Weekly Update, Dec. 13

Recently revised Board Policy 1010, which covers the college values statement, has been reviewed by College Council with the recommendation that it be submitted to the college Board of Education for approval at the January meeting. If approved by the board, the new policy will be available in the Paperless Office under Board Policies at http://po.linnbenton.edu/BPsandARs/.

English faculty members Chris Riseley, Matt Usner, Robin Havenick and Jane Walker undertook a trial of a new program during fall term, Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) in Writing, which can shorten students' path through the developmental writing sequence by two terms and save students $400. ALP Writing is an innovative program that allows students who have tested into WR 95 to take WR 121, along with WR 115, to develop their skills and complete WR 121 in their first term. Each instructor taught 10 under-prepared WR 121 students in their traditional class, along with the second WR 115 class designed to give one-on-one instruction. Normally the completion rate is 29 percent for under-prepared students in writing. The ALP program is hoping to double that completion rate to around 60 percent. While they cannot know the exact pass rates until final grades for the term have been posted, they are confident that they will meet that goal. Institutional Research will conduct an annual review process to compare the numbers of developmental students who succeeded in ALP with students who took the traditional writing sequence route, and will examine the success of students through the next highest writing class. Data gathered will be used to help track student success and completion, and will become part of Achieving the Dream data.

About 20 faculty and staff designed holiday cards to be sent to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.  Many people also stopped by at the DAC, SL&L and The Commuter offices to sign one of the 104 cards, which were sent to the center last week.

Seated, left to right, Marci Johnston, Leta Howell, Lynne Cox and Michelle Slay.
Standing, left to right, Kimberly Kopplien, Tammi Drury, Joy Hobbs,
Megan Pickens-Lloyd and Patti Ball.

Weekly Update, Nov. 22

Developed by the math department, Math Fast Track is for students who have had algebra in the recent past, but tested into Math 20, 60 or 65. Math Fast Track helps “fill in the gaps” with the goal of moving students into a higher math placement, saving them both time and money. At mid-term, Hollis Duncan’s first Fast Track class is showing good results. With 18 students enrolled, mid-term data shows 12 students moved up one test placement, four moved up two placements, and one student moved up three placements. One student in class is struggling to move up for various reasons. Hollis plans to give full results at the end of the term. As part of the Achieving the Dream initiative, data generated will be used to track student progression and success.  

Barry Broadbent was sworn in as the newest Board of Education member at the board meeting Nov. 20, replacing outgoing board member Cathrine Thomas. A Scio resident, Mr. Broadbent will represent Sweet Home Zone 1, which includes parts of rural Linn County, Sweet Home, Scio and Brownsville. Mr. Broadbent is a marketing specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Portland, and is the former owner of Valley Industries, a lumber manufacturing facility in Scio. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and Resource Management from OSU. The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. in the college board room, Calapooia Center.

Each November, the Board of Education takes time to review the most critical financial issues facing the College, which provides initial guidance to staff members who have budget development responsibilities, and helps in developing the proposed budget presented by the Board to the Budget Committee in May. The college is at a place where the outlook is improving. Enrollment has stabilized, state resources are improving, and pension costs increases have moderated. This puts the college in a position to rebuild reserves to restore the buffer and make a few investments for the future. Board  recommendations around critical financial issues, developed around the college’s strategic goals of increasing completion, ensuring student equity, and ensuring quality education, include: Adding $200,000 to the Mission, Effectiveness, Resources and Improvement Team (MERIT) for investments to move the college forward; continue to add at least $600,000 to the ending fund balance in order to meet target levels as directed by the board; freeze tuition for the 2013-14 academic year; continue funding specific projects pertaining to capital depreciation, technology, instructional equipment and the roof reserve, and continue not charging department payrolls to fund the PERS rate reserve fund. For more detailed information, see the Critical Conversations document in the Board of Education packet for Nov. 20: http://po.linnbenton.edu/boardmeeting/11_20_13BoardPacket/

Weekly Update, Nov. 15

LBCC's nursing program received numerous commendations for instruction and student support during its recent accreditation visit by the Oregon Board of Nursing. Program director and chair Sheryl Caddy led the lengthy process, which included a self-study report and a three-day visit from the Nursing Board with tours of clinical sites and classrooms, and interviews with students, staff and administrators.

LBCC’s Re-Choired Element Chamber Choir and the Concert Choir have been selected to compete in the eighth-annual World Choir Games held this coming July in Riga, Latvia. Students will compete in three categories including Mixed Chamber Singers (a cappella), Musica Sacra A cappella, and Musica Contemporanea, with approximately 300 choirs from six continents and more than 60 countries competing.

LBCC has five Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) on campus to help stop an irregular heartbeat in the case of sudden cardiac arrest. AED locations are noted on campus maps as a heart shape, including the online campus map and building directory maps. Although the device should be operated by trained personnel, knowing the locations of these portable devices is important to everyone. Locations: Public Safety Office, first floor Red Cedar Hall; Takena Hall, first floor; Industrial A, second floor hallway; Activities Center hallway; and in the President’s Office, Calapooia Center.

Students in James Reddan's choir signing in the Bookstore atrium.

