Tansey Topics: A Weekly Look At What's Happening At BCCC From President Barbara Tansey | Eastern North Carolina Now

    The members of the Senior Staff at Beaufort County Community College this week began a review and update of the capital construction plan approved by the BCCC Board of Trustees last year in order to make recommendations to the board for future construction needs. Senior Staff continued to identify the need for a Public Safety Complex with a driving pad as among the top construction priorities for the college. Once built the driving pad could serve truck driving, Basic Law Enforcement Training, motorcycle, emergency vehicle and other training. The complex could also include classroom and training spaces for these students along with storage and other space as needed. Also on the construction "wish list" are renovations and additions to Building 9 to enable the student application, registration and financial aid process to move more efficiently and an expanded space for the Automotive Technology Program. BCCC also needs to work to make our campus more user-friendly for visually impaired students and others with disabilities. Greenville architect John Farkas has been tasked with estimating the costs of these projects in advance of a retreat by the trustees scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, February 26. The board will review the list and make its own recommendations that will comprise a long-range plan for BCCC.

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

• I am delighted to announce that Serena Sullivan has accepted the position of Director of the Beaufort County Community College Foundation. Serena comes to us from Carver Machine Works where she has been Inside Sales and Customer Service Representative since August 2013. A native of Beaufort County, Serena is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she majored in psychology and criminal justice. She will begin work with us on Friday, January 30. I hope we will all welcome her to campus and support her efforts at building friends for our college.
• Applications are being sought for students to represent Beaufort County Community College as Ambassadors for the 2015-2016 Academic Year. The deadline for Ambassador nominations is Friday, February 13, 2015. Nominees must have a 3.0 grade point average and must not have a felony conviction. Ambassadors must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher each semester they serve as Ambassadors; demonstrate a high level of commitment to the college through active participation in at least 75 percent of Ambassador activities; maintain a pleasant and outgoing personality in all Ambassador related activities; be able and willing to represent the college in a positive manner on and off campus at all times, among other requirements. For more information about the Ambassador Program or for a copy of the nomination form, contact Interim Foundation Director Marcia Norwood at 940-6218 or by email at marcia.norwood@beaufortccc.edu.
• There is a waiting list for the upcoming Foundation trip to see MOTOWN, the Musical at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 21. The cost of the trip, which includes round-trip transportation, lunch and orchestra seats at the musical, is $200. If you have made a reservation for the trip but have not yet paid, please do so by Friday, January 16. Some seats may be available after this deadline so if you are interested, contact Marcia to have your name placed on the wait list. And mark your calendars for two additional trips to DPAC this spring to see Kinky Boots on March 14 and Newsies on June 6. Watch for more information about both of these events.
• And if you are a bit more adventurous in your travels, don't forget the Foundation's trip to Canyon Country USA! The fully-escorted tour is scheduled for Oct. 10 to 18, 2015 and is offered by Collette through New Trends in Travel. The cost of the trip is $3,159 per person based on double occupancy at hotels in Scottsdale, Grand Canyon National Park, Page, Ariz., Zion National Park and Las Vegas, seven breakfasts and five dinners during the trip, round-trip airfare from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, air taxes and fees and hotel transfers. Transportation to the airport in Raleigh is available for an additional charge of $60. It is co-sponsored by the Washington/Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce. A special presentation about the trip is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, March 16, in the Multi-Purpose Room of Building 10 on the BCCC campus. Those interested in attending the presentation are asked to reserve a place by contacting the Chamber office at 252-946-9168 or by email at rmckeithan@wbcchamber.com.

• Don't forget that the best way to keep the BCCC community informed of your club meetings and upcoming events is to post them on the Campus Calendar. Each division on our campus has one individual who is designed to post these activities on our calendar which can be viewed by everyone! If you have questions as to whom you should send your club meeting notices or special events, please contact my office and we will be glad to help you!

• Chief of Campus Police Chris Harrison reminds us to call the BCCC Police Duty Line at 252-943-8721 when you need assistance, need to report something or have general questions. For medical related issues and emergencies call 911.

