Bermuda College Annual Report 2019 - 2020

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ANNUAL REPORT

MANY PATHS.
DISCOVER YOURS. 2019 - 2020
2019-2020 MISSION
Bermuda College is committed to providing its community
with innovative programmes, training, support services and
access to partnerships that lead to local and global success.

2019-2020 VISION
Transforming lives through innovative education.

CORE VALUES
COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS
QUALITY TEACHING
COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYEES
RESPECT, RECOGNITION AND BEING VALUED
COMMITMENT TO HIGH STANDARDS
STABILITY, SECURITY AND SAFETY
RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Many Paths. Discover Yours.

Information contained in this Annual Report is current according to


records on file and verification at the time of printing.

Bermuda College is accredited by the New England Commission of


Higher Education (NECHE).

Inquiries regarding the accreditation status should be directed to the


administrative staff of the institution.

Individuals may also contact:


New England Commission of Higher Education
3 Burlington Woods Drive, Suite 100
Burlington, MA 01803-4514
Tel: (781) 425-7785 Web: www.neche.org
DELIVERING
SUCCESS
CONTENTS
Chairman’s Report 2
President’s Report 3
About Us 4
STRATEGY 1 7
Student Success
STRATEGY 2 23
Campus Culture
STRATEGY 3 23
Human Capital
STRATEGY 4 27
Diversification of
Revenue & Partnerships
STRATEGY 5 31
Infrastructure
STRATEGY 6 35
Branding & Marketing
CHAIRMAN’S As you look through the reports of the next several
pages, you will see for yourselves the remarkable
REPORT achievements that highlight this 2019-2020 Annual
Report, and agree with us, that the future of this
institution remains bright with promise.

Mr. Peter Sousa HIGHLIGHTS


The Board welcomed the official launch of the
Bermuda College Foundation on October 29, 2019
with its tagline, “Investing in Our College, Our
Bermuda, Our Future”, and accepted its operating
priorities.

The Re-brand of the College continued in earnest


with the approval of new colours, logo and tagline,
“Many Paths. Discover Yours”. Similarly, as part of
the Strategic Plan, the Board approved the adoption
of its new Vision Statement: “Transforming lives
through innovative education” and
Mission Statement: “Bermuda College is committed to
providing the community with innovative programmes,
training, support services and access to partnerships
that lead to local and global success.”

Two Honorary Fellows were confirmed for the


Induction Ceremony and Dinner of the Company of
Honorary Fellows in February: Ms. Cheryl-Ann Lister
and Dr. the Honorary E. Grant Gibbons.

The Financial Statements for 2017 were approved.


The first full year of implementing the College’s five-
year Strategic Plan – Vision 2023 “Delivering Success”, The Board Retreat was held in September, and
has shown undeniable progress, underscoring for the included enrolment and funding priorities.
Board and the College community, the prescience of
the College motto, magna mirabilia portendi (“great Terms ended for Mrs. Malika Cartwright, Mr.
and wonderful things are foretold”). The six strategies Bruce Sharpe and Mrs. Kathleen Sharpe Keane,
upon which the Plan is established have all been initi- whose service and contribution to the Board have
ated with the trademark commitment and diligence been exemplary. The Board also welcomed new
of the faculty, support staff and administration of the Board appointees, Mr. Nasir Wade, Deputy Chair,
College, for which the Board expresses its deepest Miss Whitney Butterfield, Mr. F. (Chip) Gillis, and
gratitude. Mr. Jason Hayward.

BERMUDA COLLEGE BOARD OF GOVERNORS


Front Row: Peter Sousa (Chair), Dr. Duranda Greene (President), Mr. Nasir Wade (Deputy Chair)
Middle Row: Miss Whitney Butterfield, Ms. Latifa Smith, Mrs. Delight Morris, Mrs. Romelle Warner, Ms. Cherie Dill
Back Row: Ms. Necheeka Trott, Mr. Christopher Famous, Mr. Jason Hayward, Mr. Randolph Horton J.P., Mr. Jerome Reid, Mr. Romeo Ruddock
Missing from photo: Mr. Frank (Chip) Gillis, Mrs. Valerie Robinson-James, Ms. Kathleen Sharpe Keane

2 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


PRESIDENT’S
REPORT

Dr. Duranda Greene

As we reached the end of this fiscal year, we faced Bermuda College prepared and submitted its 5-year
a pandemic which forced Bermuda College, like other interim report to the New England Commission of
higher education institutions around the world, to Higher Education (NECHE) during this reporting
close its campus and switch to remote learning and period and looks forward to hosting a virtual site
working from home. The unprecedented nature of visit in July. The interim report prepared under the
the Covid-19 pandemic has caused much uncertainty leadership of the VP Academic & Student Affairs,
but there has been little disruption to our students Dr. Phyllis Curtis-Tweed, outlined the progress the
and employees while transitioning to the new learning College has made since it was re-accredited in 2015
and working environments. Although the pandemic is and highlighted the areas of focus for the next five
far from over, I am confident that through the perse- years leading up to its 2025 comprehensive review.
verance, dedication and commitment of the adminis- The report also responded to the areas of emphasis
tration, faculty and staff of Bermuda College, we will as identified by the Commission. Thanks to all of the
fare well. I am indebted to the Senior Leadership employees that assisted in the development of the
Team and the Emergency Management Team for their interim report.
support and assistance in their handling of the pan-
demic to date. The success of our students is always a joy to
chronicle and I invite you, the reader, to note how
This year we have seen the College make extra- wide-ranging and far-reaching their stories are –
ordinary progress on its Strategic Plan, “Vision 2023: through hard-earned awards, scholarships, achieve-
Delivering Success”. In this first full year of under- ments and recognition, setting them solidly on their
taking, it is humbling to see the Plan so fully embraced, path to further academic or career pursuits.
and supported by the various constituent components
of the College community. Each of the six strategies As always I am grateful for the support of the Board,
of the Plan reported development on the Vision for the senior leadership team, senior managers, faculty
2023 – from the establishment of partnerships and and staff for their combined contribution to make this
programmes in allied health professions, marine another successful year for Bermuda College.
science, aquaponics, and other disciplines, to signifi- A warm and sincere, thank you.
cant technology upgrades, the first employee confer-
ence to improve campus culture and the development Great things are indeed foretold!
of our human capital, to infrastructure upgrades and
the introduction of new marketing strategies to sup-
port our new brand – all in all, the College continues
to be an institution of which its community can be
justly proud.

DELIVERING SUCCESS 3
ABOUT US
Bermuda College was re-accredited by the New England Commission of
Higher Education (NECHE) in 2015, and has over 1000 students including
the Division of Professional and Career Education registrations; 674 of
whom are registered in credit courses. There are 39 full-time lecturers.
Bermuda College offers a variety of academic, technical and professional
courses in the following Divisions: Arts & Science; Business Administra-
tion, Hospitality & Technical Education; Nursing and Allied Health and
Professional and Career Education (PACE). Credit programmes lead to
associate degrees, diplomas or certificates, while the College’s partner-
ships with external institutions provide on-Island access to undergraduate
degrees and professional certifications and designations.

Bermuda College embraces the community college philosophy and is


dedicated to offering the highest standards of academic and professional
excellence. It boasts a virtual campus with wireless coverage throughout
the campus.0

HISTORY
The College was created by the Parliament of Bermuda through the
passage of the Bermuda College Act in 1974 with the amalgamation of
three flourishing institutions: the Bermuda Technical Institute, established
in 1956; the Bermuda Hotel & Catering College, established in 1965; and
the Academic Sixth Form Centre, established in 1967.

SIZE OF CAMPUS:
26 acres

DEGREES AND CERTIFICATES GRANTED:


Associate degrees, certificates and diplomas

NUMBER OF FACULTY:
39 full-time lecturers

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE:


15 students

ENROLMENT:
674 students (Academic Divisions)
Over 1000 registrations (Division of PACE)

FOR BERMUDA COLLEGE STRATEGIC PLAN DETAILS VISIT:


https://www.college.bm/index.php/about/bc-governance

Photo above: Class of 2019


VICE PRESIDENT
OF ACADEMIC
AFFAIRS

Dr. Phyllis Curtis Tweed Ph.D.

Those Institutional Effectiveness Task Force Sub-


committees, falling under the remit of the VP/ASA,
completed several 2019-2020 Strategic Plan targets
including:
The Implementation of the co-requisite courses
in Math and English by the Student Success sub-
committee

The development and launch of the Trust and


Empowerment Conference by the Campus Culture
Committee.

The implementation of a revised employee


appraisal process and the development of a
campaign to be launched in Fall 2020 to recruit
Bermudian faculty to Bermuda College.