Weekly Update Sept. 20

Carolyn & Stephen Lebsack

Biological sciences faculty members Carolyn and Stephen

Teresa Thomas

Lebsack received the Pastega Faculty Excellence Award.  Carolyn started with the college in 1976, and Stephen in 1979. The Lebsacks retired in June. Teresa Thomas, administrative assistant, received the Pastega Classified Excellence Award. Teresa started with the college in 1981. The Distinguished Staff award went to Alice Sperling, former coordinator for the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence.  Alice started with the college in 1995 as an instructional assistant. She retired in June.

Andrew Feldman

Andrew Feldman was hired as the new dean of Science, Engineering and Mathematics.  Andrew comes to the college from Luna Community College in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he was the academic director for the department of Science, Math, and Engineering Technology for the last five years. He has a PhD and a bachelor degree in geology from Florida State University. In his free time, Andrew plays guitar and he and his wife, Barbara, enjoy good food, walking their huskies, motorcycling and winter sports. Andrew currently lives in Albany and is waiting for his wife to join him before deciding where to settle.

Sandra Shinkle and Rica Amity have joined the Career and Counseling Center. Sandra will be a full-time faculty counselor and instructor in Albany and at the East Linn Centers, transferring from her previous position with the CASE program.  Rica will serve as fixed-term faculty for fall term only, and will be located primarily in Albany. Both will teach Destination Graduation classes, counsel and advise undecided students, work with students in crisis management services and lead initiatives to help us achieve our equitable success and quality outcomes.

The new web site is currently in the internal viewing process until Oct. 10, and is viewable only when logged into the LBCC network at www.linnbenton.edu/inspired. Public preview will begin Oct. 11 via a link on the current web page. Web site launch is scheduled for Oct. 21.

The college landed a $2.7 million grant to help develop the new virtual college, LB iLearn Campus, which will initially target healthcare and business programs, with the goal to increase completion, improve accessibility and raise the quality of online education. The grant is part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant.

Board of Education member Catherine Thomas announced her resignation effective the end of September. Thomas' Zone 1 represents areas of East Linn County that include Sweet Home, Scio and Brownsville. An announcement calling for applications for her replacement will be posted in the newspaper and on the web site, with applications due Nov. 8.

The college will receive a “virtual” accreditation visit in October, the third such visit by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities in this new process, which requires smaller, focused reports to be written every other year on specific topics instead of the once every 10 year approach. The third-year visit demonstrates the alignment of college resources with the mission of the college. A 180-page document responds to questions of alignment, and the college is likely to receive commendations and recommendations for its work.

College board members voted to establish LBCC email addresses which will be posted on the LBCC website, allowing them to be more accessible to answer questions and communicate with the community.

The board voted to increase the pay of LBCC management staff by 3 percent. The pay increase is coupled with benefit reductions for managers. That cost reduction was accomplished by dropping the most expensive health plan available to managers. The pay increase is similar to pay increases, coupled with benefit reductions, granted earlier this year to classified staff and faculty.

Weekly Update, September 5

John Rehley

Carol McKiel

John Rehley has joined the college as manager of Printing and Mailing Services. John came to LBCC after working at Mid-Valley Newspapers for nearly 30 years. While at the newspapers, John worked in a variety of positions including distribution, press, accounting, IT, circulation and prepress. He has two degrees from LBCC: an associate's in automotive technology and associate's in graphic communication. John and his wife of 16 years live in Corvallis. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two grandchildren, and hiking and fishing.

Carol McKiel joined the college in July as the new director of High School Partnerships. Carol comes to us from Lane Community College, where she served as director of the TRIO STEM program. She has a bachelor’s in elementary education from Indiana University, a master’s in student personnel services from Northeastern State University, and a PhD in education leadership from Oregon State University. Originally from Indiana, Carol and her husband moved to Oregon six years ago and reside in Monmouth. They have a daughter and son, and a new grandson who lives in Texas, and who Carol says she is learning to bond with via Skype. Carol also enjoys gardening and bicycling.

Institutional Research has created a new database designed to access to enrollment data. The new Enrollment Management Pulse (EMP) system gives you access to up-to-date information on LBCC's current headcount, FTE, tuition revenue and more. You can even drill down to specific course types or departments. Visit www.linnbenton.edu/emp to check it out.

Weekly Wrap-up

Vickie Staffelbach

Vickie Staffelbach began work this week as the new executive assistant to the president and the Board of Education, replacing Renee Windsor-White who retired at the end of June. Vickie has more than 20 years experience in public administration and management, with 19 years in higher education. Her previous position was as office manager and administrative assistant to the Linn County district attorney. Prior to that, Vickie worked as a health plan regulatory coordinator, as director of administration in the college of pharmacy at OSU, and in various administrative and office management positions at the University of Oregon. Vickie has a master’s degree in public administrative management and public affairs, and a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing, both from the University of Oregon. She also has an associate’s degree in business management from Lane Community College. Vickie's community involvement includes serving as an interviewer for the Linn County Youth Job Fair; volunteering with the Big Brother/Big Sister program, the Governor’s Food Drive and other civic volunteer projects; assisting at various events including Relay for Life, Lane Memorial Blood Bank, and Corvallis Historic Auto Club; and serving as a Spanish interpreter. She is a native Oregonian from Eugene, and currently resides in Harrisburg. Outside of work, Vickie enjoys spending time with her "babies" - three dogs and five cats, and loves the peaceful Oregon coast. One of the most interesting trips she has taken was to Europe, where she visited eight countries. She says that trip changed her sense of place and made her thankful to live in the U.S. She says she also felt that way after seeing the poverty in Cabo San Lucas. Vickie has two brothers and two sisters, several rescued fish and a tortoise she found walking along Hwy 99. Please stop by and welcome Vickie to LBCC!