• BCCC's efforts on behalf of un- and underemployed workers have been in the news over the past two weeks. A new computer course offered in cooperation with NCWorks was featured in the Washington Daily News and on WNCT television. You can view an interview with Lou Stout, director of Workforce Initiatives, on the WNCT website at http://www.wnct.com/story/27840925/new-classes-aim-to-lowerunemployment-rate-in-beaufort-co. Other classes and laboratories for un- and under-employed workers are being scheduled by the Division of Continuing Education and can be found at http://www. beaufortccc.edu/coned/contin.htm.. Thanks to Lou for her efforts in helping our local workforce.
• Vice President of Continuing Education Stacey Gerard reports that efforts are under way to obtain national accreditation for our EMT/Paramedic Program this spring. This effort is being led by Steve Taylor, director of Fire and EMS programs, and Billy Respass, our new EMS coordinator. Steve and Billy are hard at work on this project in Room 803 of Building 8. Thanks to Stacey, Steve and Billy for their efforts on behalf of these programs.
• Several new personal enrichment classes are being planned for the summer, Stacey reports. Amongthem are classes in line and contra dancing, decorating with driftwood, creating are through welding, an automobile maintenance and care class for women, using a digital SLR camera and basic pet grooming. Be sure to watch for the summer Division of Continuing Education catalogue that will have information about these and other new classes and check out http://www.beaufortccc.edu/coned/contin.htm for the schedule of exciting classes coming up this winter and spring! My thanks to Stacey and Personal Enrichment Director Clay Carter for their hard work on expanding our Personal Enrichment offerings.

• Information forms are available in the lobby of Building 1 about the upcoming Miss Gullfest Pageant to be held Saturday, April 18, in conjunction with BCCC's spring festival. Pageant Chairman Sara Singleton reports that interest in the event is high. It will include competition in five divisions — Preschool through second grade for Tiny Miss Gullfest; third through fifth grades for Little Miss Gullfest; sixth through eighth grades for Teen Miss Gullfest; ninth through 12th grades for Miss Gullfest and College Miss Gullfest for current BCCC students. A maximum of 15 contestants will be accepted per division. The registration deadline is March 20. For more information about this event, stop by the lobby of Building 1 or contact Sara at 940-6271 or by email at sara.singleton@beaufortccc.edu.

• Don't forget to bring your walking shoes to the campus on Tuesday, January 27 for the Grand Opening of the Interactive Multipurpose Fitness and Interval Training Trail, or IM FITT, at 11 a.m. outside of Building 8. The free community resource offers a full-body workout including a one mile walking loop and three exercise stations for flexibility, aerobic and strength training. Wear your walking shoes and take part in the inaugural IM FITT Walk along with fellow BCCC faculty, staff, students and campus visitors.

• Welcome back to Marketing Coordinator Wes Sumner who returned to the office this week following surgery. He has been working from home for the past two weeks but it is great to have him back on campus.
• Those of you with Facebook accounts have probably noticed all of the beautiful wooden bowls being produced by Vice President of Research and Institutional Effectiveness Jay Sullivan. He has been busy in his workshop preparing to sell his hand-turned bowls at Gullfest.
• Finally, I offer condolences to Lead Mathematics Instructor Kimberly Mullis on the recent death of her step-father.

January 19	Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
January 20	Professional Development — Active Student Engagement, noon, Room 104, Building 1.
January 26	BCANS, noon, Room 1204-1206, Building 12.
January 27	IM FITT Grand Opening, 11 a.m., outside of Building 8.
January 27	Professional Development — Rubrics, noon, Room 104, Building 1
January 27	Student Government Association meeting, noon, Student Lounge, Building 9 February 3 – Faculty Senate Executive Council Meeting, noon, Conference Room, Building 12.
February 3	Gamma Beta Phi meeting, noon. Room 1220, Building 12
February 3	BCCC Board of Trustees, committees meet consecutively beginning at 5 p.m., Board meets beginning at 7 p.m., Board Room Building 10.
February 10-11	Study Abroad Silent Auction, Student Lounge, Building 9.
February 10	Professional Development — Inquiry Learning — What is It?. Room 104, Building 1.
February 16	BCANS, noon, Room 1204-1206, Building 12.

    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.