By Alex Paul
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Saturday, January 26, 2008 12:00 am
Linn-Benton Community College is "running like a well-oiled machine in perfect harmony," said President Rita Cavin during her annual state of the college report Friday to faculty, elected officials and community leaders.
A proposed medical school near Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital will create numerous opportunities for LBCC, she added.
"It's thrilling," Cavin said. "Our students will be able to obtain an associate's degree in nursing, get a bachelor's in something else and then get a master's degree in nursing at the new medical campus."
Cavin said LBCC plans to have a building on the 51-acre campus that may start accepting students in 2011. The medical school is a cooperative project between Samaritan Health Services and Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif.
At LBCC, a major reorganization of administrative staff is under way due to the retirement of Vice President Mike Holland in June. As part of that shift, long-time fiscal director Jim Huckestein was promoted to vice president of financial operations and Bruce Clemetsen was promoted to dean of student services. Carol Schaafsma, who was named vice president of academic affairs in March 2006, has been promoted to executive vice president of academic affairs and workforce development.
The college's new $3.7 million science complex - for which ground may be broken as early as June - is well-positioned to assist students and industries from Corvallis to Sweet Home, especially the emerging organic chemical and bioscience companies in Albany, Cavin said.
As the cost of a college education and general living expenses have risen, the LBCC Foundation continues to play an important role, Cavin said. This school year it has awarded $600,000 in scholarships.
She also reports:
• The college's TRIO program geared to students who are the first in their family to attend college, has worked with 257 students since 2005 and has seen 29 graduates. TRIO students have earned more than $110,000 in scholarships.
• In June 2007, LBCC awarded 703 degrees and certificates, and 553 people completed their GED requirements.
• The college has set a goal of increasing enrollment that reflects the demographics of the districts served. Two recruiters attended 49 events last fall, compared to 22 events in fall 2006. They met with 5,000 prospective students and have sent e-mail and info packets to more than 1,500 students.
• The college's dual-enrollment partnership with Oregon State University continues to grow with more than 6,000 students admitted in 2006.
• LBCC will sponsor an annual business, industry and workforce needs assessment and share that information with the community. The first assessment will focus on manufacturing including food processing, paper and wood products and fabricated and primary metals.
• A grand opening for the college's new library is expected in April.
• LBCC will add two programs: mechatronics, which focuses on trouble-shooting and repair of complex manufacturing equipment, and polysomnography, which will provide technicians for sleep disorder centers.