Opening of facilities marks start of 72nd academic year
Bismarck State College begins its 72nd academic year on Tuesday, Aug. 24, with the opening of a new building and a newly remodeled residence hall.
The new Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy on College Drive is a shared facility between BPS and BSC. The building is ready, said Bob Kuntz, chief buildings and grounds officer. "Odds and ends of work will be going on, but nothing to stop the classes from being held," said Kuntz.
BSC technical programs in the new 93,000 sq. ft structure are Agriculture, Technology and Natural Resources; Electronics/Telecommunications Technology; Instrumentation & Control Technology, and Graphic Design and Communications.
Public school students begin classes Thursday, Aug. 26, and on that day, there could be potentially 600 additional high school students attending classes in the Career Academy and the Technical Center. In recent years, about 400 high school students attended classes in the Technical Center.
Mystic Hall, the newest residence hall at the southeast corner of Edwards Avenue and Schafer Street, will provide new living space for 30 students. Built in 1979, it was originally student apartments, but later was used for office space. An open house for the campus is scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19.
BSC approved to offer online degrees to Coast Guard
Bismarck State College was recently approved to provide online education to military personnel serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, including active duty, reservists and civilians. BSC will provide instruction in five online National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE) programs and in criminal justice as an approved Servicemembers Opportunity College. The NECE programs that are part of the agreement are Power Plant, Process Plant, Electric Power, Electrical Transmission Systems, and Nuclear Power technologies.
The agreement with the Coast Guard is similar to partnerships BSC has had with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army since 2009. BSC is part of the Navy College Program Distance Learning Partnership, which allows Navy and Marine personnel to enroll in BSC's online NECE programs leading to an associate in applied science degree (AAS), or the online Criminal Justice program leading to an AAS.
A similar partnership is in place with the Army for BSC to provide the AAS degree in Power Plant Technology.
Kari Knudson, vice president, NECE, and Bruce Emmil, associate vice president, NECE, presented information about BSC's online offerings and expertise to the Coast Guard Institute in Oklahoma City in April.
"We were pleased to be selected by the Coast Guard to offer BSC's online energy programs and the criminal justice program," said Knudson. "It is an honor to support the educational needs of the Coast Guard."
Family of first BSC dean to donate personal papers
While new students spend Tuesday, Aug. 24, becoming familiar with the campus, an event at 10 a.m. will recall an earlier time when the college was brand new.
Personal papers of the college's first dean, Dr. Walter J. Swensen, will be given to the college at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the BSC Library. BSC President Larry C. Skogen will accept the papers on behalf of the college from Norma (Swensen) Groethe, a daughter of Dr. Swensen. The campus is invited to attend the brief presentation and a reception afterwards.
The personal papers are specifically related to the founding and early years of the college. Mrs. Groethe is a 1943 graduate of BSC, and also worked for a time as her father's administrative assistant. A resident of Minneapolis, she will be accompanied by her son, Mark Groethe.
The papers, which are bound into a book, document the earliest board and administration meetings, faculty, class schedules, students, and college events. Mr. Groethe wrote that there are many photographs and newspaper clippings included that directly relate to the college, the staff, and the students. The papers will be housed in the BSC Archives in the Library.
Carolyn Twingley, archives librarian, said these personal papers could include some of the early records that she and others working on BSC's history and archives collection have been unable to locate.
Dr. Swensen, for whom Swensen Hall is named, was born in Jackson, Minn. He became the college's first dean, or chief administrator, in 1939, the year Bismarck Junior College was established. He also taught American history, orientation, history of England, and an evening psychology class for local teachers. He held a doctorate in psychology and economics from the University of North Dakota.
During his nine years as dean, enrollment grew from 71 students to 216 students in the fall of 1947.
BSC welcomes new staff members
Eric Smith, BSC's new financial aid associate, brings plenty of experience to the job. He worked with privately funded education loans through Firstmark Services in Woodbury, Minn., and was a financial aid counselor for Regency Beauty Institute in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Eric is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He is originally from Holcombe, Wis., and plans to be married in October. His hobbies include walking, biking and enjoying the outdoors.
Kelli Hoffman is the new face in the BSC snack bar. She came to BSC after a year of working for Chartwell's, the University of Mary's food services. Before that she worked as a press operator at Richtman's Printing. Kelli, whose hometown is Forbes, is a graduate of NDSCS in Wahpeton with a graphic arts degree. She enjoys camping and scrapbooking in her spare time and she and her husband, Scott, have two sons who are eight and 14.