The college has purchased nine static billboard ads in key locations in Corvallis along Highway 99 West, on Highway 20 near Circle Blvd., on Western Blvd, on Highway 34 eastbound, and in Albany on Pacific Blvd near Queen St. The ads should be up starting Monday, August 5. Already in place are two electronic billboard ads on Highway 34 heading into Corvallis featuring the mechatronics and welding programs. The ads are in rotation among several other ads. Also, toward the end of August watch for our new movie screen ad in the Albany and Corvallis theaters featuring Mechatronics.

Weekly Wrap-Up

LBCC was awarded $1.5 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to help fund renovation and construction of the Advanced Transportation Technology Center in Lebanon. LBCC’s project was one of four projects chosen for funding, part of a $7.2 million investment to support business development and job training in Oregon, California, Nevada and Utah. The ATTC will be the only major training facility for alternative fuel vehicles between Seattle and San Francisco, and will serve as a first step toward creating a base for alternative fuel technology in the Willamette Valley. The grant will be used to renovate an existing 35,000-square-foot building on the Lebanon site to house the automotive technician program, and to construct a new 10,000-square-foot innovation center beginning winter 2014. LBCC is continuing to raise funds to support moving the heavy equipment and diesel program to the center, with plans for an additional 20,000-square-foot building to be built on the site. Future plans include the construction of compressed natural gas and propane fueling stations, and electrical charging stations. The college has raised approximately $6.2 million for the project. In addition to the EDA grant, major funding for the center includes: more than $2 million in private donations; $1.4 million from the City of Lebanon Urban Renewal District; $800,000 from Oregon lottery funds; $100,000 from the Lebanon Industrial Development Corporation; $350,000 from the Meyer Memorial Trust; and $50,000 from Drive Oregon. Industry partners include Snap On, Pacific Power, John and Phil’s Toyota, and CoEnergy Propane of Corvallis.

Former art faculty member Gary Westford recently donated several art pieces from his personal collection to the college. Working with the Art and Aesthetics Committee and the college Foundation, the pieces include original works by Gustavo Martinez, silkscreen prints by Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol, Joseph Albers and Keith Haring, along with ceramics, wooden bowls, a Chinese scroll, and replicas of Egyptian sculpture and paintings. The art will be on view throughout the college in the Learning Center, Library, Madrone Hall, North Santiam Hall and the Periwinkle Child Development Center. Gary also made several monetary donations to college scholarship and grant funds in memory of his parents, including: $2,500 to the Department of Fine Art Foundation in memory of his father; six - $250 artistic merit grants to the Department of Music Foundation in memory of his mother; and $1,000 to the Department of English in support of the Valley Writers Series in memory of his step-mother.

The community phone survey will continue through next week to assess the level of taxpayer support for possible future LBCC construction projects. The survey was developed after a series of focus groups and interviews with community leaders designed to assess what the community believes it needs from LBCC, and it also considers needs the college has identified. It’s likely we’ll hear from people who have been contacted to take the survey. Please let them know this is part of the process to determine the needs of our community and to learn at what level the public will support developing the facilities to meet those needs.

Former art faculty member Gary Westford stands next to
an oil painting titled "Bounty" by artist Gustavo Martinez,
which is hanging in the college Learning Center.

Donated oil painting "Watermelon in the Moonlight" by
Gustavo Martinez, hanging in the Learning Center.

Changes to New Student Registration

Changes to new student registration are taking place this summer, with a clearer focus on advising and registration.

The sessions, called New Student Registration sessions, start Monday, July 15. Students will begin the session at a Resource Fair in Takena Hall, which highlights clubs and college services, followed by a brief welcome in the theater. They then move to small group registration and advising sessions, which are divided by degree/major and are led by faculty members in the college computer labs.

The new format addresses some SENSE survey items that indicate students want and need more engagement with advising and resources early in the process. New Student Registration sessions are one experience of several that can improve student SENSE ratings.

Data tells us that students who are welcomed, whose names we learn on first contact, and who are properly advised are more likely to succeed in college. The college community can help by welcoming these students and doing their best to get to know them.

Three, 3.5-hour sessions will be held over five days; July 15 and 29, August 12 and 28, and September 19; and on one day at the Benton Center; July 24.

Students looking to start at LBCC will begin with the online Admissions Application, then take placements tests, do Roadrunner Entry, and sign up to attend one of the New Student Registration sessions described above. If you happen on a lost student looking for registration sessions, direct them to Takena Hall and welcome them aboard!

