Tansey Topics: A weekly look at what's happening at BCCC from President Barbara Tansey | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Beaufort County Community College on Tuesday and Wednesday welcomed over 500 fifth grade students from schools across the county. The students toured the college's Allied Health, Basic Law Enforcement Training, Cosmetology, Machining and Welding programs Tuesday and Wednesday. The visits were intended to build interest in education and in a future career. Thanks very much to Vice President of Student Services Rick Anderson and his team and faculty for their hard work in coordinating this event!

    Here's some of what happened at BCCC during the past week:

• I am pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Staton of Chocowinity was recently appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory to the BCCC Board of Trustees and succeeds Shields Harvey on the board. Dr. Staton attended a new member orientation and toured the campus this week. She will take the oath of office at Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting. I look forward to working with her!


• On Thursday, Foundation Director Judy Jennette and I welcomed Betty Bonner Bradshaw and Robin Potts who joined Dr. Station for dessert to talk about the work of the BCCC Foundation. Thanks to Judy and these ladies for taking their time to visit.


• Sampson Community College President Paul Hutchins and Brunswick Community College President Susanne H. Adams joined me for a meeting on Tuesday about challenges facing small community colleges in eastern North Carolina. Among the items of particular concern to small colleges are changes the budget formula and maintaining a growth in FTEs in counties with low populations.


• Machining students at BCCC now have more time to practice their computer-assisted design skills thanks to a new computer lab that is now up and running in Building 4. It is located in a former classroom in the building and will give our machining students more access to training. The $25,000 in equipment was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.


• Representatives from community agencies throughout the region were on campus Wednesday for Community Resources Day. The event, sponsored by Student Support Services, gave our students the chance to talk with non-profit groups and service agencies including the Boys and Girls Club, Ruth's House and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department, among others. Thanks to Dorothy Jordan, Student Support Services Director and her team for a successful event.


• Personal and personnel notes: Congratulations to Lou Stout, Director of Occupational Extension, who this week completed her year-long tenure as President of the N.C. Community College Adult Educator's Association. Finally, the BCCC family was saddened to receive word of the death Mike Griffin's brother, Garland Griffin. I offer my condolences to Mike and his family.

    Alumni Note

    When fifth grade students in a language arts from John Small School visited the BCCC campus on Tuesday, they were accompanied by a teacher who is familiar with the college. Their teacher, Brenda Bohn, began her studies at BCCC through the former Wells Fargo Partnership East. She took some of her education courses online through the program hub at BCCC and transferred to East Carolina University for the remainder of her studies. Brenda graduated from ECU in December 2011. The program is now sponsored by the State Employees Credit Union.

    Watch for these events coming next week at BCCC:

    Oct. 1 - @BC3 photo project for students, faculty, staff and visitors to the BCCC campus. Bring your camera to campus and take a photograph of something interesting that you see on campus. Email your photograph to bettyg@beaufortccc.edu or post it to the college Facebook Page. You could win a prize!

    Sept. 30 - Dale Cole, Southside High School Principal and N.C. Principal of the Year, visits the campus.

    Oct. 1 - Board of Trustees meeting, 7 p.m., Board Room, Building 10. Committees will meet consecutively beginning at 5 p.m.

    Oct. 2 - Business Expo, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Building 10.