In addition to these goals, numerous Strategic


This academic year 2019-2020 will ever be remem-
Plan action items were also completed including
bered for the global coronavirus pandemic which
the development of new programmes and external
led to the sudden closure of college campuses and
partnerships.
an immediate shift to remote teaching and learning
all over the world. Bermuda College’s successful
In Spring 2020, the Academic Council approved a
navigation of the sudden switch to remote teaching
Marine Science Programme, which was developed
and learning was a major accomplishment.
by the ASA team in consultation with the Bermuda
Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), the Bermuda
Once again, the spirit of teamwork and collaboration
Aquarium, Museum and Zoo (BAMZ), and Dolphin
soared above all concerns and challenges, unifying
Quest with opportunities for Bermuda College
the community in support of student success. Special
students to engage in programming offered by
thanks and recognition to all ASA team members, to
each entity.
the Institutional Effectiveness Task Force committees,
to our Academic Council and to our faculty and staff
The academic divisions thrived this year, as the
for their work. The Instructional Resource Specialist
following reports indicate. We were pleased to
and Distance Education Committee also ably sup-
welcome Ms. L’Tanya Roberts as the new Dean of
ported faculty to ensure a successful transition to
Business, Hospitality and Technical Education. The
remote teaching and learning.
annual Corange Science Week, as usual, brought all
Divisions together to promote science education
Students accessed tutoring, counselling, and library
with Bermudian forensic scientist, Dr. Desiree Spriggs
services online and were assisted generally via
as the 2019 Corange guest lecturer, and outstanding
phone, email and social media messaging by faculty,
student, Bryanna Bell as the recipient of the Corange
Student Life, the Registrar, the Vice President of
Scholarship.
Academic and Student Affairs and the President.
Students in need were also supplied with equipment,
such as laptops.

The College also temporarily suspended selected aca-


demic regulation/policies, offered grading alternatives
such as pass/fail, and extended deadlines. College
operations proceeded remotely to the degree possible
with Academic Council and the ASA team diligently
continuing their work.

DELIVERING SUCCESS 5
ARTICULATION
AGREEMENTS
& EXTERNAL
PARTNERSHIPS

Coordinator
Dr. Constance Ridley-Smith Ph.D.

BROADER AREAS OF STUDY – DIVERSE LOCATIONS The College signed agreements in Mathematics with
The opportunities for Bermuda College graduates to a concentration in Actuarial Science with St. Francis
take advantage of higher education pathways cover a Xavier University in Antigonish (Nova Scotia), and
broad spectrum of academic disciplines. These path- Dalhousie University (Halifax). These new agreements
ways have become more diverse through the creation grant BC students the option to study these subjects
of articulation agreements in four major jurisdictions: in the USA and in Canada.
the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and
the West Indies, and covering a broad spectrum of Nursing and Allied Health
academic disciplines. Ontario Tech (Toronto, Canada) opened an Allied
Health pathway for Bermuda College students. Both
Ontario Tech and Framingham University (Massachu-
HIGHLIGHTS setts, USA) have opened Bachelor of Science degrees
in Nursing. The College’s nursing partnerships now
New Agreements
spread across Canada, the United Kingdom, and the
The Associate of Science degree in Marine Science
United States.
is the newest programme at Bermuda College, offered
through the Division of Arts and Science. For BC
Online
degree-holders, agreements for earning the Bachelor's
The existing Framingham University agreement was
Degree in Marine Science and related disciplines exist
extended to include an online Master’s degree and
with the University of Rhode Island in Rhode Island;
a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership as
East Carolina University in North Carolina; and at
well as several online options for baccalaureate study.
Flagler College in Florida.
Online options were also extended at Ontario Tech to
include pursuit of Bachelor’s degrees in Allied Health,
Agreements with the New England Institute of Commerce, Adult Education and Early Childhood
Technology were renewed to facilitate progression Education.
from the Associate of Science Degree in Motor Vehicle
Technology to the Bachelor of Science Degree in
Business Management; and from the Associate of
Science Degree in Information Technology to the
Bachelor of Science Degree in Software Engineering
or the Bachelor of Science Degree in Cybersecurity.
Both sets of pathways feature Joint Admission, mean-
ing that when a student enrolls in Bermuda College to
begin the associate's degree, he or she is also jointly
enrolled as a freshman in the New England Institute of
Technology. The student will move seamlessly to the
junior year at NEIT, upon graduation, provided the BC
student meets qualifying conditions, such as having
maintained the requisite grade-point average, .

An agreement was tendered with Millersville


University in Pennsylvania. In addition to plans being
underway for a Bachelor’s Degree in Atlantic World
Studies, the agreement sets forth a variety of coopera-
tive approaches between BC and Millersville, including
the exchange of students, faculty members and
research personnel; development of joint academic
research and international workshops; and the
exchange of scholarly, pedagogical, and publication
rights.

6 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


STUDENT SUCCESS
STRATEGY 1
We will equip and support our students to achieve
their educational and professional goals by offering
dynamic, relevant and varied programmes/courses
that create clear pathways to success.
DIVISION OF
ARTS & SCIENCE

Dean
Tammy Richardson M.Ed.

Student Artist work displayed at End of Year Art Show 2019

An Arts and Science foundation provides students


with an excellent introduction to a broad base of
career interests. Staff and faculty continuously support
a mandate of exposing and challenging new ideologies
and theories, while sharing their knowledge and
expertise, not just in the classroom, but also with the
wider community.

HIGHLIGHTS
Two students from the Environmental Geography
course, Dominique Williams and Daiquin Arorash-Jen-
Nisha Smith
nings attended the Oceans Plastic Leadership Summit
on the cruise ship RCGS Resolute from May 17th – 21st. Twelve Bermuda College students attended the
The programme aims to engage CEOs and executives largest global gathering covering the alternate risk
of large corporations who manufacture plastic con- and Insurance – Linked Securities (ILS) market. This
sumer products to determine how to change the initiative provided scholarships for Bermuda College
products they make so that the amount of plastics students and shadow opportunities in the industry
in the ocean is reduced. Students assisted in the lab, with ILS Bermuda companies. Actuarial Science
processing samples collected from daily trawls, and student Nisha Smith was the overall winner for the
dissected fish to investigate the consumption of plas- ILS Convergence conference essay competition.
tic particles. Dominique and Daiquin presented these Nisha was awarded a $500.00 cheque for her essay
results to local key stakeholders advising them of the on the topic of climate change.
importance of Sargassum seaweed to Bermuda.
Actuarial Science students Atiya Furqan, Nisha
Students from the Climate and Our Future course
Smith and Stefan Wilson were each awarded scholar-
were invited by Greenrock to speak to seniors at the ships to cover tuition, fees and books from Athene
Lifelong Learning Centre on the impacts of climate Holding Ltd and Athene Life Re.
change. Latifa Smith gave a very engaging and
emotional speech which helped to connect and bring
As always, the Division is indebted to its faculty
understanding between these two generations on
for leading by example through the sharing of their
an increasingly relevant topic.
expertise with the wider community. Senior Art
Lecturer Dr. Edwin Smith was part of a symposium
Bermuda College entered 6 team exhibits in the
of local and overseas artists at the Island Games Art
annual Sandcastle Competition at Horseshoe Bay Residency that ran concurrently with the Gibraltar
Beach. Dianni Minors won third place in the open 2019 Island Games.
competition with his rendition of King’s Island at
Castle roads - the fort that put the Spanish to flight.
Art Lecturer Michael Walsh gave a presentation on
Jaqina Furqan, Eve Bottelli, Imani Richardson, Isaiah
his art work and the inspiration behind it.
Camara, Bella Clementino, Marlena Ortega and
Anthony Buckley also created extraordinary sand
sculptures for the competition. Senior Economics lecturer, Craig Simmons taught an
economics class to students in Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana
via Skype, part of a NGO programme to empower
Jordan Deshields, Atiya Furqan, Nisha Smith and
young people through education and sports.
Ken-nie Trott attended the Casualty Actuary Society
Conference on Reinsurance at Southampton Princess
in June 3rd and 4th. The students attended a wide range
of educational sessions discussing the most relevant
issues facing the reinsurance industry. They learned
multiple strategies on how to be successful in passing
the actuarial science exams, and were paired with an
industry mentor to discuss topics affecting the liability
industry from an actuarial perspective.

