stem lab

January 19, 2023 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Marks Launch of New Nursing Programs by Granting Scholarships to Frontline Nurses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belmont, N.C. (January 19, 2023) – Belmont Abbey College celebrates the first semester of the new RN-BSN and Master of Science in Nursing Leadership programs. As these degrees launch, Belmont Abbey College is thrilled to announce an additional layer to its partnership with CaroMont Health. Nine CaroMont Health employees receive full tuition to join the inaugural cohorts, with four participating in the RN-BSN program and five enrolling in the Master of Science in Nursing Leadership (MSN) program. Belmont Abbey, CaroMont Health, and the CaroMont Health Foundation are joining together to cover tuition for these nine students.

These programs, along with the BSN that launched in the fall of 2022, will help local nurses and healthcare professionals achieve the next step in their education and ultimately, their careers. “These nine students will take courses that advance their current capabilities,” said Dr. Carolyn Harmon, Dean of Nursing at Belmont Abbey. “The RN-BSN program aims to advance the knowledge of practicing RNs and improves patient outcomes by expanding each nurses’ current skillset. With the MSN in Leadership, we’re honored to help aspiring nursing leaders develop the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill their calling.”

This announcement follows CaroMont Health’s ongoing construction of a new hospital, CaroMont Regional Medical Center-Belmont, on land leased to the healthcare organization by the Belmont Abbey Monastery. The development and location of the hospital will offer a unique opportunity to support Belmont Abbey College’s healthcare-related programs through experiential learning opportunities.

Belmont Abbey College and CaroMont Health are long-standing organizations in the Gaston County community that have sought to invest and improve the lives of local citizens. Belmont Abbey College is thrilled to work with CaroMont Health and to have such a well-respected, conscientious partner that values exceptional healthcare.

“Bringing together two remarkable and storied institutions, the partnership between CaroMont Health, a leading healthcare provider, and Belmont Abbey College, a leading institution of higher education, is a game changer for the region,” said Dr. Bill Thierfelder, President of Belmont Abbey College. “This partnership puts quality education within reach for aspiring healthcare professionals who want to deepen their commitment to the profession.”

CaroMont Health’s Chief Executive Officer and President echoed similar sentiment and thanked Belmont Abbey for their generosity.

“Providing these nine CaroMont Health nurses the financial support to advance their careers with a top-tier education is extremely generous,” said Peek. “It is another demonstration of Belmont Abbey’s commitment to our shared values of care and compassion and we cannot thank them enough.”

For information on Belmont Abbey College’s Healthcare education programs, please visit the website. For press inquiries, contact Rolando Rivas at rolandorivas@bac.edu.

For information on CaroMont Health, visit the website. For press inquiries, contact Meghan Berney at meghan.berney@caromontheatlh.org.

Download the press release.

December 21, 2022 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Offers CFP® Board Registered Program in Financial Planning

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – BELMONT, N.C., December 21, 2022 – The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP® Board) authorizes Belmont Abbey College to offer a Certificate in Financial Planning program. This seated program at Belmont Abbey College begins in March of 2023. The College is currently accepting enrollment applications for the program.

“The CFP® Board is pleased to approve the program at Belmont Abbey College as a CFP® Board Registered Program,” said Kamila Elliott, CFP®, chair of the CFP® Board’s Board of Directors. “We anticipate that Belmont Abbey College’s program will contribute significantly to the number of qualified candidates seeking to obtain a CFP® certification, the standard of excellence for competent and ethical financial planning.” Belmont Abbey College is offering this program as part of a Curriculum Partnership with Dalton Education, a respected leader in this space. According to Dalton Education, the demand for CFP® professionals is high — and is expected to grow at a faster-than-average rate through 2028. Individuals who study and sit for the CFP® exam are likely to build successful careers in financial advising, financial planning, and more.

The CFP® Board is a Washington, D.C. based independent 501(c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to benefit the public by granting, upholding and promoting the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) certification. Those who earn the certification are distinguishing themselves among their peers by meeting the CFP® Board’s education, examination, experience and ethics requirements. Students completing the financial planning program at Belmont Abbey College will meet the coursework requirement for CFP®Certification and be eligible to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination administered by the CFP® Board.

