College News - Week of Jan. 23

President Hamann updated the college on the status of the bond initiative at his winter forum held Jan. 15. Due to state grant money tied to the project, the first initiative will be the expansion of the Advanced Transportation Technology Center in Lebanon to include the Heavy Equipment/Diesel Technology program. Plans are to break ground in June to start the first phase of the construction, with construction to be finished by the end of the 2015. The next project in line will be the new Health Occupations Center, to be built on the Samaritan Health campus in Lebanon, with construction to begin in the spring of 2016. This project also includes an $8 million state grant. The Benton Center project will begin with construction of the new parking garage, to be built in partnership with Samaritan Health. Once the parking structure is finished, work will begin on the new addition for instructional space at the center. On the Albany campus, Industrial buildings IA, IB and IC, along with Takena Hall, will be the final projects. After the Heavy Equipment/Diesel program moves to the ATTC, the IB building, along with the vacancy created by the Automotive program move from IA, will provide room to expand Machine Tool, Mechatronics and Welding programs on the Albany campus. Takena Hall renovations will include re-purposing space now occupied by the Nursing program, which will be moving to the new Health Occupations facility in Lebanon. The college also received a $1.5 million grant to use for seismic upgrade to Takena Hall.

Governor John Kitzhaber toured the Advanced Transportation Technology Center Wednesday, Jan. 21, getting a firsthand view of the new training facility for automotive students. Second-year students Jeff Pendleton and Nicholas Garber showcased a Benton County Sheriff’s vehicle, which the students helped to convert to run on propane, and various other alternative fuel vehicles that are used for training. “It’s a great example of taking the increased demand for jobs in a changing workplace and creating opportunities for students on career paths,” said Kitzhaber in a recent Democrat Herald news story.

Governor John Kitzhaber tours the ATTC in Lebanon Wednesday, Jan. 21.

At Wednesdays Board of Education meeting, board member Jim Merryman outlined an industry led request to the Albany City Council on Monday that would bring more than $2.9 million from Albany Economic Development Funds to LBCC to use for manufacturing training, education and equipment. The proposal grew out of a joint effort of Albany area businesses, Greater Albany Public Schools, Albany and Lebanon Chambers of Commerce and LBCC to provide a workforce of high-level technically skilled individuals to benefit local industry.

Renee McKitterick recently joined the Benton Center as lead ceramics faculty, replacing Jay Widmer who retired last summer. Originally from Ohio, Renee moved to Oregon from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she earned a Master’s of Fine Art in Studio Arts at the University of New Mexico. Renee has taught a variety of studio art classes at both the university and at Central New Mexico Community College. Welcome aboard, Renee!





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

College News - Week of Oct. 31

President Greg Hamann will be heading to Puebla, Mexico Nov. 6 for a seven week professional development trip, where he, along with his wife, Rita, will attend the Spanish Institute of Puebla, a Spanish immersion program focusing on the region’s culture and language. As part of our commitment to becoming the “College of Choice” for the region’s growing population of college-aged people of Hispanic descent, Greg decided that learning Spanish would be a good way to use his Professional Development Leave. He will return to campus January 5.  Executive Vice President Beth Hogeland will serve as acting president in Greg’s absence. Read more about the Spanish Institute of Puebla at: http://www.sipuebla.com/

The LBCC Foundation kicked-off its “Mission Possible” Annual Fund Drive with a goal to raise $70,000 in employee contributions. Donation letters are being delivered to departments this week. Last year, employees gave $66,115 to the annual drive. Your donations helped the Foundation award $141,675 in student scholarships and aid, and provided funding for college programs including the Arts, Culinary Arts, Welding, Music, Mechatronics, Horticulture, Automotive, the Horse Management program, the ROV team and other student and college activities.

The LBCC Foundation team, left to right: Donna Mainord,
Dale Stowell, Cynthia Currin, John McArdle,
Paulette Myers and Jim Birken.

LBCC is transitioning this term from calling student email “Roadrunner Mail” to calling it “LBCC email.” The decision is based on student feedback on when we use “Webrunner” and when we use “Roadrunner,” resulting in some confusion. The goal is to make it clearer for students. The official name change will take place beginning winter term. Librarian Richenda Hawkins is leading the effort, with a request that faculty and staff review class materials for reference to “Roadrunner Mail” and change that reference to “LBCC email” for winter term materials.

The Career Technical Education Open House held Oct. 24 generated 34 new admissions applications, with 49 programs participating. Kim Sullivan in recruitment led the effort, which brought approximately 100 potential students to LBCC campuses and the horse center. The feedback has been positive, and they are looking to hold the event again.






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

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.

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.

Halloween News: Hamann Turns Into Reaper for Good Cause

Greg Hamann as the Grim Reaper.

Ah, the lengths some people go to get attention – a-hum, I mean, to help our local communities!

President Greg Hamann, made up as the Grim Reaper, hit the streets in Lebanon on Saturday to participate in the Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon, a fundraiser benefiting ABC House, a center serving abused children in Linn and Benton counties.

LBCC's Theater Director Dan Stone did Greg's makeup and costume, taking about one hour to transform him into the reaper.

Dan and his theater students also partnered with Albany Parks and Recreation to turn approximately 100 people into zombies for the 5K Zombie Chase held Oct. 20, also a fundraiser that benefited Maple Lawn Preschool in Albany.


Check out the related videos and news articles, including Greg's blog of the event:
http://linnbentonpresidentsblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/other-duties-as-assigned.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJt-73nKLxc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdktJ0oVWm4
http://democratherald.com/news/local/dodging-the-undead/article_376be24a-1b31-11e2-92d8-0019bb2963f4.html

Dan Stone applies makeup to Greg's face, turning him into the Grim Reaper
for the Runaway Pumpkin Half Marathon.