In episode 1 of Conversatio’s second season, Dr. Michael Watson and Dr. Julia Beeman sit down to discuss the role of guns in our culture today and how to navigate this hot topic as Catholics.
Abbey News
New Nursing Program To Ease Shortages In Health Care
This is an excerpt from an article from The Gaston Gazette, written by Kevin Ellis. Click here to read the original article.
On Tuesday, November 29, many gathered on a tour of Belmont Abbey College to view firsthand the progress of the new nursing program that began in August 2022 at Gaston County’s only four-year college.
CaroMont Health, the parent company of the local hospital and multiple medical offices, partnered with Belmont Abbey College to start the nursing program just as it announced plans in 2019 to build a second hospital now taking shape adjacent to the campus.
CaroMont Cares aims to help the county’s second largest employer, only a hundred or so behind the public school system, take advantage of its investment by creating a pipeline of nursing talent and other medical professionals from Belmont Abbey College into its medical offices and hospitals.
“We’re trying to come up with some way to solve this nursing-shortage problem long term,” said semi-retired attorney T.J. Solomon, also a member of CaroMont Cares.
Also along for the tour of the nursing program at Belmont Abbey College were sisters from the Sisters of Mercy, which has a hospital in Charlotte and were the original occupants of the nursing program’s building, and several members of the Cherry family, who earlier in the day awarded two students nursing scholarships.
Hospitals and medical offices have experienced nursing shortages for about 100 years, Carolyn Harmon, the nursing program’s first dean, told the group. Despite those shortages, four new hospitals are under construction in the greater Charlotte region in addition to the one in Belmont.
“How are we going to staff these hospitals?” she asked. “Well, we’re going to try to do that.”
Early days of new program
Harmon described the start of the program as “fantastic.” There have been moments of learning from mistakes, but nothing major, she said.
“As we continue to grow, everything’s only going to get better,” she said.
The inaugural class of students seeking a bachelor of science degree in nursing that started in August of this year at Belmont Abbey numbered 21, and included two men. Hospitals and other medical groups have attempted to recruit more men into nursing for decades, so even two counts as a success, Harmon said.
In the next few years, Belmont Abbey expects to see its nursing classes filled with 80 students and then jump to 120 students in the next three to five years, Harmon said.
Those numbers may seem high considering Belmont Abbey has a total enrollment of about 1,500 students, Harmon said.
“We need those numbers (in nursing) so that we can serve the community,” Harmon said.
Belmont Abbey will start its RN to BSN (registered nurse to bachelor of science in nursing) and its master of science in nursing degree programs in January 2023.
Belmont Abbey Difference
The state’s only Roman Catholic college prides itself on its spiritual aspect. Nursing students at Belmont Abbey will also get training in ethics and empathy while learning medical skills.
“I know you can’t really teach people empathy, but we’re going to try to,” Harmon told the group.
Harmon later spoke of what she has experienced at Belmont Abbey. People willing to help and kindness were just two of her experiences, she said.
“There is something about Belmont Abbey,” Harmon said after her talk. “That is a sense of peace and fulfillment and joy.”
Motorsports Program Makes Strides and Speeds Towards Success
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Alex Mullin
The brightest minds have come from across the country and the world to study an ever-expanding world of fast cars and big money, Motorsports, both national and international. The Belmont Abbey Motorsports Program has seen a lot of change over these past couple years. The program has opened new avenues and career opportunities for both upperclassmen and underclassmen who are looking to forge a career path in Motorsports.
To start off, there are a lot of different ways one may involve themselves in Motorsports. In the first semester of freshman year, the first course in the program is Intro to Motorsports at Sacred Heart Campus in Mercedes Hall to get a good introduction to the many classes that are taught within the program. From there, there are options to choose from in pursuing a Motorsports Management Major, which includes classes like History of Motorsports, Sports Broadcasting, and many more. Some of the esteemed faculty involved in the program include, but are not limited to: Professor Quinn Beekwilder, Professor Trey Cunningham, and Professor Matt Yocum just to name a few.
