Tansey Topics: A Weekly Look at What's Happening at BCCC | Eastern North Carolina Now

    You Fit Here! Come Take a Look! We've been eastern North Carolina neighbors for nearly 50 years, but you may not know how you might fit into the BCCC community . . . so we're opening our doors for a big Open House event on Thursday, October 2 from 6 to 9 p.m. Whether you're making plans for college, wanting to upgrade your job skills or looking for a new hobby or interest, you'll fit in at BCCC. During our Open House, you'll be able to meet faculty, staff and current students in all of our divisions and have an opportunity to tour our beautiful campus. You can also enter a drawing to win a $1,500 scholarship. You'll begin your evening in Building 10 on the eastern end of campus. From there, guided tours will be available for those who want a structured visit or you may choose to make a self-guided visit to only one or two areas of the campus that most interest you. You'll see classroom demonstrations, learn about student clubs and activities, get information about admissions and financial aid, learn about opportunities for donor and community involvement and enjoy other highlights of BCCC life which will be on display across campus. Thanks to the Open House team led by Vice President of Research and Institutional Effectiveness Jay Sullivan for their hard work on this event.

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

    Allied Health

    • Allied Health Admissions Coordinator Phylicia Bridgers has scheduled several information sessions about Allied Health programs at BCCC that are taking place now through March 2015. The next information session, about our Associate Degree and Practical Nursing programs, will be held at noon Monday, Sept. 15, in Room 1217 of Building 12. For more information about these sessions, contact Phylicia at phyliciab@beaufortccc.edu.

    BCCC Foundation

    • In news regarding the Digital Sign Campaign, Foundation Director Judy Jennette reports that $51,748.32 in donations and pledges has been received, over 60 percent of the way towards the final goal! To make a donation, contact Judy at 252-940-6326.

    • Don't forget about several upcoming opportunities to participate in Foundation-sponsored activities. They include the Rock for Human Rights concert at noon on Thursday, September 18, outside of Building 5; a day trip on Saturday, September 20, to the Durham Performing Arts Center to see the musical Dirty Dancing; the 21st annual Foundation Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 26, and a trip to Ireland from April 21 to 30, 2015. For more information about any of these events, contact Judy or Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood at 252-940-6218.

    Candidate Education Forum

    • There's still time to submit your questions for the Education Forum sponsored by Beaufort County Community College and the Beaufort County Schools. Send your questions to Director of Learning Resources and Distance Education Penny Sermons at pennys@beaufortccc.edu. The forum will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 30, in the auditorium at Washington High School.

    Continuing Education

    • BCCC is participating in a statewide effort to understand the challenges and successes businesses and industry face in finding and retaining high-quality employees. The college is part of a team of workforce development partners leading the effort in Beaufort County. The local effort is being led by Lauren Dudley, BCCC's Customized Training director and Walter Dorsey, director of Region Q Workforce Development, who serve as co-chairmen of the project. This month, the team began visiting local businesses as part of Gov. Pat McCrory's "1,000 in 100" initiative announced last spring as part of NCWorks. "1,000 in 100" refers to the governor's call to have local teams visit 1,000 businesses of all types in all 100 counties in the last 100 days of 2014. Thanks very much to Lauren for taking a lead role in this project!

    • Director of Workforce Initiatives Lou Stout reports that the NC Works Mobile Career Center will be on our campus during Open House. Representatives for the local NC works Center will be on hand to answer questions about services, provide job search assistance or offer help in completing online applications.

    Free Day at BCCC

    • For the second year in a row, BCCC will open its doors to give prospective students the chance to attend classes for one day at no cost on Thursday, October 9. This will give those who may be hesitant to continue their education the chance to see what college life is like. Watch for more information about this event in the coming weeks.

    Gullfest

    • Now through January 20, BCCC is accepting submissions of T-shirt designs for the Second Annual Gullfest, our spring festival. The winning design will be featured on the official Gullfest T-shirt along with the artist's signature. The artist will receive two free T-shirts and a framed print of his or her design. The contest is open to all students currently enrolled at BCCC. For more information about the T-shirt contest, contact Heea Crownfield at heeac@beaufortccc.edu or 252-940-6491 or James Casey at jamesc@beaufortccc.edu or 252-940-6338. I hope the contest will have lots of entries!

    IMFITT Trail

    • BCCC's new walking trail had its first organized group of walkers earlier this week when 28 visitors from the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center took a walk led by Grant Writer Sara Singleton. It was the group's first stop on their regular Mystery Day Trip. Sara said the group enjoyed the visit and had several helpful suggestions for directional signs for the trail. The trail is funded by a grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation.

    Travel/Study Group

    • The BCCC Travel/Study group is selling the attractions coupon book to raise money for students to travel to Belize. The books contain more than $3,000 in savings for businesses in Washington, Greenville, Kinston and New Bern. They are valid now and do not expire until December 2015. Tentative dates for the trip are May 26 to June 1. Student participants must be 18 years old or older, have a 2.5 grade point average or better and be enrolled in International Cultural Exploration for the Summer

    2015 Term. You may purchase the book online at https://www.attractionsbook.com/ezpay/code/. Enter beaufortccc as the EZPAY code in order for our group to get funding from your purchase. You can also purchase the books from Instructor Suzanne Stotesbury or from any member of the travel group. For more information, contact Suzanne at 252-940-6339 or at suzannes@beaufortccc.edu.

    Personnel and Personal Notes

    • Congratulations to Coordinator of Duplicating and Mailroom Services Tracey Johnson. She has been named to the Human Services and Education Steering Committee of the National Association of Counties for the 2015-2015 term. Congratulations also to Jay Sullivan who has been appointed to the N.C. Community College System's Performance Measures Adjustment Committee.

    • I'm delighted to welcome new custodians Antonia Foskey who will serve in Building 2 and Norma Laws who will serve in Building 8.

    • Joy Landeck, assistant to the Registrar, has announced her retirement on December 31 after serving at BCCC for almost 40 years. I appreciate her dedication and hard work over the years and hope she will have a wonderful retirement!

    And in the coming weeks, watch for the following:

   •  September 13 – Community Shred Day, 9 to 11 a.m. First Citizens Bank, 1411 Carolina Ave.
   •  September 15 – BCANS Kick-off Luncheon, noon, Multipurpose Room, Building 10.
   •  September 17 – Board of Trustees Fall Retreat, 8:30 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 26 – BCCC Foundation Annual Golf Tournament, Washington Yacht and Country Club.
   •  September 30 – Education Forum for Candidates, 7 p.m., Washington High School.
   •  October 2 – BCCC Open House, 6 to 9 p.m., campus-wide.
   •  October 7 – BCCC Board of Trustees, 5:30 p.m., committee meetings; 7 p.m. board meeting, Board Room, Building 10.
   •  October 9 – Free Day at BCCC.
   •  October 9 – Veteran on Campus service session, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Sandria McFadden at 940-6353 for an appointment.