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

    Beaufort County Community College will cease participation in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program effective July 1, 2015. As a result, BCCC will not originate any new student loans after that date. This action is being taken because of the trend in BCCC's three-year default rate. BCCC will continue to offer Pell Grants, veteran's benefits, privately-funded scholarships through the BCCC Foundation and some other forms of financial aid to qualified students. The decision to drop out of the Federal Direct Student Loan Program was not taken lightly and is the result of much soul-searching by our administration and Board of Trustees over the past year. We are working hard to identify options to help our students meet the cost of attendance and more information on these options will be forthcoming. I encourage students with existing student loans who have questions about this announcement to contact Loan Officer Barbara Goodman during normal business hours Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 252-940-6460. The full statement about our decision to exit from the Federal Direct Student Loan Program, is available at http://www.beaufortccc.edu.

• BCCC was host to a meeting this week of those interested in traveling with the BCCC Foundation and the Washington/Beaufort Chamber of Commerce to Canyon Country USA. The trip is scheduled for October 10 to 18 and is offered by Collette through New Trends in Travel. Foundation Executive Director Serena Sullivan reports that interest in the trip is high and several people have already paid deposits for it. For a complete itinerary or a tour brochure, contact Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood at 252-940-6218 or by email at marcia.norwood@beaufortccc.edu.

• BCCC Police Chief Chris Harrison announces that the campus police has begun issuing identification cards following a period of time when the system was inoperable. Those seeking ID cards must have a copy of their student schedules with their student ID numbers on it. Those seeking replacement cards must bring their receipts from the cashier's office. ID cards are available from the campus police office in Room 114 of Building 1 on the following schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.; Monday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m.; Tuesday afternoon from noon to 3 p.m., and Thursday afternoon from noon to 3 p.m. Additional hours may be available as resources allow.
• The inaugural Coffee with a Cop will be 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, March 27 in the BCCC Police Department headquarters, Room 114, Building 1. Join your campus police officers for coffee and conversation. Please RSVP by March 24 to BCCCPolice@beaufortccc.edu.

• Registration for College for Kids 2015 is continuing via the Division of Continuing Education's website. An exciting schedule of classes are being offered 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. To register, visit http://www.beaufortccc.edu/coned/contin.htm and click on Schedule of Classes link and College for Kids on the left side of the page.

• I am very appreciative of those businesses who have come forward to support Gullfest 2015. First, I thank very much our Gullfest Corporate Sponsor West Park Motor Co. of Washington. Gullfest attendees will be able to see several of the company's vehicles the day of the festival along the front of the campus. I also want to thank our Silver sponsors, P and G Manufacturing, PotashCorp Aurora and TriCounty Telecom, and our Bronze sponsor, Morris Insurance Agency . If your business is interested in becoming a Gullfest sponsor, contact Penelope Radcliffe at 252-940-6325.
• The deadline for registration for the Miss Gullfest Pageant has been extended until Tuesday, March 31. The pageant is scheduled for 6 p.m., Saturday, April 18, in the Multi-Purpose Room of Building 10. The registration fee is $75 for each contestant, which will be refunded if the contestant raised $150 in sponsorships from family, friends or local businesses. For more information about the Miss Gullfest 2015 Pageant, a packet of information and registration forms are available for downloading by clicking on the Gullfest logo on the BCCC website at http://www.beaufortccc.edu.

• Community College presidents from across the state visited the North Carolina legislature on Wednesday to promote our agenda for the current General Assembly session. One item of interest so far is a bill that would allow North Carolina high school students with strong grades to receive free community college tuition. The High Achieving Tuition Scholarship Program cleared its first legislative hurdle on Tuesday when a House committee on community college matters Tuesday recommended it. Under the proposal, students with at least a 3.5 grade point average would receive tuition for up to 16 credit hours for up to four semesters, provided they meet certain standards in community college. The bill is now heading to another education committee.

• Join the Student Government Association for Spring Fling, Tuesday, March 24, from noon to 2 p.m. on the grounds outside of Building 9. Lunch will be served from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and will include a choice of barbecue or chicken salad sandwiches and tea free for curriculum students. Faculty and staff are invited to have lunch for a $3 donation. A climbing wall and other activities will be available.

• Women's History Month will be celebrated from noon to 1:30 p.m. in room 935 of Building 9 on Wednesday, March 25, with a panel discussion by some of Beaufort County's leading women who will share their stories to inspire the next generation. Scheduled to be on the panel are local attorney Watsi Sutton, BCCC librarian Saundra Pinkham, Washington High School Assistant Principal Patricia Horton-Albritton and BCCC Instructor Regina Price. The moderator is Lynn Wingate, Washington Tourism Director. The event is sponsored by students Striving to Succeed through Leadership, the Student Government Association and BCCC's Sociology and Human Services classes.

• I am sorry to announce the retirement in May and June of Public Relations Coordinator Betty Gray and Allied Health and Professional Services Office Manager Margie Cobb.

March 20	Financial Aid Information Session, 11:30 a.m., Room 935, Building 9.
March 24	Spring Fling, noon, outside of Building 9.
March 24	BCCC's Best recognition, noon, Student Lounge, Building 9.
March 24	BCCC Staff Association, 2 p.m., Emergent Technology Lab, Library, Building 5.
March 25	Students Striving for Success through Leadership/TRiO Women's History Month Celebration, noon to 1:30 p.m., Room 935, Building 9.
March 26	TRiO Sponsored Healthy Relationships Workshop, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Room 928, Building 9
March 27	TRiO Sponsored ECU Campus Tour.
March 27	Coffee with a Cop, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Room 114, Building 1