Monthly Highlights
February 2009
LANE’S OPENING DOORS CAPITAL CAMPAIGN kicked off its public phase with the announcement of six gifts totaling $6,375,000 from six donors. The gifts create opportunities for Lane to advance its leadership in nursing and health care education by expanding offerings for students in nursing, respiratory care, physical therapy and other health care training programs. More than $16 million needs to be raised to meet the campaign total of $23 million. Funds will support four initiatives: a new health and wellness center, a faculty endowment, a scholarship endowment, and a fund for innovation. An additional state grant of $6.75 million will go toward the new building. The donors include the Sacred Heart Medical Center Foundation/PeaceHealth Oregon Region which pledged $1,875,000, with $1,375,000 allocated for instruction of nursing and other health science students and $500,000 committed to the Health and Wellness Center; $1.5 million for the health and wellness center from the John and Robin Jaqua Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation; $1 million each from the Rosaria P. Haugland Foundation and from Don and Willie Tykeson through the Tykeson Family Charitable Trust; and $500,000 each from Cart and Joy Woodard, and Doug McKay. An additional 317 donors have contributed $2,302,476 to date. Read The Register-Guard story online at http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/8263112-41/story.csp. An RG editorial on the campaign and the rough economic times said, “It’s good to see that Lane Community College refuses to lower its sights in the face of these conditions and is turning to its supporters for help in realizing important ambitions.” Read the editorial online at http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/sevendays/8440172-35/story.csp.
THE ANNUAL OREGON JAZZ FESTIVAL collaboration by Lane Community College and the University of Oregon attracted 450 students from 25 middle schools, high schools, Lane and the UO to hear, learn from and play with nationally known jazz artists.
LANE’S ANNUAL FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIP EVENT, "How to Pay for College--In One Day," attracted record attendance. More than 550 people signed up to learn how to obtain financial aid and scholarships.
VELDA ARNAUD, business instructor and honor society advisor, was selected as a Faculty Scholar for the 2009 Phi Theta Kappa Faculty Scholar Conference and International Honors Institute, one of only 24 people nationwide to be selected. She also was named as regional coordinator for the Phi Theta Kappa Rocky Mountain Cascade Region. Arnaud is a four-time winner of the society’s Paragon Award for Advisors. See the full story and photo online at http://www.lanecc.edu/mpr/news/rel01088.htm.
CONNIE ROWLETT was named Employee of the Month for February. She is administrative coordinator in the Science Division and has been with the college since 1980. Colleagues say she has trained almost every chair in the department’s history. See full story and photo online at http://www.lanecc.edu/cpdt/eom.html.
A NEW AAOT INFORMATION LITERACY REQUIREMENT has been recommended by the Joint Boards Articulation Commission. The commission reports to the Joint Boards of Higher Education. Colleges now are working to determine which courses should be designated as addressing information literacy skills. See more information online at http://tinyurl.com/bfl3oq.
GROUP 1 BOND PROJECTS received a go-ahead from the college’s Board of Education. This will allow planning to move forward. Project User Groups will be formed soon and a communications strategy is being developed to meet campus and community needs. The projects include a business building interior renovation, performing arts building seating and backstage improvements, center building first-floor classroom, Florence Center new science lab, Downtown Center design work, and a variety of main campus infrastructure improvements. See The Register-Guard story online at http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/8220334-41/story.csp.
DEFERRED MAINTENANCE prep work got underway to make good use of $8 million in state stimulus funds designated for Lane. Related job postings are online at https://jobs.lanecc.edu and as of February 26, more than 350 people had already applied. Hiring committees are preparing for interviews. Up to 25 positions should be filled by the middle of April. A temporary project shop/supplies staging area will be set up in parking lot N, near building 7, and a website is up and running at www.lanecc.edu/facilities/dm to help contractors and suppliers apply for deferred maintenance project work. Invitations to architects and design firms are being distributed and posted on the same web page. A Deferred Maintenance Leadership Team, including facilities, staff, instructional deans, and executive administrators, is meeting weekly.
Excerpted from Lane Weekly and news sources by Joan Aschim, Marketing and Public Relations, February 2009.