8 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


Dr. Desiree Spriggs

Corange Science Week 2020 featured Bermudian


Dr. Desiree Spriggs; Forensic Scientist and Director
of Operations of Helix Genetic & Scientific Solutions.
Helix Laboratory is a forensic DNA analysis laboratory
that recently expanded into clinical chemistry services. Corange Master Class Lecture
It is one of two Novel Corona Virus Covid- 19 testing
labs on the island providing Bermuda with the ability
to conduct more than 200 tests, daily. Dr. Spriggs
visited local schools, conducted a Master Class for
senior secondary students and hosted a public lecture
about her work as an integral part of the local justice
system, providing for the first time, forensic DNA
services to the Bermuda Police Service.

CORANGE
SCIENCE
DEMO DAY

Bryana Bell was awarded the 2019 Corange


Scholarship

DELIVERING SUCCESS 9
DIVISION OF
BUSINESS,
HOSPITALITY
AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION

Dean Technical Education Students on the Airport Finger Solar Farm

L’Tanya Roberts BSc, MEd, MBA

The Division of Business, Hospitality and Technical nominated for the 2019 Technology Innovation of the
Education provides opportunities for students to Year Award for their work, placing second. The hands-
pursue careers in these respective disciplines. Faculty on experience gleaned from working with industry
and staff are committed to ensuring that learning is professionals, from the creation process through to
current and relevant through practical experience and the final interview presentation, was invaluable.
innovative instruction.
The Computer Information Systems (CIS) Depart-
HIGHLIGHTS ment offered two new CIS classes for the Spring
semester: Programming II and Operating Systems and
Infrastructure. Students could now build on their Pro-
gramming I skills, and expand their real-world hands-
on skills through Operating Systems and Infrastructure.

Two students, Jameko Gomes and Kevin DaCosta,


took part in the annual Technology Leadership Forum
(TLF), a Government-sponsored partnership with
private industry to provide real world experience to
students seeking a career in the industry.

Six students in the Associate of Arts (Business


Administration) programme: Ken-nie Trott, Attiyaa
Boyles, Shatonae Desilva, Creeshon Watson, Ka’Ri
Richards and Dazhja Greaves attended the Bermuda
Convergence 2019 conference held at the Hamilton
Princess & Beach Club in October. This event focused
on the Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) and Insurance-
linked Securities (ILS) market.

Tyler Trott

During the 2020 Science Week, CIS student, Tyler


Trott was able to work with Dr. Carika Weldon, a
Bermudian scientist currently working in the UK at the
University of Oxford, and founder of the Bermuda
Principles Foundation. Her study focused on Sickle Cell
Anemia and Tyler was able to share his knowledge of
the relatively new field of bioinformatics (the science
of collecting and analysing complex biological data
such as genetic codes). He was interviewed on the
local news, and garnered a placement at the University
of Oxford for the Summer, where he will be studying
and conducting research with experts in the field of
bioinformatics.

Diogo Mota, Kevin Da Costa, Randall King and Seth


Samuels who were featured in last year’s highlights
by creating the Tree Frog App along with application
developers in the Premier’s Office, were this year

10 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


Bermuda International Long-Term Insurers and
Reinsurers (BILTIR) hosted a Lunch and Learn event
on campus for students within the Department of
Business. The event aimed to bring awareness of
BILTIR internship and scholarship opportunities.
Thirteen students attended the session. BILTIR
employee, and BC alumna, Kiara Somner was able
to share her experience as a working professional.

Charnae Richardson

The Division was pleased to welcome BC CIS alumni


Charnae Richardson to the IT Help Desk as a full-time
technician for CCS. Ms Richardson is a graduate who
continued her studies in the UK.

A partnership between Bermuda College and a


Ghana-based NGO, Ace It Foundation, has provided
unique internship opportunities for Bermuda College
culinary arts students. The Foundation is co-founded
by Bermudian, Quinton Sherlock, a former psychology
lecturer at the College. Tremayne Bailey became the Technical Education Instructor, Joseph Weeks and
first Bermuda College student to participate in the his students (including several dual enrolment stu-
8-week long internship in Ghana. dents), visited the Skyport/Aecon facilities at the L.F.
Wade airport in February. This was an experiential,
In September a “Chopped” team-building cooking engaged learning approach which sought to maximise
exercise by Chef Teneika Eve, was conducted in the students’ learning experiences. Students visited the
training kitchen and the Prospect Room for an insur- six-megawatt solar farm that has been built on the
ance company. This exercise was a great way to build finger at the airport, and were introduced to string
community involvement and allowed colleagues the inverters, transformers, solar panels and submarine
opportunity to engage with one another outside of cables used to distribute the power to the mainland.
the office in a fun, learning environment. They also visited the Air Traffic Control Tower, the
Electronic Ground Monitoring Station, and the
In conjunction with the Bermuda Tourism Authority Bermuda Weather Forecasting Station.
(BTA) Restaurant Week, Culinary Arts students re-
ceived a visit from Chef Eric Adjepong, a finalist on
Season 16 of the Bravo Network’s “Top Chef” series.
Chef Eric spoke with students, and then facilitated
a Q&A period.

Dual enrolment students from the Department


of Technical Education along with instructor Joseph
Weeks; adjunct Allanette Hayward, and members of
the organisation, Women in Construction, assisted
students in the ongoing management of the aqua-
ponics system and greenhouse.

DELIVERING SUCCESS 11
DIVISION OF
NURSING
& ALLIED HEALTH

Director
Kathy Ann Swan, MA, BScN, RN

The Division of Nursing and Allied Health continues


to evolve as it strives to be recognised locally and
internationally for delivering high quality healthcare
education. The goal is to meet Bermuda’s healthcare
workforce needs.

HIGHLIGHTS
The Division was extremely pleased to be able to
report a 100% SUCCESS rate in the Associate of
Science in Nursing Programme. Three nursing students Dr. Lynette Gibson, Barbara Tacklyn
graduated with merit and one with distinction. Four
nursing students received awards in the following cat-
A new nursing scholarship was established by
egories: Director of Nursing and Allied Health; Clinical
Dr. Lynette Gibson, and her family for a graduate of
Competence; Academic Achievement; and the Impact
the Nursing programme. Dr. Gibson is a Bermudian
Award.
professor and Director of Nursing Research at Univer-
sity of South Carolina Upstate. The first recipient was
82% SUCCESS with the National Council Licensure Barbara Tacklyn, a 2018 nursing graduate who is
Exam (NCLEX-RN) earning the graduates the right to pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.
use the RN designation
After collaborating with our key partners in allied
The Nursing Programme added another top-quality health, the Division of Nursing and Allied Health
clinical partner, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, commenced programme offerings with Pre-Health
providing another opportunity for clinical experience and Pre-Medical Programmes.
for nursing students during the last semester of the
Programme. Seventy of the required one hundred and
eighty hours can be completed at Lahey Hospital &
Medical Center.

Class of 2019 - Nursing Graduates (in white) Demetria B. Packwood, Regina N. Dill, Ina-Bianca Kuesters, Najah A Garcia

Nursing Education Team


Mrs. Kathy-Ann Swan R.N., Director of Nursing Education, Mrs. Renee Faulcon R.N., Kim Ball R.N., Lisa Blyden R.N., Deon Burrows R.N.,
Kirsten Chow R.N., Tammoi Jarrett-Simons R.N., Karen Raynor R.N., Maxine Simmons R.N., Shaunae Smith R.N., Sonya Stowe R.N.

12 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


In the traditional Nursing Pinning Ceremony to
celebrate nursing graduates, Chair of the Bermuda
Nursing Council and 2019 Nurse of the Year, Mrs.
Janice Mullings-George was guest speaker on the
theme, “Professionalism”. Graduate Najah Garcia
delivered the student address.

As part of the Family Health Nursing course, the


annual Paediatric Health Fair was renamed, the ‘All
About Us Kids Expo’ and moved indoors. It was hosted
in conjunction with Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
in March and proved to be an overwhelming success.
Kudos to Kidada Robinson, Chelsey Walker and
nursing students in Cohort 7 & 8.

The Division of Nursing and Allied Health spear-


headed this year’s Science Week. The campus commu-
nity welcomed more than 80 middle school students,
teachers and counsellors to the campus during Demo
Day to hear from representatives of more than fifteen
healthcare professions highlighting the many roles of
healthcare.

