Barton Community College trustees on Thursday approved certificate programs for Occupational and Safety Health Administration courses taught at BCC’s Grandview Plaza facility and elsewhere.
Bill Nash, dean of Fort Riley Technical Education & Military Outreach Training, explained the requirements for Certified Safety and Health Official certification and Specialist in Safety and Health certification in general industry and in construction.
Barton has been a host site for OSHA classes for more than a decade, but in 2012 it  was designated as an official regional training institute. Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman said the certificate programs are the next logical step for the college, which works with the Kansas Board of Regents.
The board also approved a management staff contract for Marsha Hogan as director of Fort Leavenworth Learning Services. Other new employees approved were: Robert Wooster, Carpenter I, and Scott Beahm, Shafer Gallery Associate, both at the Barton County campus; and Emily Harper, academic adviser, and Susanne Gentry, customer service representative, both at Fort Riley.
There was also a 20-minute executive session for discussion of personnel. Trustees then attended the ribbon cutting and open house of the remodeled Fine Arts Auditorium.
In a monitoring report on academic advancement, Dr. Penny Quinn, vice president of instruction and student services, noted Barton has 60 trained advisers that advise approximately 3,000 students degree- or certificate-seeking students at Barton County and Fort Riley. There are another 2,500 students listed as non-degree seeking, but at least half of them also request adviser assistance at some time.