Weekly Update, April 25

Achieving the Dream coaches’ recent visit to the college resulted in several recommendations, with a top-of-the-list suggestion to increase communications between all levels of faculty and staff. Coaches also commended the college on combining orientation and student success curriculum in the Destination Graduation class, and firmly tying it to advising and making it mandatory starting fall term 2014.

Nominations are open for the annual Pastega Faculty and Classified Awards and the Distinguished Staff Award. Nominations must be received in the Institutional Advancement Office by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15. Nomination forms and criteria are available online in the paperless office under Forms, Pastega and Distinguished Staff Nomination Applications (po.linnbenton.edu/forms), or by contacting Dale Stowell via email or in CC-105. Awards will be presented at fall Inservice in September.

Did you know LBCC’s graduation gowns are made from 100 percent recycled material, specifically plastic water bottles? According to Tammi Drury in Admissions, this is the third year the college has purchased the recycled gowns. The Bookstore is also implementing a new “greener” product, switching from traditional "Blue Books" for student testing to a 100 percent recycled “Green Exam” book.

Retired LBCC baseball coach Greg Hawk and his 1988 team will be inducted into the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame May 29. The 1988 LBCC team, league championship winners, will join former coach and athletic director Dick McClain’s title-winning 1971 team in the NWAACC Hall of Fame.

The following LBCC employees were recognized with 2013-2014 Longevity Awards during spring Inservice:

5-YEAR AWARDS:

Danny Aynes
Tonia Benham
Kim Boone
Glen Brumbach
Mike Budke
Sheryl Caddy
Jason Christian
Jeff Davis
Gary DeWall
Barbie DuBois
Victoria Fridley
Stehanie Kerst
Lawrence LaJoie
Nancie Meyer
James Reddan
Mike Storrs
Fred Stuewe
Bill Thomas
Jason Wells
Cathy Williams
Lynnette Wynkoop


10-YEAR AWARDS:

Rhonda Anglin
Ann Custer
Hollis Duncan
Kathy Hannahs
Barb Horn
Scottie Hurley
Sally Kohler
Patti Larsen
Twila Lehman
Bethany Pratt
Stefan Seiter
Jane Walker
Carlena Weeks


15-YEAR AWARDS:

Arfa Aflatooni
Alice Burnett
Perry Carmichael
Linda Carroll
Margarita Casas
Dodi Coreson
RJ Ehlers
Analee Fuentes
Steve Gribble
Linda Hobson
Tony Holmes
Duane Jensen
Vickie Keith
Phil Krolick
Audrey Perkins
Barb Newton Schafer
Steve Skarda

20-YEAR AWARDS:

Kathy Chafin
Sandy Corliss
Dean Dowless
Mike Lloyd
Elaine McDougal
Sue Peterson







25-YEAR AWARDS:

Mo Ableman
Kathy Body
Jack Giles
Dori Litzer
Roger Maurer
John Sweet



30-YEAR AWARDS
Mike McKinney
Patty Petzel

HONORABLE MENTIONS-OVER 25 YEARS
(no awards presented)

26 Years:
Linda Dompier
Billie Giddens
Anne Green
Vern Jackson
Lorrie Peterson
Teresa Woods

27 Years:
Margi Dusek
Janet Jackson

28 Years:
Paul Hawkwood
Kathy Withrow

29 Years:
Angie Klampe

31 Years:
Mary Sue Reynolds

32 Years:
Polly Hainz
Russ Rinker

34 Years
Ron Sharman
Jay Widmer

36 Years:
Teresa Patterson

Weekly Update, April 11

Former LBCC head coaches Dave Dangler (1977-1983), left,
Dick McClain (1971-1976), center, and Greg Hawk (1984-2013).

LBCC plans to re-establish its baseball program next spring, with a focus on student success and community support. The decision came after months of discussions and work with community members to create a program structure that fosters high completion rates among student athletes and generates significant involvement of the community in supporting the program. A yet-to-be determined women’s sport will be added by the 2015-16 season. The measurements chosen for baseball will guide other LBCC programs, both athletic and academic, as the college continues  to strive for a 50 percent increase in its completion rate and increased community support and involvement.

