December and January Activities

• Bluefield State College continues to rank among West Virginia's fastest-growing public colleges, according to "Final Fall 2001 Enrollment Figures," recently released by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. BSC's total (headcount) enrollment of 2768 students for the Fall 2001 Semester marks an increase of 120 students over Fall 2000 figures, a growth of 4.53%.

• Submitted BSC Institutional Self-Study to the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges & Schools in preparation for that body's February 2002 site visit in conjunction with BSC's effort to receive continuing national accreditation

• The BSC Baccalaureate Nursing (BSN) Program has been approved by the WV Department of Education to offer the School Nurse Program. Two three-hour courses are offered each Spring Semester to students interested in a career as a school nurse. Completion of these two courses and the successful completion of the Pre-Professional Skills Test allows a Registered Nurse with a BSN degree to apply for state licensure as a school nurse in West Virginia.

• Conducted a one-day "Diversity & Social Justice" workshop for BSC directors and administrators. The program featured Dr. Betty Cleckley, V.P./Multicultural Affairs and International Programming, Marshall University

• Conducted five plenary sessions for Black History Month program and Dr. Martin Luther King Day programs at Bluefield State College

• The Student Accounting Society of Bluefield State College began offering free income tax preparation assistance to low income and elderly individuals through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, co-sponsored with the Internal Revenue Service. Last year, BSC accounting students and accounting faculty gave 450 volunteer hours, assisting area residents in the completion of 412 income tax returns.

• An examination of the impact of how state political-activity laws affect the political attitudes and reported level political activity of state-level public administrators, written by Dr. John Snead (Professor of Business at Bluefield State College), was included in the Winter 2001 edition of the Review of Public Personnel Administration. The publication the only journal published by the American Society for Public Administration.

• Dr. Garrett Olmsted, Associate Professor of Social Sciences at BSC, published two new scholarly books. One is a book on Early Celtic Art in the First Century BC and the other is a monograph reconstructing an early Celtic calendar from the first century BC.

• Dr. Donald W. Caudill, Professor of Marketing at BSC, delivered a featured session during the recent "Innovations for Learning Enhancement" conference in Ashland, KY. The two-day event is an annual teaching/learning conference sponsored by the Kentucky Community & Technical College System.

• Received a $110,000 gift from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to assist the West Virginia Access Center for Higher Education (WVACHE), based at BSC, for programs focused upon increasing the percentage of regional students who continue their education after high school

• A celebration and candlelight vigil commemorating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., planned by Bluefield State College students and staff, took place, January 21. More than 150 area residents, BSC students and BSC employees participated in the program.

• Bluefield State College announced its schedule of programs and exhibits to celebrate "African-American Heritage month. Organizers have scheduled six major events and a variety of exhibits and displays at the College

• Hosted the annual BSC Jazz Ensemble Winter Concert, which attracted an audience of more than 150. The College's Jazz Ensemble is a unique combination of area musicians dedicated to the "big band" sound. The Ensemble has presented winter and spring concerts on an annual basis at the College for more than 30 years.

• Two BSC representatives attended the NASA/Minority University Presidents' "Share the Opportunities Conference" in Orlando, FL, during which research grant funding opportunities and strategies for encouraging minority students to enter science/technology/mathematics careers would be discussed

• Hosted College Tech Prep programs for sophomores from Woodrow Wilson High School (Beckley, WV)

• American Electric Power Company delivered a financial gift to BSC, helping to underwrite continuing scholarship opportunities for current and future BSC students.

• Telecast throughout Bluefield-area cable system two Bluefield City Board of Directors' meetings and the monthly Mercer County Board of Education meeting in December.

• 500 holiday greeting cards were mailed to the entire administrative staff, faculty and classified staff of Bluefield State College, recipients of the Association's scholarships, the Board of Governors for Bluefield State College, and the entire membership of the Association. The greeting cards served a two-fold purpose— 1) an expression of appreciation and thanks to members and supporters of the Association, and 2) a continuation of the promotion of cooperation and good will to all people involved. "The cards, calls, and notes from persons receiving the cards revealed that our gesture was appreciated," stated BSCAA, Inc. President Ruth Payne Brown.

• Outstanding and informative articles submitted by President Brown and Chairman Doris J. Payne were published in Volume VIII, No. 1 of the "Blue & Gold." The President's pages gave a brief overview of the Annual Fall Meeting in October. More than 50 officers and members of the Alumni Association from Cleveland and Columbus (OH); Detroit (MI); Roanoke, Lexington and Richmond (VA); Philadelphia (PA); Baltimore (MD); Greater Kanawha Valley, McDowell, and Mercer Counties (WV) were in attendance. A record-setting number of alumni attended all of the Homecoming activities scheduled by the Office of Campus Life. The Founder's Day Luncheon, "Celebrating the BSCAA, Inc. and its Chapters, Strong Past (1914))--Collaborative Present (2001)--and Challenging Future" was attended by 116 persons. Feedback revealed the program was well received, informative, and encouraging.

