Tansey Topics: A Weekly Look at What’s Happening at BCCC from President Barbara Tansey | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Tansey Topics: A Weekly Look at What's Happening at BCCC from President Barbara Tansey

    After a brief hiatus for the summer, I'm happy to report that Tansey Topics is back. It's been a busy two weeks at BCCC as we prepared for the return of the Beaufort County Early College High School students on August 7 and our college students today. Our faculty and staff have been attending meetings and training in preparation for today's start of classes and our maintenance and information technology staff have been working hard to prepare the classrooms and college grounds for the arrival of our students. I don't have a count yet on our final registration numbers for Fall Semester 2014 but early indications are that registration has been steady throughout the summer, although it may fall short of last year's Fall Semester.

    Here's a look at other BCCC events happening on campus and in the community:

• There's good news to report on faculty and staff salaries. The N.C. General Assembly as part of the state's 2014-2015 Fiscal Year budget approved $1,000 raise for community college faculty and staff. We'll know more about the college's state budget later after Vice President of Administrative Services Mark Nelson and I visit Raleigh to meet with system President Scott Ralls. Watch for more news on our budget in the coming weeks.

• The BCCC Board of Trustees has two new members. I am delighted to welcome National Spinning's Chief Executive Officer Jim Chesnutt and Student Government Association President Jackson Lancaster to the board. Both Jim and Jackson will be valuable additions to the board and will take the oath
• of office at the board's October meeting.

• In news regarding the Digital Sign Campaign, Foundation Director Judy Jennette reports that $50,548.32 in donations and pledges has been received, over half of the way towards the final goal! These donations include a $7,500 contribution from PotashCorp Aurora. To make a donation, contact Judy at 252-940-6326.
• Registration is under way for the 21st annual Beaufort County Community College Foundation Golf Tournament to be held Friday, Sept. 26, at the Washington Yacht and Country Club. The largest single annual fund-raising event for the college, the tournament typically raises about $10,000 for scholarships to help eligible students with the cost of tuition and books and other programs supported by the BCCC Foundation. PotashCorp Aurora is the primary sponsor of the tournament. The entry fee is $80 per player and includes lunch, cart rental and greens fee. I hope all of Tansey Topics readers who are golfers will plan to participate in this worthwhile event.
• Don't forget that the BCCC Foundation and the Washington/Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a 10-day trip to Ireland April 21 to 30, 2015. A special presentation about the trip is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Chamber office in downtown Washington. For more information or a brochure about the trip, contact Judy at 252-940-6326.
• Plan also to attend a free Rock for Human Rights concert at noon outside Building 5 on the BCCC campus Thursday, Sept. 18. The concert is sponsored by the United Nations to promote understanding of human rights worldwide. Watch for more information about this exciting event!

• Don't forget to submit your questions for the Education Forum sponsored by Beaufort County Community College and the Beaufort County Schools. We are joining forces to sponsor the forum for local and state candidates for public office at 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 30, in the auditorium at Washington High School. The forum moderator will be Dave Jordan of WITN-TV. Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates. These questions should be sent via email to Learning Resources Director Penny Sermons no later than Wednesday, August 20. Thanks very much to Penny and other members of the committee - Gail Ambrose, Dave Jordan, Jeanne Martin, Michele Mayo and Beth Wilder for their work on this project. Please plan to attend.

• After being closed for the summer, BCCC's College Grill is up and running for the Fall Semester 2014 with a new menu. In addition to her famous cheese biscuits, grill owner Ann Hill is offering a Hungry Hercules breakfast for $5.49 that includes choice of sausage or bacon, grits or oatmeal, scrambled or boiled eggs and plain biscuit or toast. Lunch time offerings include daily specials for $6.99 sandwhiches, soup and salads. The College Grill is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you're in a hurry, you can call ahead at 940-6220.

