Vol. 8, Issue No. 05
April 13, 2020
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From the Hawk's Nest, New River CTC's employee newsletter, is distributed twice a month, and we need your input!
Have story ideas or photos for From the Hawk's Nest? Send them to
the
Office of Communications
for the next edition.
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Photo recently taken in front of a WVU Medicine facility.
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“
Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people.
”
–
Roy T. Bennett
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FY 2017-18 Annual Report
FY 2018-19 Annual Report
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“
Inside this annual report spanning two fiscal years, you can see the impact that New River CTC has, and we will continue to work toward increasing that impact in a positive way moving forward.
”
– President Copenhaver
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Financial Aid Counselor Suzanne Fry began providing mental health counseling to students at the Greenbrier Valley Campus earlier this semester while in the clinical training part of her master’s degree program. She will connect with nursing students during a Zoom session later this week about the stress and mental health aspects of the quarantine, the stress of trying to finish their last semester amid the pandemic, and offer coping strategies.
Plus, Visiting Instructor of Practical Nursing Michelle Underwood is working to set up a call with a nurse on the front line of the pandemic in NYC, someone from the front line in quarantine in California, and a paramedic/fireman in Columbus, Ohio. She will update us as information about these Zoom conferences become available.
Finally, New River CTC nursing students called into a weekly meeting on Tuesday night for the West Virginia Nurses Association and listened as they shared insight into what they're doing to help nurses, what is working, and what is not working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Zoom-bombing is the term for when individuals "gate-crash" Zoom meetings. These uninvited guests share their screens to bombard real attendees with disturbing pornographic and/or violent imagery. Most of these are perpetrated via publicly available Zoom links; however, not all depending on your settings.
CLICK HERE
for ways to protect yourself from falling victim.
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Be well while working from home
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Working from home is great — no commute, no dress code, no noisy co-workers—but remote work has its own challenges. Namely, staying productive. Working on the couch in your pajamas is great until you realize it’s lunchtime and you’ve barely accomplished anything on your to-do list.
To help you put your nose to the grindstone and keep it there, it’s important to create a space that will allow you to do your best work.
CLICK HERE
for some tips and tricks on how to design your home office space for productivity.
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Balanced Life Studio (
h
ttps://myhealthybalancedlife.com/
)
is offering two weeks for $20 for unlimited classes. All classes are available by Zoom, including a new 30-min lunch time yoga class.
They have also added a free class on Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m.
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Get the Facts: Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Consumption
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Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or sugary drinks are leading sources of added sugars in the American diet. Frequently drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with weight gain/obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis. Limiting the amount of SSB intake can help individuals maintain a healthy weight and have a healthy diet.
Looking for resources to help you reduce your intake of SSBs?
Infused Water Recipes
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Around our remote locations & in our communities
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Colleen Bays is reading The Hawk's Nest while enjoying a mug of hot tea and positivity as she teleworks from her soon-to-be home in SC. On the weekends, she and her husband have been enjoying their social distance on the beach!
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Jenni Canterbury's work from home set up is at the dining room table.
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Holly Clark also has a feline office mate, but is frustrated that the kitty isn't picking up more of the work load!
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Donna Fazio set up her office space in the living room, which did not work with her husband and three boys in the house, she then moved into her bedroom. This is working much better! She is beginning to adjust to electronic communication and is appreciative of how helpful everyone has been during this transition.
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Math Instructor Betul Kudurogianis is using both her desktop and iPad. She can write on the iPad when she uses the whiteboard of Zoom and share her screen. She shows videos from her desktop and switches to shared screens. She finds that the desktop screen is much easier to show videos, see who is there, or if students write in the chat room. She also joins her own meeting via iPad and shares her iPad’s screen so she can see both the whiteboard and students; however, if she does that, she cannot connect the audio from the iPad, just the video.
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Betul's Algebra 109-40 course students say "hello" to everyone!
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Looking back at working "remotely"
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Submitted by Charles Mike Williams
I thought this might be of interest to some of the faculty and staff as to how "remote" college classes/education was handled before computers.
This is not the first time for a few of the faculty and staff of New River CTC to have to work remotely.
In the late 1970’s there was an extreme shortage of natural gas. During this time public buildings in WV which were heated by natural gas were ordered to set the thermostat at 45 degrees day and night.
At that time a forerunner to New River CTC, the Greenbrier Community College Center of Bluefield State College, was operating in the academic building of Greenbrier East High School and using the GEHS Library as the college library. In 1969, West Virginia University established the Greenbrier Valley Extension Center of WVU, the forerunner to GCCC/BSC, in that location and gave the GE Library $10,000 to upgrade with college library books, magazines, journals, and micro film.
During the time of the 45 degree order, GEHS was closed and the high school students were brought in for a half day every three weeks to sit in the classrooms in their winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves while the high school instructors were told by the administration to “not look cold.”
GCCC/BSC classes were moved to the main old building of Lewisburg Junior High School, which was heated by coal, and classes were held in the classrooms there as much as possible. Library services continued with the librarian sitting in or near the “office” and taking requests for books, articles, etc. on subjects the college students were researching. He would then go to the library at East, get the material requested plus any he might suggest as well and bring them later that evening or the next afternoon to the junior high for the student to pick up. Books were returned using the same process.
