College News - Week of March 27

Report on student textbook affordability, from Richenda Hawkins: In January, college librarians began working on improving textbook affordability for our students. In a little over two months, it's estimated that their efforts will potentially save students $16,435 to $22,977 per year by replacing required print textbooks with an ebook edition, which is freely accessible to students through the LBCC Library Catalog and ebook databases. In addition to promoting the adoption of library resources, library staff have been collaborating with college departments and people statewide to build the necessary framework for supporting the adoption of Open Educational Resources, or OERs, at LBCC. The project is headed up by Media department manager Steve Smith and Library Department Chair Richenda Hawkins. Campus librarians have met with approximately 35 faculty, three deans, all department chairs in two college divisions, as well as student leaders and College Advancement, to explore ways to develop OER’s on campus. Several faculty members have already created OER’s, and many more are looking to adopt them for their programs. They also met with OSU to explore ways to increase OER adoption across both colleges, and are exploring a joint OER project with OSU and Central Oregon Community College this summer.

LBCC’s Board of Education approved a recommended three percent increase ($2.91) per credit hour for in-state tuition, a five percent increase ($10.20) for out of state tuition, and five percent increase ($12) for international tuition at the board meeting March 18. An increase in fees was also approved by the board, which includes a technology fee increase from $2 to $3.50 per credit hour; a student activity program athletic fee increase from $0.85 to $1.33 per credit hour; and an Associated Student Government fee increase of $0.50 for students taking 1-5 credits, and $1 for students taking 6 or more credits. The decision to increase tuition was based on the college’s current knowledge of expected state funding levels and our current budget model for the 2015-16 fiscal year. The final college budget will be approved at the June board meeting.

This year’s Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented to Brad Gohr and Julie Huckestein, with a posthumous Alumni Award dedicated to Mary D. “Dee” Deems, who passed away Feb. 16. Each will be recognized at an Honors Reception held April 22 at 7 p.m. at the college. Brad is 1992 graduate of the animal science program. After working his way up from stocking shelves and sweeping floors, he is now president and CEO of Veterinary Services, Inc., a $175 million employee-owned animal health product distribution company with branches throughout the Western United States. Julie graduated from LBCC's business program, and was recently appointed as president of Chemeketa Community College. Her previous employment included various work in LBCC’s business office, where she served in her last position as director of Budget and Finance until 2001. Mary “Dee” Deems earned general education credits at LBCC before transferring to Willamette University to earn her bachelor’s degree. She worked in various positions at LBCC, including at the Lebanon Center, and directing the then “Albany Center." She helped to build LBCC's community education program into one of the largest community ed programs in Oregon.

Distinguished Alumni recipients Julie Huckestein and Brad Gohr,
pose with Mary "Dee" Deems sons, who accepted the award on her behalf.

LBCC Distinguished Citizen Awards will be presented to community members Bob Lowry and Doris Johnston at college Commencement in June. Bob, who will be 92 in September, is a respected and honored businessman, philanthropist, veteran and family man who is committed to making the community better for all. Bob has given generously to the Foundation over the years, and has served as a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees since 2006. His participation in the community has helped open doors for both the Foundation and the college. Doris currently serves as Board President of LBCC's Foundation Board of Trustees, where she provides vision and leadership, building strong relationships that lead to financial support for the college. As chairperson for "LBCC for the Community," Doris was instrumental in running the campaign that led to passage of the college bond measure last fall. Doris’ office at Pacific Power, where she serves as the regional community manager, became the campaign strategy site, where she organized a group of volunteers to spread the word. In addition, her list of civic involvement is long and varied, and she helps to raise funds for students and programs by serving on the college Foundation board, supporting the Boys and Girls Club of Albany, The United Way and Rotary.

Living Our Values: Occupational Therapy Assistant students invaded the state capitol for a day of learning and engagement Feb. 26. The students, with faculty members Ann Custer, Mashelle Painter and Jo Shear, attended Occupational Therapy Legislative Day, where they partnered with students and faculty from Pacific University's doctoral Occupational Therapy program, lobbyists with the Occupational Therapy Association of Oregon, and board members from Oregon's OT Licensing Board to meet with legislators about their profession. Students attended legislative sessions, toured the capitol and participated in a "Blue Sticky Wall" activity with Pacific U’s doctoral students, where they discussed individual roles and responsibilities in the OT field. LBCC students also prepared handouts for legislators on the Occupational Therapy Assistant field.

An OTA student posts to the "Blue Sticky Wall" during an activity at the state capitol,
led by OTA faculty member Ann Custer (in photo at right, standing at back).