Weekly Wrap-up

As part of college redesign efforts, the five newly named divisions became official July 1. Organizational charts will be posted online as soon as key positions are filled. The new division names, and the deans, are as follows:

• Healthcare, ELearning & Media Division, (and Virtual College Division), Ann Malosh, dean
• Science, Engineering & Math Division (SEM), dean TBA
• Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities Division (ASSH), Katie Winder, dean
• Business, Applied Technology, & Industry Division (BATI), Dan Lara, dean
• Academic Foundations Division (AF), Sally Moore, dean

Carol McKiel has been named as the new director for High School Partnerships. Carol comes to us from Lane Community College, where she served as the TRIO STEM director. Carol will continue to sustain, expand and develop a comprehensive range of high school-to-college programs for area high schools. She begins her new position July 22.

For the past 10 months, Tammi Drury, LBCC degree evaluator, has been working on a statewide project called the “Oregon Win-Win Initiative,” which seeks to find students who earned community college credits, but were not awarded a degree or certificate. Sponsored by a grant from the Lumina Foundation, the project is a collaboration between Oregon’s 17 community college’s, Oregon Workforce Development, and the Oregon University System to identify former students who qualify for an AAOT and award it retroactively, or to identify students who are academically short 9-12 credits of earning their AAOT and hopefully have them finish. Starting with a list of 510 former students from the past 10 years who earned 90 or more credits at LBCC, the college was able to award 43 of the students with degrees. Tammi plans to travel to Washington DC July 29-31 with Oregon’s Win-Win team representatives to take part in a conference on the project. Read more about Project Win-Win at http://www.ihep.org/projectwin-win.cfm

The summer High School Career Academies, for high school students in grades nine through 12, wrapped-up last week with workshops held in Drafting/Engineering Graphics, Machine Tool, Mechatronics, Welding and Performing Arts. Students received hands-on, interactive experiences in each academy, and all but one was held for free. The number of students participating in each academy was:

• Drafting/Engineering Graphics – 19 students
• Machine Tool – 7 students
• Mechatronics – 9 students
• Performing Arts – 40 students
• Welding – 11 students

The LBCC Road Runners American Cancer Society Relay for Life team raised a record $5,632.54, surpassing the team’s goal of $5,000 and putting them at the Gold fundraising level. Go Road Runners! (team members list at: http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=50436&pg=teamlist, click on the team name)

Weekly Wrap-Up

Starting fall term, students who successfully pass Destination Graduation will qualify for priority registration for their second term, which will help students plan their schedules by removing a major obstacle, where first-term students are in the back of the line for their next set of classes and those classes often filling up before the students can register. In addition, Richard Gibbs will serve as faculty lead for DG for 2013-2014, and is working with faculty this summer to develop an online model. The Curriculum Committee also is reviewing the DG "textbook" to streamline, make suggested changes, and improve course materials, and to examine options on physical textbooks versus online Moodle material. The Steering Committee is planning to pilot an eight-week DG option for winter term 2014, alongside the five-week class, and will assess which model works best for students and the DG Advising and Achieving the Dream initiative. The committees welcome your input and constructive feedback.

The LBCC Board of Education met last week and among action taken, the board:

• Approved the college’s 2013-14 budget. The general fund budget, which is the primary operating budget for the college, was 3.8 percent less than the current year’s budget (2013-14 budget year begins July 1).
• Approved the contract with English Language and Cultural Institute to teach English Speakers of Other Languages Classes. The board sought and received assurances from college staff that quality and progression standards would be monitored. ELCI has developed plans to maintain – and hopefully expand – access to the class in Linn and Benton Counties.
• Approved awarding a $1.5 million bid for the construction phase of the Advanced Transportation Technology Center, which is projected to open by the end of the year. The Automotive Technology Program will move to the new facility in Lebanon upon completion of the first construction phase.
• Said goodbye to board members Dan Bedore and Penny York, who did not run for re-election in May. Jim Merryman and Lyn Riverstone will join the board in July.

The 2013-2014 college catalog is out and includes a new arrangement of program information. Rather than the traditional alphabetical listing, programs are grouped by degree type: Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science Degrees and Certificates, and Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degrees. The appendices have been removed, with the general requirements for each degree type included at the beginning of each section. Printed copies are available in Admissions, with online PDF and "flip-book" versions available at www.linnbenton.edu/catalog.

This week on the president’s blog, Notes From the Edge, read about why Greg feels the book “Leadership in the Crucible of Work” is so distinctively different from other leadership books: http://linnbentonpresidentsblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-heart-of-matter.html

Weekly Wrap-Up

The college web site redesign is scheduled to be ready for preview in August, with a goal of going live by start of fall term. Watch your email for notification to browse a preview of the site and an opportunity to provide feedback before we go live!

Work groups are meeting around three Achieving the Dream initiatives that were selected to help increase student success at LBCC. Three initiatives, and their group leaders, are: Advising (Jenny Strooband); Strategic Scheduling (Jonathan Paver); and Development Education (Pam Gordon).