• BCCC's Business and Industry Services recently provided Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification training for four employees of P & G Manufacturing's Washington plant. The training is part of a three-year project funded by a Customized Training Program Grant that was designed by BCCC's Business and Industry Services to help the company improve the skills of their workers and increase its work-force. Other training will include supervisory training, blueprint reading, and safety training, among
• other classes. Thanks to Customized Training Director Lauren Dudley for her work on this project.
• BCCC's annual High School Equivalency Assessment Day will be held Wednesday, August 20, beginning at 9 a.m., to encourage area residents to complete their high school equivalency degrees. Those who attend will have the chance to test their readiness to take the battery of GED^® and to learn more about classes offered at BCCC by our Basic Skills Division that prepare students for the exam. If you know someone who needs to complete their high school degree, encourage them to attend this event. I thank Basic Skills Director Tony Taylor and Assessment and Retention Specialist Penelope Radcliffe for their work on this.
• College for Kids held its last class this week with four students enrolled in Sewing for Tweens and Teens. Classes in boating safety, hunter safety and video game development brought an additional 21 participants to campus this summer. Thanks to the division's Special Projects Coordinator Justin Rose for his work on this.

• Sixty-five freshmen started classes in the Beaufort County Early College High School last week bringing the school's total enrollment to 229 for the year. Also, over 50 Hyde and Tyrrell county Early College High School students arrived on campus this week. Welcome to all of these young people who have become a vital part of our campus community.

• Grant Writer Sara Singleton reports that BCCC has received a $97,075 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation to support the creation and implementation of our new Agribusiness Technology Program. The grant will be used to pay for renovations to a building on the BCCC campus that will house the program, laboratory equipment, safety equipment and computers and will provide one year of salary and benefits for new Lead Instructor, William "Billy" Askew. Ongoing salary and program expenses will be covered by state reimbursement and tuition and fees. Thanks very much to Sara and Billy for their hard work on obtaining this much-needed funding for our new program.

• Chief of Police Chris Harrison thanks all employees who attended Wednesday's Active Shooter training. He recommends that all employees view the FEMA Active Shooter Internet-based Course at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=IS-907. Those who missed yesterday's training or who miss the training on a future make-up day will be required to take the online version of the course. If you have any questions about the presentation, or about BCCC's Active Shooter response, Chris will be happy to answer them.

• Be sure to visit either the BCCC Web Site or Facebook Page for a look at a special "Welcome to BCCC" presentation developed by Public Relations Coordinator Betty Gray and Grant Writer Sara Singleton.

• Thanks to all who worked on the recent program FTE audit. The auditor has reported no exceptions in curriculum and continuing education. We will have a minor issue with some instruction hours, but in general, it was a very good audit thanks to the hard work and diligence of our faculty and staff.
• I am sorry to report several resignations from our faculty and staff. Arts and Sciences Dean Dixon Boyles is leaving BCCC for an opportunity in Texarkana; Biology Instructor Amy Friesland, for a position at N.C. State University; Maintenance Mechanic Tony Jackson, to homestead in the mountains; and Cosmetology Instructor Donna Price. These wonderful employees will certainly be missed!
• While we are losing some of our employees, I welcome several newcomers to our full-time faculty this semester. They are as follows: Ginny Boyer, Computer Information Technology and Computer Programming instructor; Misty Brown, Associate Degree Nursing instructor; Amanda Carlisle, Chemistry instructor; Anne Davenport, Curriculum and Continuing Education Nurse Aide Instructor; Jason Jackson, Anatomy, Physiology and Biology instructor, Tyler Leaser, Mathematics instructor, and Liz Shinohara, Developmental English and Reading Instructor. Let's make these people and all of our new part-time employees feel welcome.
• Finally, congratulations to Mike Griffin on his recent promotion to Maintenance Mechanic Coordinator. And, Director of High School Programs Lisa Hill will provide some of the duties of Arts and Sciences Dean on an interim basis.

    August 20 - GED® Assessment Day, 9 a.m., Auditorium, Building 8.

    August 26 - BCCC Foundation trip to Ireland informational meeting, 6 p.m., Washington/Beaufort Chamber of Commerce office.

    September 1 - Labor Day Holiday.

    September 11 - SGA 9/11 Remembrance.

    September 17 - Board of Trustees Fall Retreat, 8 a.m. breakfast; 9 a.m. meeting, Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.

    September 17 - Student Support Services/TRiO Annual Community Resources Day, 9 a.m. , Student Lounge, Building 9.

    September 18 - Rock for Human Rights, noon, outside Building 5.

    September 20 - BCCC Foundation trip to see Dirty Dancing at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

    September 30 - Education Forum for Candidates, 7 p.m., Washington High School.

    October 2 - BCCC Open House, 6 to 9 p.m., campus-wide.

    Beaufort County Community College is a public comprehensive community college committed to accessible and affordable quality education, effective teaching, relevant training, and lifelong learning opportunities for the people served by the College.