Piedmont Virginia Community College Receives Quality Enhancement Plan Project of Excellence Award
Charlottesville, Va. – November 6, 2026 – Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) is one of 17 member institutions selected to receive the first Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Project of Excellence Award. The Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) has recognized institutions whose QEPs made a measurable difference in student learning, student success, or both. The College was awarded for its QEP “Civic Sense: Engaging Students in the Civic Life of Their Communities.” Over 50 institutions submitted their QEP impact reports for consideration.
PVCC President Jean Runyon shared, “We are committed to preparing students not only for meaningful careers, but also to be informed, engaged individuals who make a positive difference in their communities. Civic Sense brought that commitment to life through civic participation, thoughtful dialogue, and service to others.”
Launched in August 2020 as a five-year initiative, Civic Sense was chosen after a college-wide process that surveyed students, faculty, and staff. The QEP’s stated vision is that PVCC graduates will be more likely to be civically engaged, building student leaders committed to democracy and diversity, and able to engage in community life through collaborative, creative, and critical problem‑solving.
Directed by Connie Jorgensen, retired Assistant Professor of Political Science, Civic Sense was expressly designed to strengthen students’ understanding of and participation in civic life. The PVCC QEP established three student learning outcomes:
- Graduates will actively participate in civic life by voting in local, state, and federal elections.
- Graduates will actively participate in civic life through public service and other activities that improve the condition of communities and/or the quality of people's lives.
- Graduates will evaluate multiple perspectives and think critically about issues of public consequence.
The QEP incorporated a range of curricular and co-curricular initiatives, including integrating civic engagement concepts into credit-bearing courses, PVCC Votes! initiatives, a One Book Program for civic engagement, and Deliberative Dialogues. Many of these activities continue to enrich the student experience and reflect the enduring impact of this work.
To learn more about Civic Sense at PVCC, visit https://www.pvcc.edu/campus-life/qep.
To view the full list of 2026 QEP Project of Excellence Award Winners visit https://commissioncu.org/the-commission-recognizes-17-institutions-as-winners-of-inaugural-qep-project-of-excellence-awards/.
About Piedmont Virginia Community College
Established in 1972, Piedmont Virginia Community College is a nonresidential two-year institution of higher education that serves Central Virginia – principally, residents of the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson. PVCC is committed to providing access to a college education for all who can benefit, an opportunity for each student to reach their potential, and excellence in all programs and services. The main campus is in Albemarle County, Virginia. Classes are also offered at the PVCC Eugene Giuseppe Center in Stanardsville, Va. (Greene County) and the PVCC Jefferson School City Center in downtown Charlottesville. Visit pvcc.edu.
PVCC does not discriminate based on age, color, disability, family medical history or genetic information, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation or any other non-merit-based factor. Visit pvcc.edu/nondiscrimination to learn more.