Community support of LBCC is vital

Rita Cavin, Ph. D

President Linn-Benton Community College

It’s appropriate that the theme this evening is a safari. I feel like I’ve been exploring new territory for the last seven months.

I’ve been introduced to the wonders of rhodies and bald eagles, met some of the natives, and discovered some new pathways through the jungles of Salem.

My husband, Brooks, and I have moved into our new home and our lives have started to feel “more settled, less like camping.”

And, in exploring Oregon, I have discovered just how lucky I am to have been selected to lead LBCC.

LBCC is creative and open to innovation, many institutions go into shock when a new president arrives. They circle their wagons and the new president has to use skill and persistence to get into the circle. That has not been my experience at LBCC. They have supported me, patiently oriented me to the community, and they are open to innovation and the ideas of a new leader. And, so has the Foundation, members have been wonderful about introducing me to leaders in the community.

But there are wild challenges in the jungle. Challenges, not only to LBCC, but to all of America’s community colleges.

I just returned from a national community college conference and it is clear that LBCC is not unique in the challenges that it faces.

Community college enrollment demands across the country are up due to several factors, the same factors that face LBCC:

A growing number of well-prepared high school students cannot keep up with the costs of four-year public and private universities, they come to LBCC.

A growing number of high schools cannot afford to provide the enrichment and challenge courses needed by their juniors and seniors, they come to LBCC.

A growing number of displaced workers have turned to us for retraining.

So demand is up, just when all 50 states are reducing their support to colleges. Even as President Bush speaks at our campuses, extols us in his State of the Union and even appears at our national conference, he has produced awareness of our contribution, but not increased our resources.

Across our nation, community colleges are reducing their offerings to stay within their smaller budgets and are turning away students. Literally hundreds of thousands of students are being left behind.

Across our nation, states are shifting the economic burden for higher education to students and their families.

Across our nation, the role of community college president has evolved in just the last few years to 40% fundraising.

Across our nation, competition for funding is stiff ñ at the federal level, at the state level, with private giving.

What is our strategy?

I have activated a legislative action team led by Mike Holland that will be proactive in light of the fiscal challenges facing the state of Oregon.

I have set a goal of increasing membership in the Foundation’s President’s Club.

I am planning to increase both federal lobbying and grant writing.

I am seeking out additional partnerships within our community.

I am asking for your help.

Remember, LBCC is a community college, our students come from the community and, we hope, return to the community enriched by what they have experienced at LBCC.

The quality of your nursing care, the quality of child care, the success of small business, depends in large part on the quality of LBCC.

Here is what I am asking from you:

Be involved in LBCC, be active in the Foundation, be active alumni, be active on advisory committees, visit our restaurant and come to our performances.

Demand that your elected representatives take our contribution to our region’s economy seriously.

Be supportive of students, even students you don’t really know.

Give them positive feedback to show that the broader community supports their endeavors and choices.

Support scholarships, internships, and work experience.

Help us expand the work of our Foundation by increasing its membership.

If you are engaged in conversation, have a few facts at your fingertips, did you know, for example, that LBCC produces 50 nurses and 16 dental assistants a year; and 18 radiology techs every 18 months?

Did you know that we have involved over 3,000 students in our dual enrollment program with OSU?

Did you know that over 254 Crescent Valley High School students earned 2,530 college credits in ’02-’03 saving over $125,000 in college tuition for their families?

To afford to attend a public university today, a student must work 55 hours per week in a minimum wage job compared to 22 hours in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. To complete college many students take on huge amounts of credit card debt.

LBCC is blessed to have such a strong and supportive foundation. As we near the successful completion of our $10M campaign, we can be proud of 2003-’04:

–$1.5M gift to improve the library and learning center

–The generous Tripp family gift to remodel our theater.

–$400,000 tuition access grants, child care access grants, individual scholarships, and other areas of student support.

If you consistently voice your support and your understanding of our contribution to our community, it will make a huge difference in our financial stability, in our ability to form partnerships

We count on you to stand by our students. Thank you for your support and enjoy your evening with us.

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