From the Hawk's Nest Newsletter

Vol. 3, Issue No. 24
February 5, 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, Feb. 17

Convocation Kicks Off Spring Semester

Dr. Sarah Tucker, Chancellor of the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia, was the keynote speaker at Convocation on Jan. 12 at Raleigh County Campus. Dr. Robin Asbury and Tina White with WV Workplace Education Program presented on ways to implement customer service excellence, and there were several other training meetings for faculty and staff.

Employees also were recognized for their years of service to New River CTC and previous institutions.

Dr. Tucker discussed challenges and opportunities at community colleges.

5-Year Service Award Winners (l-r), Twana Jackson, Patricia Harmon, John Hamon, Jason Garris, Vanessa Bailey, JoAnna Perry, Amanda Baker, and Jane Smith. Not pictured Amanda Sauchuck.

10-Year Service Award Winners, Deena Rodgers, Shirley Davis, Herman Keene, Steven Butler.

15-Year Service Award Winners, Willis Nordlund, John Mullens.

20-Year Service Award Winner, Elizabeth Belcher

25 Year Service Award Winner, Rita Holcomb

Retreat Provides Forum to Plan Future of Foundation

The Foundation Vision Retreat was held on Jan. 9 at Glade Springs Resort.

The New River CTC Foundation Vision Retreat was conducted by Joe April of the Armistead Group.

The retreat allowed board members and staff to have an open discussion on the immediate strategic priorities for the New River Community and Technical College Foundation Board and develop a collective vision for the future. The retreat was attended by 13 board members and 11 staff members.

New River CTC at Higher Ed Day at the Capitol

Higher Education Day on Jan. 19 provided an opportunity to meet with legislators and West Virginia's Governor to discuss initiatives of importance to the College.

Higher Education Day is an annual event to recognize West Virginia's colleges and universities. Participating institutions included West Virginia's public four-year and two-year colleges and universities and independent four-year institutions.

College administrators met with Sen. Greg Boso (center) of Nicholas County.

West Virginia college and university presidents posed for a picture with Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

Tobacco-Free Taskforce Promoting Through With Chew

Quit Spit Kits will be provided by the Tobacco-Free Taskforce.

The Tobacco-Free Taskforce met on Feb. 1 to discuss the College's American Legacy Foundation grant.

In addition to College taskforce members, representatives from community organizations attended the meeting, including Karen Larson, Regional Tobacco Prevention Coordinator of Fayette, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, and Webster counties.

Ms. Larson introduced Through With Chew Week held nationally the week of Feb. 14 - 20 and sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Through With Chew Week is designed to raise awareness and reduce the use of smokeless tobacco. Smokeless tobacco is highly addictive and can cause oral cancer in the cheeks, gums, and throat.

"Smokeless tobacco is not a safe alternative to cigarettes, as some young people believe, and it is even more habit forming because it contains a higher concentration of nicotine than cigarettes," Larson said.

In recognition of Through With Chew Week, the Tobacco-Free Taskforce has established a sign-up sheet for a "Quit Spit Kit," which includes information about the dangers of chew tobacco and a complimentary non-tobacco, non-nicotine chew blend, which reduces the amount of nicotine with each use in order to help quit the habit.

If you are interested in receiving a free Quit Spit Kit, contact Tina Bryant at tbryant@newriver.edu with an email listing your name, the New River CTC campus that you attend or work, New River email address and phone number.

If you have any questions about the Tobacco-Free Initiative at New River CTC, contact Dr. Allen Withers, Vice President of Student Services, at ext. 5008 or awithers@newriver.edu.

Blue and Green Days!

Don't forget to show your school spirit on Blue and Green Days on Feb. 29, March 23, and April 27.

Also, don't forget to send in pictures from your campus. Thank you to Katrina Allen for submitting this photo of the evening EDET students at the Advanced Technology Center.

The Office of Communications recently received a special note from Nathan Hendrick at WVVA. He received a t-shirt when he attended a Media Appreciation Day event last semester. He traveled to Haiti on a church mission trip and sent in this photo with the following message:

When we were in Haiti last month I met a great guy that helped us a lot around the compound. He didn't have anything and was too proud to ask. So I gave him my New River shirt. He wore it all week! So you're representing in Haiti now. His name is Theolet.

PEIA Promotes Health and Wellness on Campuses

Angela Watkins, Marshall University Health Promotion Consultant, holds up a sugar packet to show the sugar in a typical energy drink. She advised participants to drink more water.

The College has partnered with PEIA and Marshall University's Pathways to Wellness to bring a brand new "TRI Me" program to all campuses.

The TRI Me progam focuses on nutrition, physical activity, and stress management while working toward your individual goals with the help of a health coach.

The program began with a Health Promotion Consultant at each campus to provide an overview of the program followed by a session on nutrition, specifically focused on increased water consumption (and a free water bottle!)

The program continues with a fitness session in late February and with a stress reduction session in March.

10-Year Facilities Master Plan Activities

It is time for the College to complete the 10-year Facilities Master Plan. The Plan must be completed and approved by May 1, 2016. Below are the details regarding the teams and the timeline.

The College Teams:

Process Team: This team will consist of 3 to 5 members appointed by the President. This team will be meeting frequently with ZMM and will be responsible for monitoring the process, providing data, directions and assistance to ZMM.
Facilities Master Planning Team: This team consist of the Extended Cabinet and Facilities Committee (many of the same members), with some appointed Maintenance Team members. This team will be responsible for representing the specific needs of each distinct constituency group and sharing information back to their constituency group.

Estimated Timeline and Meetings:

February 2016 - Data collection and assess current facilities by ZMM; meetings with process team
March 1, 2016 - Kickoff Meeting will be held with the Facilities Master Planning Team during the Extended Cabinet Meeting
Beginning to mid-March 2016 - Campus Forums will be held at each campus
Mid-March and April 2016 - Final preparation of the 10-Year Facilities Master Plan
Mid to end of April 2016 - The Facilities Master Plan completion by ZMM and presentation to the Facilities Master Planning Team
May 3, 2016 - Final 10-Year Facilities Master Plan presentation to the New River CTC Board of Governors
Mid-May 2016 - 10-Year Facilities Master Plan will be sent to the WVCTCS Council for addition to the June 16, 2016 agenda

If you have any questions regarding the process, please do not hesitate to contact Leah Taylor, Vice President for Administrative Services, at ext. 6701 or ltaylor@newriver.edu.

New Board of Governors Members

The New River Community and Technical College Board of Governors welcomed two new members.

John Barnes, of Lewisburg, is a former Bluefield State College Board of Governors member and vice president of ABB, Inc.

Sandy Epling, of Lewisburg, has worked for State Farm Insurance since 1982 and has served the community in various roles, including as a board member of Carnegie Hall and trustee of Lewisburg United Methodist Church.