Students in LBCC's Site Specific Ceramic Sculpture Class completed an installation at the Benton Center called "inspired" - a 55-piece ceramic sculpture on display in the Benton Center’s south wing. Student potters included Pat Berman, Trish Browning, Annclaire Greig, Dawn Jones, Becca Lemon, Deb Sether, Gundege Snepste, and Alexis Spakoski. The ten-week class challenged students to design, construct and problem solve installation of a multi-part sculpture. After looking at several student design concepts, the class chose Alexis Spakoski's "inspired" as the best design to fit the space. The design allowed for the variety of construction styles for each student's technical capabilities. The project was approved by Benton Center Director Jeff Davis and the LBCC Arts and Aesthetics Resource Team.

Pictured, left to right: Cynthia Spencer and students Annclaire Greig, Becca Lemon, Gundega Snepste and Trish Browning,

Weekly Update, April 4

LBCC Phi Theta Kappa students honored business and accounting faculty member Jack Stone at their annual Induction Ceremony held Feb. 21. The students honor one LBCC staff each year at the ceremony.

Rich Bergeman, former journalism instructor and current LBCC Art Gallery coordinator, has published the book “Exphrasis II: A collaboration of poets and artists from LBCC." Images and poetry from the book are on display as part of an exhibit in the South Santiam Hall Gallery through May 2. LBCC's Poetry Club will sell copies of the book for $20 during the exhibit reception Tuesday, April 15 from 3-4 p.m. in the gallery, or purchase online for $19.79, plus approximately $8 shipping, at: www.blurb.com/b/5158933-exphrasis-ii

"Better Know Your Data" statistics show that 61 percent of LBCC students who started fall term 2013 are currently re-enrolled for spring term, with an average of 11 credits apiece. Stats from “Better Know Your Data” and the Institutional Research team.

Plan to attend the president's forum Thursday, April 10 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Forum, room F-104. Hear from President Hamann on LBCC directions, opportunities and challenges. Come prepared to ask questions.

LBCC’s landscape is a bit “greener,” thanks to grounds manager George VanKeulen and his team. The college has not used any pesticides or herbicides to combat weeds and bugs for more than a year. Instead, George's team focuses on keeping the grass cut and laying down copious amounts of wood chips to suppress weed seeds. But, you may see a few more dandelions in the grass, says George, which, by the way, are edible and quite good for you. His team also is working to remove a large number of plants around campus and at the Benton Center that died over the winter due to freezing temperatures. Those plants will be chipped and used around campus to help suppress weeds.

Weekly Update, March 20

At the recent Initiative Leaders meeting faculty and staff shared news of the progress on various projects. Most notably, Math Fast Track, the Accelerated Learning Project in Writing and the Destination Graduation and Advising initiative have seen promising results. All three programs will be expanded for fall term 2014 to benefit more students.

During spring term, the college will again participate in the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE). Research shows that the more actively engaged students are, the more likely they are to persist in their college studies and achieve at higher levels. The survey will be administered between April 21 and May 2 in randomly selected classes to ensure a representative sample and to preserve the integrity of the survey results. Faculty members whose classes are selected for survey administration will receive more specific instructions in early April. Learn more and see results from our three previous surveys, visit the CCSSE webpage.

LBCC honor roll students Alisha Haskett and Willard W. Hucks III were selected to represent LBCC as part of the OCCA All Oregon Academic Team. They will attend a luncheon with Governor John Kitzhaber and the OCCA All Academic team in Salem April 22.  Haskett is a networking and systems administration major from Sweet Home, and Hucks is an accounting technology major from Albany. They will each receive a plaque from the OCCA and a $1,000 scholarship from Oregon State University, where they plan to transfer.  

OCCA Academic Team members Alisha Haskett & Willard Hucks.

For those wondering about the progress to fix the courtyard clock or the broken fountain by the Calapooia Center, facilities are currently in the process of repairs. The fountain may take a bit longer due to the need to replace the pump, which costs around $5,000. They are currently looking at alternatives to replacement. 

LBCC Lands Large Business of Year Award

Bryan Schiedler, right, and Gary Price with LBCC Award.

LBCC received the Large Business of the Year award from the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce during its Lebanon Distinguished Service Awards banquet held March 11.

LBCC has a dual presence in Lebanon with its East Linn County Center and the Advanced Transportation Technology Center. Gary Price, regional director of Linn County Centers, and Bryan Schiedler, automotive technician faculty member and department chair, accepted the award on behalf of the college.

