Download Oct 10, 2010 - Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham Technical College
Technology Advisory Committee Meeting
Fisheries
October 27th, 2010
Advisory Members in Attendance: Steve Seymour, Bill Finkbonner, Shannon Moore, Steve Ayers
BTC Student Representative(s): Parris Johnson, Benjamin Malik
BTC Staff: Sharon Carpenter, Earl Steele, Malcolm Oliver, Stella Gardiner
TOPIC
DISCUSSION
1. Call to Order –
Welcome and
Introductions
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2. Industry Updates
from Committee
Members
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3. Program Reports
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The meeting was called to order by Chair Shannon Moore at 11:40am…minutes reviewed by members; motion
made to approve by Steve Ayers; approved by all.
Welcome and introductions were made by all.
Bill Finkbonner reported that there are plenty of Coho for brood stock this year and that bigger fish are getting
into the system.
Steve Ayers reported on commercial fishermen and hatchery.
Steve Seymour said that a water steward biologist is working with the counties, and the Nooksack and Lummi
Tribes.
Shannon Moore said the job market is looking for people with BTC Fisheries experience; that jobs are out there
and that what the industry wants are not necessarily people with a willingness to learn but people who can
already do the job (hatchery workers and fish technicians).
Earl said enrollment is at 32 students (24 is full; currently 8 students over normal quarter load); trying to keep
number of students at 28 (last year accepted more students because some of the 2 nd year students did not
register in time and accepted the into fall quarter bringing the number to 32); will pick-up 4-5 winter quarter;
have 20 on the list to start next fall 2011.
Earl remarked that the problem with a large class is that the Fisheries building doesn’t accommodate this
number of students easily because of its size and configuration.
Earl said that right now BTC is working with Western to create a 2 nd year transferrable degree and with another
program in Alaska, i.e. having all student credits accepted by the University of Alaska in Juno.
Earl reported that he is still working with the University of Idaho with the fish disease study.
Earl said that BTC has applied for a $200,000 grant from the Paul Allen Foundation to work with the NW Indian
College and Western to see how BTC’s 2year program matches up with theirs; this work would combine pieces
from all three institutions and be a wonderful blend for another 4-year degree.
Earl said that students are looking forward to attending the Commercial Fishing Expo November 18-20 (3-day
event at Quest Field; people come from all over the world) and the Pacific Marine Expo in December.
Earl said that he is the Stream Watch person for the State of Washington with “Eyes in the Woods” monitoring
illegal fishing in streams (using wireless cameras).
Earl spoke about TEGRITY (a software program the state purchased and which is available to all community
and technical colleges); this is a lecture capture program were the instructor can draw on the computer screen
and talk at the same time (entire lecture is captured simultaneously which results in real time lectures
electronically; for review purposes students can log onto a website and look at a lecture picking up what was
missed or for a relook; students really like this feature (the lecture can be downloaded to an iPod or computer).
ACTION
Approved
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4. Student Reports
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5. Dean’s Report
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Earl also spoke at ANGEL (another state purchased software program); very pleased with this one too and with
the ease of use; this one is real time too; Earl was selected to be an early adopter of ANGEL and put it to use
as quickly as possible (still in the process of learning how to use it more expansively).
Earl said that Fisheries would like to borrow an electric cart from the college (main campus) in order to move
fish upstream from WCH or maybe the city could load out a “mule”.
Earl reported that the old net pens are gone and in a landfill; Fisheries tried to contact everyone who might be
interested in having the net pens but no one committed to anything so the pens were cut-up and put into
dumpsters for removal.
Earl said that the college now handles the Whatcom Falls Hatchery because Fish & Wildlife did not have
enough money to run it; BTC partnerships with them to raise Rainbow Trout and then plant them in local lakes
from Smokey Point to the border (100,000 Rainbow Trout one pound each) the work is done all summer and
gives students a place for in-service work; security for this done by Ken Clark at night and by students during
the day; there is also a Brood Stock Program for Rainbow Trout and all food for this is provided/donated (500
Rainbow can be kept for students under this program).
Benjamin Malik said as a 1st year student he likes the program and is learning new things every day such the
proper techniques to feed Rainbow Trout; he is learning the fishery technician part (being out in the field where
the science is).
Parris Johnson said that he is a 1st year student and did not know anything about fish when he start in the fall
but because the program is taught at a fast pace he is learning at a fast pace; he would like to be a biologist out
in the field or at a hatchery; by taking the Fisheries courses he is learning what path he wants to take in the
future.
Sharon Carpenter spoke about the new Fisheries Tech building…that funding is looking at going in a different
direction; now meeting with the city to discuss a building that would be shared by others; BTC would pay rent to
the city or do a lease to own (after 20-years BTC would have the space); currently working with the state to see
how they feel about it and talks are going good (Western would possibly share the space with BTC).
Sharon reported that BTC now has an interim president, Dr. Patty McKeown, because the previous president
moved to another state; said that the BTC Instruction Council is hoping that Patty will become the new
president on a permanent basis.
Sharon said that there will be a 6% budget cut this year and BTC is going for a lot of grant monies.
Sharon reported that all programs are full, all have waitlists and that the college’s focus is on retention.
Sharon said that the college is looking at more options on how a student can learn such as TEGRITY and
ANGEL (real time teaching tools).
6. New Business
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No new business.
7. Next Meeting Date
Adjourn Meeting
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Next meeting, Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 11:00am, Whatcom County Hatchery…lunch will be provided;
meeting will begin at 11:30am.
Meeting adjourned at 1:05pm.
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