HED: Support team provides crash course in efficiency

 

A team of 12 Subject Matter Experts (SME) from the N.C. Community College System visited Beaufort County Community College June 1-4 to conduct a Full Usage Assessment. The goal of the College User Support Team is to provide training and support for college staff on the Colleague system to reduce errors and increase efficiency.

Ellucian Colleague is a software system for integrated student management, designed to provide secure, easy access to the information institutions need to manage assets more efficiently and allocate resources more effectively. Divisions of the college that use the software and participated in the usage assessment include finance, procurement, financial aid, registrar, student records, curriculum, human resources, payroll and continuing education.

Each year, the College User Support Team identifies two colleges out of the 58 community colleges in North Carolina that would benefit most from a full usage assessment. BCCC President Dr. Barbara Tansey contacted NCCCS in January 2014 to ask for BCCC to be considered. The SME team spent four days on campus conducting a comprehensive workflow analysis for all college business divisions.

“What we have learned will help us improve efficiency and communication throughout our campus,” says Dr. Tansey. “We know that there is a lot more work to be done, and that we will have to maintain the momentum that we have built, but there is no doubt that the spark the team has provided will prove invaluable.”

Key participants met together at the end of the week to discuss where efficiencies are being realized and where improvements can be made. The college will also receive a detailed report from the support team to provide the information needed to make the best possible use of the Colleague software in the future.

“The purpose of this visit is ultimately to provide the best possible service to our students,” adds Dr. Tansey. “That’s why we’re here.”

 

HED: BCCC College for Kids 2015 kicks off soon

 

The worlds of art, beekeeping, sailing, hunting, sewing, video games and woodworking are among the activities young people can explore during College for Kids 2015 at Beaufort County Community College.

The Division of Continuing Education will offer 21 classes, generally, in one-week blocks, from June through August. The pre-registration deadline is June 30. Classes will be offered on the BCCC campus unless otherwise indicated.

The class schedule includes 4-H STEM Camp; Art! Be Creative!; The Art of Visual Communication; Aviation History, Careers and Aerodynamics; Beekeeping; Beginning Spanish; Boating Safety; Woodworking Basics; CPR/First Aid; Google Computer Science First Co-op with Friends; Google Computer Science First Game Design; Kayaking; Knitting; Healthy and Creative Cooking; Hunter Safety; Math Refresher Camp; Reading and Writing Refresher Camp; Business Owners of Tomorrow Camp; Sewing for Fun – Beginner; Sewing for Tweens and Teens – Intermediate to Advanced; and Sports and Fitness.

Some camps may require the purchase of supplies in addition to the registration fee. A supply list will be available upon registration.

Because class size is limited, admission to College for Kids 2015 is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration fee will be refunded only if a class is canceled. Materials lists are available once classes have met their minimum enrollment.

For more information about these classes or for a College for Kids 2015 brochure and application, contact Justin Rose, Special Projects coordinator, at 252-940-6262 or by email at Justin.Rose@BeaufortCCC.edu. BCCC accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Checks payable to Beaufort County Community College may be mailed to the attention of Eva Peartree, 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, NC 27889.

Information about other continuing education classes at BCCC is available at www.BeaufortCCC.edu/coned/contin.htm.

 

HED: Cummins donates robotic arm

 

The Beaufort County Community College Mechanical Engineering Technology Program has received a precision robotic arm made by Nachi and donated by Cummins of Rocky Mount.

The arm is computer controlled, has a 15-foot reach and can rotate 360 degrees, says the program’s lead instructor, Matthew Lincoln. Students will learn to program and operate the arm to complete “pick-and-place” tasks.

With robots playing an increasing role in manufacturing and mechanical engineering processes, it is important for students to be familiar with this type of equipment.

“Robots are doing more and more of what people used to do,” Lincoln says. “If you’re smart, you learn how to run it, so instead of the robot replacing you, it gets you a better paying job.”

A comparable arm would cost an estimated $50,000-$60,000 if purchased new, and approximately half that on the used market. Cummins, a diesel manufacturer, tries to support community colleges in its region, particularly those that develop the workforce for today’s jobs, says Cummins maintenance planner James Guy.

Cummins will also help install the robotic arm and supply training once it is in place and operational.

 

HED: Upcoming Continuing Education classes

 

Several important classes will be offered in the coming weeks by the Division of Continuing Education at Beaufort County Community College. All classes will be held on the BCCC campus. The schedule is as follows:

CDL Truck Driving (Classroom), 6-9:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, June 22-Sept. 24, in Room 14 of Building 11. This course trains students to drive a Class-A combination vehicle and prepare them for their pre-trip inspection, off-road skills test and the driving test, which are all components of the NCDMV Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) exam. Students must also register for the CDL Lab while registering for this class. The lab will be held Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. An additional CDL class is scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, July 14-Nov. 10, with a lab on Saturdays and Sundays. The $180 registration fee includes the Lab; add $40 for the cost of a random drug test.

Introduction to Conversational Spanish, 6:30-9 p.m., Tuesdays, July 7-Aug. 4, in Room 826 of Building 8. This 12-hour introductory course will prepare students to communicate with Hispanic coworkers, customers, friends and family. Course content will include basic greetings, vocabulary and common phrases, as well as grammar concepts. The registration fee is $30. A continuation class will be offered in the fall.

ServSafe (Review and Test), 6-9 p.m., Monday, July 13, in Room 829 of Building 8. This class is a review and test for ServSafe certification, the restaurant and food service industry’s preeminent food safety training program. A textbook and answer sheet are required for the course and are available in the BCCC Bookstore or through the National Restaurant Association. The registration fee is $20.

Students may register by calling 252-940-6375 or in person in room 802 of Building 8 on the BCCC campus. BCCC accepts Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Checks payable to Beaufort County Community College may be mailed to the attention of Eva Peartree, 5337 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, NC 27889.

For more information about other Continuing Education classes, visit BCCC’s Website at www.BeaufortCCC.edu/coned/contin.htm.