The Hospital for SickKids partnered with the Nursing During Spirit Week, nursing students went out in the
Programme to deliver a workshop on Enteral Tube community and conducted various health screenings
Feeding. This was a day-long workshop for healthcare at grocery stores and outside pharmacies – taking
professionals and nursing students to enhance founda- blood pressure, pulse and blood sugar, and providing
tional knowledge and skills essential to the manage- health education to members of the public. One hun-
ment of enteral feeding tubes. It used a safety-based dred persons had vital signs taken.
approach to enhance confidence and preparation, and
was approved by the Bermuda Nursing and Midwifery As always, the Director of Nursing and Allied Health
Council for 7 Continuing Education Units. works in close partnership with the Director of the
Division of Professional and Career Education (PACE)
At the onset of the Corona Virus pandemic, nursing in delivering the following programmes:
faculty and staff ensured classes continued and Nursing Assistant (full and part-time)
made the students’ success paramount. Unfortunately, Nursing Assistant Bridging
however, eleven nursing students were unable to com- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
plete the required clinical hours required for gradua-
tion, due to the decision of healthcare organisations
overseas not to grant entry to international students.
Notwithstanding, the Division is pleased and proud
of our nursing students and nurses, who assisted and
continue to assist in the healthcare industry during
the pandemic.

DELIVERING SUCCESS 13
COUNSELLING
& CAREER
CENTRE

Director
Nikkita Scott, Ed.M.

The Counselling & Career Centre strives to provide personal and academic support services by designing
programmes and initiatives that empower, guide, advocate on behalf of, respect, understand and support the
personal and/or professional development goals of current and prospective students.

HIGHLIGHTS The Counselling & Career Centre worked with the


BC App production team and effectively transitioned
Student Engagement
from Tockify, an online events calendar, to using the
Student life really took root this year with the
BC App to promote and assess programming. Student
Courtyard outside Student Hall abuzz with activities
Employment spearheaded this move by posting
from slip n’ slide, to archery, to impromptu volley ball
monthly themes and corresponding events. The App
games as the weather permitted. The Student Centre,
was used to promote, capture attendance, and test the
recently refurbished, became the “home away from
assessment of services. The BC App dashboard speaks
home” and safe haven for many students. Late night
volumes when reviewing data for the last year. (Figure 1)
study sessions on the lower level, and competitive
pool, table tennis, and video games on the upper
The Student Employment Coordinator served as
level became common and welcome sights. Security
training support for the department and several
assisted by graciously saving the Student Centre as
colleagues across campus.
the last stop on their “closing of the campus” routine.
Wednesdays became known for breaking out board
games and enjoying some old fashioned fun, while
Fridays injected the spirit of campuses overseas with
the “Free Up Fridays” theme.

BC APP DASHBOARD DATA

TOP EVENTS ATTENDEES FEEDBACK RATINGS

Career Readiness 28 7 3.7

Sip and Paint 21 20 4.8

The Art of the Interview 21 17 4.6

Mock Interview Practice 20 12 4.6

How to be Successful 16 16 4.9

Figure 1

14 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


IMPACT ON STUDENTS BY THE NUMBERS

Overall Usage of Counselling & Student Activities Services 17/18 18/19 19/20

Number of Students engaged


688 840 758
(includes prospective/community clients)

Number of individual contacts


3186 3370 3694
(includes prospective/community clients)

Number of psycho-educational groups/workshop contacts 275 467 878

Number of documented Student Activities engagements 340 307 423

TYPES OF SERVICES ACCESSED FOR 2019/20

STUDENT CONTACT BY SERVICE TYPE

SERVICES CATEGORY

Campus Activities includes group, workshop, and student activities engagements

DELIVERING SUCCESS 15
ACADEMIC
RESOURCE CENTRE

Director
Dr. Lisa Osborne Ed.D.

ARC Speaker’s Corner - Freedom Day

The ARC serves all students in their quest for academic excellence. It is an integral part of student success
at Bermuda College, providing academic support in a friendly and comfortable environment. The ARC is
responsible for tutoring, the Computerized Placement Test (CPT), academic skill-building workshops, Orientation,
CSC Courses and the Associate Degree Dual Enrolment Programme.

HIGHLIGHTS
In August, 120 new students took their first step
toward fulfilling their higher educational goals and
were welcomed by the enthusiastic BC family. Five
student orientation leaders facilitated the campus
event along with Division Deans who provided in
depth information on their respective areas. This
orientation marked the first BC event where the
new BC colours were displayed. The BC Rebranding
Committee provided outstanding assistance with
the vibrant orientation signage and merchandise.
Positive comments were received from students
about the bags and T-shirts.

On March 14, 2019, Pi Day, ARC Mathematics Faculty


Tutor, Mr. Troy Ashby, recorded 12,000 Pi digits from
memory for the International Pi World Competition.
His outstanding work broke the Bermuda record and
was displayed in the Art Studio on campus to inspire
and motivate students, employees and visitors.

Dual Enrolment allows senior school students to


earn college credit while still enrolled in high school.
In May, five students in the associate degree dual
enrolment programme graduated. Two were in the
Division of Arts and Science and three in the Division
of Business, Hospitality and Applied Science. The
In October, the Speakers’ Corner was held in the award for Most Outstanding Graduate in the Division
ARC. Approximately 40 students and employees of Arts and Science and the award for Most Outstand-
attended to hear three students gave passionate ing General Business Graduate were presented to two
speeches about salary disparity between men and associate degree dual enrolment graduates, Jordyn
women in football, polygamy, and mental illness, Richardson and D’Hstiny Seaman.
sparking energetic and thought-provoking discussion.
The Speakers’ Corner has seen rapid growth since its
inception in 2018. The ARC worked with the Student
Government to organise this very successful event.

The ARC organised free healthy breakfasts during


final exams in an effort to motivate students and
promote healthy minds during this stressful period.
Between May 1 and May 7, approximately 130 students
enjoyed hot or continental breakfasts each morning.
Several employee and student volunteers helped
serve. The students reciprocated by expressing their
gratitude.

16 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


BERMUDA COLLEGE
LIBRARY

Director
Robert Masters MLIS

The Bermuda College Library provides access to information and resources to enable student success; teaches
research skills; and promotes the Library as one of the key facilitators of academic success.

HIGHLIGHTS
The College Library’s Instagram page has gained
traction and grown to nearly 200 followers since it
was launched in 2019. The platform has enabled direct
communication with students, and includes informa-
tion on new library books, display installations, library
resource highlights and general information regarding
library hours, library or other campus events. Addi-
tional engagement via social media was achieved
through a social media competition. BC students and
employees of Bermuda College were asked to share
their appreciation for the Library on its social media
pages for the opportunity to win a gift certificate.
The winner was then photographed and displayed
using those platforms.

The Library hosted The African Foundation Timeline Exhibit in November, featuring Mwalimu Melodye Micere
Van Putten, Africalogist, author, educator and poet. The audience of almost 50 persons enjoyed a lively presen-
tation showcasing the Timeline, visually displayed on a large, hand-made banner.

Since the closure of the College in mid-March 2020,


library staff have been assisting students to access
various databases, while responding to their general
online queries. Three instructional online sessions were
hosted by the Library to help more than 100 Bermuda
College students and IB high-school students learn
how to access the databases from their homes.

DELIVERING SUCCESS 17
INSTITUTIONAL
RESEARCH
& PLANNING

“ ”
Co-ordinator
Cordell Riley, M.Sc., JP

“The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight.”
~ Carly Fiorina

The College collects a myriad of data, both qualitative and quantitative, to plan and make decisions that
improve student success.

In this report, key indicators for the College are shared, along with highlights of some of the ad-hoc surveys
that have served to improve our services, and better student lives.

Enrolment Graduates
One key indicator is the total number of students. Bermuda College continues to graduate approximately
In 2019, enrolment remained below the 700-mark 100 students per year. In 2019 there were 123 gradu-
(674). (See Figure 1) ates, 14% down on 2018. (See Figure 2)

Staying Competitive. The College, similar to its After graduation, one-third (33%) expressed their
counterparts in North America, is seeking to reverse intent to further their education overseas, primarily
the challenges of enrolment declines. Declining birth to obtain a four-year degree. (See Figure 3)
rates and the increasing appeal of institutions offering This figure has been trending upward since 2015.
online courses at competitive prices, have added to
the emigration and weak economy that began the 22% of graduates indicated their intent to continue
precipitous slide several years ago. With the advent in the jobs that they already held.
of the coronavirus, Covid-19, in March 2020, Bermuda
College was one of many that made the quick transi- 22% intended to seek employment.
tion to having approximately 20% of courses online to
100% online. This may well prove to be an opportunity 19% were going to remain at Bermuda College, most
for the College in the near future. likely to pursue one of our affiliate programmes that
lead to a four-year degree such as those offered by
Re-branding and Marketing. The College continued Mount St. Vincent and Georgia State University, or
its re-brand initiative in earnest, and revised its 5-year to gain a second associate degree. 52% of graduates
strategic plan, “Delivering Success”. While student suc- planned to continue their education either at overseas
cess underpins the Plan, the renewed emphasis on re- institutions or through Bermuda College. Among those
branding and marketing forms part of the overall goal going overseas, Canada regained the top spot with
to increase enrolment. 44% of graduates, matching the level reached in 2017.
The United States followed at 33%, and the UK at 17%.
Student Funding. The Bermuda Government has (See Figure 4)
continued to undergird the College’s efforts by
extending student funding to ensure that no student Overall satisfaction with the College increased
is denied higher education due to a lack of funding. nearly 8% to 84% after falling to 78% in 2018.
While the road ahead remains challenging, the estab- (See Figure 5)
lishment of the Bermuda College Foundation will also
go a long way to make tertiary education accessible
to more students, boosting enrolment.