• Doris J. Payne, chairperson/Hatter Hall Advisory Council, announced the contribution from the BSCAA, Inc. of $10,000 for the Alumni House. She also discussed five fund-raising projects that will enable all alumni, supporters, and friends to participate:
  Project I--Individual & Chapter Contributions
  Project II--Class Competition Contributions
  Project III--Greek Organizations
  Project IV--Alumni House Journal Contributions
  Project V--Sale of replicas of the BSC Alumni House
  

• Doris Payne met on December 18, 2001 with BSC administrators and the architect, Thompson and Litton, for the $200,000 matching grant. An update regarding the rehabilitation of the Alumni House was the focus of the meeting.

• Doris Payne, Greater Kanawha Valley Chapter, and Ergie Smith, Mercer County Chapter, BSCAA, Inc. joined Ruth P. Brown at the December 6, 2001 meeting of the Executive Board. Both were active participants and shared information with their respective chapters.

• Officers of the Association continued to improve communication within the organization by informing the entire membership of goals still to be pursued in 2002, as well as upcoming events for the year, including: a) Reunion in Cincinnati, OH (July 18-21, 2002); b) Annual Spring Meeting in Bluefield, WV (May 9-12, 2002), and: c) Celebration of the Class of 1952 in Bluefield, WV (May 10, 2002).

• The financial report and budget for 2002 was a part of the communication to all members. A special thanks is extended to Ora Johnson, Vivian Baumgardner, Doris J. Payne and President Brown (Alumni Association Officers), Timitra Spencer and John Combs (Scholarship recipients), and Paul Rutherford and Bettie Wallace (Classified staff at BSC) for assistance in the mailing to the alumni by President Brown.

• The BSCAA, Inc. announces the awarding of nine scholarships for the Spring Semester 2002. The Scholarship Committee met with the recipients on January 18, 2002.

• Ruth P. Brown, President/BSCAA, met with Dr. Robert Moore, President/BSC and Jim Nelson, Media Director, to share concerns and to continue working together to make a difference. She shared that it is good to remember two things as we work together in 2002. The two things as stated are: 1) When we give our all, we can live with ourselves--regardless of the results, and 2) It takes both rain and sunshine to make a rainbow.

• Completed customized Internet/Internet Explorer and training for 20 employees of Appalachian Electronics, Inc. (Lewisburg, WV) at BSC's Greenbrier Community College Center (GCCC). A customized C++ training program for the programming department was completed during the summer. Both programs were coordinated by the Center for Work Force and Business Development, a division of the Center for Economic Enhancement, at GCCC. Funding for each was provided through the Governor's Guaranteed Work Force Program.

• Continuing customized Microsoft Office training program for more than 100 employees of First Century Bank (Bluefield, WV). Training in Introductory Windows 98 was completed for 50 employees. Future sessions will focus upon Microsoft Word and Excel. All programs are taught with respect to objectives of the Microsoft Office User Specialist program.

• Developing customized Microsoft Office training program for First Community Bank (Bluefield, WV), to begin in March

• Began teaching customized Microsoft Office training program for Bluefield Beverage, Inc. (Bluefield, VA).

• Developing "Preventing Sexual Harassment" and "Anger Management" customized training for the Children's Home Society of WV (Princeton, WV).

• Completed participation in "Leadership Development and Mentoring Retreat" at Pipestem State Park for 11 students in the Emerging Leaders Institute, a new BSC program focused upon preparing minorities for technical education and careers in mathematics, science, and technology.

• Continued a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) training program geared toward working adults and employees of business and industry. Students must have successfully completed the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) examination prior to starting this accelerated program. Employees in the program represent the following companies: Pocahontas Land Corporation (Bluefield, WV), Brown Edwards and Company, LLP (Bluefield, WV), and Avalon Computing Services (Welch, WV)

• Completed Creative Retirement Center coordination and communication with several senior adult organizations in an effort to improve attendance in the holiday performance of the BSC Jazz Ensemble

• Completed editing and development of information for inclusion in an upcoming "Village Profile" promotional brochure that will be printed and distributed via direct mail to more than 500 senior adults from throughout the U.S. who have requested more information concerning their potential plans for relocating to "Four Seasons Country" in southeastern WV and southwestern VA

• Completed a GE Fanuc-certified Computer-Numeric Control training program for a Work Force Investment Act participant at the BSC's Greenbrier Community College Center (GCCC), in partnership with the Monroe County Manufacturing Assistance Center.