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Northwest Vista College 2009-2010 Academic Catalog
Northwest Vista College
   
 
  Mar 29, 2024
 
Northwest Vista College 2009-2010 Academic Catalog 
    
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Northwest Vista College 2009-2010 Academic Catalog [Archived Catalog]

College Overview


   

Mission and Vision

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Mission of Northwest Vista College

Creating Opportunities for Success.

Vision of Northwest Vista College

To become responsible members of our world community, we create exemplary models for:

Learning to Be…
Learning to Work…
Learning to Serve…
Learning to Lead…

Together.

Values

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We, the students, faculty, and staff of the Northwest Vista College community, are committed to making a difference through learning and through service. To that end, we are guided and inspired by a unifying set of values.

Learning:
We value a quality learning environment in which each of us grows in effectiveness as a worker and citizen while acquiring knowledge and understanding of self, community, and our cultural diversity.
 
Community:
We value a community in which all members are empowered to contribute as learners and leaders, practicing mutual respect and building mutual trust.
 
Caring:
We value caring - for ourselves, for each other, and for this place - and exhibit that caring through service to others.
 
Synergy:
We value working together to make our shared vision a reality, recognizing that the whole we can create together is greater than the sum of its parts.
 
Diversity:
We value diversity, appreciating different ways of knowing and ways of living and recognizing that our diversity is a source of strength.
 
Creativity:
We value thinking beyond the usual parameters to engage in and support innovations that continually recreate our learning community as a model of excellence in higher education.
 
Openness:
We value open and honest communications that create an atmosphere of trust and an openness to change for the benefit of students.
 
Integrity:
We value acting with integrity, placing high ethical standards before personal gain and modeling that behavior for others.
 
Joy:
We value laughter and play that enriches our work and live.
 

History

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Historical Sketch

Northwest Vista College is a college of the Alamo Colleges along with its sister colleges that include Palo Alto College, St. Philip’s College, San Antonio College and Northeast Lakeview College.  The five colleges serve Bexar County and the surrounding areas.

The Alamo Colleges serve over 52,000 students in credit courses through the five colleges. An additional 16,000 students enroll in continuing education programs.

Established in 1994, with a donation of approximately 137 acres from World Savings and Loan Association, Northwest Vista College began holding classes in off-campus locations in the fall of 1995 with an enrollment of 12 students. The college began construction of its campus in July 1997 and Mountain Laurel Hall opened to students in October 1998. The campus celebrated its grand opening in October 1999 with the completion of Manzanillo Hall and Huisache Hall. Pecan Hall opened in 2005 and currently houses community programs, continuing education, workforce education and technology programs.

Four new buildings were opened for classes in the 2008-09 academic year: Juniper Hall Academic Center, Redbud Hall Library and Learning Resources, Live Oak Hall Academic Center and Cypress Campus Center.  The final structure, Palmetto Fine and Performing Arts Center, will be completed in July 2009.

Facilities

Located on 137 acres, Northwest Vista College is comprised of the following buildings: Manzanillo Hall, Mountain Laurel Hall, Huisache Hall, Pecan Hall, Texas Persimmon Physical Plant and the Boardwalk, as well as the new buildings listed above.

Manzanillo Hall houses the college’s administration offices that include the President’s Office, Public Relations, Community Development, and College Support Services such as Information/Communication Technology, grants and research. Upon completion of a new renovation project, the building will also include training area for faculty and staff development, Alumni Relations, Civic Engagement, Distance Learning and an innovation center.  

Mountain Laurel Hall is currently undergoing remodeling and will become home to our workforce programs that prepare students for immediate employment upon completion of their certificate or degree. Classrooms, laboratories and faculty offices in that building also support our customized training programs for individuals retraining for new careers or employers who need additional training for their staff.

The Huisache Hall, our fitness and wellness facility for students and employees, is being remodeled and will soon include a full-size gymnasium and tennis courts. 

Pecan Hall is home to Community Education programs for kids as well as seniors.  Classroom space in this building also includes dance studios and computer labs.

The Boardwalk includes 23,000 square feet of additional classroom space, offices and support for part-time faculty.

Juniper Hall Academic Center houses several academic support labs in addition to classrooms for English, Reading, Mathematics, Education and English as a Second Language.

Redbud Hall Library and Learning Resources houses the library and several classrooms on the 3rd floor for Multimedia, Music, Art, Mass Communications, and Gaming.

Cypress Campus Center includes the Campus Dining Services, the Bookstore, and Student Services such as advising, financial aid, business office, registration, student leadership and activities, services for students with disabilities, testing center, college orientation program, career services, and a multicultural center.

Live Oak Hall Academic Center contains classrooms and laboratories for Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Astronomy, Engineering, upper division Mathematics, History, Government, Sociology, Anthropology, Geography, Psychology and Speech.

Enrollment

More than 12,000 students were enrolled in credit courses at Northwest Vista College during the Fall 2008 semester. Northwest Vista College’s student body is made up of a diverse population.

Calendar

Northwest Vista College operates on a semester calendar. Fall and spring sessions consist of 16-week terms, in addition to two eight-week flex terms and other condensed-format options. The summer sessions range from three-week to 14-week terms.

For more information, see 2009-2010 Academic Calendar .

Degrees

Northwest Vista College offers an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, and Associate of Applied Science degrees as well as certificates and Marketable Skills Achievement Awards.

For more information, see Programs of Study.

Financial Aid

Financial assistance for students is available to qualified students through scholarships, grants, loans and on-campus employment.

For more information, see Financial Aid .

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