Weekly Update, Jan. 3

The Financial Aid office offers two programs to help students learn to manage their college finances, with student loan debt in mind. SALT and Cash Course are free programs designed to help students better handle their finances. SALT, launched at LBCC the beginning of fall term, offers free counseling to help students borrow less, spend less and repay loans successfully. SALT also offers searchable job, internship and scholarship opportunities for students. Faculty and staff who teach financing to students can utilize SALT program materials, and Phi Theta Kappa plans to use the materials to help inform students. The free Cash Course program offers financial literacy and management tools to students, and is used by the Financial Aid office to help students who are having problems managing their student debts. LBCC currently has a 20 percent loan default rate. Financial Aid staff is working to bring that rate down, with two goals in mind: to keep students out of default, and help students with financial literacy. Find out more about these programs at: http://linnbenton.edu/current-students/money-matters/financial-aid/debt-management

LBCC Board of Education approved three new certificate programs and one new associate of applied science degree program at the December board meeting. The Profitable Small Farms certificate will focus on skills for starting and sustaining small farms. Two technical core level program certificates will offer hands-on training to support Welding, Mechatronics, Machine Tool, and Water, Environment and Technology courses. The new AAS degree in BioEnergy Operations will provide foundational skills for those seeking to be operators of bioenergy production systems. The AAS program will be offered online and include instruction from Walla Walla Community College in Washington, where it was developed through a National Science Foundation grant.

Plan to attend the President’s Forum with Dr. Greg Hamann Thursday, Jan. 16 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Forum building, room F-104. Hear from President Hamann regarding LBCC directions, opportunities and challenges, and bring your questions for a question and answer session.

Enrollment numbers for winter term are as follows: Full-time equivalent (FTE): 2,565; Part-time: 3,244; Non-credit: 857; total: 6,666 students currently registered.