Tansey Topics: A weekly look at what's happening at BCCC | Eastern North Carolina Now

    The Beaufort County Board of Trustees on Thursday held its spring retreat with student loans and changes to the board's bylaws and constitution on its agenda. The discussion of student loans was prompted by proposed changes by the U.S. Congress that would have made community colleges and other institutions of higher learning subject to financial penalties for student loan defaults. The board decided that rather than taking an immediate step to opt out of student loans, faculty, staff and administration at Beaufort County Community College will work harder in the coming year to make the public and our students more aware of the responsibilities of students who receive loans to finance their education. We will also work to monitor our student loan default rate here at BCCC and continue to keep in touch with our representatives in Congress about issues affecting student loans. My thanks to our trustees for their hard work during the day-long retreat!

    Here's a quick look at just some of the activities this week at BCCC:

    Agri-business Technology Program Update

    The Program Committee of the State Community College Board has approved the new BCCC Agribusiness Technology Program to begin in the Fall. The Board is expected to approve the

    program when it meets today. BCCC will soon advertise for a full-time instructor for the program. Watch for more information about this new program in the next few weeks.

    BCCC Contacts Directory

    • There's a new and improved way to keep up with all of your co-workers here at the community college. Network Administrator Whiting Toler announces the creation of a new BCCC Contacts Directory with search and filter capabilities. It's available online via the contact-related links on our website or you can reach it directly at http://www.beaufortccc.edu/directory.

    Business and Industrial Technology

    • Don't forget to sign up for public tours and student tours of two local industries during Advanced Manufacturing Awareness Week. An Open House for 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 8 will give members of the public the chance to see the latest in equipment and training for careers in manufacturing. Immediately afterwards, attendees will have the chance to tour PAS, a local industry to see advanced manufacturing techniques at work on the factory floor. BCCC students will be invited to tour iDX on Friday. Be sure to visit the BCCC website to sign up for one of these tours.

    • BCCC began offering certification exams in the Microsoft IT Academy this week. Lead Computer Information Technology and Computer Programming Instructor Brian Miller has announced that certification exams will be offered, free of charge to all students, faculty and staff in eight Microsoft Office Specialist areas and 10 Microsoft Technology Associate areas. Certification exams will be offered at 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 117 of Building 2. To schedule and exam or for more information, email Brian at brianm@beaufortccc.edu and indicate the certification exam that interests you and a day that meets your scheduling needs. Thanks very much to Brian for his work on these certifications.

    • I am pleased to announce that Norwich University and Beaufort County Community College have recently entered into an agreement that will allow BCCC graduates earning an associate's degree in criminal justice to earn their bachelor's degree entirely online in less than two years. According to Business and Industrial Technology Dean Ben Morris, Norwich University will apply at least 60 of a BCCC student's credit hours towards a bachelor's degree. Norwich also offers semester credits for previous career or military training and certifications allowing qualified students to transfer up to 84 total semester credits. BCCC is also working hard to make tuition affordable at Norwich. For more information, visit http://online.norwich.edu/bccc. Thanks to Ben his hard work on this agreement that will help our graduates continue their education.

    Digital Sign Campaign Update

    • Foundation Director Judy Jennette reports that a total of $29,294 in donations and pledges have been received for the Digital Sign Campaign at BCCC. I want to thank very much the law firm of Rodman, Holscher, Peck and Edwards and Gregory Poole for their recent donations. There's still time to contribute to the campaign. To make a donation, contact Judy at 252-940-6326.

    Free Day at BCCC

    • Registration is continuing for Free Day at BCCC. On Free Day, BCCC is opening its doors to give prospective students 16 years old or older the chance to attend actual classes and meet potential instructors in their classrooms for free. Attendees of Free Day at BCCC will also have the chance to talk to BCCC staff about admissions, career planning, financial aid, college transfers and academic counseling. Twelve classes in a variety of disciplines – allied health, arts and sciences, business and industry - are available for prospective students to attend. If you know of someone who would benefit from Free Day, encourage them to register at www.beaufortccc.edu.

    Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society Induction

    * Seventy-three students at Beaufort County Community College were inducted into the Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society in a ceremony held Thursday night on the college campus. This is the largest group of new members inducted into the society in recent years - in 2013, 56 new members chose to join GBP and in 2012, 30. Membership is by invitation only. To be eligible, a student must be currently enrolled, must have completed at least 12 semester hours of college work and must have a 3.3 grade point average, among other membership criteria. Congratulations to GBP Advisor Erica Schatz and Co-Advisor Theresa Edwards for their continued work with this group of outstanding students.

    The Teacher Who Couldn't Read

    • BCCC welcomes author John Corcoran to the campus on Tuesday, March 25, when he will discuss his life and his book, "The Teacher Who Couldn't Read." Corcoran, who read only at a second-grade level until the age of 48, graduated from college and worked as a high school teacher and real estate developer with out being discovered as being illiterate. He will speak at 11 a.m. in the auditorium of Building 8. Thanks very much to the Beaufort County Literacy Volunteers and the First Presbyterian Church of Washington for bringing this inspiring speaker to our campus!

    BCCC Travel/Study Group

    • The BCCC Travel/Study Group is currently collecting donations for a yard sale to be held during Gullfest on Saturday, April 5. The group is accepting most house-hold items except electronics. Donations may be brought to campus before April 3 and can be dropped off at Suzanne Stotesbury's office, Room 107 in Building 3. The group may be able to arrange pick-up for larger items. For more information or to schedule a time to drop off items, contact BCCC Study Abroad Instructor Suzanne Stotesbury at suzannes@beaufortccc.edu or 940-6339.

    Personal and Personnel Notes:

    • I send condolences to Ann Hill, operator of the College Grill, on the death of her step-father.

    And in the coming week, watch for the following:

    Mar ch 24 — Allied Health Programs Information Session for Medical Laboratory Technology, 5:30 p.m., Room 1204/06, Building 12.

    March 25 — Registration for Summer Term begins.