The Virtual College project is applying for a $2.7 million dollar grant from the Department of Labor, with hopes of hearing by October if the grant is approved. At this time, college administration has not decided if they are going to fund any curriculum development or learning management system, so the Virtual College project is on hold. In order for work to be done this summer, the project needs a piece of strategic initiative money. At this point, no decision has been made.

College Council is considering a new administrative rule that would provide partial support for the purchase of tablet computers. Similar to the administrative rule for cell phones, employees wishing to purchase a tablet for use at work would need to explain how it would benefit them in their work. A maximum of $200, or 50 percent of the purchase price (whichever is less), would be available. Read the entire rule – and see what other issues were discussed – in the June 6 College Council agenda available on paperless office at http://po.linnbenton.edu/collegecouncil/6_6_13CCMeetingFiles/. Contact any council member with your feedback.

Mark your calendar - September 25 is Welcome Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year’s theme is “Connections.” Join us to help students connect, and reconnect, with the LBCC. Stay tuned for details.

NOTE: This new Insider feature is intended to help staff and faculty keep up-to-date on the discussions and decisions that shape LBCC, and is designed to be a quick read rather than comprehensive report.

Send your story suggestions, information or questions to Insider editor Lori Fluge-Brunker, flugel@linnbenton.edu.
 

Weekly Wrap-Up

The Insider launches a new feature this week intended to help staff and faculty keep up to date on the discussions and decisions that shape LBCC. Designed to be a quick read rather than comprehensive report, it will include snippets on things like Board of Education decisions, College Council discussions, reminders of important events and deadlines – and whatever suggestions you have.

If you find there is information you’re not getting, let us know and we will try to work it in. If you are on a group or council and have information you’d like to share, you can share it here. Send to Insider editor Lori Fluge-Brunker at flugel@linnbenton.edu.

And now - our first try at this:

The college budget committee met last week and approved the proposed budget with no changes to the budgeted amount. Highlights included:

• Overall, the budget decreased by 21 percent from $122,098,774 this year to $96,392,221 due mostly to change in budgeting for Federal Direct Loans in the Financial Aid fund.
• The general fund budget decreased 4.85 percent from $46,004,671 this year to $43,771,330 next year. The bulk of that decrease on the resource side was due to the beginning fund balance declining from $4 million to $1.5 million.
• The budget committee also clarified the Board of Education directive to rebuild the fund balance to $4 million over the next 4 years. The change directs the college to make $600K of progress in restoring the ending fund balance in the next budget year resulting in a target for ending fund balance of $2.1 million at June 30, 2014.

The budget will now be published in area newspapers in summary form as a public notice. The Board of Education will hold a hearing and then vote whether to adopt it at the June Board meeting. The full 176 page budget document is available here: Review & Discussion of Proposed Budget Document.

 Mechatronics faculty member Denis Green explains new
equipment to Greg Hamann; Kip Much, NW Natural Gas
regional director; Secretary of State Kate Brown; Dan Lara,
dean, Business, Applied Technology and Industry; Dale Stowell,
executive director, College Advancement; and Dale
Bookwalter, Oregon Freeze Dry vice president, Finance.

Secretary of State Kate Brown took a brief tour of the Albany campus on Wednesday, learning more about Achieving the Dream, the advance diploma option that allows high school students to earn college credits, degree partnerships with OSU and OIT, and career and technical programs at LBCC including Automotive/Diesel technology, Welding and Mechatronics. Secretary Brown visited with staff, faculty, administration, representatives from local business and students.

The LBCC Foundation Board of Trustees approved $150,000, which, in addition to a $50,000 grant received from the Oregon Drive Foundation, gives the college funds to purchase an advanced dynamometer for the new Advanced Transportation Technology Center. This equipment will be use to both train technicians in the program and generate revenues for operating the ATTC through rental to industry. The dynamometer will be the only one of its kind between Vancouver, B.C., and San Francisco.

The Meyer Memorial Trust announced this week it was supporting the ATTC with a $350,000 grant. The grant is contingent on the college raising an additional $1.5 million from other sources. The college currently has a $1.5 million Economic Development Administration grant in a strong position for funding, pending the EDA resolving budget questions surrounding sequestration.

LBCC President Greg Hamann has joined the Board of the Corvallis Boys and Girls Club. In addition to his support of the organization, he hopes that his involvement can lead to strong pathways to education and training for area youth.

LBCC board members and college administrators participated in a statewide effort that led to passage of bill ending “adverse impact” provisions in Oregon law. In the past, these provisions have created barriers for community colleges to add new programs, giving proprietary colleges the right to claim that the program would create an adverse impact because they either had a similar program or were considering adding it.

Get your nominations in early! Nominations are now open for the Pastega classified staff and faculty member awards, and the college Distinguished Staff award, which are due by June 10. For nomination materials or questions, contact Dale Stowell at stoweld@linnbenton.edu.

LBCC Staff and Students Awarded at Oregon Potter’s Association Ceramics Show

Annclaire Greig, Best New Potter's Association member.

Anthony Gordon, first place "Breaking Free" sculpture.

Several LBCC staff and students won awards at the Oregon Potter’s Association 31st Annual Ceramic Showcase held in Portland April 26-28.  This event is the nation's largest pottery show and sale.

