The Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)/Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS), represented by over 30 field offices located across Virginia, is the primary referral source for applicants to WWRC's programs and services, by design of the Agency and as defined in the Code of Virginia. The WWRC Admissions Director and Rehabilitation Counseling Division share accountability with the full Executive Team for developing and nurturing relationships with each of these DRS Field Offices for recruitment of appropriate referrals for WWRC services and programs, including Vocational Training.
All recruitment activities that the Center conducts via tours, its accessible website, and through communications with the Division of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) are performed in an ethical manner, consistent with the organization's values. WWRC's website is continuously updated to ensure that it accurately articulates WWRC's vision and mission, approved training programs, instructional outcomes, student performance expectations, and completion requirements for each training program. The website replaces all former brochures used for marketing and recruitment and is WWRC's official publication for this purpose.
Applicants for WWRC's workforce training programs must first meet general WWRC admissions criteria, per established WWRC governance. Any additional prerequisite requirements for entry to training programs are available through the WWRC website or by contacting the Admissions Department or Vocational Training Administrative Office.
It is WWRC's intention to accept for admission any eligible individual with a disability whose needs are compatible with WWRC's structure, staff, and resources. Upon receipt of a referral and completed Application for Admissions, WWRC's Admissions Department carefully reviews documentation to ensure that all general admissions criteria and individual program prerequisites, as relevant and appropriate, are met. Pre-Admission Technicians are trained in the application of individual program entrance criteria. WWRC believes its admission policies and practices offer reasonable expectations for successful completion of the WWRC's workforce training programs.
Students beyond compulsory school attendance age who have not earned a high school diploma or equivalent are identified through routine admissions processes. While this does not, in itself, preclude admission to the Center and/or a given training program, for those occupational fields requiring a high school diploma or equivalent, enrolled students will be referred to appropriate academic supports to receive assessment and instructional services toward achievement of a GED. Participation in GED preparation and testing is based on student choice, but those for whom this would be an industry requirement are strongly encouraged to participate.
Final decisions about admissions are based on an individual's potential to live on campus safely while gaining workforce skills. As long as an otherwise eligible applicant has demonstrated s/he is stable and ready to commit to a vocational rehabilitation goal, WWRC will consider admission. Applicants who do not initially appear to meet full admission requirements based on safety and/or medical, physical, or psychological stability factors will be considered on a case-by-case basis, through a more formal pre-admissions process.
The WWRC Admissions Committee is available to review applicants who may be considered 'at risk' in the WWRC environment and is accountable for oversight of referrals where there is an identified 'red flag' risk management concern through normal admissions procedures. The Admissions Committee is authorized to seek clarification and/or additional information from the referring DRS Rehabilitation Counselor to determine if the individual will be safe to self and others in the WWRC 24/7 living and learning environment during their stay in residence. Emphasis is placed on effective communications and partnerships with DRS within the context of an overall 'risk assessment'.
Appeals of WWRC admission decisions are addressed in accordance with established Agency policies and procedures and WWRC governance.
Scheduled and admit dates are documented in AWARE by an Admissions Department designee. A designated Vocational Training Department support staff completes all enrollment sheets and forwards to the Primary Instructor in the training area. The designated support staff is also accountable to enter relevant instructional supplies in AWARE. The Manufacturing and Production Operations Supervisor, or designee, ensures that all relevant books, tools, and uniforms issued through the Stock Clerk training program classroom or purchased by Stock Clerk instructional staff via credit card are entered in AWARE with required accompanying documentation provided. The WWRC Business Office requires that all books, tools and uniforms (different code entered for each of these) are entered by correct date issued to any student.
Any books, tools or uniforms issued to a current WWRC student requires creation of a receipt by the materials handling classroom designee, listing the student's name, date, item names and quantity issued along with stock price (price paid when stock was purchased). Any book, tool or uniform not ordered as a stock item is to be purchased by WWRC Training staff using a credit card assigned for client purchases only. These purchases are documented according to issued card procedures as prescribed by the WWRC Business Office and require corroborating proof of purchase with student name, date, item names and quantity issued along with individual and total purchase price on each receipt for each transaction. The person making the card transaction for client purchases is also responsible for ensuring that each card transaction is entered into AWARE for the respective student and that accompanying documentation is processed according to given procedure by the WWRC Business Office.
Once enrolled and physically present in the Vocational Training classroom, each instructor completes a daily student "morning report" which is compiled into a departmental "morning absentee report", with distribution to the Rehabilitation Counseling and Residential Divisions for internal team communications. These daily "morning reports" capture student enrollment as follows:
- Full enrollment: number of students enrolled in a given training program
- Billable enrollment: number of fully enrolled students minus students who are "on leave" on any given day
Student enrollment is calculated on a 6.25 hour instructional day. Census and utilization of Vocational Training programs is monitored weekly through the WWRC Pegboard Team. Any current or projected issues, such as staffing irregularities, anticipated program changes, or capacity vis-à-vis wait lists, are processed through the Pegboard Team for tactical and strategic planning purposes.