The Certificate in Financial Planning is part of Belmont Abbey’s efforts to expand its Professional Studies offerings, alongside the Certificate in Business Basics and the Certificate in Leadership that launched in 2022. “As we grow our academic offerings, we are constantly evaluating ways to serve new populations and enhance our offerings for our community,” says Brad Frazier, Chair and Associate Professor of Business at Belmont Abbey College. “We live in a world where things are constantly evolving and offering a CFP® certification provides finance professionals the opportunity to pursue a well-respected industry certification and serve the public.” To learn more about the CFP® program at Belmont Abbey College, visit belmontabbeycollege.edu/academics/graduate-studies/cfp/.

Download the press release.

December 20, 2022 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Belmont Abbey College Graduates First-Ever Master’s Level Cohort

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Belmont, N.C. (December 17, 2022) – For the first time in college history, Belmont Abbey announces the graduation of its inaugural graduate level cohort. The Master of Health Administration launched in August of 2021 is the first graduate program offered by the private liberal arts college. The five graduating students display exemplary understanding of healthcare disciplines and will make a valuable impact on the industry at large.

The MHA program is asynchronous and online, with expected completion in less than 18 months. “We developed this program to meet the needs of busy working professionals who desire to deepen their understanding of the healthcare industry and enhance their career opportunities,” says Dr. Gwyndolan Swain, Founding Director of the MHA program at Belmont Abbey College. “It’s with great joy that I announce that our first cohort has completed their requirements for graduation and will now continue the exceptional work they’ve started as part of the workforce.” Due to the flexibility of the program, students are able to advance their skills without putting their current occupations on hold. Graduates from the program have careers in health policy, hospital administration, and insurance.

As a Catholic, Benedicitine institution, Belmont Abbey is committed to offering academic programs that address societal issues. The MHA program creates a pipeline of qualified healthcare leaders that emerge ready to lead. “Going through a global pandemic tested the durability of our healthcare systems. Several factors contributed to the healthcare shortage, but COVID-19 reminded all of us how important it is to have ethical, well-trained healthcare leaders working in the field”, says Dr. Travis Feezell, Provost at Belmont Abbey. “There’s a great demand for leaders in this space and we are doing all we can to answer this call, specifically in Gaston County.” In addition to the MHA, Belmont Abbey recently launched new BSN, RN-BSN, and MSN degree programs to meet the needs of aspiring healthcare workers.

As part of the inaugural graduate cohort, Belmont Abbey celebrates several undergraduate alumni who came back home to complete their Master’s degree. Grace Bruno ‘17, is part of that group. “Going back to the Abbey was an easy decision for me because I knew what I was going to get in terms of education. I knew I would have a hands-on experience, guided by dedicated faculty who know what it’s like to balance Graduate school and a full-time job,” Bruno says. “I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.” For more information on joining the Master of Health Administration program at the Abbey, visit bac.edu/mha.

Press inquiries can contact Rolando Rivas, AVP of Marketing and Communications, at rolandorivas@bac.edu. For information on all of the Graduate degrees offered at Belmont Abbey, visit bac.edu/academics/graduate-studies/.

Download the press release.

December 13, 2022 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Tutoring Options: Writing Center and STEM Lab

Author: The Crusader Staff Writer, Joy Dygowski

Maybe you attended our open house or saw the posters tacked up around campus, but Belmont Abbey College is proud to announce that we have a brand-new Writing Center and new STEM Lab tutoring that is here to help students just like you. The Writing Center is located in the back of Stowe Hall, Room 216, and is open for drop-ins or by appointment Monday through Thursday. The STEM Lab is located in the Science building and has appointments available throughout the week.

Belmont Abbey College’s Writing Center exists to help students become better writers. The Center’s one-on-one session approach is aimed at helping both the student and the tutor to work through ways to improve the students writing. If you are interested in receiving one-on-one instruction from one of our experienced tutors, do not hesitate to schedule your appointment now.