First place purchase award went to Anthony Gordon, LBCC Benton Center ceramics instructional assistant, for his horse sculpture "Breaking Free."

Best new Oregon Potters Association member award went to LBCC ceramics student Annclaire Greig.

Oregon Potters Association members were invited to submit two wall tile pieces into a juried show to be displayed in Japan for the month of October.

The tiles will be displayed along with wall tiles made by potters in the Hokkaido Potters Society, Japan.

Tiles chosen for the Hokkaido exhibit were by Leslie Green and Javier Cervantes. Leslie is a Tile and Raku ceramics instructor at the Benton Center. Javier is director of Diversity and Community Engagement at the Albany campus.

Staff Service Awards Announced at Inservice

Congratulations to the following employees who received service awards for the 2012/2013 fiscal year:

5-YEAR AWARDS

Five Year Awards

10 Year Awards

15 Year Awards

20 Year Awards

25 Year Awards

30 Year Award

35 Year Award

Michele Anderson
Jon Berry
Barbara Bessey
Tiffany Castillo
Corleen Chang
Leighana Coe
Jeremy Cornforth
Aleta Fortier
Cyrel Gable
Stacey Gerger
Alex Hisey
Jeanine Howell
Dan Lara
Frank Lister
Charles Madriaga
Vikki Maurer
Scott McAleer
Bryan Miyagishima
Betty Nielsen
Megan Pickens-Lloyd
Rob Priewe
Elaine Robinson
Bernita Rose
Karelia Stetz-Waters
Kim Sullivan
Paul Tannahill
Juliet Ulep
Sue Youravish

10-YEAR AWARDS
Jeff Crabill
Darci Dance
Cheryl Dingman
Kelli Dunleavy
Cindy Gooch
Stacy Mallory
Terrance Lane Millet
Dee Dee Strombeck
Jenny Strooband

15-YEAR AWARDS
Lynn Bain
Christine Baker
Patti Ball
Sheri Branigan
Kathy Coffman
Marlene Fantus
John Jarschke
Marci Johnston
Lorraine Lara
Sandra LeHoullier
Ken Long
Mindy McCall
Nancy Morrill
Greg Mulder
Julie Nunn
Ginger Peterson
Ian Priestman
Gayle Rushing
Patti Shute
David Smith
Debbie Sparks
Jane Tillman
Sharon Wall

20-YEAR AWARDS
Shelly Ellingson
Bev Gerig
Rob Lewis
Marty Schulz
Debby Zeller

25-YEAR AWARDS
Ann Adams
Linda Dompier
Sandy Dormer
Cathy Edmonston
Billie Giddens
Anne Green
Vern Jackson
Lorrie Peterson
Teresa Woods

30-YEAR AWARD
Mary Sue Reynolds

35-YEAR AWARD
Teresa Patterson


HONORABLE MENTIONS
OVER 25 YEARS
(no awards presented)

26 Years:
Margi Dusek
Janet Jackson

27 Years:
Paul Hawkwood
Kathy Withrow

28 Years:
Angie Klampe

29 Years:
Greg Hawk
Michael McKinney
Patty Petzel

31 Years:
Polly Hainz
Russ Rinker
Teresa Thomas

32 Years:
John Aikman

33 Years:
Rich Horton
Stephen Lebsack
Ron Sharman
Jay Widmer

36 Years:
Carolyn Lebsack

Bruce Clemetsen Receives Phi Theta Kappa Award

Bruce Clemetsen, vice president of Student Services, received the "Distinguished College Administrator" award from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at its international convention held in San Jose April 4.

Clemetsen was one of only 25 community college leaders to receive the award.

 “We felt it was important to recognize Dr. Clemetsen because of his mentorship and support of PTK students on campus,” said Michelle Hoopiiaina, president of the LBCC PTK chapter, which nominated Clemetsen for the award.

On the national level, the award recognized Clemetsen’s work around student completion and his efforts to work with honor roll students as peer mentors, part of a national movement by PTK toward student completion.

The Distinguished Administrator award is given to community college administrators (vice presidents, deans, etc.) based on outstanding support provided to Phi Theta Kappa over the years.

Phi Theta Kappa is a two-year college honor society with more than 1,250 chapters across the United States and worldwide serving approximately one million members.

Foundation Supports New Non-Profit Business, BlueSun

by Dale Stowell, Executive Director, Institutional Advancement

Diana Howell, BlueSun COO, pays first installment to
Foundation Executive Director Dale Stowell.

BlueSun staff, Dale Stowell and Corvallis Chamber
members attend a ribbon cutting April 2.

With an eye on opening new streams of revenue, the LBCC Foundation provided a loan to help open a staffing agency that will help place disabled people in jobs throughout the region and potentially generate funds to help support the college.

BlueSun Inc. is a staffing agency led by Distinguished Alumna and former LBCC Foundation board member Diana Howell. It will open March 1 at 517 S.W. 2nd St. in Corvallis.

The nonprofit business will coordinate vocational resources, such as job training and special equipment, for people with disabilities to place them in jobs best suited for their skills.

