Reynolds Police offers department specific training

To ensure the maximized safety of students, faculty and staff, the Reynolds Police Department is currently offering customized training for college departments.

“While we have a number of standardized safety procedures at the college, it is also important that each individual knows their responsibilities within their work area should there be an emergency,” said Reynolds Police Lieutenant Milton Franklin.

The Police Department recently spent three days of interactive training with the college’s library staff providing guidance and instruction for a hostile intruder/active shooter situation.

“Since Reynolds libraries are the place for students to congregate outside their classrooms when they are on campus, it is crucial that the library staff knows how to guide them to safety when emergencies happen,” noted Hong Wu, Director of Library and Information Services.

Library staff members received two hours of safety training that included a comprehensive review of college protocol and addressed general guidelines and suggestions specific to their work locations.

“Most importantly, they (Reynolds Police) walked through each library with the staff and laid out a workable emergency plan based on the specific layout of each library,” said Wu. “These training sessions are extremely helpful and have received lots of compliments from the library staff. I would like to commend Chief Ronca and Lieutenant Franklin for the excellent safety training sessions they offered to the library staff.”

To request customized training for a specific department, contact Lieutenant Milton Franklin at mfranklin@reynolds.edu or call 523-5219.

Phi Theta Kappa inducts over 100 Reynolds students

Reynolds Community College’s Chapters of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society inducted over 100 new members recently at their annual spring induction ceremony. Students who have completed 12 transferable credit hours and have a 3.3 cumulative GPA at the college are invited to join PTK every fall and spring semester.  

Alpha Iota Beta Chapter President Jennifer Campbell opened the ceremony with Reynolds President Dr. Gary Rhodes welcomed the audience.

Dr. Abigail Stonerock, Virginia Community Colleges System Director of Faculty Development delivered a motivational speech as the keynote speaker, emphasizing the students’ relationship opportunities as leaders and their personal value.

Stonerock opened her speech with a list of famous people that suffered great setbacks before vaulting to their success – including Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and Albert Einstein. 

“They have proven that only those that dare to fail greatly can ever succeed greatly,” noted Stonerock. “They also proved that it is not the mountain we must conquer, but ourselves.”

Stomerock’s inspiring words continued by adding, “I want us to talk about where achievement and responsibility intersect. While we are here to celebrate and recognize your achievements, we are also here to celebrate and elevate your responsibilities.”     

Established in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society serves to recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and provide opportunities for individual growth and development through honors, leadership and service programming.  Reynolds has two chapters at the college.  The Alpha Iota Beta chapter represents members enrolled in programs at the Parham Road Campus and the Alpha Gamma Omicron chapter represents members enrolled in programs at the Goochland and Downtown campuses.  Reynolds has inducted 5,216 members since 1982.   

Haitian Doctor Visits Reynolds

Dr. Jeff and Kristi Green

Dr. Dieufene “Jeff” Losier, a Haitian physician, recently spent over a month in the United States for ophthalmic training. As part of this training he was brought to Richmond so he could spend two days last week at Reynolds working with Kristi Green, Opticianry program head.Along with the need for eyecare physicians in Haiti, there is the need for individuals to serve as opticians.

Dr. Jeff is the general physician for a new vision clinic in Cap Haitian, Haiti that opened its doors last May thanks to HIS Vision, a mission group based out of Lynchburg, Virginia. The new clinic provides eye exams, eyeglasses, treatment of eye diseases and infections, and treatment of eye injuries.

The need for vision care in Haiti is great, and as the eye clinic grows additional staff will be needed. The clinic’s next step is to create an ophthalmic training program so that local Haitian people can earn certification. This will ultimately bring employment opportunities and a better future for Haiti. Dr. Jeff will take the knowledge he has gained over the last 6 weeks back to Haiti and work to develop the needed training programs.

During his time at Reynolds Green taught Dr. Jeff how to make eyeglasses and take measurements for eyewear fitting. As the equipment at the clinic is identical to some that are currently in use at Reynolds, Dr. Jeff learned to operate the same equipment that he will teach others to use when he returns to Haiti. Dr. Jeff was also able to video record the fabrication process for making a pair of eyeglasses as Green explained the step by step process. These videos along with supplemental educational materials Green provided will be used to further train Haitians that wish to work as opticians in the clinic.