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

    The BCCC Board of Trustees and the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners held their annual joint meeting this week during which the community college presented its budget request for the 2015-2016 Fiscal Year. We are asking the county for a total of $3,456,579 in current expense and capital funds, an increase of $580,067 over the previous year. This includes $2,568,579 in current expense, or operating, funds and $888,000 in capital, or construction funds. The Current Expense Budget request includes an overall 13.11 percent increase which is mostly attributed to salaries with a 2.91 percent cost of living increase and a 1.5 percent county supplement for all employees. Increases in utilities in the proposed Current Expense Budget are attributed to replacing the college's antiquated phone system with hosted Voice over Internet Protocol. The Capital Expense Budget reflects an overall 46.64 percent increase over our Fiscal Year 2014-2015 budget. The capital projects are listed in order of priority and coincide with the college's 10-year rotation plans and include installation of a fire and emergency services training center east of Building 8 at an estimated cost of $240,000; replacing the HVAC system in Building 2 at an estimated cost of $150,000; installation of Voice over Internet Protocol communications system hardware at an estimated cost of $42,000; installation of a commercial kitchen in Building 8 for a new culinary arts program at an estimated cost of $50,000; paving the Building 12 parking lot at an estimated cost of $150,000. I appreciate the support the county commissioners have shown in the past for the college and the hard work of Vice President of Administrative Services Mark Nelson and his staff in compiling this request. Watch for more news about the county budget request in the coming weeks.

• Congratulations to the five students who have been chosen by the BCCC Foundation as new Ambassadors for the 2015-2016 Academic Year! Those chosen are Nicholas Griekspoor, Christine L. LeCompte, Lisa J. Reid, Kelsey Riggs and Priscilla Styons. They join Sarah Clingenpeel, Jamaal Cofield and Catherine Spring — who will continue as Ambassadors — in representing the college in the coming year. Ambassadors receive a one-year tuition scholarship and help the college market its programs and services. Ambassadors chosen from the ranks of Early College High School students receive a stipend. BCCC's Ambassadors will be called upon to help at Foundation events, lead tours for visiting groups and are available to speak at civic clubs and community groups throughout the BCCC service area. To arrange a visit by an Ambassador to your group, contact Foundation Director Serena Sullivan at 252-940-6326.

• Join the BCCC Foundation for the 12th Annual Cutthroat Croquet Tournament Saturday, May 16, along the waterfront in Bath. The registration fee for the tournament is $35 for each player. The fee includes at least two rounds of croquet and lunch. Spectators may join participants for lunch for a fee of $25. Players and lunch participants are asked to register by May 11 to help the Foundation with planning.
• Calling all gardeners and those who love gardens! The BCCC Foundation will conduct its inaugural lawn and garden tour 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 20. The tour will begin on the BCCC campus with a rededication of the Rosa "Rosebud" Roberson rose garden in front of Building 1. Self-drive and group transportation options will be available for those who want to tour 10 beautiful gardens in the Washington and Chocowinity areas. Watch for more information about this exciting new event!
• The BCCC Foundation is beginning to plan a series of day trips for the upcoming season at the Durham Performing Arts Center, which recently announced its 2015-2016 Suntrust Broadway Series. And Foundation Director Serena Sullivan wants to hear from you! The schedule includes Beautiful
• October 3, 2015, and The Lion King — March 12, 2016. These trips cost $200 per person which includes — transportation, lunch, theater ticket and snacks and beverages on the bus. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your seat on the bus for all of the DPAC day trips. And don't forget the trip in June to see Newsies.
• Speaking of trips, travelers on the BCCC Foundation/Washington Chamber of Commerce trip to Ireland will be departing from the BCCC campus on Tuesday for their nine-day trip to the Emerald Isle. I wish everyone bon voyage and look forward to hearing about these travels.
• BCCC's digital sign is closer to being a reality thanks to the Foundation Board of Directors. The board voted earlier this week to contribute the remaining funds, up to $15,000, to complete the sign construction. I thank the Foundation board and Foundation Executive Director Serena Sullivan and Foundation Specialist Marcia Norwood for their hard work on this project.

