually, culturally and ethically for their professional and personal lives.
· Scientific and technical knowledge, competencies and proficiencies are required for successful practice and advancement in students’ chosen professions.
· Scholarly environment is required for the intellectual, personal, and professional development of student, staff, faculty and alumni.
· Broad-based, interdisciplinary education fosters community partnerships, improved health and respect for human diversity and dignity.
· Institutional and programmatic accreditation contributes to academic excellence.
· Systematic planning and evaluation contributes to sound management of human, physical, and financial resources.
Vision
Jefferson College of Health Sciences will be nationally recognized as an institution of choice for individuals seeking careers as professionals in healthcare.
Institutional Accreditations and Program Approvals
Jefferson College of Health Sciences is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia, 30033-4097: Telephone number: 404-679-4501) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Jefferson College of Health Sciences is certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to operate campuses in Virginia.
· The Emergency Health Sciences-Paramedic program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (JRCEMT-P) and the Council on Accreditation and Unit Recognition (CAUR) of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
· The Associate Degree Nursing program is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) and approved by the Virginia Board of Nursing.
· The Baccalaureate Degree Nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
· The Occupational Therapy Program is no longer being offered at the Bachelor of Science level. Planning is in progress to offer this program at the Master's level beginning in Fall 2008. Additional information will be forthcoming.
· The Occupational Therapy Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (ACOTE).
· The Physical Therapist Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
· The Physician Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA)
· The Respiratory Therapy program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), in collaboration with the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Institutional Memberships
· American Association of Colleges of Nursing
· Association of Physician Assistant Programs
· Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia
· American Health Sciences Education Consortium
· National, Regional and State Associations of Student Financial Aid Administration (NASFAA, SASFAA, VASFAA)
· National Association of College and University Business Officers
· National League for Nursing
· Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
· Virginia Association of Allied Health Professions
· Virginia Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (VACRAO)
· Virginia Association of Colleges of Nursing
Students’ Rights to Confidentiality
The College complies with the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, as it relates to student rights, records, release of information and financial aid. Only persons who have a legal right in accordance with the law to access this information will be allowed to review such records. Such records are accessible to authorized College and administrative personnel who may require review and utilization of such records for educational purposes. The student may request, in writing, the opportunity to review the material or to have transcripts sent to other educational institutions in accordance with regulations governing students’ records. The College reserves the right to impose reasonable charges for copies should they be requested.
Non-Discriminatory Policy
Jefferson College of Health Sciences does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, sex, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, political affiliation or sexual orientation. The College is subject to Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 and all other rules and regulations that are applicable. Anyone having questions concerning any of those regulations should contact the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Officer at (540) 985-8206, 920 S. Jefferson Street, PO Box 13186: Roanoke, VA 24031-3186.
Individuals with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should contact the Counseling Department at (540) 985-8449 or the Director of Student Services at (540) 985-8501.
Rights Reserved by the College
The College reserves the right to make changes in this catalog, without prior notification, as it relates to programs, personnel, cost, general information or any regulatory policies and procedures.
Jefferson College of Health Sciences reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant when it is determined to be in the best interest of the College.
No academic information, grade reports, transcripts or diplomas will be issued for any student who has not met their responsibilities and financial obligations to the College prior to graduation date.
College Facilities
Jefferson College of Health Sciences is located at 920 South Jefferson Street in Roanoke, Virginia. The College facilities include a ten-story brick building and parking deck, with student parking available in several adjacent areas.
The College also leases several rooms at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, located in downtown Roanoke. Parking is available at the RHEC.
The College is unique in offering students classrooms, science and skills laboratories, and residence halls all under the same roof. In addition to this convenience, the College is also located between two major hospitals which provide easy access to clinical work sites and a wealth of healthcare resources.
The residence halls provide students with rooms that are much larger than those found in most colleges and universities. The coeducational residence hall floors consist of shared suites, each with a private bath. Each unit has one or more large closets and kitchenette space. Each suite is wired for Internet connectivity. Meals can be purchased at reasonable prices at Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital, located adjacent to the College. Rooms are furnished with a bed, desk and chair, and a dresser for each student. Linens are the responsibility of the student. Laundry facilities are available in the residence halls. A fitness room is located on the basement level of the facility and is available for student and staff use.
The residence halls include two lounges and kitchens for group use by residents and their guests. Soft drinks, snacks, sandwiches, microwave oven, cable television, radio and pay telephones are available to students in "The Recovery Room,” the College’s student lounge.
The College and surrounding parking lots are patrolled by Carilion Health System police officers 24 hours a day. A security officer is on College premises 24 hours a day. Each floor is monitored via closed-circuit security cameras, and a residence staff person is on call 24 hours a day to assist residents with any problems.
