BSC May Activities Review

Campus Activities

• More than 440 degrees were conferred during BSC's Associate Degree and Baccalaureate Degree commencement exercises, May 8-9. Ms. Bonita Brogdon Mitchell, Director of Green Thumb, Inc., and a BSC graduate (class of 1983) delivered the Associate Degree Commencement Addess, and Dr. Jack Russell, Appalachian Regional Commission Director of External Affairs and Customer Relations, delivered the Baccalaureate Commencement Address

• Held the third annual BSC "Employee Recognition Day", extending appreciation to the institution's faculty, classified staff, and administration, announcing winners of the BSC Foundation "Outstanding Classified Staff Awards," and announcing recipients of "Professor Emeritus," "Classified Emeritus," and "Administration Emeritus" awards

• Greenbrier Community College Center of BSC honored graduates and student organizations during the annual Spring Awards Convocation in Lewisburg

• More than 300 persons attended the Bluefield State Jazz Ensemble's annual Spring Jazz Concert May 4. The event wrapped up a day-long BSC Jazz Festival, during which area public school band students collaborated with area musicians and BSC Jazz Ensemble members in a workshop atmosphere

• Eleven student members and advisor of "The Enforcers," the BSC Criminal Justice Club, attended the 17th annual Training Conference and Jail Expo in Cincinnati, OH

• Four BSC students were recognized for their performance during the 1998 State Phi Beta Lambda business student competition. Three of the students qualified to participate in the national PBL competition in Orlando, FL

• Continued organizational efforts for the first of two new student orientations sessions, June 26

• Began the first of two five-week summer sessions, May 26

Partnership Activities

• BSC hosted the May 4-5 meeting of the State College System Board of Directors, organizing a dinner, "virtual tour" of the College, and presentations by the BSC President, marketing and architectural engineering technology students, and leadership of the student body, classified staff, and faculty

• College served as a host site for a weekend-long "Racial Reconciliation Conference," involving leadership from approximately 25 area churches

• Nursing faculty member began five-week volunteer commitment as Nurse Practitioner at an Indian reservation in South Dakota

• History instructor accepted invitation of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum to speak at its August, 1998 symposium

• Business Division faculty member served as mentor for several management graduate students from Virginia Tech, assisting Slovenian banking executives as they adapt to privatization of the economy

• History faculty member selected to participate in FACDIS four-week study-travel tour of Brazil

• Nursing faculty member accepted invitation to deliver scholarly presentation at National League for Nursing "Educational Summit." and additional presentation at the "Opportunities and Challenges for ADN Graduates Conference" at Eastern Kentucky University

• Two BSC Financial Aid representatives attened the 1998 North Carolina Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Conference

• Hosted the fifth travelogue of the 1997-98 season, "The Legacy of the Maya." The "Travel & Adventure Series" of travelogues is a co-sponsored by BSC, the First Century Bank, Bluefield Regional Wellness Center, Bluefield Regional Medical Center, and AAA-The Bluefield Automobile Club

• BSC's Director of Multicultural Affairs met with numerous community, public schools, alumni, church, and civic organizations, with a focus on recruitment of minority students, faculty, and staff, and improving community relations

• BSC Sports Information Coordinator prepared to participate in the NACHWAA/HERS Institute for Administrative Advancement in June

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

• Center for Economic Enhancement and Occupational Skill Development provided database management coaching and technical assistance for Tabor Machine Company (Bluefield, WV). This work followed completion of a customized training program in Microsoft Office. (This training was sponsored through the Governor's Guaranteed Workforce Program.)

• Developing a customized Microsoft Office & Outlook training program for Columbia St. Luke's Hospital (Bluefield, WV)

• Continued customized First-Line supervisory training in development of skills including effective workplace communications, management essentials and techniques, and legal guidelines for management action (sponsored through the Governor's Guaranteed Workforce Program) for EWA Manufacturing Services, Inc. (Beckley, WV), an electronics manufacturer employing approximately 35 people

• Continued customized Team Building and Process Improvement training program for Med-Response (Bluewell, WV). (This program is sponsored through the Small Business Workforce Program.)

