BSC to offer classes in Wisconsin through partnership with Fox Valley Technical College

Bismarck State College will begin offering classes in power plant technology and process plant technology to students in Wisconsin this fall through a partnership with Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton.

BSC and Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) recently formed the partnership to help meet the needs of high-demand energy careers in Wisconsin and upper Michigan.

Courses from BSC will be offered online, says Bruce Emmil, associate vice president for energy technology programs at BSC. "Fox Valley faculty will teach some courses, such as math and electricity, that are part of their curriculum in other programs."

BSC President Larry Skogen says this partnership addresses BSC's strategic plan and the goal to develop national and international partnerships. "We are developing these kinds of partnerships to increase the student population, and also to work more efficiently in meeting industry's workforce needs," he said.

For more details, see the news release at bismarckstate.edu/news/spotlight/.

Basin Electric and BSC begin new partnership

Basin Electric and BSC have joined in a new partnership called the "Grow Your Own" Program. Facing a significant amount of retirements in the next five to 10 years, Basin Electric knew it was time to take its recruiting efforts to the next level. The cooperative looked no further than its already-thriving relationship with BSC.

Starting this fall, students who enroll in the Power Plant Technology Associate Degree program will have the opportunity to apply for internships at Basin Electric's three power plants. Upon completion of the internships and the program, students may be offered a laborer position. If offered a full-time position, 50 percent tuition will be reimbursed according to established guidelines. Read Basin Electric's news release at bismarckstate.edu/news/spotlight/.

Phi Beta Lambda chapter earns national awards

The BSC chapter of Phi Beta Lambda won the Hollis and Kitty Guy Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit at the National Leadership Conference and Competition in Atlanta in late June.

The Hollis and Kitty Guy Award recognizes outstanding local chapters that have actively participated in projects and programs identified with the goals of PBL, a business student organization for college students.

This is the third time BSC students have competed at the national level and their first time winning the Guy award.

BSC students LeAnne Gustafson of Devils Lake and Mathias Gieser of Mandan won fourth place in Web Development and Design. T.C. Cermack of Bismarck won eighth place in Human Resource Management.

The Mountain-Plains Region recognized Lynette Borjeson Painter, BSC associate professor of computer information systems, as Outstanding Local Adviser - North Dakota.

Yvonne Peters, BSC assistant professor of computer information systems, accompanied the students to Atlanta. Tia Wegner of Bismarck also competed at the national competition.

ETST program plays role in Example of Excellence

BSC's Electrical Transmission Systems Technology (ETST) program played a role in the recent awarding of an industry Example of Excellence. NERC recognized Western Area Power Administration's system operator development program, which uses BSC's online program.

NERC is the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, a non-profit corporation that works to ensure the reliability and adequacy of bulk power supply in the electric utility systems of North America.

In 2004, Western's Upper Great Plains Region (UGPR) recognized a need for a cost-effective process to recruit and train new system operators in preparation for future vacancies because of its aging operations staff. In reviewing training resources, UGPR recognized the ETST program at BSC as an excellent resource to focus on the needs of its certified system operators and to provide entry-level personnel the required academic structure to develop as system operators.

Through an arrangement with BSC, UGPR developed and implemented two system operator development pilot programs: one to identify and train BSC students for system operator positions while working as temporary employees, and another to allow current employees to train as prospective system operators while continuing to perform their regular duties.

Dan Schmidt, energy technology programs manager, said that the BSC employees involved in the ETST program at BSC are very excited that Western has been recognized by NERC for their foresight in creating and implementing this Aspiring Dispatcher Program.

"Western has allowed us to collaborate with them to innovatively work toward a solution to a problem. We appreciate the opportunity," Schmidt said.

System operators coordinate the flow of power across North America. BSC was approached by industry to develop this program to meet critical workforce needs. The program, which began in 2003, was funded with grants from the National Science Foundation, N.D. State Board of Higher Education, and a Department of Labor congressionally designated appropriation.

Click here to read the Example of Excellence article.

Employee tour of NECE set for Aug. 20

A tour for employees of the National Energy Center of Excellence is scheduled at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. Gather in the reception area on the 3rd floor (north entry) for the tour.

A friendly reminder that the pronunciation of NECE is to say each letter individually: N-E-C-E (not neecee!)

Dedication and open house for the public of the NECE will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29.

The other new building dedication, at Lidstrom Hall, takes place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21. President Emeritus Dr. Kermit Lidstrom will be the honored guest and will give brief remarks before the ribbon cutting.

BSC welcomes new employees Debra Sandness, bookstore assistant, managed Wild Things Gallery in Bismarck for 17 years, the past three years as owner. Sandness has an AAS degree in parks and recreation from Minot State University-Bottineau. She worked as a park ranger in the North Dakota parks system for eight years. Sandness grew up in LaMoure. She and husband Greg have two grown sons, Seth and Zak.
Custodian Jay Saner works in the Technical Center. He has an AAS degree in auto collision from Treasure Valley Community College, Ontario, Ore., and worked for several shops. He also took classes at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale. Saner did custodial work for the Bismarck Public Schools. He grew up in Nebraska and Idaho and is married to Angelia.
Zak Allen returns to BSC as energy technology programs project manager. He spent the past two years in the Denver area at the Western Area Power Administration teaching and developing curriculum at its Electric Power Training Center. Allen helped establish the Electrical Transmission Systems Technology program at BSC and created simulations and the WebLab Power Grid for online instruction. He and his wife Jaclyn, a BSC adjunct English instructor, are expecting their first child in October.
Claire Jorgensen, student records office assistant, graduated with a BS degree in business administration from Valley City State University in 2006. The college then hired her to do accounting and reception work in the business office. Jorgensen is from rural McClusky and enjoys her dog, Roper, and helping on the family farm.
Heide Delorme, BSC Foundation programs coordinator, has a BS in accounting from Minnesota State University-Moorhead. Delorme spent the past 15 years in Fargo working as an accountant for DMS Health Group; Tharaldson Enterprises, a hotel management business; and Asplin Excavating. She and husband Gary have two daughters, Hayley, 10, and Madison, 7, and are registered foster parents. Delorme grew up in Dilworth, Minn.