18 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


Surveys
Internet Access Survey. As the world grappled with
the impacts of Covid-19, colleges and universities
made the decision to close campuses in the interest
of health and safety. The College conducted a stake-
holder survey just before the campus closed on March
19, to assess the internet penetration rate for faculty
and students. 100% of staff and faculty had access to
the internet at home, while 99% of students had
access. The focus then switched to assisting students
who did not have access, or who did not have devices
to allow them to connect to the internet.

Working Nursing Graduates Focus Group. Recent


graduates of the Associate Degree of Science (Nurs- Figure 3
ing) programme were asked about their employment
status, how well prepared they felt, any challenges
they faced, and how the programme could be im-
proved for future students. Respondents stated that
they were unprepared to handle deaths, particularly
interactions with the deceased families. They con-
ceded, however, that there was not much that could
have been done to prepare them for deaths.

For the most part, nursing graduates in this study felt


that they were well prepared to transition from the
classroom to actual nursing duties.

Figure 4

Figure 1

Figure 5

Figure 2

DELIVERING SUCCESS 19
ALUMNI
SPOTLIGHT

Alumni from Class of 1988


to Class of 2016

Bermuda College Alumni Ambassadors Event

ESTINA FRANCIS
Principal - Bermuda Monetary Authority
Associates of Arts (Business Administration) - Class of 2005

“Attending Bermuda College ("BC") was a vital part of laying a foundation in my


pursuit of higher education. Many of the skills and disciplines I acquired while
learning at BC aided in my transition into my undergraduate degree at Oral
Roberts University. All of the BC faculty and staff were excellent. However, I
would have to say that Craig Simmons was my most memorable professor. He
taught economics, which is a subject I've always found challenging. He created a
fun and interesting learning environment that enabled me to excel…Don't listen
to the naysayers! Bermuda College is a great transition into any university pro-
gram, particularly for those who are unable or not ready to travel overseas. If
you remain committed to your education, and hold yourself accountable, you
can achieve great success and go on to do great things!”

ZELDON TROTT
Protection & Control Engineering Technician - BELCO
Hospitality Management/Culinary Arts
Associates in Science (Electronics) - Class of 1997

“One of the main reasons I came to Bermuda College, was because I couldn’t
afford going away to university. The College was a good stepping stone whether
starting your career or going off to university. When I started at the College I
was able to start working at the Tynes Bay incinerator while coming to school,
adjusting to college life, homework, and staying on top of my subjects. When I
started working at BELCO they saw that I was at Bermuda College, and once I
received my associates degree, I was able to get the job that I have now.

If you’re not mature enough to go away to university or just don’t have the funds
yet, I would recommend Bermuda College and get a feel for college life before
you go away. This is a first step and one of my greatest steps.”

KAYLA WILLIAMS
East End Primary School - P1 Teacher
Valencia Community College - Associates in Education, Mount St. Vincent
University - B.A. Child and Youth Study – Class of 2015

“I graduated from the Bermuda College on May 15, 2015. The programme that I
was in was a joint programme of Child and Youth Study with Mount St. Vincent
University alongside Bermuda College. My experience with Bermuda College
was valuable and beneficial. I can clearly remember faculty and staff that made
my experience worthwhile such as Mrs. Denise Simons, Mrs. Ru-Zelda Severin,
Mrs. Wendy Tully, Mr. Ashby, Dr. Ameenah Ahad and Mr. Oliver Pitcher Sr. If I can
say anything to new students coming out of high school is that Bermuda Col-
lege is a great stepping stone for a student. The help that you receive from fac-
ulty and staff and your fellow students will help as you continue your college
experience.”
20 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020
IEJAH CAINES
Mason - Ministry of Public Works Department
Diploma in Masonry Technology - Class of 2013

“What made me choose Bermuda College, was the fact I was starting a masonry
trade and didn’t know anything about it. Once I got into the class and started to
learn more about the trade, I really started to like it. I found my experience very
informative, because I was being taught by a Bermudian who knew the trade
and really opened my eyes to what is available out there. The class really helped
me not just with the masonry side of things, we also talked about engineering,
surveying, and all other types of elements in the masonry industry.

This helped with my first job when I was one of the workers on construction of
the wall just past the Paget stoplights. The experience that I received from the
College really has helped my career, and I would like to say to anyone, ‘Don’t let
anyone stop you from chasing your dreams’.

Bermuda College really helped me in what I want to do, and with the help of
faculty and my class mates, I was able to walk across that stage and receive my
diploma.

KELLEY HALL M.S.W.


Medical Social Worker - Bermuda Hospitals Board
General Studies (one year)
Sociology & Psychology (two years), 1988

“I was at Bermuda College for three years in total. I then decided to continue my
studies overseas and was able to transfer my credits to Spelman College for my
undergraduate degree.I obtained my Master’s degree in Social Work from
Howard University, and subsequently returned to Bermuda College to take the
opportunity of several counselling courses that were offered. My experience
with Bermuda College has been made great by the caring of the faculty and
staff there. They really took the time to help and guide me to the career that I’m
currently in. The Academic Resource Centre was a big help as well when it came
to getting extra help with my courses. Mrs. Sheridan Talbot set me on the right
path with staying on top of my school work. Ms. Lois Tucker was my English
teacher at the time, and really gave me a thirst for reading and writing. And my
sociology instructor, Dr. Theodora Animashaun was the main catalyst who got
me interested in sociology and a career in social work. We stayed in contact for
many years after that time.”

BASIL CAREY
Corporation of Hamilton - Purchasing and Inventory Administrator
Bermuda College - General Studies (Economics) - 1 year at Bermuda College
Howard University - Class of 2015

“My goal for coming to Bermuda College, was to take as many economics
classes as possible, as I intended to get my Bachelors in Economics from
Howard University. I came to the College because I had missed the deadline
to go abroad, but still wanted to go to school. Bermuda College was a great
experience, and coming from the private school system, I found that
Bermudian faculty delivered high quality lectures.

The College also really helped when networking. I met a lot of alumni that really
helped me when I began working. Bermuda College is a real college and not the
stereotype that people think about it. Even though you’re taking the same type
of classes that you would away, the small classes and the assistance from the
teachers really helped prepare me for life abroad, and back on island. Come to
the College because it’s affordable, lecturers provide quality teaching, and you
will leave with a great education.”

DELIVERING SUCCESS 21
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
PAUL TELFORD

Associates in Hospitality Management - Class of 1994


General Manager at The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos

“My father was one of the first graduates in the Hospitality programme at the
Hotel College. This was one of the reasons I became interested in hospitality.
When the opportunity came for me to go to college, I had already made up my
mind to go to Bermuda College before I went overseas. I felt I wasn’t ready yet
to go to university, and Bermuda College was my stepping stone to becoming
independent. When I finally did go away, I was prepared to jump right into the
programme at the University of Buckingham and excel.

Young Bermudians need to understand what Bermuda College can do to help


you to further your education. Barbara O'Shaughnessy was one of the lecturers
that really helped me. She gave me that extra push when it was needed. To any-
one wanting to go further in your education, Bermuda College is the place to
start. It’s a great stepping stone for the next chapter of your life.”

KAYLA WILLIAMS
Administrative Assistant to the Executive Officer at Government House
Associate of Applied Science (Culinary Arts) - Class of 2016

“I believe this is one of the best programmes offered at Bermuda College; the
quality of instruction is extremely good for the price you pay. My chefs were
Bermudians that both went to prestigious culinary schools abroad – the Culinary
Institute of America and Johnson & Wales – and had experience in the industry
prior to teaching at Bermuda College. Through their skills, passion and enthusi-
asm, they made the programme really wonderful.

I originally planned to study overseas, but couldn’t afford it at the time.


Bermuda College offered the programme I needed and was budget friendly. I
learned so much… team building, team effort, time management. Hospitality will
always have a place in my career. It has inspired me to start my current business,
with plans to expand and grow it as I go. I also want to own my own restaurant
someday. If it wasn’t for my two-year experience at Bermuda College, I might
not have had these aspirations!”

