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

    The BCCC Board of Trustees recently held its Spring Retreat with the board members spending most of their time discussing our college's long-range construction needs. The board met with Greenville architect John Farkas who provided cost estimates on projects identified by Senior Staff as important in the coming years. On the list of needed construction is a driving pad for our Basic Law Enforcement Training Program, space to support fire and emergency response training as well as classroom space for these programs. Other needs identified include renovations to Building 1, expansion of the automotive program through additions to Building 4, other building expansions and renovations to allow for targeted program growth and safety and access improvements to the campus grounds. The board will work in the coming weeks and months with county leaders to develop a priority list and identify possible funding sources for these projects. Continue to watch for information as it develops on our master plan. I thank our trustees, Senior Staff, deans and directors for their continued dedication to the college and our leadership team for their work on this plan.

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

    ADA Compliance

    • A committee of BCCC faculty and staff has begun a comprehensive review of BCCC's compliance in all of its instructional, public relations and informational efforts with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Our work here is part of a statewide effort to ensure that all community colleges across the state comply with the act and information and instruction is available to all students in this digital age regardless of their abilities. Thanks very much to Vice President of Administration Crystal Ange and her team for their work on this project.

    BCCC Foundation

    • The deadline is approaching to register for the BCCC Foundation's trip Saturday, March 14, to Durham to see the stage production of the 2013 Tony Award Winning musical, Kinky Boots. The trip will also include a visit to the N.C. Museum of History for a tour of the exhibit, Starring North Carolina!, the first major exhibit about the state's role in the film industry. The cost of the trip, open to all BCCC students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the college, is $200 per person. The registration deadline is Friday, March 6. The price of the trip includes transportation to and from Durham, admission to the N.C. Museum of History, lunch at The Twisted Fork and tickets for seats in the orchestra section for Kinky Boots, at the Durham Performing Arts Center. For more information, contact Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood at 252-940-6218.

    • Help BCCC make this sign a reality on the front of its campus. The campaign to build a digital sign on the BCCC campus is 85 percent of the way to its goal and you can help us get to 100 percent. Contributions of any amount are welcome. To make a contribution, visit the Foundation page on the BCCC website or contact Foundation Director Serena Sullivan at 252-940-6326.

    Black History Month

    • Our recent inclement weather affected the attendance and timing of some of our campus observances of Black History Month. Our Men of Success sponsored a successful event that featured remarks by one of their own, Daniel Garza Salazar and stirring remarks by Dennis Rahiim Watson, president and chief executive officer of The Center for Black Student Achievement. A Black History Quiz Bowl sponsored by the Student Government Association, our TRiO Program and Students Striving for Success Through Leadership, was rescheduled and held this week. Thanks to all of those who worked very hard to make these events a success, despite the weather.

    Campus Police

    • BCCC Police Chief Chris Harrison continues to remind all BCCC students, faculty and staff that they are required to have a parking decal visibly displayed on their car. If you have not already obtained a decal for the Spring semester, you should do so immediately as the campus police have begun issuing citations. You can get a decal, free of charge, from the campus police office in Room 114, Building 1 Mondays,Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 to 9 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays and noon to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Additional hours may be available as resources allow. Students must have a copy of their student schedule, ID number and vehicle registration card to obtain parking decal.

    Continuing Education

    • Our Division of Education has announced an exciting schedule of classes for this summer's College for Kids. They include such events as a 4-H STEM Camp, art classes, beekeeping, beginning Spanish, boating safety, woodworking kayaking, knitting, cooking, sewing, sports and fitness classes and refresher camps in math and reading and writing. The classes will run from June through August. Registration will begin soon and will be on a first-come, first served basis. Watch for more information about our College for Kids on the division's webpage, Facebook and other media outlets. Thanks very much to Coordinator of Special Projects Justin Rose for his work on this project! I hope many of our local young people will sign up for one or more of these classes to learn a new hobby and bring excitement to their summer.

    Graduation

    • There's still time for students to apply for graduation. If you think you may be ready to graduate, check with your academic advisor about your eligibility. Next, stop by the Registrar's Office and apply. If you are receiving financial aid, visit the Financial Aid Office for exit counseling. If you are eligible to graduate, please visit the Business Office on the second floor of Building 1 to pay the graduation fee of $35.