“It was an honor to accept an award that so many of us, past and present, have contributed to,” wrote Schiedler.

Nearly 350 people attended the awards banquet held at the Samaritan Center in Lebanon. The awards recognize exceptional individuals, businesses and organizations that contribute their time and energy to Lebanon, and include: man and woman of the year; junior first citizen; senior first citizen; outstanding community group; large business of the year (49 or more employees); small business of the year (fewer than 49 employees); business leader of the year; non-profit organization of the year; and the Frankie Gray Answering a Call award.

Along with LBCC, Lebanon High School, Consumers Power Inc. and Lowe’s Distribution Center were in the running for the large business award. The award recognizes the college's efforts around its values of excellence and opportunity.

Weekly Update, March 7

Assessing Placement Testing (APT) Initiative Committee is working on ideas to reduce the percentage of students who are placed into developmental coursework as a result of taking the CPT without advance preparation. Through winter term, the APT looked at online and print information to help develop marketing strategies that insure prospective students know the importance of preparing for the CPT. The APT committee will assess whether these efforts make a difference by measuring and improving the percentage of students who report being prepared before taking the CPT. They are looking to the fall of 2014 to begin analyzing the results of the committee work.

Did you Know: 80 percent of LBCC career and technical education students responding to last year’s graduate follow-up survey report being employed within nine months of graduation. (Stats from "Better Know Your Data" Institutional Research team, Justin Smith and Justene Malosh)

The 36th annual Career Fair will be held Thursday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Activities Center gym, Albany campus. More than 50 businesses, industries and government agencies will provide information on careers and employment opportunities. College advisors will available to answer questions on career and technical training programs. Employment, training and family needs agencies will be on hand to inform job seekers about their services. LBCC will offer workshops to enhance job search skills, and employment specialists will provide resume and interviewing workshops. More information at: www.linnbenton.edu/career-fair

Weekly Update, Feb. 28

Nominations are open for LBCC's Distinguished Alumni Award, accepted through April 1. Awards honor alumni who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in their profession or through service to their community. Nominees must have completed at least 36 LBCC credits. Nomination forms are available at linnbenton.edu/distinguished-alumni. Nominees will be honored at a reception held in their honor May 7. For more information, contact the LBCC College Advancement Office at 541-917-4784.

It was announced at the Feb. 19 Board of Education meeting that Dave Henderson would serve as the interim vice president of finance and operations until a replacement can be found for outgoing VP Jim Huckestein. Henderson, from Bend, comes to the position with 13 years of experience working on major programs with the state legislature, and four years with Marion County working on capital and IT projects. Henderson will work three days a week, mostly on college operations, while Betty Nielsen, director of accounting and budget, will be in charge of finance. The meeting also included discussion on the status of a potential bond measure for capital projects.

The LBCC Chapter of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges is accepting donations to help Annette Easdale’s family with expenses for her grandson, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Feb. 14.  An anonymous donor has offered to match the donations up to $100. Donations will be taken through March 7, at which time a VISA gift card will be purchased for the family to use. If you would like to donate, please give your donation to any AAWCC Executive Board member: Linda Hobson, Vickie Keith, Karin Magnuson, M’Liss Runyon, Gwen Cox, or Jeanine Howell. Checks should be made payable to AAWCC. 

The 5th annual LBCC Unity Celebration was held at the Diversity Achievement Center Wednesday, Feb. 26. The event included presentation of the Analee Fuentes Unity Awards to honor LBCC students, staff and faculty members for their contributions to diversity and social justice. Albany Mayor Sharon Konopa and Chris Equinoa with the Albany Human Relations Committee attended along with a large group of LBCC faculty and staff. This year’s recipients were student Jordan Hagle, Admission staff member Christine Baker, and Welding and Fabrication faculty members Fred Stuewe and Dean Dowless. In addition, a new award was established in honor of former art faculty member Gary Westford. The Gary Westford Community Connection Award was presented in Gary’s name for his many contributions to our community and LBCC. The first recipient will be announced at next year’s Unity Celebration. LBCC communications faculty member Dana Emerson introduced the award, and put it best by saying “When you feel like you're having a museum experience on campus, you’re actually having a Gary Westford experience.”

Former art faculty member Gary Westford was honored with the
first Gary Westford Community Connection Award at the
recent Unity Celebration in the DAC.