Vol. 3, Issue No.9                                                                                                                                                
June 8, 2015   
From the Hawk's Nest is distributed on the first and third Friday of each month. We need your input!  Please send your ideas for stories on upcoming events, reports on attendance at conferences, awards and honors received, photos or information on outstanding employees or students to Elizabeth Belcher, ebelcher@newriver.edu or Kelly Taber, ktaber@newriver.edu. The deadline for the next issue is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17. 
President's Cabinet Participates in Training Retreat

 
On May 19, the President's Cabinet held a day of training, discussion, and team-building activities.

Dr. Robin Asbury, Deputy Director of Adult Careers Pathway, and Tina White, Specialist in Workforce Education, Mercer County Workforce West Virginia Center led morning team-building exercises.

Dr. Don Cameron, President Emeritus, from Guilford Technical Community College provided a motivating session, "Do You Have the Courage to Lead?"

The Raleigh County Campus boardroom was covered with inspiration quotes, and cabinet members were given a homework assignment to write a 3-4 sentence purpose statement on why you do what you do at New River CTC.   

 

As part of one team-building exercise, cabinet members cooperatively moved an object through an obstacle course using strings that were centrally connected, similar to working as a team on a daily basis.   

 

 

    

 

 

 
Student Services Holds Retreat at Grandview Park

Members of New River CTC's Student Services Division met for their annual retreat on June 4. The morning session took place on the Raleigh County Campus and the afternoon session was held at New River Gorge National River's Grandview Park.

After a welcome by President Dr. L. Marshall Washington and opening comments by Dr. Allen Withers, Vice President of Student Services, the group focused on "enrolling and keeping our students" with presentations on recruitment activities for 2015-2016, an overview of the College's Higher Learning Commission Persistence and Completion Academy, and a group activity called "Building an Action Sandwich" focused on our students.  

Guest presenter, Dr. Sarah Beasley, Director of Retention at Concord University, led a session about "Students in Southern West Virginia" with information about student characteristics, support networks, and concepts such as stereotype threat, "Grit," a positive academic mindset, and a fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset. The afternoon at Grandview Park included a picnic lunch and team-building activities in one of West Virginia's most beautiful parks.
New River CTC Student Services Staff (with the exception of Deena Rodgers of GVC who was unable to attend) gathered for a photo at New River Gorge's National River Grandview Park.

Staci Green on the Cover of Prerogative Magazine   



Recruiter Staci Green was representing New River CTC last October at the Mercer County Women's Expo when she was asked about modeling for Prerogative Magazine, published by the Bluefield Daily Telegraph.

She modeled clothes that were provided by Maurice's at the Mercer Mall, on the historic property of Crab Orchard Museum and Pioneer Village in Tazewell, Va.

She is now on the cover of the recently-released summer edition of the magazine.

Are You a Smoker, Former Smoker, or Non-smoker? Consider Joining New River CTC's Tobacco-Free Taskforce

 

New River Community and Technical College has received a $5,000 grant from the American Legacy Foundation to study the possibility of a Tobacco-Free Initiative at the College.  

 

New River CTC was one of 100 public community colleges selected to receive the grant, with the option of applying for a second and third year of funding.

The goal of the first year of the project is to educate and engage the College community in dialogue about tobacco use and solicit opinion about tobacco-free policies at each of the four campuses.

 

"I am excited about the opportunity to study this area more in depth with New River CTC campuses," said Dr. Allen Withers, Vice President of Student Services. 

 

"We are very much aware of the health benefits of a possible tobacco-free future at the College, but at the same time we want to recognize the rights of tobacco users. Therefore, we are seeking a balance of opinion on the taskforce working on this project, which will include smokers, non-smokers, and former smokers."


The College will follow five required project elements for the grant:
*    Form a College taskforce.
*    Assess tobacco-related issues at the College's campuses.
*    Educate and engage students, staff, faculty, and decision-makers.
*    Identify a plan to address cessation.
*    Develop policy recommendations.

Taskforce members will be collaborating with the Division of Tobacco Prevention through the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources as a resource for campus activities.
The Legacy grant project began on April 1 of this year, and the taskforce plans to continue to meet quarterly on the issue on an ongoing basis.


If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Dr. Withers at awithers@newriver.edu.
Congratulations on Promotion!

   

Congratulations to Dr. Shirley Davis, who teaches Mathematics at Raleigh County Campus, and Dr. John Mullens, who teaches English at Nicholas County Campus, for promotion to the rank of Professor. 

 
Dr. Shirley Davis 
Dr. John Mullens