BlueSun will serve all people with disabilities, said Howell, but the focus will be helping military veterans and people with autism.

Like any staffing agency, BlueSun will generate funds by receiving a percentage of the salary of each individual it places for work from employers. Oregon law requires all tax-supported bodies to give nonprofit staffing agencies serving the disabled the first chance to fill jobs before contracting with for-profit staffing agencies.

By maintaining a low overhead, BlueSun projects it will generate revenue in excess of expenditures in its first year.  Howell believes that BlueSun could generate enough revenue in the first year to pay back LBCC Foundation’s $100,000 loan and to begin sponsoring grants for clothes, transportation and other things that will help people with disabilities get to work.

The loan terms include interest and a 10 percent share of the net revenues of BlueSun for the next seven years. The businesses plan underwent an extensive review by LBCC’s Small Business Development Center and Foundation legal counsel. It required a revision of the Foundation’s investment policy to allow 5 percent of Foundation assets to be invested in alternative investments.

Three people from the LBCC Foundation – board members Dan Bedore and Doris Johnston, and Foundation Executive Director Dale Stowell – serve on BlueSun’s five-member board. Many foundations invest in – or own – other businesses. In fact, the LBCC Foundation already generates revenue from rental income from a duplex it owns in Corvallis.

The idea grew from discussions at the Foundation’s summer retreat, which focused on ways to begin building systems to eventually raise an amount equal to 10 percent of the college’s operating funding, or about $4 million a year.

Employees will be placed as temporary workers under BlueSun for a trial period. If it’s a good fit, employers can directly hire them.

Howell worked for DePaul Industries as area manager from 1996 to 2001, helping to establish a similar staffing service that still successfully serves the Portland area. She left DePaul in 2001 for Barrett Business Services Inc., where she worked until last month.

“We were, as a for-profit, filling quite a few of the jobs over the years that should have gone to the nonprofits,” Howell said in a recent Gazette Times interview. “That was a lot of opportunities for people who really needed those jobs. We have customers lined up, breathing down our necks saying, ‘When are you going to be open?’ and we have the people.”

Blue Sun has already placed two employees, and the contractor finishing the remodel of the new office already signed a contract with Blue Sun to hire disabled veterans to fill its temporary staffing needs.

The need is definitely there, said Howell.

Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Recognized

LBCC 2013 Outstanding Part-time Faculty

Outstanding part-time faculty were recognized at an award presentation held Wednesday, March 20.

Faculty were honored for their distinguished and exemplary instructional performance and contribution to excellence in education. Honorees received a letter signed by the college president, a certificate of recognition, a pay increase of one step, and they will be recognized again at Fall Inservice.

2013 honorees (pictured):

Jason Caffarella, Music
Libby Ten-Pas Hunter, Developmental Studies
Nancy Nichols, Speech Communications
Carol Raymundo, Computer Applications, Albany Community Ed
Barbara Marraccini, Foreign Language, Benton Center
Elisha Kaylene Sims, Physical Education, Lebanon Center
Dawn Prall, Nursing
Sheila Alfsen, Physical Sciences, Benton Center
Joy Keiser, Parenting Education

Not present:
Ron Backus, Chemistry
Kara Christensen, Polysomnographic Technology
Nicholas Fowler, Horticulture

Analee Fuentes Unity Awards Given at Unity Celebration

Analee Fuentes is honored at the Unity Celebration.
Photo by Jeanette Emerson.

The Diversity and Civic Engagement Committee at LBCC held the first Unity Celebration in the Diversity Achievement Center Feb. 27.

The celebration honored recipients of the Analee Fuentes Unity Awards for Diversity and Social Justice, given to students, faculty and staff members who have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and social justice at LBCC. 

The awards were named in honor of art faculty member Analee Fuentes, who dedicates much of her time to raising awareness of social issues and injustices.

Fuentes has served as advisor for the Latino Club, and she coordinates countless art exhibits that direct our attention toward opportunity and self-expression, such as the Diá del los Muertos (Day of the Dead) exhibit on campus.

Contribution certificates were given to students Frazier Thurman, Nora Palmtag and Cheryl Wolverton, and to staff member Jeanette Emerson and faculty member Chareane Wimbley-Gouveia.

Certificates for the Analee Fuentes Unity Award were given to students Eric Noll and Jorge Canales, and to staff member Valerie Six and faculty member Margarita Casas.

For more information, contact Javier Cervantes in the Diversity Achievement Center.


by Lori Fluge-Brunker, Communications Specialist, College Advancement

Transfer Solution Groups Work on Mechanics, Structure of Transfer Curriculum

By Katie Winder, Dean, Liberal Arts, Social Systems & Human Performance

Below is an update of the work being done by the Transfer Solutions groups.

Transfer Fluidity: Angie Klampe, chair
This group is working on ways to improve the mechanics of the transfer experience. They are working right now on designing a plan to track our articulations with our partner schools consistently, and to advocate for our classes and curricula at our partner schools.  They are also working on ways to improve how we market our Degree Partnership Program.