The College Bookstore offers not only the books and materials needed for classes and clinicals, but also shirts, jackets and other items with the College logo.
Classrooms, located throughout the facility, are wired for Internet access. Laboratories for curricula programs, located throughout the facility, are equipped with equipment and supplies that will prepare students to work in today’s healthcare environment. Science laboratories for Chemistry, Microbiology, and Anatomy and Physiology are found on the second floor. There is a Physics lab on the 3rd floor. An electronic classroom is located on the second floor.
The Educational Technology Center (ETC), a computer and testing lab for students use, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with assistance available during specific hours throughout each semester. This lab provides a variety of software resources to students, including Internet access and course-specific resources. There is also a computer lab adjacent to the LRC, open during LRC hours, and additional computer resources at the RHEC.
The Bursar and other College administrative offices are located within Reid Center. The Registrar's Office is located across the street in 915 S. Jefferson. The Financial Aid and Admissions Offices are located in Fralin House, also located across Jefferson Street.
The Learning Resource Center
The Learning Resource Center (LRC) encompasses the health sciences library, journal collection, audiovisual center and a computer lab. The collection currently comprises more than 9,000 titles, 10,500 volumes, 200 journal subscriptions, and access to over 3,000 online journals. The LRC, an important component of the College’s academic program, houses materials to complement classroom instructions. Reference librarians are available to help students organize their research efforts and to assist them with information gathering. Bibliographic instruction for individuals and scheduled classes helps students gain the skills necessary to effectively use information in the fast-changing healthcare field.
Jefferson College of Health Sciences has resource sharing agreements with Roanoke College and Hollins University, greatly enhancing the amount of information available to student at all three schools. The LRC and the Carilion Health Sciences Libraries at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital have a combined on-line catalog allowing for access to the holdings of all three libraries. The LRC also serves as a biomedical information source for the local community and other local libraries.
Facts About the Roanoke Valley Area
Roanoke, Virginia is located midway between New York City and Atlanta on Interstate 81, 168 miles west of the state capital, Richmond. The city is the economic center of a major metropolitan region and a hub of transportation, finance and industry for the southwestern part of the state. The scenic beauty of the Roanoke Valley, located between the Blue Ridge and the Virginia Alleghany Highlands, makes the city a pleasant place to live and work. The city’s position on the East Coast gives it ready access to almost two‑thirds of the total population of the nation.
The population of the Roanoke Valley is estimated at just over 230,000. This figure includes the cities of Roanoke and Salem, the town of Vinton, and Roanoke, Botetourt and Franklin Counties. The Roanoke Valley offers a wide range of business, service and entertainment opportunities.
The Roanoke Regional Airport, serviced by daily flights, including jet service to other major metropolitan areas, is a ten-minute drive from Jefferson College of Health Sciences. The College is easily accessible to Interstate 81. Roanoke is also serviced by continental bus lines. The Roanoke Valley is home to more than a dozen major religious denominations, and headquarters for many of these denominations are located in Roanoke. More than 40 day care centers are located in the Valley, many of which offer academic and social programs. The community is served by three comprehensive service delivery hospitals; specialized outpatient substance abuse and psychiatric services; and various nursing homes, home healthcare services and rescue squads.
The College is located within walking distance of the historic downtown Market area, which includes a farmer’s market, restaurants and shops, and Roanoke’s cultural center, Center in the Square, which offers theater; museums in the arts, sciences and area history; and the only planetarium in southwestern Virginia. In addition, the Roanoke area has a variety of recreational facilities, including:
· over 100 parks and playgrounds;
· a stadium and several arenas which house professional baseball, basketball, ice hockey and soccer teams;
· two civic centers, a municipal auditorium and conference center;
· golf courses and driving ranges, swimming pools, tennis courts, bowling alleys, skating rinks;
· movie theaters;
· Mill Mountain Zoo;
· waterfront recreation at Smith Mountain Lake; just a 45‑minute drive;
· nearby national forests;
· Explore Park, a 20‑minute drive from the College;
· Natural Bridge, about an hour away;
· Dixie Caverns, a 20‑minute drive from the College.
College Website
Jefferson College of Health Sciences maintains a web site at http://www.jchs.edu. This website contains additional information about the College, facilities, admissions, programs of study, distance learning, the Learning Resource Center and continuing education, and includes a schedule of the current semester’s classes.
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy in this Catalog. However, changes, substitutions, clarifications, and addendums may be instituted without notice. Please refer to the College’s website, www.jchs.edu, for the most current information. |
