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

    The holiday season is upon us and I hope all of our students, faculty, staff and community supporters have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. As we take time to give thanks for our blessings, I hope we will remember what a blessing Beaufort County Community College is for the people in our community. I also hope you will join me in giving thanks for all of our hard-working faculty and staff who give of their time and talents to make BCCC successful. Enjoy the holidays and come back energized and refreshed as we work towards the end of the semester!

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

Administrative Services

• Don't forget that contracts for full-time employees have been delivered. Employees have 30 days from Friday, November 7, to sign and return the contracts to the Human Resources Office. Since the 30-day period falls on a weekend, contracts must be signed and returned no later than Monday, December 8
• BCCC's administration and members of the college's Business Continuity Committee attended a webinar this week, Ebola: Campus Planning and Preparation. The webinar included good general information about emergency preparedness as well as specific advice for study abroad, foreign exchange and other education-related travel. Thanks to our Human Resources staff for arranging this training.

Alumni News

• BCCC graduate Michael R. Cobb was part of historic research that may have discovered the long-sought-after Lost Colony. Michael was one of the researchers that performed underground radar scans at a site in Chowan County. The search unveiled clues leading some, including the National Geographic Society, to believe that 120 settlers from England may have ended up there after they left Roanoke Island. Cobb participated in the research through the Center of Excellence in Remote Sensing and Education Research at Elizabeth City where he was a student in the chemistry and pre-pharmacy program. Cobb participated in the research in the summer of 2013 but was prevented from speaking publicly about it until now while additional studies have been undertaken at the site. I and all of our faculty and staff are proud of Michael and wish him well as he begins his master's degree studies in January. Read more about Michael and this research in the Holiday Edition of Campus Connections that will be distributed in early December!

BCCC Foundation

• In news regarding the Digital Sign Campaign, Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood reports that $62,198.32 in donations and pledges has been received, over 75 percent of the way towards the final goal! This total includes a recent $10,000 contribution for the sign from the Frederick and Margaret L. Weyerhaeuser Foundation. I thank the Foundation very much for its contribution. To make a donation, contact Marcia at 252-940-6218.
• The Foundation's trip to Durham to see MOTOWN, the Musical, is still a few months away but only a few seats remain, Judy reports. The trip will also include a meeting with Ralph G. Barrett, assistant professor and chairman of the Department of Music at North Carolina Central University and lunch at 'Que, the latest restaurant venture by Pitmaster Ed Mitchell. The cost of the trip, which includes roundtrip transportation, lunch and orchestra seats at the musical, is $200. To check on seat availability, contact Marcia at 252-940-6218.

BCCC's Mission and Vision

• I hope everyone will take the time to help BCCC's Planning Committee update the Mission and Vision statements for the college! It is vital for these statements to reflect the purpose, primary objectives, goals and aspirations of our college. The committee has prepared a 12-question survey that can be completed online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BCCC14Mission. Please complete this survey by 5 p.m., Wednesday, November 26. Thanks very much to the Planning Committee for their work on this project.

BCCC Trustees

• BCCC's new trustees participated in an orientation and refresher session this week. They received information about the college, its mission and their duties as new trustees. Thanks to Executive Assistant to the President Jennie Singleton and members of our senior staff for their work in planning and conducting this event. Thanks also to the trustees who took the time to attend this training. Our trustees play an important role in the success of the college and it is vital that they stay informed about our operations.

Canned Food Drives

• Two canned food drives are under way on our campus. The Beaufort County Early College High School is collecting canned food and other non-perishable goods for Eagles Wings. Supplies can be dropped off at the display in Building 10. The BCCC Staff Association is collecting canned food for the Zion Shelter and Kitchen through December 17. Contributed items can be dropped off in care of association President Gail Ambrose in the library in Building 5.

Division of Continuing Education

• I am pleased to announce that East Carolina University will host its Great Decisions Program in the Auditorium of Building 8 here on the BCCC campus beginning January 22 and ending March 12. Sessions include such topics as Russia and the Near Abroad, Privacy in the Digital Age, Sectarianism in the Middle East, India Changes Course, U.S. Policy Toward Africa, Syria's Refugee Crisis, Human Trafficking in the 21st Century and Brazil's' Meta morphosis. For more information about this program, you can visit the Great Decisions website at http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cas/greatdecisions/home.cfm. These sessions may be eligible for professional development credit. Please check with your supervisor for details. Thanks very much to Vice President of Continuing Education Stacey Gerard for facilitating this event at BCCC.
• Wondering what to get your friends and family for Christmas? Don't forget the gift certificates available from BCCC's Division of Continuing Education. The division has a lot of new classes starting this winter and spring include local African-American history, guitar lessons, organic gardening, social media exploration, wine appreciation, College for Kids and many others that someone on your holiday list would enjoy. For more information about these certificates, contact Eva Peartree at 252-940-6375 or visit the division's webpage at www.beaufortccc.edu/coned/contin.htm.

Shop Local/Educate Local

• If you're looking for a place to spend your after Thanksgiving dollars, be sure to visit downtown Washington on Saturday, November 29. Local businesses are offering special promotions and discounts on Buy Local Day to entice shoppers to buy local, spend local and be local. While you're there, visit the BCCC booth. We will be offering a $250 scholarship that can be used for curriculum or continuing education classes, books or supplies. Thanks to Marketing Coordinator Wes Sumner for arranging the display and spearheading this effort.

Vote for Washington as Coolest Small Town!

• At last count, Washington is among the leaders for the designation Coolest Small Town in America, an annual contest sponsored by Budget Travel magazine. The designation is based on consumer opinion and votes on various social media outlets. If named as one of the top towns, Washington will gain national attention. To vote, go to www.BudgetTravel.com. Click on the image for Coolest Small Towns. From there click on any town on the list of Current Top Nominees. Next find Washington, N.C. and click on the green thumbs up. Let's all vote and help make Washington a cool small town! You can vote every day.

Personal and Personnel Notes

• Congratulations to the winners of the Staff Association's Thanksgiving raffle. Norma Crutchfield won the $50 gas card; Mark Nelson, the ham, and Sherry Stotesberry, the turkey. Don't forget the association still has basketball raffle tickets to win four tickets and parking pass to the Carolina/William & Mary basketball game in the Dean Dome on December 30. Proceeds go to support Staff Association activities including a scholarship for a deserving BCCC student.
• Thanks very much to Stacey and her team for the memorial service for Custodian Helen Cutler earlier this week.
• Finally, I offer condolences to Lou Stout on the recent deaths of her uncle and father-in-law

And in the coming weeks, watch for the following:

November 26	Student/Faculty Vacation.
November 27-28	Thanksgiving Holiday.
November 29	Visit the BCCC booth near Russell’s Men’s Shop during Shop Local on Small Business Saturday in downtown Washington.
December 1	Called meeting of the BCCC Board of Trustees and BCCC Foundation Board of Directors, 4 p.m.
December 2-3	Students Striving for Success through Leadership Silent Auction, Student Lounge, Building 9.
December 2	Gamma Beta Phi Meeting, noon, Room 1220, Building 12.
December 2	Men of Success Meeting, noon, Room 112, Building 1.
December 2	Nursing Christmas Social, noon, Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.
December 4	SGA-Sponsored Christmas Social, noon, Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.
December 4	Marketing Your Business with Online Directories, 2 p.m., Room 828, Building 8.