• Developing a customized Statistical Process Control and Quality Management training program for DS Parts, LTD (Bluefield, WV). (This program is funded through the Small Business Workforce Program.)

• Developing a customized Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) training program for Bluefield Beverage (Bluefield, VA)

• Completed initial data-gathering as part of an Organizational Diagnostic training needs assessment (funded through the Governor's Guaranteed Workforce Program) for Triple S Manufacturing Corporation (Beckley, WV). This effort will result in a prioritized training plan that takes into account human resource performance goals and the competitive environment in which the firm operates. (This program is funded through the Small Business Workforce Program, and is being in completed in partnership with the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and Development at West Virginia University)

• Developing the following continuing education programs for professional engineers: Project Management using Microsoft Project Presentation Skills with Microsoft Powerpoint; High Impact Communication Skills; Engineering Economics, and Programmable Logic Controllers

• Developing a series of Mini-Computer Workshops for older adults, through the BSC Creative Retirement Center. (The workshops will run from June-August.)

• Participated in the Beckley Business Show, sponsored by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce

• Director of Economic Enhancement is serving as chairman of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce's 1998 Membership Campaign

• Hosted students from Mercer County Schools in a team-building and racial diversity training program

• Completed initial draft of a Technical Studies certificate program for teleservices employees, combining instruction in a variety of formats.

• Developing an articulation and partnership agreement with the Community Action Center of Southeastern WV (CASE-WV), that will lead to the implementation of several Welfare-to-Work programs

• Coordinating development of a workplace education program for B.F. Goodrich Aerospace (Union, WV). This project involves assisting the company with evaluation of different alternatives for testing the basic skills of its employees with respect to the jobs they perform, along with developing instruction to meet these needs. BSC has received requests for proposals from Concord College and the WV Workforce Education Program. BSC will then work in partnership with the service provider chosen by the firm to develop and implement a program for their employees. (The program is funded through the Governor's Guaranteed Workforce Program.)

• Providing alternative continuing education opportunities for RNs and LPNs through the healthcare newsletter "Health-Link," published through BSC's Associate Degree Nursing program. Newsletter readers have the opportunity to take a test covering the subject matter highlighted in the newsletter, then apply for continuing education units if they pass the test

• BSC Center for International Understanding (CIU) is currently conducting a one-week training program for electric utilities managers in Bosnia. Program is sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

• CIU is currently reviewing the following USAID-sponsored programs:
  • a) Four-week training program on Electric Power systems Management (June 20-July 18);
  • b) Three-week training program on muncipal finance for five Hungarian municipal finance officials, June 20-July 11, 1998;
  • c) One-week program, "Building for the Future: Youth Development," a one week camp (with three additional weeks in Bedford, VA) with instructional and recreational activities for 20 war-impacted youth from the Republic of Georgia and Abkhaz (August 2-9)

• CIU has received approval from the United States Information Agency (USIA) for training programs/internships on American Business Practices, Non-Government Organization Development, and Presidential Management Training Initiatives for Russian Managers: Year Two of a grant award for the USIA's Community Connections Project.

• CIU is establishing international trade and investment export assistance service activities in its offices in Saratov (Russia), Bombay (India), Bratislava (Slovakia), Baku (Azerbaijan), and Dnipropetrovosk (Ukraine)

• CIU concluded training program and mini-internships for eight non-government organization leaders from the Ukraine

• CIU is disseminating international bids to West Virginia companies

• CIU is preparing for follow-up program, including trade mission, to Russia (mid-July to August)

• Marketing English as a Second Language (ESL) program for International Students and their spouses, and through CIU bureaus abroad

• Through the Washington, D.C. bureau, CIU is negotiating relationships with foundations and development organizations in Europe for development projects and international trade

• Preparing an "International Pavilion" for the Princeton (WV) "SummerFest" celebration in June