College News - Week of Feb. 13

Know a coworker who deserves to be recognized? How about a former student who's done awesome things through their work or for their community? Nominate them for the LBCC Distinguished Staff Award, Pastega Faculty and Classified Excellence Award, or the Distinguished Alumni Award! Nominations are open until Feb. 27. New this year: Staff awards will be given at spring Inservice, held April 17. Distinguished Alumni Awards are given at a special reception held in May. Distinguished Staff and Pastega nomination forms are available online at: www.linnbenton.edu/faculty-and-staff/hr-safety-and-other-services/college-advancement/marketing/nomination-forms  - and Distinguished Alumni forms are available at: www.linnbenton.edu/friends-and-alumni/alumni/distinguished-alumni - or by contacting Dale Stowell, College Advancement, CC-105.

The first meeting of the LBCC Open Educational Resource (OER) Discussion Group was held Feb. 12. OERs, course materials that are freely available on the web or in the library, are currently a hot topic, as college’s and instructors seek to reduce textbook costs and increase engagement for students. Amy Hofer, Statewide Open Education Library Service coordinator, LBCC eLearning and Media department, and Steve Smith, eLearning and Academic Technologies director, recently presented to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission emphasizing LBCC’s commitment and interest in OERs and library resources as a way to reduce course material costs. Below is an excerpt from that presentation:

“At LBCC, the board and the president are very interested in OERs. As recently as last night, there was a board discussion about what role they can play in encouraging the exploration of OERs both at a local level and a statewide level. LBCC is evaluating the use of strategic funds to support course redesign around the adoption of OERs, which we hope to get implemented for next year. We have calculated that a 25 percent adoption of OERs would save students at Linn-Benton $625,000 annually. A 50 percent adoption would save $1.2 million.”

If you are interested in participating in the discussion, plan to attend one of the following OER conferences (or email Amy Hofer, hofera@linnbenton.edu): Thursday, Feb. 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Friday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Portland Community College; Friday, March 13, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Blue Mountain Community College; and Friday, April 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at Lane Community College. Conference registration is available online at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UvEibymRWU2ZvnV0QdmeY8bng73i5o07tIcmwCzhGKw/edit?usp=sharing

Did you know that LBCC has a Relay for Life team? It does, and the team would like you to join them in their efforts to raise money for the American Cancer Society. There are several opportunities for staff, students, friends and family to be involved, from joining the team at the Relay for Life walk June 20 and 21, to throwing your spare change in a donation can at the Bookstore, cafeteria and café. The team also takes bottles and cans for deposit, sells cookies, and holds a scrapbooking event each year. If interested in joining or donating, contact a team member: Patti Ball, Linda Dompier, Tammi Drury, Annette Easdale, Felicia Humphries, Vickie Keith, Paulette Myers, Michelle Slay and Amanda Stanley.

LBCC Relay for Life team makes cookies for a fundraiser, with the help
of Chef Scottie Hurley. Team members, left to right: Vickie Keith,
Felicia Humphries, Linda Dompier, Amanda Stanley, Michelle Slay, Tammi Drury,
Annette Easdale and Paulette Myers.

Links to New Hires, Promotions, Separations & Retirements, Board of Education Human Resource Memos - January 12 & February 6:

http://po.linnbenton.edu/boardmeeting/01_21_15BoardPacket/HR%20Board%20Memo%201-12-15.pdf

http://po.linnbenton.edu/boardmeeting/2_11_15BoardPacket/HR%20Board%20Memo%202-6-15.pdf 



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

Update, Oct. 3: Summer Staff Changes and Fall Updates

Welcome to fall term. Get caught-up in this first edition of staff news for the school year. 

Staff Changes: Several management and dean positions were filled over the summer to replace retirees and vacancies. Two new positions were also added. Michael Quiner was hired in June as chief information officer for Information Services, replacing Ann Adams who retired last year. Kim Carey was hired as manager of Applications and Systems Programming, replacing Sam Oubari, who took a position elsewhere.  Jason Kovac is the new dean of Academic Foundations, replacing Sally Moore, who was promoted to dean of Instruction, replacing Jonathan Paver, who took a position elsewhere. Sally’s office is now in the Calapooia Center Administration Office. Brian Trice joined the ATTC as manager of Alternate Fuel Transportation, a new position. And, Amy Sikora joined Admissions and Registration in the new position of assistant director of Enrollment Progression and Technology. 