The program has recently produced some great talent in graduating classes in this past decade that have gone on to work for or own a professional NASCAR team, and the current group of upperclassmen look to continue that trend. Recently, the Motorsports Program made trips to Ford Performance Racing School, and both zMAX Dragway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway, giving students an opportunity to be more hands-on in learning about how the world of motorsports brings people together out of a pure desire to go fast and have fun.
Other than the main classes in Motorsports available at the Abbey, you can also join the Motorsports Club. There are many events they are currently organizing as the Motorsports scene slows down in off-seasons for organizations such as NASCAR and IndyCar, and the more people that are involved, the better. It is a great learning experience for learning about the world of Motorsports from local short track racing to international escapades of speed and sound. The club typically meets Thursdays at 6:30 P.M. in Student Commons unless noted otherwise.
This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.
An Interview with a Tour Guide: The Inside Scoop on All Things Belmont Abbey
Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Hannah Schudlik
When interviewing Belmont Abbey’s lead tour guide, Max Buico, I got the inside scoop on secrets about the campus and what it’s like to work for the Admissions Office.
On top of being a student-athlete, President of the Campus Activities Board, and the lead tour guide for the Admissions office, junior Max Buico has a lot on his plate. Fortunately, I had a chance to sit down and talk with Max to discuss his job and why it matters to the college’s community.
Hannah: Why did you become a tour guide?
Max: I became a tour guide to show prospective students what makes the Abbey great!
Hannah: What is something you make sure to tell visitors during a tour?
Max: I always make sure to tell visitors about our excellent professors.
Hannah: Is there anything visitors tend to ask you or want to know about the school?
Max: Visitors like to know what students do in their free time. I usually tell them that students hang out in the quad, drive into Charlotte, and attend sporting events on campus.
Hannah: Do you have a favorite spot to show off during tours?
Max: The adoration chapel. It’s a very peaceful place to pray and think.
Although the chapel may be Max’s favorite spot on campus, tour guides must pay attention to their student’s interests. For instance, if the prospective student is an athlete, the tour guide will mention the Wheeler Center and other athletic resources.
Hannah: What is the best part about working for the Admissions Office?
Max: I enjoy working with students who care about the school.
Belmont Abbey’s tour guides are vital to creating a friendly and welcoming environment. Our tour guides are the first people to meet on campus for most visitors and prospective students. Max explains that there is an “additional pressure” to make a good first impression of the college. Fortunately, the Admissions Office trains and prepares each of its guides to welcome and assist new students.
This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.
New Major and Minor: Human Services Online
Author: The Crusader Staff Writers
A Human Services degree from Belmont Abbey College equips you for careers in the helping professions. Designed in accordance with the standards of the Council for Standards in Human Service Education, the Bachelors in Human Services aligns with the College’s mission to educate students such that God will be glorified in all they do. The undergraduate program provides students a base of knowledge and skills needed to ethically assist individuals, families, and diverse communities to function effectively through prevention and remediation of problems in a manner consistent with a Christian worldview. The program emphasizes theoretical and experiential learning aimed at optimizing human interactions and finding meaningful solutions to problems. Such knowledge and skills will assist students seeking careers in diverse social settings such as residential and community-based centers, ministry, group homes, correctional centers, public health, day treatment centers, shelters, halfway houses, child and family service centers, geriatric facilities, and social service agencies.
POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS:
Client or Victim Advocate, Family Support Workers, Caseworker, Child Life Specialist, Community Outreach Worker, Life Coach, Nonprofit Agency Administrator, Juvenile Court Liaisons, Social Service Management
Some courses in this program include the following:
HS 110: Introduction to Human Services
HS 210: Helping Skills: Theory & Practice
HS 220: Group Dynamics: Theory & Practice
HS 300: Ethical & Professional Issues
HS 330: Case Management
HS 335: Crisis Assessment, Intervention, and Prevention
HS 370: Human Service Management
HS 371: Program Planning & Evaluation
HS 372: Conflict Resolution
HS 374: Social Policy & Practice
HS 384: Social Justice & Advocacy
HS 493: Field Experience in Human Services
HS 373: Capstone in Human Services
If you are interested in this major or minor, please contact Dr. Diane Elliot at dianaelliott@bac.edu.
This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 2 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.