TARIQ LYNCH-WADE
Operations Safety Oversight- Bermuda Civil Aviation Authority
Bermuda College - Associate’s Degree - Actuarial Science - Class of 2012
Georgia State University - Bachelor’s Degree -Actuarial Science - Class of 2016

“I started at Bermuda College when I was 16, after graduating from Berkeley. I
wasn’t ready to go away yet, but when I first came to the College, I admit I
played around a lot, and really didn’t take the College seriously. I will say it
helped me with networking and talking to people, and getting a lot of my basic
classes out of the way. When I came back the second time I was ready and knew
what I wanted to do. What I really like about being at the College, was the ability
to get all of my math classes out of the way before I went away to Georgia State
University. The small classes really helped and the faculty being there for you
helped me to prepare to go overseas to GSU.

I will always encourage people to go to the College, especially if you’re inter-


ested in actuarial science, because you can get a quality education, small classes
and help from the faculty which prepares you for the next step.”

22 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


CAMPUS CULTURE
STRATEGY 2
We will promote and practice a culture of excellence in
learning, communication and collaboration; and support a
‘community of care’ that promotes recognition of Bermuda
College as a great place to work, to which students and
employees are proud to belong.

HUMAN CAPITAL
STRATEGY 3
As a great place to work, College employees will be deve-
loped, engaged, and operating to their fullest potential
with a full understanding of their roles as it relates to the
College’s institutional goals. We will encourage and support
strategic training and development opportunities with robust
metrics to measure success and promote transparency.
HUMAN
RESOURCES &
DEVELOPMENT

Director
Lorrita Tucker A. Clnst.L.Ex

The main objectives embedded in the strategic goals of campus culture and human capital are to foster college
identity and to promote a culture of learning that leverages talent and expertise while engaging employees and
students, internally and externally.

HIGHLIGHTS The 360 Degree Evaluation was eliminated, and the


The Committee worked diligently to host an event Professional Development process was revised to
reflective of employees’ desire to work in a collegiate allow employees’ support in their goal completion as
environment, where shared decision-making is prac- well as in their professional and personal growth. The
ticed, employees are empowered, and decision-makers latter embraces the holistic approach to employee
are fully trusted. This was a natural continuation from development.
the recommendations of the 2016 Climate Survey
and the highlights of the 12 recommendations that The College’s Support Staff Association was invited
resulted. to join with the Human Capital Committee and the
Human Resources Department to assist in revising the
Three one-day employee conferences were sched- current Merit Award component. After receiving feed-
uled for 2020, with an overarching theme of ‘Trust back from support staff, the JCC ad-hoc committee
and Empowerment’. The first part of this employee devised a proposal that would assist in meeting the
conference was held on campus in January. Primary objectives of rewarding goal completion based on
facilitators were from the Trust Edge Leadership the College’s Strategic Plan and rewarding meritorious
Institute, based in Minnesota, USA. They were joined service.
by local facilitators Dr. Myra Virgil, who assisted the
College’s support staff employees to lay the founda- Professional Development
tion for defining College Service; and Mr. Richard By the end of this reporting period, March 31, 2020,
James, who worked with the College’s management the Human Resources Department sponsored more
team, focusing on the Four Essential Roles of Leader- than twenty professional development activities, each
ship. Dr. Phyllis Curtis-Tweed, Vice President of Aca- tied to the mission and activities of Bermuda College
demic and Student Affairs, hosted a workshop for and its departments.
faculty on understanding Shared Governance and the Through PD,
faculty role. The day concluded with the Trust Edge’s Three science faculty members and tutors attended
presentation on four of its eight pillars for trust: STEM and Aquaponics Conferences
Clarity, Compassion, Character and Competency.
An employee survey conducted in the aftermath of Funding for Red Cross Certification renewals
the Conference indicated overwhelmingly positive supported safety in our science labs.
results, with encouraging feedback on the individual
sessions. The free responses will assist the Committee Three faculty members attended the Generation
to determine next steps. Learning Spaces conference.

In collaboration with the Sub-committee for Human Members of the College’s Academic Resource
Capital, the Human Resources Department made Centre attended the Annual First-Year Conference.
distinct progress on revising the current faculty evalu-
ation system and employees’ performance appraisal Two employees were sponsored at the Chair Acad-
systems. The main objectives were to combine both emy; two at the NISOD (National Institute of Staff and
systems for more practical application; moreover, to Organisational Development) Conference; two at the
connect the annual employee performance review National Association of Career Educators (NACE); and
directly to the College’s Strategic Plans and to its Core one at the Human Capital Learning Institute.
Values. The separate systems were combined to meet
a number of practical objectives with an emphasis on
coaching and developing employees based on the
Situational Leadership model.

24 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


Two staff members were sponsored to enrol in the
Division of PACE’s Supply Chain Management Associa-
tion (SCMA) courses; and one at American Manage-
ment Association (AMA ) programme.

Two faculty members were able to accompany stu-


dents who attended the LGBTQ Conference in San
Francisco, California.

Employee Recognition and Reward

In February 2020, the College held its Long Service


and Employee Awards Dinner to recognise long
service awardees, retirees, and to select the Employee
of the Year. Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors,
Mr. Nasir Wade attended on behalf of the Board.
20
YEARS Jacqueline Wade, L’Tanya Roberts,
Robin Ingham, Alnisha Simmons
(missing from photo)Troy Ashby, Shawn Deshields

25
YEARS
Dwayne Thompson

30
YEARS
Craig Simmons
Ann Parsons

35 Barbara O’Shaughnessy

5
YEARS

YEARS Dwight Furbert, Rui De Sa, Cordell Riley

RETIREES
Marie Franklin, Laverne Grant
10
YEARS Carleen Place,
(missing from photo), Trescot Wilson

(missing from photo) Lee-Ann Liles EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2019 NOMINEES
Mrs. Lauren Alleyne, Mr. Troy Ashby, Mrs. Ahisha Francis,
Ms. Algene Maybury, Mr. Keith Philpott, Mrs. Carleen
Place, Ms. Tammy Richardson, Mrs. Renika Stowe, Ms.
Ru-Zelda Severin, Mr. Gladwyn Trott, Ms. Necheeka Trott

EMPLOYEE OF THE
YEAR 2019 AWARDEE
MRS. RENIKA STOWE
received a certificate of
recognition, a cheque,
15
YEARS Griselle Almagro-Lightbourne,
and a travel voucher.

Cannoth Roberts

DELIVERING SUCCESS 25
MARKETING & REBRANDING
VICE PRESIDENT The Marketing & Rebranding Team worked tirelessly to
OF FINANCE ensure that the new College brand is recognised island
wide. The benefits of partnering with an external ad
AND OPERATIONS agency in incorporating the view/ideas of alumni,
students, faculty, and support staff in the rebranding
effort continues to reap favourable dividends. The
new logo, colours, and tagline have rapidly become
synonymous with Bermuda College. Considerable
Dwight Furbert CPA improvements were made to our website, evidenced
in the improved functionality and aesthetics. In addi-
tion, the College Bookstore continues to receive
positive reviews about its “BrandsFormation”.

Information Technology
The IT Department continues to meet the demands
of an ever changing technical environment. Work
efforts have focused on maintaining and enhancing
the reliability, consistency and sustainability of the
College’s network.

Specific improvements during the year included the


following:
Enhanced Wi-Fi coverage on campus
Vetting, testing and purchasing of remote learning
software for Covid-19 Pandemic
Purchased and installed of approx. 20 new laptops
Various Cisco switches replaced
Upgrades to software to accommodate major
improvement/changes in our CCTV system
Replacement of aging UPS systems
This has been a singular year of achievement against a
backdrop of challenges for those areas under the remit Once it was decided that classes would be held
of Finance & Operations. I am truly indebted to the remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic IT played
managers and their staffs for an outstanding year of a crucial role in evaluating remote online learning
productivity, notwithstanding the very real issues pre- options and choosing preferred products that met
sented by the corona virus to the overall operations. the College’s needs.
This is particularly true for the information technology
preparedness, the physical infrastructure, and the Facilities Management & Security
rapid adaptation to the new learning environment. Facilities management and Security staff often work
very closely to ensure that health and safety standards
Prior to the pandemic, we were enjoying positive are maintained at the College. Towards the latter part
progress in addressing the objectives of the Strategic of our financial year routine maintenance gave way to
Plan through the Institutional Effectiveness Task Force, intense Covid-19 facilities preparation. The facilities
co-chaired by the Vice Presidents of Academic & and security workers performed admirably in uncertain
Student Affairs, and Finance & Operations – highlights and stressful times, and were able to sanitise and
of the latter, I am happy to summarise below… secure the campus with very little notice.

INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM PACE


A conditional survey of instructional places was un- Currently the Division of Professional and Career
dertaken by an external consultant with the end result Education (PACE) offers over 200 online courses,
being the establishment of preliminary budgets for and continues to position itself to respond to an
classroom modernisations. anticipated increased demand for job retraining
resulting from the recent downturn in the economy.
A Maintenance Master Plan focusing on the prioriti-
sation and timing of campus wide maintenance is in FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
its final stages. As the College Infrastructure ages the As at the end of March 31, 2020 Bermuda College was
Master Plan will help to ensure that precious resources awaiting audit opinions on its 2017/18 & 2018/19 finan-
are used where they are needed most cial statements. This is a significant milestone for the
College as it is now current with its annual financial
DIVERSIFICATION OF REVENUE audits. It is also a tribute to the hard work, persever-
The Revenue Diversification Team is drafting an RFP ance and dedication of the finance team and other
to secure the services of a Business Plan Developer. staff members who were involved directly or indirectly
with completing the audit files.

26 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


DIVERSIFICATION OF
REVENUE & PARTNERSHIPS
STRATEGY 4
We will explore diverse revenue opportunities and
partnerships that position Bermuda College as a pre-
mier community resource. We will leverage our facil-
ities and utilise the campus to generate revenue by
developing strong and diverse revenue streams which
will have the added benefit of allowing us to establish
and maintain strategic partnerships with both industry
and academic entities, and to meet community needs.
DIVISION OF
PROFESSIONAL
AND CAREER
EDUCATION(PACE)

Director
Tawana Flood MTA

The Division of Professional and Career Education (PACE) plays a critical role in empowering Bermuda’s human
capital, assisting learners to realise professional and career goals as they keep pace with a dynamic and growing
global economy. The Division’s core mission is to provide relevant professional and workforce development
training, contract training, online bachelor and master’s degree programmes and accelerated professional review
programmes from established and renowned agencies in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States and
the Caribbean.

To ensure relevancy and financial viability, the programmes are designed and developed with input from govern-
ment, local and global professional networks, employment and recruitment professionals and major industries
that drive Bermuda’s economy. Moreover, all instructors are qualified and accomplished professionals in the
community who bring practical experience and a passion for their subject areas in to the classroom.

The Division of PACE also extends opportunities through vital external partnerships with globally recognised
institutions thus ensuring first-class instructional competency and internationally standardised curricula. Pro-
gramming continues to expand and diversify in order to meet the needs of the community. This year the Division
offered over 200 online courses varying from Instagram for Business to Project Management Bootcamps.

PACE REGISTRATIONS

500+ Compliance Programmes

275 City and Guilds Level 1 Employability Skills

70+ Financial Literacy Workshop Series

55+ Online Professional Development Courses

40+ ACCA programme

45+ MSVU Programme

22 CNA Programme

HIGHLIGHTS
The Division partnered with independent restaurant The Division partnered with the Chartered Financial
groups, the Bermuda Tourism Authority, the Depart- Analyst Society Bermuda to offer a four-part series
ment of Workforce Development, and the Tomasz covering the core financial literacy topics of budgeting
Tabor Memorial Fund to offer the Learn-to-Earn pro- and saving; income, expenses and debt; planning for
grammer which paid participants while they trained your retirement; and putting it all together. The objec-
for careers in the restaurant industry. This programme tive was to educate and empower participants so that
was launched in response to a 2019 PWC Bermuda they could adopt healthy spending and saving habits.
study that indicated the island’s need for hospitality Both semesters were fully subscribed with over 70
workers would increase as new hotels open by 2021, registrants.
including St Regis Bermuda Resort, Azura Bermuda
and the Bermudiana Beach Resort.

28 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


Bermuda College celebrates new partnership with Global Knowledge

The Department of ICT Policy & Innovation launched the 2019 IT Career Guide for students seeking a career
path in the field of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). The Division was proud to be a part of
expanding local training opportunities surrounding new technologies. An intensive full-time coding boot camp
was offered in partnership with Bermuda Government and The Division partnered with Global Knowledge (GK),
the world’s leading provider of IT skills training. Local students now receive industry-accredited training via GK’s
state-of-the- art virtual classroom technology. The initial course offerings included the training for the Project
Management Professional (PMP) certification examination, the internationally recognised gold standard for
project management.

The Division of PACE was exceptionally pleased with


the enrolment figures during its first year of offering
compliance courses with over 500 registrants in the
International Compliance Association (ICA); the Asso-
ciation of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists
(ACAMS); and KIXKO programmes respectively. Over
50% of these students were recipients of the Bermuda
Government training grant.

Bartending Students

The bartending course instructor was commended


in the local news for her innovative teaching efforts.
This year PACE partnered with Coco Reef Resort to
host a final exam in the form of a Halloween-themed
final costume party with drink sampling, live DJ and
refreshments. The general public and potential
Proud MSVU graduates from the Mount St. Vincent University employers were invited to assess the students’ final
(BBA) programme
practical exams.
The Mount St. Vincent University Bachelors of
PACE welcomed its sixth cohort of students in the
Business Administration (BBA) programme remains
University of West Indies (UWI) Postgraduate Diploma
the most popular choice of the Associate of Business
in Education programme for teacher certification in
graduates who want to complete Bachelor degrees
various subjects. The 13th Annual Awards Celebration
but who cannot leave the island. Eight Mount Saint
was held in December where 125 students received
Vincent University Bachelor’s degree graduands par-
international qualifications and workforce or profes-
ticipated in May 2019 commencement ceremonies.
sional development certificates. 283 certificates were
awarded to high school students who had completed
the City and Guilds Entry Level Introductory Award in
Employability Skills, with a further 11 students earning
the Certificate for Nursing Assistants.
DELIVERING SUCCESS 29
INFRASTRUCTURE
STRATEGY 5
We will maintain and be known for having a modern
campus that is safe, comfortable, technologically rel-
evant, and environmentally sustainable.
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES

Director
Ben Nwasike MA

Information Technology Services (ITS) oversees the A new redesigned BC App on Ready Education
administration of all computing services at Bermuda platform was introduced in order to promote greater
College. Those services include, but are not limited to, student engagement throughout the campus. Among
the acquisition and management infrastructure, the the many benefits introduced by the enhanced App
management and provision of helpdesk services, in- are push notifications, community walls for posting
stallation and maintenance of desktops, laptops, Enter- information, targeted communication by College
prise Resource Planning (ERP) applications, and user personnel, QR code readers for event check-in/check-
training. ITS also maintains the email system, campus out, and the App usage analytics and dashboards.
collaborative portal and websites, as well as the learn- The roll-out of the new College App was timely as
ing management system (LMS), Moodle, and printing traditional email messages are proving less effective
services. Support for the College’s computer labs and in meeting student engagement objectives.
audio-visual services fall under this remit.
The College website was re-branded and re-
HIGHLIGHTS designed to reflect the new BC branding, and to
achieve easier navigation. In addition to aesthetical
A new vendor was selected to support the IT infra-
enhancements, accessing programme information
structure and commenced operation in June 2019.
by visitors and prospective students has greatly
The new vendor was charged with addressing key
improved.
issues identified in the previous year’s technology
audit report, namely:
Fixing network misconfigurations that had Additional external wireless access points were
caused service outages. This was completed installed to improve wireless connectivity in the court-
during the Dec 2019 holidays. yard areas covering Student Hall, Brock Hall, Hallett
Replacing aging network equipment to Hall, College Centre and Library building.
achieve optimum performance and higher
availability. Phase one was completed in A secondary internet bandwidth was installed based
March 2020, and entailed the replacement on a fibre broadband to cater to the use of personal
of the old network Cisco switches in Brock devices on campus, and to prioritise College core
Hall, Student Hall, North Hall and West Hall functions (teaching, administrative, infrastructure, etc.)
with newer Fortinet network switches. over non-college functions in the use of the available
Rebuilding the VDI by consolidating resources internet bandwidth.
for higher efficiency and resiliency. This was
completed in January 2020 An online form was created, tested and imple-
mented for students to apply for financial aid and
A cloud-based data backup system was imple- Bermuda government grants.
mented to provide additional protection of institu-
tional data and meet compliance requirements.
The service consisted of a total storage space of
10 terabytes and included backup of the following:
Fileserver and databases so that loss or
deleted are easily re-created

Virtual machines so that application servers


are easily re-created and provisioned in the
event of server failure

32 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT
& SECURITY

Plant Operations
and Facilities Manager
Cleun Gaiton MPM

The Facilities Management and Security Department is responsible for the overall maintenance of the facilities and
grounds of the College campus, including painting, electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning, refrigeration and mainte-
nance contracts; the monthly elevator service; a physical security presence on campus; and the mail system.