    Gullfest

    • Registrations are still being sought for the upcoming Miss Gullfest Pageant to be held Saturday, April 18, in conjunction with BCCC's spring festival. Pageant Chairman Sara Singleton reports that the pageant will include competition in five divisions - Preschool through second grade for Tiny Miss Gullfest; third through fifth grades for Little Miss Gullfest; sixth through eighth grades for Teen Miss Gullfest; ninth through 12th grades for Miss Gullfest and College Miss Gullfest for current BCCC students. A maximum of 15 contestants will be accepted per division. The registration deadline is March 20. For more information about this event, stop by the lobby of Building 1 or contact Sara at 940-6271 or by email at sara.singleton@beaufortccc.edu.

    • Registration is also underway for the Gullfest 5K Run to be held Sunday, April 19, on a course through Historic Bath. The race will begin at 2 p.m. Participants can register for the race at www.runtheeast.com. The registration and processing fees total $28. All participants will receive a race T-shirt. For more information about this event, contact Admissions Director Michele Mayo at 252-940-6233. I hope the campus community will either enter the race or show your support by attending the event! And thanks to Lead Machinist Instructor Matthew Lincoln and his students for their work creating medals for the event!

    • Congratulations to Cosmetology student David Armstrong whose design was chosen for this year's Gullfest T-Shirt. You can see his design on the newly-designed Gullfest web page created by our Webmaster Keith Sullivan and on BCCC's Facebook Page. Watch for information on T-shirt sales prior to Gullfest.

    Performance Standards Mentoring

    • Several BCCC faculty and staff recently welcomed faculty and staff from Craven Community College to help improve licensure scores at Craven Community College. The on-campus visit included discussions on issues, challenges, best practices and success tips. Attendees discussed at great length how to improve student performance in nursing, Basic Law Enforcement Training, workforce development, cosmetology and Emergency Medical Technician programs. Our staff discussed the importance of rigorous systemic benchmarking and focusing on study skills to ensure student success. They also discussed benefits of supplemental instruction and providing the resources students need to be successful. As an extension of performance measures which all community colleges are required to meet, the Performance Partnership of the North Carolina Community College system has established mentoring as a way to encourage institutional improvements and increase student success. Thanks to Vice President of Academics Crystal Ange and a team of faculty and staff that included Director of Nursing Kent Dickerson, Health Care Programs Coordinator Sue Gurley, Allied Health Dean Erica Schatz, Lead Cosmetology Instructor Velma Worsley, Business and Industrial Technology Dean Ben Morris and Vice President of Continuing Education Stacey Gerard for overseeing and hosting this mentoring. I am proud that our college was recognized to be a mentor for others!

    Writing Center

    • The BCCC Writing Center, located in Room 103 of Building 1, now offers online tutoring and resume writing help. Menu tabs for "Online Tutoring Information" and "Resume Writing" are available on the home page of the Online Writing Lab at http://beaufortccc.libguides.com/OWL. Writing Center Director Karen Eckert notes that this service is not intended to replace the one-on-one, in-person tutoring the center provides 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fridays. Karen notes that the service will be particularly helpful to students attending class at night or enrolled in online classes. It is primarily intended to be a request for feedback where students can submit their papers electronically and receive written comments from a tutor. Thanks very much to Karen for helping BCCC meet the needs of all its students, particularly in this digital age when a growing number may live at a great distance from campus.

    Personal and Personnel Notes

    • Dr. Ange and Arts and Sciences Dean Lisa Hill traveled to New Orleans to attend training in assessment. The event included a keynote address by and discussion with Dr. Belle Wheelan, president of the southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The duo also attended a rubric workshop, a session on college-wide assessment and a session on institutional effectiveness practices. Thanks to Dr. Ange and Lisa for taking time to attend this meeting so we can improve the way we assess student success! This is a vital part of our college's compliance with SACSCOC standards and quality improvements throughout our college.

    • Welcome to Donnell Rhome, new member of BCCC's Maintenance Staff who started work earlier this week. He will be located in Building 6.

    • We should continue to send get-well wishes to former BCCC Trustee Myrtle Carawan who continues to recover from a recent fall and Foundation Director Floyd Brothers as he undergoes chemotherapy.

    • Congratulations to Foundation Board of Director Bill Zachman and his wife, Katherine, on the recent celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary.

    And watch for the following events happening today and in the weeks to come:

    •  March 10 - SGA-sponsored Blood Drive, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10. Call Theresa Edwards at 252-940-6217 to make an appointment.

    •  March 10 - Men of Success meeting, noon, Room 112, Building 1.

    •  March 10 - Faculty Senate Executive Council meeting, noon, Conference Room, Building 12.

    •  March 11 - Gamma Beta Phi New Member Induction, 7 p.m., auditorium, Building 8.

    •  March 12-13 - Student/Faculty Vacation.