Vol. 4, Issue No. 6
April 4, 2016
From the Hawk's Nest is distributed twice a month, and 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, April 13. 
Congratulations to Phi Theta Kappa Inductees

New River CTC hosted a ceremony for students inducted into the Beta Zeta Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa on Saturday, April 2.  Phi Theta Kappa is a national honor society for community college students who have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

The keynote speaker was Jennifer Runyon, Vice President of American Beer Company, formerly Runyon Distributing. 

Ms. Runyon, also the daughter of Board of Governors member Shirley Runyon, holds an M.A. in Science, Technology and Policy from The George Washington University and studied chemistry and economics for her undergraduate degree at Roanoke College.  She is involved with Greenbrier Humane Society, Hospice Care, Black Diamond Girl Scout Council, and First Tee, among other local activities.

Professor Lucie Refsland, PTK academic advisor, addresses the inductees. Seated at right, Jennifer Runyon and President Washington.

PTK students recite the pledge for the academic honor society.


New River CTC Budget Challenges

Dr. Washington spoke to Classified Staff and Faculty via IVN at a meeting to discuss the budget.

It is a difficult time at the College due to budget constraints resulting in a variety of cost-savings measures including personnel reductions and salary cuts.

For more information about the current situation, read the news release issued March 25. 

Business After Hours at Greenbrier Valley Campus 

There was a good turnout for the Greenbrier Valley Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at the Kyle and Ann Fort Arts and Sciences Building on Thursday, March 31.

Thanks to everyone who participated and set up recruiting booths displaying the many talents at the College. Also, thanks to the College Foundation for sponsoring the food at the event.














Massage Therapy Program to Begin This Fall 

Guess who is getting a massage at Business After Hours? Massage Therapist Drema Morgan will be an instructor next fall.
Lisa Carter, New River Community and Technical College Personal Services Coordinator, is now accepting students interested in becoming certified massage therapists.

The Massage Therapy program will start in August at the College's Greenbrier Valley Campus in Lewisburg.  The two-semester program will prepare graduates to take either the West Virginia board or national licensure exam. 
Lisa Carter

"Employment for massage therapists is projected to grow 22 percent in the next decade," Carter said. 

"Massage therapists find job opportunities in a variety of settings, such as health care clinics, spas, hotels, and sports fitness centers."

Two of the program's instructors have experience working at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Spring, W.Va., and The Homestead in Hot Springs, Va.

The program will be located on the first floor of Greenbrier Hall, beside the studios established for Cosmetology, Nail Care Technician, and Esthetics.
Health Fair/Open House Events at All Campuses

Health Fair/Open House events promoting the College's Allied Health programs and general education courses enrolling for summer and fall semesters will be held on all campuses in April and May.

Allied Health students will provide free health assessments for community members during the Open Houses. Staff also  will assist prospective students with signing up for courses. 

Free health services will include blood pressure checks, balance and strength testing, range of motion measurement, and tobacco-cessation resources. 

Students and faculty from the Billing Insurance and Coding, EMT/Paramedic, Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Practical Nursing programs will be represented at Health Fair/Open House events from 3 to 7 p.m.:

* April 11 at Raleigh County Campus, 280 University Drive, Beaver
* April 19 at Mercer County Campus, 1001 Mercer Street, Princeton
* April 25 at Greenbrier Valley Campus, 653 Church Street, Lewisburg
* May 2 at Nicholas County Campus, 6101 Webster Road, Summersville

Medical Assisting Students Discuss Women's Health

New River CTC students and Greenbrier East High School students traveled with Vanessa Bailey, BSN, RN Instructor of Allied Health to the State Capitol to participate in the Ladies Caucus Luncheon with Elizabeth (Betty) A. Critch, MBA Executive Director WVU National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. 

Students were able to ask questions and share concerns about health care in the state with women legislators. 

Photo Booths Bring Smiles to Campuses

The Shifoto photo booth provided an opportunity to be silly and take a break from school and work. Thanks to Wanda Johnson, Coordinator of Student Activities, for organizing the photo booths. 






Blue and Green Days on Campuses

The EMI (Electro-Mechanical-Instrumentation) program class at the Advanced Technology Center in Ghent showed their school pride and dressed in their Blue and Green t-shirts in March.

The next Blue and Green Day on all campuses will be April  27.

Between now and then, remind students to register for summer and fall classes!
Online Course Evaluations Now Available

Spring 2016 courses will have online evaluations in place of paper evaluation forms used in previous years. Encourage students to complete the online course evaluations, which provide valuable feedback and are used to improve future courses. 

Students have received emails prompting them to complete online evaluations.  As with the paper forms, online course evaluations are completely anonymous.

The online evaluations can be completed using any device with Internet access (PC, laptop, tablet, or smart phone) from March 28 - April 11. 

Students have received an invitation email sent to their New River CTC email address for each class in which they are enrolled. Evaluations also may be accessed from the  "Take Survey" link that will be displayed at the top of Blackboard course homepages. The link will disappear after an evaluation is completed for that course or once the evaluation period ends. Students are only able to complete one evaluation per course.

If you have any questions about the online course evaluations, contact Jim Fedders at ext. 5037 or jfedders@newriver.edu.

Congratulations on Official QM Course Certification




Earlier this semester, the College submitted two online courses for review by the international online learning organization Quality Matters: Brian Testerman's Computer Science 131 and Libby Rogers' Administrative Office Management 251. 

Last month, Testerman and Rogers received notification that their courses had passed the review.  The  QM Certification Mark will appear with published information about their courses including the following text, "This certification mark recognizes that this course met Quality Matters Review Standards."

In order to meet Quality Matters review expectations, an online course must meet 21 essential standards (standards valued at 3 points). In addition, the course must have receive a minimum of 84 (out of 99) points in the review process.

Both of the courses went through an internal review at New River CTC prior to the official QM review. Both Testerman and Rogers also received distance learning training through the Center for Teaching Excellence as a part of the Title III grant that ended in 2013.

If you have any questions about Quality Matters course review, contact Ralph Payne at ext. 0279 or rpayne@newriver.edu.