Bermuda College has invested considerable capital on renovations to buildings to extend their life cycle and to
enhance the student and staff experience at the College.

HIGHLIGHTS The campus CCTV network is being upgraded


to ensure a safe environment for the campus
community.

The development of a Facilities Master Plan is in


progress, inclusive of maintenance and capital devel-
opment to ensure operational efficiency and extension
of the life span of the physical plant.

BEFORE

AFTER

The rebrand of the College this year produced


campus-wide improvements, including the complete
makeover of the College Bookstore using the new
brand colors, theme, and logo. (photos above: before & after)

Keen on staying current and compliant with health


and safety standards, all water tanks were cleaned and
chlorinated, and the College drinking water was given
a clean bill of health by the Department of Health.
Flooring seen after install
One of the chillers that services the College’s HVAC
operation was able to be rebuilt using a local vendor. The Counselling and Career Centre was renovated
This resulted in greater HVAC efficiency and lower and outfitted with new tile flooring, replacing its car-
operational costs. pet tile, and thus improving the air quality of the area.

The College has replaced approximately 25 percent


of the perimeter with LED lighting to improve night-
time lighting coverage.

DELIVERING SUCCESS 33
Institutional Effectiveness Task Force
From Left to Right
Front Row: Lisa Latham, Thaao Dill, Cordell Riley, Lyndon Jackson, Dr. Ali Arouzi
Second Row: Karen Smith, Carleen L. Place, Necheeka Trott, Alnisha Simmons, Cleun Gaiton
Third Row: Shelley Riley, Romeo Ruddock, Tammy Richardson, Dr. Reignier Jeffrey, Denise Simons
Forth Row: Tawana D. Flood, Karmeta Hendrickson, Nikkita Scott, Lorrita Tucker, Evelyn James-Barnett
Fifth Row: Zakkiyah Daniels, L'Tanya Roberts, Vernicka Symonds, Jeanne Norville, Dr. Phyllis Curtis-Tweed
Six Row: Amy Harvey, Cherie J. Richardson, Joseph Weeks, Dwight A. Furbert, Paul A. Hardtman, Takia Martin

Missing from photo:


Shawn Deshields, Robert Masters, Dr. Lisa Osborne, Duane Richards, Dr. Constance Smith, Kathy-Ann Swan
BRANDING & MARKETING
STRATEGY 6
We will have a strong local and international presence
with a reputation that attracts a diverse range of
students, external partnership opportunities, and
community confidence. We will have a clearly articu-
lated brand and a designated person/team focused on
promoting Bermuda College by creating consistent,
targeted campaigns.
COMMUNICATIONS A debt of gratitude is owed to the College’s graphic
designer, Ms. Cherie Richardson for an outstanding job
in creating and coordinating the design of the new
materials for promotion and marketing.
Director
Evelyn James Barnett, MASCL As part of the College’s Strategic Plan, the Rebrand-
ing and Marketing Committee was also tasked with
the development of new Vision and Mission State-
ments for the College. A consultative process with
faculty, support staff, and student perspectives and
rigorous rounds of in-depth discussion within the
Committee, yielded statements that were consensual.

The Communications Office informs the public of the VISION STATEMENT: Transforming lives through
College’s initiatives as it relates to its vision, mission, innovative education
services and events. It seeks to promote to its diverse MISSION STATEMENT: Bermuda College is
communities and stakeholders, the efficacy of a committed to serving its community with innovative
Bermuda College education as an institution with programmes, training, support services and partner-
the community at heart providing a diverse array of ships that lead to local and global success.
programmes for transfer credit, entry-level careers,
or professional credentials and designations. The third objective under Strategy Six was to ensure
that going forward, the College would avail itself of
diverse branding and marketing strategies to keep its
HIGHLIGHTS marketing and communications current, fresh and in
pace with its new strategic direction. To date, the
The re-branding of Bermuda College dominated Committee and the Communications Office has
most of the focus of the Communications Office this implemented bold, new initiatives in this regard.
year. The ad hoc Rebranding Committee completed
its work in Spring 2019 with a campus-wide “reveal” Pop-up recruitment stations are held in the City of
of the College’s new logo, new colours and tagline: Hamilton once a month, and more frequently during
“Many Paths. Discover Yours.” It then handed over the Summer months
the multi-faceted components of the re-brand to the
Re-branding and Marketing Committee (Strategy 6), Social media advertising was added to the social
for implementation. Over the next several months, media mix to extend the College’s reach to the
the Committee worked diligently with other campus community and beyond
departments, particularly Facilities and IT, as well as
external vendors, to facilitate the embedding of the The Annual Report was re-formatted to showcase
new brand on campus and in the community. highlights of each department/division against the
These included: - backdrop of the strategic plan and its objectives.
An official proclamation and ceremony that involved
the symbolic lowering of the old College flag and Digital media ads were created and placed in key
raising the new flag with the new logo locations, such as in theatres and at the airport
arrivals area, to target key messages to key target
A complete renovation of the College Bookstore groups.
A re-designed website Through the committed effort of various members
of the BC team, led by the recruitment office, over
The development of brand pillars, articulating the 300 individual students who had disengaged from
College’s promise to consistently deliver to its their course of study were directly contacted with
community the hope of getting them re-integrated into their
Innovative education programme. This initiative led to just under 120
Quality instruction, and students getting registered for a class of some sort
Unparalleled student support in the Fall 2019 semester. This campaign is continu-
ing into and through the upcoming Fall 2020
External signage, perimeter banners, courtyard and semester.
veranda banners, pole flags, entrance sign and
marquee post The re-design of the College website deliberately
incorporated a marketing element to extend the
New floor mats, window and door decals platform of outreach to our various stakeholders.
Similarly, more and more of our messages intention-
New stationery, business cards, business forms and ally drove the viewer or listener to our website to
recruitment and marketing materials discover more.
An extensive media campaign that involved TV,
radio, print, social and digital media ads and
interviews

36 BERMUDA COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT 2019 - 2020


BERMUDA COLLEGE PROGRAMMES WWW.COLLEGE.BM

ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES COMMUNITY ACCESS PROGRAMMES THE DIVISION OF PROFESSIONAL AND


Associate of Arts BC On-line (Distance Education courses) CAREER EDUCATION
Art and Design (NON-CREDIT COURSES)
Arts Culinary Education at Department of ACCA Association of Chartered Certified
Arts and Science Corrections Accountants
Business Administration
Early Childhood Education Dual Enrolment Programme (High Schools) AMA American Management Association

Associate of Science EXTERNAL PROGRAMMES BOMI Building Owners and Managers


Actuarial Science Georgia State University Institute
Computer Information Systems
Education Bachelor of Business Administration CPA Certified Public Accountant (USA)
Science (Finance and/or Risk Management and
Nursing Insurance) CPA Chartered Professional Accountant
(CANADA)
Associate of Applied Science Miami University, Ohio
Culinary Arts M.Ed. Special Education Online Hybrid CILEX Institute of Legal Executives
Heating Ventilation & Air (SEOH)
Conditioning CITY &
Hospitality Management Mount Saint Vincent University GUILDS International Qualifications
Motor Vehicle Technology Bachelor of Arts (Child & Youth Study)
Plumbing Technology ICDL International Computer Drivers
Mount Saint Vincent University License
Diploma Programmes Bachelor of Business Administration
Computer Network Technology ILM Institute of Leadership
Computer Programming Technology The University of the West Indies & Management
Culinary Arts Postgraduate Diploma in Education
Food & Beverage Management (Mathematics) NCCAP National Certification Council
Heating, Ventilation & for Activity Professionals
Air Conditioning Technology
Hospitality Management CISCO CISCO Networking Academy
Motor Vehicle Technology
Plumbing Technology RCA Bermuda Compliance Certification
Wood Technology
SCMA Supply Chain Management
Certificate Programmes Association
Accounting Technician
Applied Science Technology
Electrical Wiring Technology WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Heating, Ventilation and CERTIFICATES
Air Conditioning Technology TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT COURSES
Motor Vehicle Technology
Plumbing Technology SHORTTRAINING AND EXAM REVIEW
Wood Technology COURSES

ONLINE COURSES

OUR COMMITMENT
. INNOVATIVE EDUCATION
. QUALITY TEACHING
. UNPARALLELED STUDENT SUPPORT
MANY PATHS.
DISCOVER YOURS.

21 Stonington Avenue,
South Road, Paget, PG 04 Bermuda
P.O. Box HM 2178, Hamilton HMLX, Bermuda
441-236-9000 • WWW.COLLEGE.BM

PRINTED BY BERMUDA PRESS - PUBLISHED 2020

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