Curriculum: Alice Sperling, Dana Emerson, and Katie Winder, co-chairs
We are working on structuring program curricula so that students build the right skills at the right time (also called "scaffolding"). This is key to maintaining rigor while increasing completion. Right now the group is starting to work on identifying entry expectations in our current classes, as a way to begin thinking about how we either modify these expectations, arrange our curricula so that these expectations can be met within the program, or add resources so that students can meet these expectations on their own.

An example of this work would be this: when I teach an introductory economics course, I implicitly expect that students will be able to interpret a simple line graph. This expectation isn't in the course description or anywhere that students would be able to see it prior to entering the class on the first day. It's always just been something I expected a college-level student could do. So, once I've identified this as an entry expectation, which of the following makes the most sense to do:

• Somehow share this with students, either via the course description or somewhere else
• Add a pre-requisite of a 10-week course that includes interpreting graphs (even if the rest of the skills taught in the course aren't needed in my class)
• Provide students with a link to a Kahn Academy video explaining how to read a simple line graph.
• Add understanding graphs to my course curriculum

Next year, this group will be working on how to schedule classes strategically given our conclusions from this year's scaffolding work.

General Education: James Reddan, Dana Emerson, and Katie Winder, co-chairs
This group is re-thinking how the general education curriculum meets the needs of our transfer-bound students. We will work on scaffolding, on tying general education to the institutional mission, and on assessment. General education is our biggest program on campus.

English Faculty Member Publishes First Thriller

Karelia Stetz-Waters with her book Dysphoria.

English faculty member Karelia Stetz-Waters has published her first book, and it's a thriller! 

The book, titled Dysphoria and set in a small New England town, tells the story of Helen Ivers, a young woman who is running from a horrific, tragic past to what she hopes will be the safety of a small town. Soon after her arrival, yet another tragedy explodes into her life.

Besieged by memories of her mentally ill sister, which refuse to let her rest, Helen must face an abomination even as her mind begins to unravel. Murder, deception and intrigue play out as Helen must not only learn the truth but fight to stay alive.

The 300-page book, published by Artema Press, was a lifetime goal for Karelia.

“It took about two-and-a-half years to write, but one year was researching the genre,” said Karelia. “I never read thrillers until I decided to write this one, so I had a lot of catching up to do.”

A book signing and sale will be held Thursday, Feb. 28 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the North Santiam Hall atrium, second floor. Books are $12, cash or check. All proceeds benefit the English Endowment Fund.

Dysphoria is also available at Grassroots Books in Corvallis and online through Amazon. Read more at: 
http://kareliastetzwaters.weebly.com/

by Lori Fluge-Brunker, Communications Specialist, College Advancement

Mechatronics Program Gets New Training Equipment, Thanks to Private Donations and NSF Grant

New state-of-the-art manufacturing training stations
for the Mechatronics Program.

The Mechatronics Program purchased six state-of-the-art manufacturing training stations, thanks to a combination of generous private donations and grant money from the National Science Foundation totaling approximately $250,000.
The stations will be used to teach and test Mechatronics students on programming, troubleshooting and maintaining real-world, high-tech assembly line equipment that is used by industrial manufacturers today.

Each station is equipped with an on-board programmable controller that allows instructors Dave Mack and Denis Green to vary the function of each station as well as insert faults that will test the troubleshooting skill levels of students at each stage of their training.

This gives the instructors the ability to test each student’s ability equally using the same circumstances, said Dave Mack - something for which earlier equipment did not allow. The modular stations can be used individually, or linked together to form a complete manufacturing line.

On the technology side, the stations integrate sensors, servos, robotics, micro-inspection cameras and energy efficiency measuring tools such as leak detectors with basic assembly line components such as pneumatic and hydraulic actuators, conveyor belts, start/stop stations and alarms.

The program's goal is to add additional stations to the line in the future, as funding permits.

President Hamann Appointed to Quality Education Commission

Greg Hamann

President Greg Hamann has been appointed by Governor John Kitzhaber to serve a four-year term on the state Quality Education Commission.

Dr. Hamann’s appointment makes him the first person on the commission who works outside of the K-12 education system. He will begin to serve on the commission this month.

Created in 2001 with a primary focus on K-12, the non-partisan commission is expanding its work to include pre-kindergarten through public higher education.

“This appointment is a recognition not just of my efforts and contributions, but of those of the entire LBCC community,” said Dr. Hamann.

The commission’s task is to refine and validate the state’s Quality Education Model (QEM), which was developed in 1999 to establish research-based connections between resources devoted to schools and levels of student achievement, and to guide efforts to adequately fund Oregon schools. 

The work of the commission, which meets once a month, includes evaluating educational best practices and determining the level of funding needed for Oregon students to reach education standards set by the state.

Dr. Hamann has been a statewide advocate for innovation-based reforms to increase college completion rates while reducing cost per completion. The goal is to create more opportunity for Oregonians to gain skills to contribute to and benefit from the state’s economic vitality.

Based on the QEM, the commission has determined that Oregon needs state funding of approximately $8.76 billion to fully fund the state’s schools for 2013-15. This is an increase of more than $2.4 billion over current funding levels.

The commission’s findings are presented in a biennial report to the state legislature for update and improvement to the Quality Education Model.