Staff News - Oct. 30, 2015

By Linn-Benton Community College - October 30, 2015

LBCC Among 30 Chosen to Participate in AACC Pathways Project
Building off work it has done over the past two years, LBCC has been invited, through a highly competitive national selection process, to join the Pathways Project led by the American Association of Community Colleges, one of 30 colleges across America with a shared commitment to implement guided academic and career pathways for all students. Guided pathways provide students the structure and support to measurably increase their chances of college completion and career success. LBCC and the other colleges will receive support funded through a $5.2 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Over the next 2.5 years, LBCC will participate in the pathways institute series, working with expert coaches at the selected institutes and contributing to learning both across the initiative and more broadly, across the community college field. AACC is coordinating the national partnership to build capacity for community colleges to implement a pathways approach to student success and college completion. Partners include Achieving the Dream, Inc., the Aspen Institute, the Center for Community College Student Engagement, the Community College Research Center, Jobs for the Future, the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement, and Public Agenda. Partners have participated actively in the college selection process and also are substantively involved in designing a model series of pathways institutes, each focusing on key elements in a fully scaled pathway model for community colleges. The Pathways colleges are in urban, suburban, and rural locations in 17 states, with fall headcount enrollments ranging from less than 3,000 to almost 60,000 students. Selected colleges are:

Alamo Colleges (TX)
Bakersfield College (CA)
Broward College (FL)
Cleveland State Community College (TN)
Columbus State Community College (OH)
Community College of Philadelphia (PA)
Cuyahoga Community College (OH)
El Paso Community College (TX)
Front Range Community College (CO)
Indian River State College (FL)
Irvine Valley College (CA)
Jackson College (MI)
Lansing Community College (MI)
Linn-Benton Community College (OR)
Monroe Community College (NY)
Mt. San Antonio College (CA)
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (WI)
Paris Junior College (TX)
Pierce College District (WA)
Prince George’s Community College (MD)
St. Petersburg College (FL)
San Jacinto College (TX)
Skagit Valley College (WA)
Stanly Community College (NC)
South Seattle Community College (WA)
Tallahassee Community College (FL)
Tulsa Community College (OK)
Wallace State College (AL)
Western Wyoming Community College (WY)
Zane State College (OH)

Better Bones & Balance Celebrates 20 Years Serving Community
LBCC's popular community education fitness class Better Bones and Balance celebrated its 20th Anniversary Oct. 21. This successful signature program at LBCC has done so much for so many people in our communities, and serves as a great example of "building community,” said Community Education Director Chris Nystrom. Developed in partnership with OSU’s Bone Research Lab, the program has been shown to slow the rate of bone loss in adults of all ages. OSU has conducted high quality, recognized research and certification of Better Bones and Balance, with LBCC instructors and students participating in OSU research studies. Physicians have referred patients to the class, and OSU and LBCC have co-presented trainings to instructors in Oregon and other states.

Jack Giles Leads Albany Carousel Carving Project

Jack Giles carving at the Albany Carousel.

Computer guru by day, lead carver for the Albany Carousel on Saturdays (and many week nights), Jack Giles has volunteered every Saturday for the past 12 years to help bring the Albany carousel project to life, along with lead painter and former LBCC Community Ed director Gwenn Marchese. The dream to bring an historic carousel to Albany started in 2002. The project, scheduled for completion in Spring of 2017, needs to raise approximately $800,000 more for construction of a new building to house the carousel.

HR Board Report:
New hires, separations, promotions/transfers & retirements for Oct. 2015

Happy Halloween! Staff photos from the Halloween office decorating contest. Congratulations to the winners of the Headless Roadrunner, Human Resources! HR will not be in the running for next year's contest, but will instead become the judges - although they can still decorate their office for fun.