The BSC "Mentor-Mentee" program at Bluefield State College began its second year of service in September. The program, which has helped nearly 200 new students as they begin their college experience at BSC, is sponsored by BSC Student Support Services
BSC received notification that the College's 1998 Radiologic Technology graduates who took the certification examination in July achieved a 94% passage rate
Announced Homecoming '98 week (Oct. 3-9, 1998) program of activities New
York Times best-selling writer Sharyn McCrumb, and noted Appalachian ballad singer and musician Betty Smith will perform at Bluefield State College, October 21
Duke University basketball great Gene Banks was named the new head basketball coach of the Bluefield State College "Lady Blues."
Director of the Afro-Appalachian Performance Company, will deliver a dramatic presentation, "John Brown's Raid," October 23 on the Bluefield State College campus
Partnership Acitivities
The Technology Accreditation Commission (TAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has notified Bluefield State College of its decision to extend accreditation to the institution's engineering technology programs
BSC Foundation was notified by the WV Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) advisory board that it has been selected to participate in NIP's 1999 program, permitting the BSC Foundation to award $40,000 in NIP tax credits to individuals, organizations, and businesses supporting scholarships for low income students
Conducted an RBA program information meeting, Sept. 1, at the Greenbrier Community College Center
Associate Professor of Nursing at Bluefield State College, was selected to present a paper at the "Opportunities and Challenges for Associate Degree Nursing Graduates" conference at Eastern Kentucky University
History instructor spoke recently at a symposium in Waco, TX, celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the Texas Rangers. The national symposium attracted nearly 200 participants from throughout the nation
Began organizational work in co-sponsoring, with the Bluefield Holiday Inn, the November, 1998 Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce's "Business After Hours" program
Associate Professor of Accounting at Bluefield State College, attended a recent conference, sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' (AICPA), primarily for Historically Black Colleges & Universities, in Tampa, FL. The annual two-day conference was attended by more than 150 accounting program faculty representing over 40 Historically Black Colleges & Universities
BSC Professor of Nursing and Associate Professor of Nursing have contributed chapters of scholarly material included in the recently-published NGNA CORE CURRICULUM FOR GERONTOLOGICAL ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES
Bluefield State College Associate Professor of Aquaculture made
presentations at two recent aquaculture conferences. She presented information on industrial development in Arctic charr culture at the second International Conference on Recirculation Aquaculture, sponsored by Virginia Tech, and also delivered an extensive program, "Fundamentals of Charr Culture," in Shepherdstown, WV for the workshop, "Principles for Coldwater Fish Production."
Promoted appearance of former West Virginia State and South Carolina State football coach Oree Banks, who will present a "Drug & Alcohol Awareness Seminar, at Bluefield State College's Basic Science Auditorium, October 1
Telecast throughout Bluefield-area cable system two Bluefield City Board of Directors' meetings and the monthly Mercer County Board of Education meeting
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 Center for Economic Enhancement is coordinating a pre employment training program for prospective employees of Interbank, an organization scheduled to open teleservices call centers in Bluefield & Welch, WV. The company will begin interviewing graduates of the intensive program in October, in an effort to begin filling up to 25 positions per week. Other partners whose effort will be coordinated in the project include Southern WV Community & Technical College, McDowell County Vocational Technical Center, Welch Job Service, Mercer County Technical Education Center, Bluefield Job Service, and the WV Department of Education. (The project is sponsored through the Governor's Guaranteed Workforce Program and the WV Workplace Education Program.)
Developing a First-Aid and Safety training program for Nash- Finch Corporation (Bluefield, VA). The- program will begin with CPR training, taught by a CPR-certified member of the BSC nursing faculty
Discussed developing a welding certification preparation training program with Platnick Steel and Engineering (Bluefield, VA)
Scheduling "Computer Courses for Seniors" to address a waiting list of senior adults who expressed desire for such courses when the Creative Retirement Center offered a series of computer courses earlier in 1998
Center for Economic Enhancement is co-sponsoring "How to Respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP)" workshop in Flatwoods, WV. Other sponsors include the Regional Contracting Assistance Center (RCAC), WV Small Business Development Centers, WV High Technology Consortium, and the Southern Virginia Community College Procurement and Technical Assistance Center
Coordinating development of a workplace education program for B.F. Goodrich (Union, WV). The project involves assisting the company in evaluation of different alternatives for testing the basic skills of its employees with respect to the jobs they perform and developing training to meet these needs. Partners that Bluefield State College recruited to this project, Concord College and the WV Workforce Education Program, will assess and profile one representative job, and training options will be developed based upon that profile. The program will be expanded for other jobs if the initial pilot is successful. (The program is funded through the Governor's Guaranteed Workforce Program.)
