Dr. Sharon L. Blackman
Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had an enjoyable and restful holiday break. The holiday season is a time that we enjoy being with family and friends. During this season we give gifts to those we care about as a way to say we love and appreciate them. The holiday season also is a time when we give to others we may not know, but want to show that others do care and wish them well. Once again, thank you to all that supported our Student Government Association with the Angel Tree drive.
The holiday season is a time when we are full of joy, which is often expressed through music and song. Our Brookhaven College Chorale and Handbell Ensemble shared their wonderful talents with our community at the close of last semester. Beautiful music was presented that set the tone for the joyful season. It was a wonderful concert that demonstrated the best of collaboration between two of our fine programs in the School of the Arts.
December also brought more celebration with the graduation of the third class from our Nursing Program. Our nursing faculty and staff are to be congratulated for their work on producing another great class of nurses. The students and their families were excited about the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one for the graduates.
The beginning of a new calendar year brings a new spring semester. As we continue our work as a "Success College," we also work to create our vision as being a college that "provides a progressive educational environment enriching the lives of students, employees and our community." The Spring 2008 semester will begin with all first-time-in-college students who place in two or more developmental education areas being required to take human development courses, which are HDEV 1300, Learning Frameworks, or HDEV 1310, Student Success, or a developmental reading course.
Students also will have the opportunity to enroll in several new and continuing learning communities. Students looking for an alternative schedule and interested in realizing their goals in a shorter time frame can enroll in our new Weekend College program. Approximately 70 percent of students indicate when they enroll that they are interested in transferring to a four-year institution. Now, they will be able to reach that goal with another alternative as they fit education into their already busy lives.
The spring semester also will bring the beginning construction for our bond program with the groundbreaking of the science and allied health building. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held in late January or early February. Plans are continuing for the Automotive Technology Program's building expansion with site approval to go before the Farmers Branch City Council in March. Schematic design is continuing with the Workforce and Continuing Education building.
Although we hoped that the cafeteria renovations would be completed by the time classes began this semester, we have experienced a delay and it will not be ready until early February. The delay is due to materials not arriving from overseas as expected. The Follett Bookstore will continue to carry food items until the cafeteria is ready for SUBWAY to begin service.
As you are aware Dr. Claude Caffee retired last year; however, he has generously continued to provide leadership to student services. This semester a search committee will look to choose a replacement for Dr. Caffee. It is expected that I will be able to make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees at the May board meeting for a new vice president of enrollment and student success.
The following staff members and students have agreed to serve on the search committee:
The College Strategic Planning Committee will continue its work this semester. Once again, if you have not taken time to complete the online survey, you have until the end of the month to provide your input.
The Brookhaven Bears men's basketball team will participate in conference playoffs this month. Coach Kevin Hurst would like to see the college support our team and cheer them on to the finals. If you go to the Brookhaven gym, you will be one of the first to sit on the new bleachers.
During the holiday luncheon in December, the Fun Factor Committee members distributed fliers with upcoming events this semester. If you have not participated in one of the Fun Factor activities, I encourage you to do so in the coming semester. It's a great way to spend some time with old friends or make new friends as college employees spend fun time together. Also coming this semester, will be a college picnic. Look for more details to come from the Fun Factor Committee.
On Jan. 18, we will celebrate our colleagues who are being acknowledged for their outstanding work and service to the college and the district. So mark your calendars and come celebrate the accomplishments of these employees at our annual Emerald Awards.
As I close this column, I would like to thank all of those that have helped with our Spring registration, especially those in Advising, Admissions, Scholarships/Financial Aid, Business Office, Multicultural Center, Special Services, Testing Center and Welcome Center. Although our enrollment has been behind from the previous spring semester, all the efforts by our college community have not been in vain. Those students who choose Brookhaven College for their education have made a great choice. Because of you, they will have an exceptional experience.
I wish you an exceptional experience as well!