Ann Buchele received a promotion and a new job title of dean of Workforce Development and Program Effectiveness. Along with her continued work with the Healthcare, ELearning and Media department, and LB iLearn, Ann will guide work on program review, working with faculty on a review process for all CTE and transfer areas. She also will lead the work on college objective eight, "Expand our Career-Technical programs in response to (and anticipation of) local industry needs” with a focus on the "Middle 40" of the "40-40-20" initiative, in partnership with the soon-to-be-created Workforce and Economic Vitality Council.

Kudos to the Horticulture department for donating approximately 600 pounds of excess produce grown in their organic garden this summer to the local food bank. The department has sent about 130 pounds of produce each week to Food Share since last August. Harrisburg Gleaners pick up the harvest and deliver to Food Share for distribution to low income people in our community.

The Culinary Arts department has outdone themselves with a beautiful remodel of the Santiam Restaurant, thanks to the generous donation through the Foundation of community members Joanne and Wayne Chambers. In celebration of the remodel, there will be an Open House in the new dinning room Friday, Oct. 17 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The event is open to everyone, and will include refreshments, wine and snacks. The restaurant reopens for fall term Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The College Advancement Marketing team won six awards at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations District 7 conference Oct. 9. There were 180 submissions in 30 categories from colleges throughout Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington and Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Yukon Territory. LBCC won: Gold for radio ad; Gold for media success story; Silver for brochure; Silver for website; Bronze for schedule of classes; and Bronze for banners and outdoor advertising. Congrats marketing team: Dale Stowell, Joe Sherlock, M’Liss Runyon and Lori Fluge-Brunker.

As a thank you to faculty and staff for their efforts to engage students and boost enrollment, a Summer Success Celebration will be held in the DAC Thursday, Oct. 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. Stop by for cake, punch, & community. The results of these efforts are more new students, more full time students, more students awarded financial aid, more students in DG, advisers assigned at the beginning of the term and increased enrollment.

This year’s Pastega Award winners are automotive faculty member and chair Bryan Schiedler, Faculty Excellence award, and graphic designer in College Advancement office M’Liss Runyon, Classified Excellence award. Bryan began work at LBCC in 1996. He was nominated for contributions to making the Advanced Transportation Technology Center a reality. The center has been recognized both locally and nationally. M’Liss was hired in 2006, and was nominated for her positive and creative support of college marketing efforts and her participation in college leadership groups and the community. 

LBCC Foundation Development Director and Mayor of Independence John McArdle received the James C. Richards Memorial Award from the League of Oregon Cities’ during its annual conference in September. The award is given to elected city officials who serve the citizens of Oregon through an exceptional personal investment in intergovernmental affairs. John founded the Mid-Willamette Valley Mayors Coalition, serves on the board of the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, chairs the regional economic development partnership board, and is a past president of the League of Oregon Cities and the Oregon Mayors Association.

The LBCC bond measure, Measure 22-130, will be put to voters on the Nov. 4 ballot. If approved, the bond will raise an amount not to exceed $34 million. The estimated bond would replace the 2000 LBCC Bond, scheduled for retirement in 2016. It’s designed to stay at or near the current taxpayer cost of about 18 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Funds raised will be used for expansion or improvement in the following areas: health care, automotive and diesel/heavy equipment mechanics, advanced manufacturing, machine tool, welding, college transfer and community education, and encompass facilities in Albany, Corvallis and Lebanon, and including facilities maintenance needs. For more details, go to: www.linnbenton.edu/faculty-and-staff/administrative-information/bond-information

Sneak peak of the newly-remodeled Santiam Restaurant.

Insider published by: College Advancement Marketing
Writer/Editor: Lori Fluge-Brunker