  

College Values
Opportunity
Excellence
Inclusiveness
Learning
Engagement

College Core Themes:
Economic Vitality
Cultural Richness
Educational Attainment




Insider published by: LBCC College Advancement Marketing Office
Writer/Editor: Lori Fluge-Brunker, Communications Specialist, College Advancement 

College News - Week of Nov. 21

Now that the college bond has passed, what’s next? Lou Tarnay, bond program manager, will oversee the bond projects for the next three years, developing a program management plan to be used by the newly-formed Capital Construction Advisory Committee to select contractors and designers. The architect selection process has already begun, with eight Oregon firms submitting proposals. A selection committee will review the proposals and make a recommendation for hiring. Additional details can be found in the Nov. 19 Board of Education report in Staff Paperless Office: http://po.linnbenton.edu/boardmeeting/11_19_14BoardPacket/

Advisory Committee member Pat McNeely is this year’s recipient of the LBCC Pat Atteberry Award, given at the advisory dessert Nov. 20. The award, established in 1992 in honor of Dr.  Atteberry, honors a LBCC Career Technical Advisory Committee member for his or her outstanding contribution to career technical programs. McNeely, an office supervisor with Internal Medicine at Samaritan Health Services in Corvallis, has served on the college's Medical Assistant Advisory Committee for more than 14 years, and is a key supporter of the Medical Assistant program, helping students learn skills that employers are looking for. Approximately 300 community and industry leaders serve on 33 advisory committees for LBCC’s career technical programs. Dr. Atteberry served on the Vocational Education Committee from 1977 to 1992.

Pat McNeely (center) receives the Pat Atteberry Award from
Beth Hogeland and Kathy Durling at the Advisory
Committee dessert held Nov. 20.

Kudos to the Lebanon and Sweet Home Centers for their efforts toward the college Thanksgiving Food Drive. The centers held a contest to see which class could bring in the most food. Kathy Durling’s 1 p.m. Basic Clinical Office Procedures class at the Lebanon Center, and Gretchen Schaleger's Calligraphy class at the Sweet Home Center, were the winners, with each earning a pizza party. The contest generated more than 14 boxes of food for the drive, and brought the campus communities together for a common good cause. 

About 35 years ago, long-time LBCC Biology faculty member Bob Ross and two of his nature photography students started what became known as the Bob Ross Nature Photography Show, held each fall at the college. The final show was held Nov. 14, which over the years went from showing slides made from 35mm film images, to images created digitally. Although the shows were well attended by people from all over the state, in a recent email to campus, Bob put the reason for no longer running the show in perspective: “Where are the young people that could benefit from the wisdom of the years? Are they not interested in nature and nature photography?” he asks, then answers his own question: “Yes they are. And they are doing what we first did 35 years ago: they are sharing their knowledge, enthusiasm, insights, technologies and places to go with each other, but via social media. They are doing it on a daily basis and see no reason to wait until fall to show their images just once a year.” 

Public Safety Office would like to remind staff who decorate during the holiday season to keep these safety tips in mind:

•    No open flames. Please use the flameless candles
•    Check light cords to ensure there are no cuts or breaks, and unplug them when you leave
•    Don't overload outlets with electrical devices
•    No daisy-chaining electrical strips
•    Make sure cords are not trips hazards and won't have office chairs rolling over them
•    If space heaters are used in your area, make sure they are unplugged when you leave and that they have a tip over safety feature (turn off if tipped or knocked over).

New hires, promotions, transfers, retirements and separations from Human Resources report to the Board of Education: http://po.linnbenton.edu/boardmeeting/11_19_14BoardPacket/HR%20Board%20Memo%2011-10-14.pdf







Insider published by: LBCC Advancement Marketing Office
Writer/Editor: Lori Fluge-Brunker, Communications Specialist, College Advancement
    

College News - Week of Oct. 17

The LBCC Board of Education conferred an honorary degree to former OSU administrator Bob Bontrager, Ph.D., to recognize his leadership in developing the LBCC and OSU degree partnership program, which was established in 1998.  Recently retired from AACRAO, where he served as senior director of Consulting and SEM Initiatives, Dr. Bontrager served as OSU’s director of Admission and Orientation, and as assistant provost for Enrollment Management from 1996 to 2005. He went on to develop partnership programs between OSU and all of Oregon’s community colleges. LBCC has issued just four honorary degrees in the past 10 years. The honor is given to people who have made a contribution to the college, community, nation and/or education over a period of time.

LB iLearn Campus online programs will see its first students taking courses starting January 14. To start, iLearn programs will include a two-year degree in Business Administration, a one-year certificate in Coding and Reimbursement Specialist, and a short-term certificate in Social Media. The LB iLearn team (Ann Buchele, Linda Carroll, Stacy Mallory and Steve Smith) is working on a comprehensive website which will include information on the degrees and certificates offered, as well as the structure and design of iLearn. The target audience for iLearn is past students who have some college credit but have not taken classes at LBCC for at least two terms.

Congratulations to Business faculty member Nancy Noe on being selected as the Post-secondary Teacher of the Year by the Oregon Business Education Association at its fall conference.

