Tansey Topics: A Weekly Look At What's Happening At BCCC | Eastern NC Now

    I hope everyone is looking forward to our Christmas and New Year's break and that all of our faculty and staff are planning to attend our Christmas Luncheon next Friday. There will be a lot of surprises for everyone including a special guest appearance. Thanks to the Special Events Committee for arranging this event.

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

• In news regarding the Digital Sign Campaign, Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood reports that $63,198.32 in donations and pledges has been received, over 75 percent of the way towards the final goal! This total includes $1,500 in recent contributions. To make a donation, contact Marcia at 252940-6218.
• Most seats have been reserved for the upcoming Foundation trip to see MOTOWN, the Musical at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 21. The trip is tentatively scheduled to 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 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. To check on seat availability, contact Marcia at 252-940-6218.
• The BCCC Ambassadors recently participated in two Christmas parades in our region. Many thanks to Marcia, Vice President of Administrative Services Mark Nelson, Student Activities Coordinator Theresa Edwards and Ambassadors Caren Cooper, Jamaal Cofield, Amy Tinker, Keyetta Lynch and Lucy Garcia for representing the college in these events.

• Don't forget the BCCC Staff Association canned food drive for the Zion Shelter and Kitchen through December 17. Contributed items can be dropped off under the tree in Building 5, in the lobby of Building 1, in JoLinda Cooper's office in Building 3 and in the faculty reception area of Building 12. If you want a sense of the gratitude of the recipients, please stop by and talk to Staff Association President Gail Ambrose.

• Coming this weekend in the Washington Daily News - the new Division of Continuing Education Spring 2015 Catalog. The catalog, which is also available on the division's website, lists all of the classes that will be offered by the division this spring. Look for some exciting new courses offered for health care workers as well as several new Personal Enrichment classes. The catalog is also scheduled to appear as an insert in the Roanoke Beacon and the Scuppernong Reminder. Thanks very much to Vice President of Continuing Education Stacey Gerard and her team as well as Marketing Coordinator Wes Sumner for their work on this project.
• Director of Fire and EMS Programs Steve Taylor has good news from the EMT and Paramedic class who completed their state credentialing exam last weekend. All of the paramedic students passed their exam and 75 percent of the EMT students passed their exam. Congratulations to these students and to Steve for his good work with this program!
• 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.

• Congratulations to Edith Jenkins who won the BCCC Shop Local Scholarship Drawing on Shop Local Day in downtown Washington on Small Business Saturday. Ms. Jenkins has graciously donated the tuition to the BCCC Foundation to be used for emergency grants.
• Vice President of Academics Crystal Ange, Vice President of Research and Institutional Effectiveness Jay Sullivan, Allied Health and Professional Services Dean Erica Schatz and I attended the 2014 SACSCOC Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn., this week. The theme of the meeting was "Sounding the Right Notes: Relevance in a Time of Transition." It included workshops, group discussions, panels and commission staff perspectives. The keynote speaker was former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. Other speakers included Cameron Evans, National and Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Corp., and Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, SACSCOC President, who gave the State of the Commission address. During the meeting, I was selected an alternate to the SACSCOC Board of Directors.
• Also traveling this week was Vice President of Student Services Rick Anderson and his team who made a benchmark visit to Davidson County Community College and Guilford Technical Community College.
• Congratulations and good luck to the Washington Pam Pack and the Plymouth Vikings football teams who will play for the state championship in their divisions. We'll all be cheering for you!
• Finally, condolences to Instructor Joe Carawan and former Instructor Mark Carawan on the recent death of their mother.

December 12	Active Shooter Roundtable, 8 a.m., Board Room, Building 10.
December 12	Student Services Division meeting, 8:30 a.m., Room 928, Building 9.
December 16	BCCC's Best recognition ceremony, noon, Student Lounge, Building 9.
December 17–18	Exams.
December 18	Faculty/Staff Christmas Luncheon, noon, Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.
December 19	Faculty Work Day.
December 22 – January 2	Christmas and New Year's Holidays and Vacation.
January 5	Faculty Work Day.
January 6	Faculty Senate Executive Council meeting, noon, Conference Room, Building 12.
January 7	First Day of Class.

    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.