Vol. 7, Issue No. 15
August 12, 2019
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.
Inspiration for today

Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager."

– Susan Sontag

Reminder:
August 14, 2019
FACULTY AND STAFF INSTITUTE
RALEIGH COUNTY CAMPUS
As you talk to students leading up to Faculty and Staff Institute, please let them know that our offices will be closed on August 14.
We look forward to seeing you there!
WV Invests update
Since the WV Invests application opened in May into Wednesday, August 7, 430 people have indicated an interest in attending New River Community and Technical College on their grant application. As of Wednesday afternoon, 70 of the applicants qualify for the WV Invests Grant. Students are reviewed on a weekly basis, contacted and reminded of the need to complete the financial aid process in order to be considered for WV Invest.
 
Because WV Invests is a last-dollar-in program, it will pay for the total cost of tuition and fees that isn’t already covered by other grants or scholarships. (For example: Pell, SEOG, PROMISE, WV Higher Education Grant, HEAPS Part-time Grant, HEAPS Workforce, and institutional tuition waivers are subtracted first.) Pell Grant and West Virginia Higher Education Grant eligibility is determined based on income/estimated family contribution, so many students in our region qualify for free tuition already through an existing grant program.

Other factors also have an effect on eligibility, such as program of interest. Not all programs offered at New River CTC qualify for WV Invests funding. Approved programs are listed online at http://wvinvests.org/find-a-program/ and the CAS in Technical Office Procedures and Skills has recently been added to the approved programs list for New River CTC. In addition, those who have already attempted 90 college credit hours, or have earned an associate or bachelor’s degree are not eligible. Other initial eligibility requirements include:

  • Applicants must be a legal resident of West Virginia for at least 1 year immediately before applying
  • Applicants must be a graduate of a public, private or homeschool program, or have successfully passed a high school equivalency test
  • Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://fafsa.ed.gov
  • Applicants must complete the WV Invest application online at http://wvinvests.org/apply/
  • Applicants must complete all requirements for federal/state financial aid.


New River CTC students receiving funding through the WV Invests Grant will also have to meet the minimum admissions requirements at New River CTC, register for at least 6 credit hours, complete 2 hours of unpaid community service each term, pay for and pass a drug screening by August 18 to be eligible for the fall 2019 semester, and make a commitment to stay in the state of West Virginia for at least 2 years after graduation. If a student graduates and moves out of state before the 2 year residency requirement, they are required to pay back the WV Invests Grant plus any interest and fees.

Additional details on the program can be found on http://wvinvests.org/faq/.
From Academic Affairs
Deadline: August 23, 2019
Faculty and adjunct instructors, please submit your Fall 2019 syllabi electronically to Tamara Rahal ( trahal@newriver.edu ) by August 23.  
New River CTC data governance efforts recognized
CLICK HERE to read a recent publication on the Tambellini Group website that summarizes our recent data governance efforts. 
Around campus and in our communities
New concrete floors
at the Greenbrier
Valley Campus!
Our maintenance team has been hard at work sprucing up the Nicholas County Campus before the start of fall classes.
Nicholas County Campus Job Fair
About 19 businesses and 126 participants came to the Job Fair at the Nicholas County Campus in July. The College made industry connections and four attendees completed inquiry cards.
From the Office of Communications
Maybe you've noticed a different look on College flyers and promotional material, along with the header on this newsletter. The Office of Communications is working to update College promotional materials, and you'll find the new flyers, handouts, and fact sheets on the Office of Communications page on our website. Also, updated program fact sheets can be found on specific program pages of the website.

On the new documents, you'll see the use of blue and green along with complimentary colors. You'll also notice that we're moving away from the use of the wave, and we have new Publisher templates available for you on the Office of Communications page too. If you have old versions saved on your computer, please replace them with the new versions.

As you review materials in your area, be sure:
  • Web links are up-to-date. With the launch of the new website last year, urls for pages changed. Be sure that your documents have current web addresses on them.
  • Contacts. If you have a document containing specific contacts, please check that names and titles are up-to-date. For example, Peter Hoeman should be listed as the contact on the Colleges non-discrimination statement,.
  • Statement on accreditation. The HLC updated the phrasing used regarding accreditation. The current phrasing should be: New River Community and Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Thank you!
Defensive Driving: Back to School
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 August 2019, Fleet is providing information on back to school safety.

School days bring traffic congestion. School bus drivers are picking up passengers, kids on bikes are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, and rushed parents are trying to drop off their children before work. It is never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when students are present, especially before and after school.

Dropping off / picking up students
Schools often have very specific drop-off procedures for the school year. Make sure you know them for everyone’s safety. The following apply to ALL school zones:
  • Do not double-park; it blocks visibility for children and other vehicles.
  • Do not load or unload children across the street from a school.
  • Carpool, when possible, to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.

Sharing the road with young pedestrians
According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in school bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years of age, and they're walking. They are either hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus. A few precautions can help prevent these types of tragic accidents:
  • Do not block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.
  • When flashers are blinking in a school zone, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
  • Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.
  • Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
  • Don't honk or “rev up” your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right-of-way.
  • Never pass a vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians.
  • Always use extreme caution and pay attention to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right-of-way.

Sharing the road with school buses
If you're driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. This will give you more time to stop once the yellow lights start flashing. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load/unload children.
  • Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you're on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children.
  • If the yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic MUST STOP.
  • The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.
  • Be alert at all times. Children can be unpredictable; they tend to ignore hazards and often don’t consider risks.

Sharing the road with bicyclists
On most roads, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles, but bikes can be harder to see sometimes. Children riding bikes create special problems for drivers because they are usually not able to properly determine traffic conditions. The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist. Remember these safety rules:
  • When passing a bicycle, proceed in the same direction slowly, and leave 3 feet between your car and the cyclist.
  • When turning left and a bicyclist is approaching in the opposite direction, wait for the rider to pass.
  • If you're turning right and a bicyclist is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first; always use your turn signals.
  • Watch for riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling; children especially have a tendency to not signal.
  • Be extra vigilant in school zones and residential neighborhoods.
  • Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars.
  • Check side mirrors before opening your door.
Watch the video for more information on this month’s topic:

Active SWV July Programs
New River Community and Technical College | www.newriver.edu
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, Director of Student Success, 304-929-5027.