Monthly Highlights
July-August 2005 Highlights
THE LONGHOUSE RECEIVED A $9,000 GRANT from the Oregon Cultural Trust in August. The trust reviewed $3.3 million in requests from 228 organizations, and awarded $1.3 million to only 58 projects. "The grant review process was rigorous and projects selected for funding reflect 'significant' cultural projects and activities across the state," wrote trust director Christine D'Arcy in the award letter. For more information, contact Kathy Thomas, Lane Foundation, 463-5538.
JANNE UNDERRINER WAS NAMED LANE'S FIRST VISITING ENDOWED CHAIR in August. Underriner will oversee the development of a first-year course of study in the Northwest Indian Language, Chinuk Wawa, and will teach American Indian Languages 100. She has a master's and a doctorate in linguistics from the University of Oregon where she also served as director of the Northwest Indian Language Institute working with Northwest tribes. In the 1970s and 80s she was an Adult Education science teacher at Lane. The 2005/06 Endowed Chair was made possible by a $1 million anonymous gift to the college in 2004. President Mary Spilde announced this spring that the chair will revolve to different disciplines annually.
THE OREGON LEGISLATURE appropriated $434 for community colleges in late July, of which $427.7 million is for the Community College Support Fund. The remainder includes the Community College and Workforce Development agency budget. While short of the $440 million goal set by the colleges, the funding was more than the governor's original proposal.
PRESIDENT MARY SPILDE earned an outstanding performance evaluation for the fourth straight year since being named president in 2001. The Board of Education presented the evaluation at its July 13 meeting and noted that the president's contract is through 2010.
PRESIDENT MARY SPILDE was appointed to a three-year term on the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Economic and Workforce Development. Her participation will dovetail with her work on the Oregon Workforce investment Board.
KLCC NEWS WON FOUR AWARDS at the Public Radio News Directors Conference in July. The station won first place for a news-public affairs program, first place for spot news, second place for interviews, and second place for newscasts.
LANE WAS NAMED RECYCLER OF THE YEAR by the Association of Oregon Recyclers in July. AOR commended Lane for its strong recycling and sustainability program. Currently, 52 percent of all college waste is recycled or reused, accounting for more than 343 tons of batteries, food waste, sawdust, paper, metal, glass, motor oil, and other materials. For more information see Lane's Recycling Program website at www.lanecc.edu/recycle/links.htm.
LARRY ROMINE, Lane Board of Education member and former director of public relations at Lane from 1966-92, published an article in the summer 2005 issue of the Lane County Historian featuring Robert Hamill, Lane president for one year from 1968-69. For more information about college history, see the archives website at www.lanecc.edu/archives.
BOARD OF EDUCATION members Susie Johnston, Pat Riggs-Henson and Paul Holman took the oath of office at the July 13 meeting. Johnston and Riggs-Henson were elected in May and Holman was re-elected. Riggs-Henson previously served on the board from 1989-98. Roger Hall was elected 2005/06 chair, and Mike Rose was elected vice chair.
THE RITES OF PASSAGE Summer Academies program celebrated its 10th anniversary year in July, culminating with a capstone ceremony on August 5. Ninety-one middle and high school students of color participated in the month-long cultural immersion program offering four academies: the African American Rites of Passage, Pan Asian American Rites of Passage, Umista Native American Rites of Passage, and Puertas Abiertas Latino/Latina Rites of Passage.
Excerpted from Lane Weekly and news sources by Joan Aschim, public information officer, Marketing and Public Relations, (541) 463-5591, July-August 2005.