Scheduled "Grammar and Usage," and "Effective Business Writing" seminars for the Greenbrier Community College Center of BSC as part of a larger effort to better meet the needs of business and industry in Greenbrier Valley. These programs have been presented at the Bluefield campus of BSC and have been very favorably received by local businesses and members of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce.
Center for Economic Enhancement is co-sponsoring ISO 9000 training programs in Beckley and Bluefield. Other sponsors include the Robert C. Byrd Institute at Marshall University and the Center for International Understanding-at BSC
Completed a variety of well-attended programs for the Creative Retirement Center. Five of six computer workshops for adults (50 years and better) have been sold out, and waiting lists for three additional classes have been established. These additional classes will be scheduled for September. Other programs involving nature retreats and trips to sites of local interest have also obtained full registration.
Center for Economic Enhancement completed a "Year 2000 Computer
Workshop." Other sponsors include the WV Manufacturing Extension Program, First
Century Bank, the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, and the Princeton/Mercer
County Chamber of Commerce
Completed scheduling for the 1998-99 Travel and Adventure Series program. This is the llth year of the program, which brings professional film makers and world travelers to narrate their films on various locations and countries. The program is co- sponsored by Bluefield Regional Medical and Wellness Centers, First Century Bank, AAA--The Bluefield Automobile Club, Abbott Bus Lines, Inc., and BSC
Completed hiring of two new trainers for positions with the Center for Economic Enhancement. One position focuses upon computer and technology training for local businesses and industry. The other focuses upon management training and job skills analysis, including the competitive training modules developed by the Governor's Guaranteed Workforce Program.
Developed a fall semester schedule of continuing education courses at BSC's Bluefield campus for professional nurses. In a related development, a course has been scheduled at the National Mine Safety and Health Academy (Beckley, WV). This represents the first continuing education nursing course that BSC has provided in the Beckley area. Based upon response to this program, more courses may be offered in the Spring Semester.
BSC Center for International Understanding is conducting training program, "Community Development" for 12 Azerbaijani social workers (Sept. 10-Oct. 10, 1998) in cooperation with Delphi International (Washington D.C.)
US Agency for International Development (USAID) is currently reviewing three CIU program proposals:
Five-week training program proposal that is being developed for
Russian Educators, sponsored by the American Council of Teachers of Russian-
American Council for Collaboration in Education and Language Study, and
"Uzbekistan Judicial Development Program" for officers of the Judges Association (Oct. 17-Nov. 15, 1998) in cooperation with the American Bar Association
CIU is conducting USAID-sponsored training program, "Improved Unions-Management-Government Relations" for Croatian officials and private sector (union) representatives (Sept. 19- Oct. 10, 1998);
CIU is disseminating international bids to West Virginia companies
Through the United States Information Agency (USIA), CIU sponsored internships and home stays for eight Russian entrepreneurs, August 24-September 19
Through USIA, CIU is preparing three-week training program for 12 Russian educational Administrators (October 15-November 7, 1998)
CIU is implementing international trade and investment export assistance service activities in its offices in Saratov (Russia), Bombay (India), Bratislava (Slovakia), Baku (Azerbaijan), and Dnipropetrovosk (Ukraine)
Marketing and recruiting students for participants in English as a Second
Language (ESL) program for International Students and their spouses
Named full-time coordinator of ESL
Initiated informal self-study for TESOL accreditation
Through its recently-relocated Washington, D.C. Bureau, CIU is
negotiating relationships with foundations and development organizations in Europe
for development projects and international trade
CIU has appointed full-time CIU Washington, D.C. Bureau Coordinator
and established permanent offices in Washington, DC
Coordinated Ryazan business interns' cultural weekend in Washington,
DC
CIU established new Russian office and:
Met with local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) officials to publicize goals and activities of the CIU Russian Bureau;
Met U.N. High commissioner for Refugees
Submitted proposal on NGO Support Program to World Learning Moscow for possible funding
Registered CIU Russian Bureau with the Ministry of Justice
Discussed trade initiatives with West Virginia business persons at
the World Food Show in Moscow
Conducted roundtable on AIDS Prevention, sponsored by USAID-
Moscow
Facilitated creation of a memorandum of understanding between
CIU at BSC and Saratov Agrouniversity, and the CIU Russian Bureau to promote joint
projects
Attended roundtable, sponsored by Eurasia Foundation (Saratov,
Russia) on "Creation of Agricultural Credit Cooperatives
CIU Eastern Europe Bureau established liaison with National Agency for
Small and Medium Enterprise development to deliver English Language program
CIU Caucasus-Central Asia Bureau recruited 40 students for English as a Second Language Program and obtained a classroom for ESL Program