Today, New River CTC students, faculty, staff and patrons can order books, magazine, and journal articles from the New River CTC Library which is closed like all college buildings. Librarian Robert Coston or his assistant Mike Williams can be reached via email (
ill@newriver.edu
),
telephone (304-647-6575) or Zoom to order research materials. Some magazine and journal articles can be sent via email.
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State of West Virginia Benefits
Open Enrollment (April 2 - May 15)
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Open Enrollment is now in session. V
iew the guide
HERE
.
Because there are very few changes in health plans this year, PEIA plans to conduct Open Enrollment as scheduled. The dates are April 2 through May 15, 2020. Open Enrollment transactions can be completed online via the Manage My Benefits portion of the PEIA website or you can request a transfer form by phone at 1-877-676-5573 beginning on April 2.
Plan Year 2021 Benefit Fair Conference Calls
Due to concerns about the novel coronavirus, COVID 19, PEIA will not be holding traditional benefit fairs this year. Instead, we are offering four conference calls where you can speak with representatives from PEIA, the Health Plan, FBMC, Humana, and Securian. You may call in and ask any questions you have or simply listen to the brief explanation of the changes we'll present at the beginning of each call. If you have questions about open enrollment, please call in and join us for one of these Benefit Fair Conference Calls:
Date:
Tuesday, April 14, 2020
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Dial-in Number: 304-420-0513
Conference ID: 26632
Date:
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Dial-in Number: 304-420-0513
Conference ID: 26632
Date:
Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Dial-in Number: 304-420-0513
Conference ID: 26632
PEIA encourages you to follow the guidance issued by the CDC and our state health officials. Please stay safe, stay distant and wash your hands!
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CLICK HERE
to download a fun activity to do with your kids while at home during this time.
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Defensive driving: driving in the rain
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Fleet Management provides monthly driving tips to provide agencies with a way to promote good defensive driving techniques ensuring the safety of state vehicle operators. For April 2020, Fleet is providing information on driving in the rain.
Driving in rain, whether a sprinkle or a heavy downpour, can be one of the most difficult driving situations a driver encounters. Rainy conditions are directly associated with higher accident rates. No matter what part of the country you live in, it is almost certain that you will be required to drive your vehicle in the rain at some point. Knowing how wet roads and reduced visibility affects the way your vehicle handles will help you drive safely in rainy conditions.
Double Check Your Car’s Equipment
Make sure that your car’s equipment is in working order before encountering rainy weather. Check your headlights, tail lights, and windshield wipers to make sure that they will work efficiently when they are needed. Also, check the tread of your vehicle’s tires. Balding tires can severely reduce traction on wet roadways.
Turn On Your Headlights
Most states require drivers to turn on their vehicles’ lights while driving in rain. Even if it is only misting, turning on your vehicle’s headlights will increase both your own visibility and other drivers’ ability to see your car on the road.
Use Your Windshield Wipers
While this may seem like common sense, some people forget to turn on their windshield wipers in light rain. Most cars’ windshield wiper speed is adjustable to clear moisture from the glass in a light mist or in a heavy downpour. There are also several products available that can be sprayed or wiped onto the glass and claim to defer the collection of rainwater.
Slow Down
Reduced speed is imperative in rainy weather. Not only should you adhere to the posted speed limit when driving in wet weather conditions, you should drive considerably slower than you normally would. Wet roads are very dangerous and your vehicle’s reaction time is much slower when it is raining.
Maintain a Safe Distance Between Cars and Avoid Heavy Braking
Keep a greater distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you. Stopping your vehicle will be more difficult when driving in the rain, especially if you have low tread tires. Maintain a distance of several car lengths between your car and other vehicles.
Try to slow your vehicle by taking your foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally would in preparation to slow down or stop. Don’t use cruise control so your attention on using both the gas and brake are in tune.
Watch Out For Standing Water
Driving through standing water can cause hydroplaning to occur. Which is when you lose traction and skid across the surface of the road. To avoid hydroplaning, drive around places where water has collected by changing lanes or safely steering around such areas.
Let Off The Gas When Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is one of the most common causes of car accidents in the rain because drivers can lose control. If your car hydroplanes, calmly take your foot off of the accelerator and steer in the direction that the front of your car needs to go. Avoid making sudden turns or slamming on your brakes.
Ventilate Your Car
Rain causes humidity levels to increase. You may find that your vehicle’s windows become foggy when you operate your vehicle while it is raining. Most cars’ ventilation systems include a function that will work to reduce this type of fog that develops on the interior of your windows and windshield. It may be necessary to pull over if you are no longer able to see through your windows.
Staying safe while driving in the rain is simple if you make a conscious effort to employ these safety precautions. Remember that reducing your speed and turning on your lights are two of the simplest and most effective ways of reducing the chances of an accident caused by wet weather.
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Online Resources
Continued Physical Activity Support
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New River CTC does not discriminate in its educational programs or in admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, veteran or military status, disability, or genetic information or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal or state laws. The following office has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the College’s non-discrimination policies relating to disabilities, sex or other forms of discrimination: Peter Hoeman, Interim Dean of Student Affairs, 304-929-5027.
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