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

    On the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the Allied invasion of the beaches of Normandy, France, it's a good time to remember the veterans who served our country in the military. To that end, BCCC has several activities planned this summer and fall that will be of assistance to our students, faculty and staff who are veterans. The Mobile Vet Center, a program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, will be on the BCCC campus from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M., Tuesday, June 24, to provide counseling and referrals to veterans. This visit will kick off a series of visits that will take place this fall by Daniele L. Brooks, a readjustment counseling social worker with the Greenville MobileVet Center. Career Center Director Sandria McFadden reports that Ms. Brooks to be on campus two days a month this fall and that a professional development session on post-traumatic stress disorder is being planned as is a veteran's support group. Watch for more information about upcoming veterans activities on our website, Campus Connections and Facebook page.

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

    Academics

• BCCC will offer its first online degrees beginning with the Fall 2014 Semester, making it possible for students to obtain an associate's degree, diploma or certificate in one of several fields without having to travel to campus. Six associate degrees, two diplomas and nine certificates are available to students who can complete them via Blackboard over the Internet. They include an associate in arts degree and associate degrees in applied science in Computer Information Technology, Computer Programming, Criminal Justice, Medical Office Administration and Office Administration. Diplomas will be available in Business Administration and Criminal Justice. Certificates will be available in General Accounting, Business Administration, Web Development and Design, Computer Hardware Repair and Troubleshooting, Networking Support, C++ Programming, Virtual Basic Programming, Basics of Criminal Justice and Corrections. Thanks very much to Vice President of Academics Crystal Ange, Director of Learning Resources and Distance Learning Penny Sermons, Educational Media and Graphing Services Coordinator Tricia Woolard and our faculty for their hard work to make these programs available to those in our service area.
   

    Allied Health and Professional Services

• BCCC, also for the first time this fall, will offer an online, eight-week course introductory course in its Early Childhood Education Program. The course, Introduction to Early Childhood Education, or EDU 119, will be offered via the Internet from Friday, Aug. 15, to Tuesday, Oct. 14. The course is required for all child care workers. Thanks to Lead Early Childhood Instructor Caroline Hardee for her work in making this class available online in this new eight-week format.
   

    BCCC Board of Trustees Resolution of Appreciation for Gullfest 2014

• Among its actions Tuesday night, the BCCC Board of Trustees issued a Resolution of Appreciation to the BCCC faculty and staff or their hard work to make our inaugural spring festival, Gullfest 2014, a success. As part of the recognition, the board invited Gullfest Chairman Theresa Edwards and her co-workers Rebecca Adams and Morgan Bland Roberson to join them for dinner. A copy of the resolution will be on display in Theresa's office and in my office. Thanks very much to the Gullfest team and these individuals for their hard work. Planning for Gullfest 2015, scheduled for Saturday, April 18, is already under way.

    BCCC Foundation

• In news regarding the Digital Sign Campaign, Foundation Director Judy Jennette reports that a total of 38,658.32 in donations and pledges have been received for the Digital Sign Campaign at BCCC, more than 40 percent of the way towards the final goal. To make a donation, contact Judy at 252-940-6326.

    Beaufort County Early College High School

• Twenty-eight graduates of the Beaufort County Early College High School were honored Thursday, May 22, during the school's second graduation exercises. Of those graduates, 13 also received associate degrees from Beaufort County Community College the week before and 10 will go on to four-year universities. Congratulations to all of these graduates who, during their five years on the BCCC campus became a vital and enthusiastic part of our community. And congratulations to all the ECHS and BCCC faculty and staff for helping these students succeed.
   

    Business and Industrial Technology

• Eleven Basic Law Enforcement Training students were recognized in graduation ceremonies Thursday, May 22, at Beaufort County Community College that also included a memorial for a fallen officer. During the ceremony, BLET Program Director Larry Barnes dedicated a photograph for Alexander Thalmann, a 2013 graduate of BCCC's BLET training program, killed in the line of duty earlier this year in New Bern. Congratulations to these graduates and thanks to Larry and Instructor Leonard Hudson for helping these students succeed!
• Applications are now being accepted for the BLET Night Academy at Beaufort County Community College e that will begin in August. The deadline to submit application packages for the 16-week academy is Thursday, July 31. For more information about these classes, contact Pauline Godley, administrative assistantfor Law Enforcement Programs, in Building 2 on the BCCC campus, by telephone at 252-940-6232 or by email at Paulineg@beaufortccc.edu. Information may also be obtained by contacting g Barnes by telephone at 252-940-6374 or by email at Larryb@beaufortccc.edu for an application packet. I look forward to the start of another successful academy!

