This weekend, dozens of volunteer faculty, staff, and students, organized by Communication professor Karen Johnson, helped with the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association Tournament held at Vol State. Students from eleven colleges and universities across Tennessee took part in the competition. There were a variety of team and individual events, including parliamentary debate, which I helped to judge. The two topics I covered included whether Presidential pardon power should be removed and if the Federal Trade Commission should regulate Presidential advertising to follow truth in advertising standards. Students argued in two-person teams with one side representing the government and the other side the opposition. It was impressive to see the students put together thoughtful and cogent arguments.
Monday, February 24, 2020
Career Exploration Event
Vol State hosted hundreds of Sumner County
middle school students Friday for a Career Exploration Day in the Pickel Field House
on the Gallatin campus. Companies and institutions from all over the area sent
representatives to talk to students about possible careers. Students also had the
opportunity to talk to higher education educators in Health Sciences, Social
Science and Education, Math and Science, Humanities, and Business and
Technology to help the students understand the links between careers and school
course requirements. The event is a
partnership of Sumner County Schools and the area P-16 Council, an educational
group made up of school and college leaders and industry representatives from
across the North Central Tennessee region.
Criminal Justice High School Competition
Nearly 100 High school students from across the area
processed a mock crime scene, conducted practice traffic stops, participated in
mock court arguments, and responded to a simulated domestic situation recently
as part of a Criminal Justice Competition at Vol State. Students from Nashville, Hendersonville, and Gallatin competed.
Judges included police officers, emergency managers, and prosecutors. Awards for the winners were presented in a
ceremony at the end of the day. Vol State director of Criminal Justice, Bradley
Tracy, thanked the 35 law enforcement and judicial volunteers who made the
event possible, and the Vol State Criminal Justice students who ran many of the
events.
Vol State in the News
Vol State is partnering with Robertson County Schools for new dual enrollment classes focused on computer programming. It's part of a grant project with the Greater Nashville Technology Council. The Robertson Connection has the story.
The Foundation Educate A Woman luncheon fundraiser is coming up soon. The Hendersonville Standard has this story on the headliner.
Long-time Vol State Music professor, James Story, is keeping busy in retirement. His new project called "New World Spirituals" debuted at the Palace Theater in Gallatin this weekend.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
New Feed Location in the Wood Campus Center
The new Feed is in room 102 of the Wood Campus Center. There will be an open house next week, February 25, from 11am to 3pm.
New Business and Technology Suite
Monday, February 17, 2020
Dr. Seuss Book Drive
Dr. Seuss Book Drive: To Celebrate the Birthday of Dr. Seuss & support the efforts of Read Across America. Vol State faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to donate children's books from February 17th-March 2nd. Drop off boxes are located inside the following buildings: Wood, SRB (2nd floor), Ramer, Pickel, Thigpen Library and Caudill Hall.
Please Remind Pre-Nursing Students
The
Vol State RN Nursing A.A.S. Degree Program is offering information
sessions over the next few months for students who are interested in
applying for the next class, which starts in June 2020. The sessions
will be held on the Vol State campus locations in Gallatin, Livingston, Springfield, and Cookeville. Nursing program classes are held in Gallatin and
Livingston.
The application to apply will be available in March and be due in May. There are general education classes required to be taken before application. The program is competitive and there are GPA requirements. The students most likely ready to apply for the summer start are current pre-nursing students. However, everyone is welcome to attend the info meetings.
For the dates, times, and locations of the meetings please visit www.volstate.edu/nursingaas
The application to apply will be available in March and be due in May. There are general education classes required to be taken before application. The program is competitive and there are GPA requirements. The students most likely ready to apply for the summer start are current pre-nursing students. However, everyone is welcome to attend the info meetings.
For the dates, times, and locations of the meetings please visit www.volstate.edu/nursingaas
Monday, February 10, 2020
Belmont Business School Agreement Signed
Belmont University and Vol State signed a new partnership
recently that allows Vol State associate degree students the opportunity to
earn a Bachelor’s of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from Belmont’s Jack
C. Massey College of Business. Eligible students must earn a Vol State Associate of Science
Degree in a business program by completing the transfer coursework
developed and approved by both institutions. Through this agreement, Vol State
students who meet stated requirements can be granted early admittance into Belmont’s
Massey College of Business.
The degree completion program is open to any Vol State
student pursuing an associate’s degree in accounting, business administration,
information systems, finance, management or marketing who successfully
completes 24 credit hours with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students applying for
need-based aid or VA benefits as well as adult students seeking reduced tuition
options are all eligible for this program. In addition, a transfer scholarship
has been created to support students pursuing the 2-to-4 year Vol State/Belmont
option. The scholarship, open to Vol State Associate Degree in Business
graduates who meet GPA qualifications, has a value of $3,000 per semester for
four semesters of continuous study at Belmont.
Vol State Pick-Up Location for Tennessee Tree Day
Tennessee residents are invited to beautify their properties and
their communities by planting trees on Tennessee Tree Day, March 21, 2020. The
initiative is providing a variety of tree species for sale. Trees are available
to reserve for a $2.49 donation or $4.99 per tree, depending on species, now
through March 1 or while supplies last. One of the pick-up locations will be
the Volunteer State Community College campus at 1480 Nashville Pike in
Gallatin. Visit the event website at www.tectn.org/TennesseeTreeDay for a list of participating tree pick-up
locations statewide.
More than sixty trees are classified and listed as a
certified arboretum at the Vol State Gallatin campus. An arboretum is a collection of trees that have
been identified and listed for nature exploration and scientific study. The
Tennessee Urban Forestry Council has certified the campus as a Level II
Arboretum. It is named for former Vol State Chemistry professor, Parris Powers.
Monday, February 3, 2020
Lady Pioneers Basketball on Channel 4
The Lady Pioneers basketball team was featured on the WSMV Channel 4 morning news on Friday. Great job by Coach Key and the players. Here's a link to the segments: https://www.wsmv.com/news/big_joe/
1989 Graduate Returns to the Classroom
Jeff Roberts was an undecided major when he came to Vol
State as a student in the 1980s. He soon found an interest in history and
political science. He admits that his grades were not the best in the early years
of his education. However, with persistence and much hard work he became a
practicing attorney. Now he’s back at Vol State and this time he will be at the
front of the classroom.
“I always thought about coming back to teach,” he said. “After
20 years practicing law I finally feel competent to teach an Intro to Law
class. I’m at the point in my life when I can give back.”
Roberts has his own personal injury law practice in
Nashville. He said that being a community college student was good experience
for his path to the courtroom.
“Going to Vol State and working at the same time really set
me apart from the other students. When I got to MTSU, juggling school and work
was part of who I was. At Nashville School of Law I was working 40 hours a week
and going to law school at night.”
Roberts isn’t the only lawyer teaching at Vol State.
Criminal Justice Director, Bradley Tracy, also a lawyer, recruited Roberts. Adjunct Bill Sorrells is not only a
lawyer, but also assistant chief in the Gallatin Police Department.
“I came to Bill’s class last year as a guest speaker. I
guess that’s when the bug bit me.”
Roberts is also recruiting professionals to talk to his
Intro to Law students this semester, including some big names. He recently had
a class Facetime appearance by former FBI agent James Freeman, who led the law
enforcement task force that caught the Unabomber in the 1990s.
Graduates often remember the moment where things began to
click for them in college; the revelation that learning is actually enjoyable
and the valuable lessons that could be used for a career.
“Dr. Bob Ruff was the first instructor to teach me to think
critically.”
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