Students can easily book an appointment at the Writing Center and STEM Lab through Canvas under the ‘Tutoring Options’’ tab which will redirect you to our online booking platform called ThinkingStorm. Once you have arrived on the ThinkingStorm website you can book a session that fits into your schedule. Or simply stop by our room in Stowe Hall and one of our skilled tutors will be more than happy to assist you with all your writing needs and questions! Or stop by the STEM Lab in the Science Building.

Throughout a student’s journey here at Belmont Abbey, it is almost guaranteed they will have numerous ups and downs throughout their educational voyage. Whether you are an athlete, seminarian, or part of the Honors College, school can be stressful. Combine this stress with learning how to write academically at a college level and you have a perfect storm. Thankfully the Writing Center here at Belmont Abbey College is here to help!

In an interview with one of our new tutors, Danashia Tucker, she said that; “The Writing Center is a great addition to Belmont Abbey, it provides the students with tutoring and guidance on their writing assignments.” When asked about what kind of writing help the majority of students are coming into the Writing Center for, she responded by saying that; “during a typical tutoring appointment, I help the students with the format of their papers, brainstorming ideas, and structure.” Danashia concluded the interview with an encouragement to all students to visit The Writing Center, saying; “visiting The Writing Center can be beneficial for any student having a difficult time with the writing process, or simply looking for guidance.” As a tutor myself, I could not have said it better.

A visit to The Writing Center here on campus can help to bridge the gap between a high school writing style and what you will be expected to do here at The Abbey. It can be overwhelming for students to ask for help with their writing, but the Writing Center is here to create a non-intimating environment to give the student the skills they need to become a stronger writer. The Center offers peer tutoring to students from all majors, and will also help with any writing-focused project for any of your classes. We want to help the individual student to develop strategies that will make them a better writer. The Writing Center is always here to help. Whether it’s a thesis, confusion on an assignment, or you just want a second opinion and some clarification on your writing, our tutors will work with you to give you the tools and direction needed to take your writing to the next level and set you up for future success here at the Abbey!

This article was originally posted in the Fall 2022, Issue 1 of The Crusader Newspaper. Download the full issue.

November 30, 2022 By radefolaju Leave a Comment

Grant in Support of STEM Students

BELMONT, N.C. – (November 30, 2022) Belmont Abbey College is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from NCICU to support its STEM students.

The NCICU (North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities) announced a new grant for Faculty-Student STEM Mentoring. This funding will be used to enhance programs already underway for STEM majors and to expand Belmont Abbey’s current mentoring programs. One of the grant’s goals is to also improve participation in first-generation college students, minorities, and Pell grant-eligible students in the STEM field.

The proposal for this grant consisted of issuing funds to support the STEM Learning Lab currently on campus. The STEM Learning Lab focuses on helping Belmont Abbey students in the areas of Math and Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Ecology and the Physical sciences. The STEM Learning Lab will serve as a hub for faculty student interactions, peer tutoring, and peer mentoring. Upper level students are offered positions to tutor in the first year courses (College Algebra, Calculus, Math for Liberal Arts,) hold test review sessions, and meet with their first or second year mentees.

Faculty Director, Dr. White, mentions that, “The Faculty-Peer mentorship program pairs interested students in STEM related fields with a faculty and a peer mentor. Peer mentors provide camaraderie, advising from a student’s perspective, and tutoring if desired. Mentees can meet with their mentors in the STEM Learning Lab or elsewhere on campus as the pair chooses.” Mentees and mentors will attend 2-3 professional development events with Dr. White, over the course of the academic year.

In addition to the Faculty-Peer mentorship program, representatives from local industries will also be invited to discuss entry-level positions and internships with the students. Speakers from local banks, insurance firms, and the manufacturing industry will be invited to discuss STEM related job opportunities. By promoting post graduate opportunities, the mathematics department hopes to attract more students interested in STEM fields.

Download the press release.