• Everyone is surely aware of the exciting weekend coming up here at BCCC and in Historic Bath. Gullfest will take place on our campus Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the inaugural Gull Run will take place Sunday at 2 p.m. along a picturesque five kilometer route in Bath. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the following sponsors of Gullfest 2015: Presenting Sponsor — West Park Motor Co.; Gold Sponsors — Lyons Custom Builders and Magic 95.9; Silver Sponsors — A & W Sales, Broad Creek EMS, Domtar, Hildred Moore Aquatic & Fitness Center, Hibbett's Sports, P & G Manufacturing, PotashCorp Aurora and Tri-County Telecom; Bronze Sponsors — Lowe's of Washington, Mayo & Mayo, Morris Insurance Agency, Sheetz of Washington and Vidant Beaufort Hospital; Copper Sponsors: Bragaw & Co., Child Care Connection, City of Washington Police and Fire Services, Dilday Fitness Center, Mideast Commission, Walmart of Washington, Wayne's Tree Service; Other Contributors — Atlantic Enterprises, Coffee Caboose, Frank's Pizza and Inner Banks Outfitters. Without these generous sponsors, this weekend's events would not have been possible. When you visit any of these businesses, please take the time to thank them for their support. I also thank Gullfest Fundraising Chairman Penelope Radcliffe and her team for their hard work in helping defray the cost of Gullfest!

• It's that time of year again — the academic year is coming to an end and the annual Service Awards Luncheon is approaching quickly! Once again, BCCC will finish the 2014-2015 year with a cookout for BCCC faculty and staff at noon, Wednesday, May 13. The Board of Trustees and senior staff members will cook cheeseburgers and hot dogs and serve ice cream for dessert. The afternoon will also include a scavenger hunt during which time teams of three people will search the campus for a list of items. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded and announced during the awards ceremony. Please contact Theresa Edwards at 940-6217 or theresae@beaufortccc.edu no later than 5p.m. on May 6 and let her know whether you will be attending or not able to attend. I hope to see you there!

• The BCCC Board of Trustees at its April 7 meeting approved the summer schedule for BCCC employees. Effective Monday, May 11, and continuing through Thursday, July 30, the official daytime operating hours for the college will be 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with a 30-minute lunch break. During this time, employees who are away from campus for a day are required to report 10 hours absence on the Leave\Absence Report. Employees who take an entire week's vacation are required to report 40 hours on the Leave/Absence Report. Two holidays will be observed during the summer — Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, and Independence Day on Thursday, July 2. Employees with questions are urged to contact their supervisor or the appropriate Vice President.

• The BCCC Study Abroad Program is pleased to announce that it will offer a trip to Ireland in 2016! This 12-day experience will participants the chance to see both urban and rural living in a European country. Travelers will have the chance to explore the cobblestoned streets of Dublin, cross the hanging bridge of the Giant's Causeway and kiss the Blarney Stone! This trip is offered in conjunction with HUM 180 — International Cultural Exploration. Students completing the trip and the course will receive three hours of transferable humanities elective credit. The cost of the trip is $3,739 but those enrolling before the end of April will receive a $100 discount off the cost of the trip. Students must be at least 18 years old and have a 2.5 grade point average to join the trip. To find out more information, visit www.efcollegestudytours.com/1705280EN. For more information, contact Advisor Suzanne Stotesbury at 252-940-6339 or by email at Suzanne.stotesbury@beaufortccc.edu.

• The office serving BCCC's special populations is now Accessibility Services. Vice President of Student Services Rick Anderson reports that the name change more accurately reflects the functions of the office. Its coordinator Joan Robson will continue to serve at its coordinator.
• Welcome to new Director of Fire Training Programs Johnny Williams in our Division of Continuing Education. He will be working with Billy Respass, EMS coordinator, and Leonard Hudson, Director of Public Safety, to bring new specialist training to BCCC.

April 18	Gullfest, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., BCCC campus.
April 19	Gullfest 5K Run, 2 p.m., Bath.
April 20	Travel/Study Informational Meeting, 10 a.m., Room 111, Building 1.
April 21	Faculty Senate meeting, noon, Room 104, Building 1.
April 21	Men of Success, noon, Room 112, Building 1.
April 21	Graduate and Outstanding Student Recognition Ceremony, 3 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.
April 21-30	BCCC Foundation trip to Ireland.
April 22	Tours of campus by fifth grade students.
April 24	Financial Aid Information Session, 11:30 a.m., Room 935, Building 9.
April 25	TRiO field trip to East Carolina University to see Lucky Stiff at the ECU School of Theatre and Dance.
April 27	Tours of campus by fifth grade students.
April 28	Legacy Luncheon, noon, Multi-Purpose Room, Building 10.
April 28	Nursing information session, 12:15 p.m., Rooms 1204 and 1206, Building 12.

    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.