LBCC received a grant for $56,000 from Community College Workforce Development for student assistance and success, through June 2015. Lynne Cox will oversee the grant, along with Carol Raymundo and Carol McKiel. The grant allowed Student Affairs to hire three part-time employees: Kate Griensewic (also working with Student Assessment and Student Life); Kim Horn (also working with Student Assessment and Center For Accessibility Services/CFAR); and Emily Dray (also working with the Career Center). This team will use their knowledge of LBCC processes and their experience as prior students to support LBCC's outreach to grades 7-12, helping students develop a vision for "going to college" and "college-going behaviors." Staff will work with underserved and/or recent high school students who need help entering college and developing the skills/tools for a positive first year at LBCC. Any LBCC employee may refer eligible students to the outreach staff for assistance with navigating college processes or having positive conversations with instructors. "Eligible students" must either be currently in high school, just arriving at LBCC from high school, or from an under-served population (minorities, persons with disabilities, veterans, persons with a modified diploma, etc.). The grant allows a small amount of funds to be awarded to help students with unexpected academic financial needs. Future plans by the team include outreach to schools, parents and future students, as well as hosting Saturday conference sessions about planning and preparing for college. For more information, or if you would like to help, contact Lynne Cox in Student Affairs. Staff will be located in Takena Hall-112 (across from the Registration Counter) and Red Cedar Hall-105. You can also contact staff via their LBCC email.

There’s a new sidewalk through the landscape in front of Madrone Hall, part of a geologic timeline in progress, which begins in front of the Activities Center building and ends with the walkway in front of Madrone Hall as the more "recent" end of the timeline. The timeline project was requested by a donor to the Science and Health Building Fund, and will be used as an educational tool. Signage will be added to mark the different geologic time periods and to explain significant occurrences during the Earth’s 4.6 billion year history. The Earth's age will be scaled out to cover the 230 meters (754 feet), giving perspective to the enormity of geologic time, with rocks and replica fossils placed at their correct age along the timeline. A dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting will be held in January.

Geologic Timeline walkway in front of Madrone Hall.

Human Resources board report, Oct. 6 - New Hires, Promotions, Separations






Insider published by: LBCC Advancement Marketing Office
Writer/Editor: Lori Fluge-Brunker, Communications Specialist, College Advancement   

Weekly Update, June 19

The LBCC Board of Education approved a resolution at its board meeting June 18 to place a $34 million bond measure on the November ballot. The bond will pay for improvement projects that include construction of a health care occupation center in Lebanon, the second and third phases of the Advanced Transportation Technology Center in Lebanon, improvements to existing buildings on the Albany campus, and an expansion of the Benton Center in Corvallis.  If approved by voters, the general-obligation bond measure would replace a $19 million, 15-year bond measure that voters passed in 2000. The new bond measure would have the same cost of 18 cents per $1,000 of assessed value as the previous bond. Although college staff can answer questions about the measure, it is against state election law to advocate for or against the bond. As such, a political action committee (PAC), LBCC For The Community, has been formed to work in support of the bond measure, which will be co-chaired by LBCC Foundation board members Dan Bedore and Doris Johnston. You can get involved by using your personal email from a non-college computer on non-work time by emailing: LBCCforCommunity@hotmail.com

Weekly Update, May 22

The LBCC Board of Education heard a presentation on the capital facilities improvement package at its May 21 meeting. The board will decide in June whether to ask for voter support of placing a general obligation bond measure on the November 2014 ballot to make the capital improvements to meet community needs and support the economy by expanding student capacity in program areas where there is workforce demand. Projects include instructional and parking capacity improvements at the Benton Center, completion of the final phases of the Advanced Transportation Technology Center in Lebanon, construction of a new Health Occupations Teaching and Learning Center in Lebanon, and major repurposing of career and technical, general instruction and student support services spaces on the Albany campus. 

College Advancement Marketing office has created a program spotlight promotional web site designed to provide support for recruiting efforts in programs that have enrollment capacity. The accounting program is the first program to be spotlighted (http://www.linnbenton.edu/future-students/get-to-know-us/progam-spotlight), with a new program featured monthly as the need arises. This new support effort will be evaluated through tracking page visits using web analytics and tracking the number of inquiries to the contact person listed on the page.

Three LBCC students will be attending a NASA Rocket conference in Florida this June. Hazel Betz, Ariel Stroh and Ashley Trout will spend a week at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on the Virginia coast, June 21-26, at a RockOn workshop where they will build and launch (sub-orbital) a microcontroller-based instrumentation on a NASA rocket. Parker Swanson, computer science instructor, will accompany the team as "mentor." All expenses are paid by NASA's educational outreach program through the Oregon Space Grant Consortium (OSGC), of which LBCC is an affiliated higher-ed institution. Ashley graduates in June with her AAS in Mechatronics. Hazel is working on a physics degree, and Ariel is working on an industrial manufacturing and engineering degree.

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.

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 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