Derek Miller began a new-to-BSC position July 26 as degree audit coordinator. He will oversee an academic advisement module that allows students to see graduation requirements for their programs online. Derek was self-employed as an equity analyst before starting at BSC and received a bachelor of arts degree in economics from UND in 2005 and an MBA from NDSU in 2009. He enjoys family and outdoor activities as well as reading and games. Derek and his wife, Tera, have a one-year-old son.
Arlan Dykema is the new custodian at the Student Union. Before starting at BSC, he worked in a custodial position for the University of Mary for seven years and for Office Depot in stocking and inventory for four years. He received a degree from Interstate Business College in computer information systems. Arlan is a Strasburg native and he and his wife, Darcy, have a daughter who will be a high school freshman this year. He plays softball in the summer and enjoys following sports on television.
Jane Schreck selected to work on state education standards
Jane M. Schreck, associate professor of English, was selected as one of the representatives from higher education to work with committees of K-12 educators, comparing and evaluating the state's education standards in reading and writing with those of the proposed common core state standards. Schreck was part of the committee working with standards for grades 9-12. At the same time, K-12 educators were working with the state standards on math education.
The group met for five days this summer to write a draft of recommendations on state standards. This draft should be available for review in September, with comments from the public encouraged. The North Dakota Department of Public Instruction is coordinating the project.
Kari Bitz is president elect for counselors' association
Admissions Counselor Kari Bitz was elected president-elect of the Dakota Association for College Admissions Counselors (DACAC) at the Midwest Region Association for College Admissions in Minneapolis in May. During this conference each of the five states had their individual state meetings.
Jerry Tuhy honored for 40 years in education
Jerry Tuhy, BSC farm management instructor at Dickinson, was honored at the North Dakota Agricultural Educators banquet in August for having served as an agricultural educator for 40 years.
Employee Professional Development News
Martin Nielsen, OSHA safety and health consultant, instructed the Consultation Safety Assessment Training in Atlanta June 13-18. He also attended the Consultation 1500 Workgroup Conference in Arlington Heights, Ill., July 5-9.
Vance Vesey, assistant professor of Instrumentation & Control Technology, traveled to Bellingham, Wash., June 22-26 for the Best Practices in Instrumentation Conference.
Alicia Berger, training and partnership manager, NECE, and Bruce Emmil, associate vice president, NECE, traveled to Tucson July 20-22 for a meeting with Trico Electric to give a presentation on BSC energy programs.
Alicia Berger, training and partnership manager, NECE, attended the 2010 Field Tech Employee Meeting in Orlando July 26-28.
Earl Torgerson, associate professor of carpentry, attended the Southeast Green Building Show and Business Seminar in Orlando, July 20-26.
Carla Braun Hixson, associate vice president of CETI, attended the National Council for Continuing Education and Training Board Meeting in Baltimore July 21-23.
Deb Sandness, merchandise associate, traveled to Boston July 22-25 for the Xtreme Program Hands-on Learning Experience for College Stores.
Dave Clark, executive vice president, and Tamara Barber, associate vice president for finance and operations, attended the National Association for College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) 2010 Annual Meeting in San Francisco July 22-27.
Daniel Schmidt, program manager, NECE, attended the Western Electricity Coordinating Council Vendor Show in San Diego July 29-30.
Carmel Miller, associate professor of ATNR, attended the Ag Careers Roundtable in Minneapolis Aug. 2-3.
Jacklyne Carlson and JoDean Knutson-Person, assistant professors of chemistry, attended the 21st Biennial Conference on Chemical Education in Denton, Texas, July 31-Aug. 6.
Joshua Hocker, OSHA safety and health consultant, traveled to Arlington Heights, Ill., Aug. 2-13 for the Introduction to Safety Standards for Safety Officers Seminar.
Joan Kleven, marketing and advising manager, NECE, and Wade Vogel, program manager, NECE, represented BSC at the Millington Navy Education Fair in Memphis Aug. 3-6.
Arlene Gray, music lecturer, traveled to Austin, Texas, Aug. 5-7 for the National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum.
Reynold Miller, assistant professor, NECE, and Bill Walz, instructor, NECE, attended the Grid-Direct Solar Electric Lab Week in Paonia, Colo., Aug. 8-14.
Albert Koch, OSHA consultation program manager, traveled to Denver Aug. 9-11 for the OSHA Region VIII Managers Planning Meeting.
Amanda Miller, distance learning and military affairs coordinator, represented BSC at the Great Lakes Naval Station Education Fair in Chicago Aug. 10-12.
E-Mail:Jordis Conrad, Director of Communications, Or Call:
701-224-5699
