From Beaufort County Community College

Science students benefit from hands-on labs, individual instruction

Beaufort County Community College’s students have access to well-equipped labs and a gifted group of science instructors, giving them a leg up when they transfer to a four-year degree program or health sciences program, or when they transition into the workforce.

“We are fortunate to have a lot of equipment in our labs that you’re not always going to see at the community college level,” says lead instructor Teresa Crozier. “We have well-equipped labs for anatomy/physiology and biology. We try to do as much hands-on work as we can, and we’re able to offer individual and personalized instruction due to our smaller class sizes.”

For example, she says, when studying the human skeleton, rather than the whole class having to take turns looking at one model, there are enough models for the students to inspect them individually or in small groups.

“We have preserved organisms that they can see for themselves,” she adds. “They can actually look at a tapeworm or a jellyfish instead of looking at a picture in the textbook. That makes it more interesting and engaging for the students.”

In environmental biology, each class gets to venture outside the classroom to visit regional facilities where they can see science in action, such as water treatment plants or agricultural research stations. They may take an ecology hike, tour an industrial facility, such as Grady White, or participate in a tree planting or roadside cleanup.

“Where we go varies each semester, but I think they learn a lot by getting out and actually seeing it,” she says. “They get to see what’s being done in those facilities and how they are trying to reduce their environmental impact.”

The students get to work on an individual level with a group of highly credentialed instructors. Chemistry instructor Amanda Carlisle says this kind of close interaction isn’t typically offered to students in general chemistry classes.

In each class she tries to incorporate an experiment created by one of the students, she says. This semester, her class is making rockets using milk containers. Each lab section will design a rocket and launch it, competing to achieve the greatest distance traveled.

“This lab came about at the suggestion of a student, and the different lab sections are already excited about the opportunity,” Carlisle explains. “The student-focused environment is just one of the things I appreciate and enjoy about what we offer here.”

The classes feed smoothly into the college transfer or nursing programs.

“BCCC’s science curriculum can really be a great pathway into the allied health professions,” says anatomy/physiology and biology instructor Krystal Taylor. “There is a lot of demand in that industry and a lot of providers in our area.”

For more information about BCCC’s science curriculum, contact Lisa Hill, dean of arts & sciences, at 252-940-6223 or Lisa.Hill@BeaufortCCC.edu.

 

Upcoming Continuing Education classes

BCCC’s Continuing Education Division provides occupational training, re-training and upgrading in vocational and professional areas. Each class is designed to meet the needs of the workforce in eastern North Carolina. Upcoming classes include:

Microsoft Office Boot Camp, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays starting Oct. 26, Building 8, Room 822. Earning and holding a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification can help earn an entry-level business employee an increased wage over their uncertified peers, according to Microsoft. The MOS exams test an individual’s ability to use a Microsoft Office application in a way that allows them to get more out of it in their everyday use of the program. Instructor Anthony Moore will help students sharpen their skills to prepare them for taking the MOS Word certification exam. Students will have the option of taking their exam on campus at Beaufort County Community College. Registration fee is $75.

Survival Spanish for Fire and Rescue Services, 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 3 and 5 in the Building 8 auditorium. It is important to fire and rescue personnel to have the ability to communicate with each person that they encounter. Instructor Ben Correa will teach fire and rescue personnel basic Spanish phrases that will help them to assess injuries and gain basic background information at the scene. Registration fee is $35.

N.C. Vehicle Safety Inspection, 5-9 p.m., Nov. 23-24, Building 2, Room 108. This course is designed to prepare auto technicians and service personnel as safety inspectors for motor vehicles. Course topics include regulations and test inspection procedures required by the N.C. DMV’s Enforcement Section for safety inspectors. Upon completion, a student should understand the rules, regulations and procedures for safety inspections, and be able to inspect a vehicle properly. Registration fee is $70.

For more information about the above classes, please contact Justin Rose at 252-940-6262 or Justin.Rose@BeaufortCCC.edu.

 

Career Prep, 12:30-4:30 p.m., each Monday through Dec. 14 (participants attend one four-hour session). In this fast-paced, four-hour class, participants will sharpen their job search skills to focus on a specific career path. Once students choose a career path, they will update their resumes and prepare for job interviews. If time allows, participants will fine-tune their job search skills and learn to “target job search” through various websites. This class will be held at the Beaufort County NCWorks Career Center located at 1385 John Small Ave. The $75 registration fee can be waived for students meeting certain criteria.

The Es of Job Search, 1-4 p.m., Nov. 4, 6, 13 and 18; or Dec. 2, 4, 9 and 11. This 12-hour class will empower the job seeker with tools for a successful job search, enhance the job seeker’s resume and application skills, engage their soft skills, develop their 30-second elevator speech and sharpen their interviewing skills and enable them with the tools needed to achieve their goals. This class will be held at the Beaufort County NCWorks Career Center located at 1385 John Small Ave. The $75 registration fee can be waived for students meeting certain criteria.

Real Estate BIC Update and Elective, 6-10 p.m., Oct. 27 and 29 or Nov. 3 and 5, Building 8, Room 824. The Real Estate Broker-in-Charge (BIC) Update and Elective course satisfies the requirements for renewal of an annual real estate license. Registration fee is $50.

Real Estate General Update and Elective, 6-10 p.m., Nov. 17 and 19, Building 8, Room 824. This course satisfies the requirements for renewal of an annual real estate license. Registration fee is $50.

For more information about the above classes, please contact Lou Stout at 940-6307 or Lou.Stout@BeaufortCCC.edu.

 

BCCC nursing alum named to Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina

The Great 100 Nurses, which promotes nursing excellence in North Carolina, has recognized Renee Cherry, a BCCC alumnus and employee of Vidant Health, in its list of the 2015 Great 100 Nurses. This non-profit organization creates peer recognition among North Carolina’s registered nurses, as well as rewarding excellence in practice and commitment to the nursing profession.

The 2015 Great 100 Nurses were honored at a gala event on Oct. 17 in Raleigh.

Cherry, a Washington native, has worked for Vidant Medical Center for 23 years and currently serves as a professional development coordinator. She received her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from BCCC and her Master of Science in Nursing Education from Walden University. In the past, Cherry has served in the cardiovascular intensive care unit as a staff development assistant, assistant nurse manager and a staff nurse. She is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the American Nurses Association, North Carolina Nurses Association, and the Association of Nursing Professional Development.