BSC has strong presence in Capitol Shakespeare festival

BSC associate professor of theatre/speech Dan Rogers and BSC students and former students were among those performing in the city's first Capitol Shakespeare outdoor festival. "Twelfth Night" was presented July 17-20 on the Capitol grounds. Other BSC student actors not pictured were Matt Manders and Greg Frank.

Click here to view photos by itinerant photographer Michael McCormack. (Identifications from left to right.)

McCormack on editorial board of award-winning publication

The "2007-2009 North Dakota Blue Book" recently received the Notable Documents Award in the Citizen's Guide category from the Legislative Research Librarians section of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Michael McCormack, professor of history, is one of several North Dakotans who serve on the editorial board of the Blue Book. The theme of the current Blue Book is "Progressive North Dakota in the 21st Century." McCormack wrote, "Though I've edited the Blue Book for years, this is the first time our state volume got the top award."

BSC employee and alum featured in ND Business Report

Justin Forde, fund development coordinator, is one of four North Dakotans featured in an article about the North Dakota Young Professionals (NDYP) in the August issue of ND Business Report magazine. In the article, Forde, the outgoing chairman of the NDYP network, says that he gained leadership experience by being involved with starting the network in Fargo. He said he believes that many of the leaders in the YP and NDYP will be the ones we see as leaders in our state and local communities.

Pictured on the magazine cover is Catherine Dalzell, '04 and '05 BSC graduate, the current NDYP coordinator.

The article cites North Dakota as one of the first states to have a statewide network, and says other states are starting networks.

Read the full article at www.ndyp.net.

Faculty and Staff News

Dr. Janelle Masters, dean of academic affairs, traveled to Pravets, Bulgaria, to meet with teachers to discuss the BSC Campus Read book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, and explore the parallels between Native Americans here and the Roma people there. Students in Pravets have been reading and discussing our Campus Read for three years. She also met with school and college officials about their students taking classes from BSC. They are interested in our computer, criminal justice, energy and English classes. The trip took place June 30-July 11.

Erik M. Cutler, multicultural program coordinator, was elected chair of the N.D. University System Diversity Council for 2008-09. Cutler says the council is in discussions of BSC hosting the NDUS Diversity Conference in 2010.

Three Computer Information Systems faculty members recently presented a feature session titled "Using CamtasiaŠ Online Student Learning" at the N.D. Career and Technical Education 38th Annual Professional Development Conference in Bismarck Aug. 4-6. Those presenting were Lynette Borjeson Painter, Amy Helgeson and Matt Frohlich.

Lynette Borjeson Painter, associate professor of computer information systems, was appointed secretary for the N.D. Business and Office Education Association on Aug. 6. She is completing a vacated elected position that ends in 2011. The association's meeting took place in conjunction with the N.D. Career and Technical Education Conference.

Bill Walz and Dan Schmidt, energy technology programs managers, and Wade Vogel, assistant professor of energy technology programs, traveled to Nashville June 15-19 for the Fuel Ethanol Workshop.

Presenting at the Honeywell Users Conference in Phoenix June 15-20 were Jay Meier, director of counseling and career services, and Wes Braun, assistant professor of energy technology programs. The presentation was titled "Where Will You Find Your Future Honeywell Operators/Technicians?"

Bonnie Weisz, testing and assessment coordinator, traveled to Iowa City, Iowa, June 16-18 for the ACT Midwest State Regional Meeting.

Alicia Berger, technology programs training manager, and Bill Walz, energy technology programs manager, traveled to Charleston, S.C., for the Western Utilities Training Advisory Board Meeting June 16-19.

Dr. Jane Schulz, associate vice president for academic affairs, traveled to Princeton, N.J., June 17-25 for the National Institute on the Assessment of Experiential Learning and Forum on Assessing Adult Learning at a Distance.

Dave Clark, executive vice president, attended the Central Association of Colleges and University Business Officers (CACUBO) Board Meeting in Williamsburg, Va., June. 19-21. Clark also attended the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) Board Meeting and Annual Meeting in Chicago July 10-15.

Yvonne Peters, assistant professor of computer information systems, accompanied students to the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Ga., June 20-25.

Diane Eichhorst, music instructor, traveled to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul June 22-28 for the Summer Music Institute.

Sean Thorenson, assistant professor of commercial art, attended the Skills USA National Conference in Kansas City June 22-29.

Dan Schmidt, energy technology program manager, attended the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (ISO) Trainers Conference in Minneapolis June 24-26.

Karen Bauer, English/journalism instructor and Mystician advisor, attended the First Amendment Institute (College Media Advisors Workshop) in Nashville June 25-29.

Bill Walz, energy technology programs manager, visited the South Texas Project Nuclear Facility and Wharton Community College in Houston July 6-8.