    Continuing Education

• All BCCC faculty and staff are invited to attend the second round of interviews for candidates to fill the position of Vice President of Continuing Education. Individual sessions with each of the four candidateswill be held at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., Monday, June 9, in the lecture hall of Building 12. During his or her session, each candidate will answer a pre-determined set of questions. Those attending the session will have the chance to complete a comment card based on the candidate's responses. It will not be necessary to attend all four sessions but if you decide to attend a session, it is requested that you remain for the entire session so as not to be a distraction to the candidate.
• College for Kids is back! The worlds of sailing, hunting, video games and sewing are the activities young people can explore during College for Kids 2014. Classes, will be offered, generally, in one-week blocks, beginning July 14 and ending August 14. The registration deadline is June 30. All classes are offered on the BCCC campus. For more information about the schedule of College for Kids classes, visit the BCCC website or the BCCC News Blog at http://bcccnewsblog.blogspot.com.
• The Division of Continuing Education also announces the start of a new session of truck driver classes that will begin July 14. The program trains students to drive a tractor-trailer and help them obtain their Class-A Commercial Driver's License. Students can also choose to obtain a Class B Passenger Bus License. Thanks to new Special Projects Coordinator Justin Rose for his work with both of these projects.
   

    Sam Carson Award

• The Region Q Workforce Development Board recently awarded Beaufort County Community College the Sam Carson Award for Excellence in the Promotion of Workforce Development. BCCC was nominated for the award by the Mid-East Commission and the Beaufort County NCWorks Center. Earlier this week Wayne Rollins, senior Business Services specialist with Region Q Workforce Development, and I presented the award to the BCCC Board of Trustees. I thank the Region Q Workforce Development Board for recognizing the hard work of the BCCC faculty and staff in providing opportunities for our area workers and helping our employers find qualified workers.
   

    Personal and Personnel Notes:

• Congratulations to BCCC Trustees Cynthia Davis and Mitchell St. Clair Sr. who have been reappointed to the Board of Trustees by the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners and the Beaufort County Board of Education, respectively. The two were given the oath of office at the Board of Trustees meeting earlier this week.
• Congratulations also to BCCC Police Chief Chris Harrison who was also given the oath of office at the Board of Trustees meeting and to Faculty Member of the Year Lynne Modlin and Staff Member of the Year Lentz Stowe who were recognized at the meeting.
• Welcome back to two groups of travelers! The BCCC Travel/Study Group under the direction of Instructor Suzanne Stotesbury has returned from their trip to London and Paris. The group visited the usual tourist sites and reports eating fish and chips in London and duck in a 13th Century cellarrestaurant in Paris. Participants in the BCCC Foundation's first international trip have returned from their travels to London. The group traveled to Europe on the Queen Mary II and spent time in Bath before venturing to London. Thanks to Suzanne and Foundation Director Judy Jennette for their work in arranging these trips.
• On the move! BCCC's Campus Police Department has moved to Room 114 on the eastern end of Building 1 in an office space that combines Chief Harrison's office with that of the other campus police officers, previously located in Building 5. Staff Accountant Cecilia Scott can be found in the office
• upstairs in Building 1 formerly used by Chief Harrison. The office space in Building 5 will be used by Early College High School Principal Emily Pake. The ECHS lounge in Building 5 will be used by Hyde County Early College High School students when they are between classes freeing space in the Multipurpose Room in Building 10. And this fall, look for the Academic Support Center in a new location in Room 105 on the western end of Building 1.
• Chemistry Instructor Josh Weaver is leaving BCCC to accept a position that is closer to his home. Thanks very much to Josh for his service to the college and his hard work in improving the chemistry lab. I wish him well in his new job.
• Finally, I am very sorry to report the loss of one of our BCCC family. Helen Cutler, custodian for Building 8, died this week. I extend condolences to her family and friends and know she will be missed
• on our campus. Visitation will be at Leon Randolph Funeral Home or at her mother's home at 7348 Terra Ceia Road in Terra Ceia. Funeral will be Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Macedonia Church of Christ in Pantego.
   

    And in the coming weeks, watch for the following:

    June 12 — Senior Staff Retreat.

    June 24 — New Student Orientation, 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., auditorium, Building 8 followed by registration.

    June 24 — Mobile Vet Van, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., parking lot between Buildings 1 and 2.