Demolition work will begin the week of March 30 on the corner of Fourth Plain Blvd. and Fort Vancouver Way on the northwest end of Clark College’s main campus. The buildings and the property being demolished are owned by Clark College Foundation.

The future of the corner will have several phases. After the demolition, some of the space will be converted into parking, which will help to offset parking losses due to the construction of the college’s new 70,000 square-foot STEM building and remodeling of a culinary facility on the Clark College campus.

Long term, the corner of Fourth Plain Blvd. and Fort Vancouver Way is part of the Facilities Master Plan at the college and many options are under consideration. One option is for the foundation or college to partner with a developer to develop the property, but the location currently has no funding identified for any project or specific use.

The demolition will run through approximately April 3, 2015.

Clark College has received a major grant toward the college’s efforts to help low-income students complete their education. Work is already underway on the three-year Working Families Success Network (WFSN) grant, which provides $100,000 per year to hire staff and equip them to work with students.

WFSN is a program of Achieving the Dream, a partnership of seven nonprofit organizations that has grown to become the largest non-governmental reform movement working in higher education today. Achieving the Dream works at 200 higher education institutions in 34 states and the District of Columbia helping nearly 4 million college students realize greater economic opportunity.

Through the WFSN grant, Clark College will have an opportunity to provide more support to students in the areas of financial literacy, career services and gaining access to public benefits. “One of our goals is to remove the stigma and mystery surrounding some of the public benefits that students may be eligible for,” Armetta Burney, Associate Director of Workforce Education Services, said. She explained that the grant allows the college to hire four part-time coaches to work one-on-one with students, helping them to access resources and manage their finances as they reach for their educational goals.

“We also have an effort underway to help faculty and staff understand how to direct and encourage low-income students,” Burney added. “This is a large issue for the college as a whole, as 47 percent of Clark College students are classified as low-income.” Burney added that there are many ways for faculty and staff to encourage students, but one of the easiest is to share the website www.washingtonconnection.org, which helps students quickly and easily determine their eligibility for public benefits.

The grant parameters state a goal of reaching 25 percent of low-income students with both high- and low-touch services by the end of the three-year grant. High-touch services include one-on-one interactions like financial coaching, career coaching, or assistance with access to public benefits. Low-touch services include workshops, classes and general information on resources and services provided by the college.

“We know that far too many of our students are just one financial crisis away from dropping out of school, and that once they drop out it can be incredibly difficult for them to return,” said Edie Blakley, Director of Career Services. “With this grant, Clark College will be able to help more of these students weave a safety net for themselves that can allow them to stay focused on their long-term goals and create a plan for their financial wellness during and after college”

The Clark College Board of Trustees approved the 2015-2020 Strategic Plan on Wednesday night during its monthly board meeting. The Board’s approval is the final step in the approval process, and the campus will begin implementing the new strategic plan right away. According to Associate Vice President for Planning Effectiveness Shanda Diehl, the college has already begun to implement elements of the plan, as the final approval represents two years of discussion and work at the college to clarify the mission, vision, themes and values that will guide the campus over the next five years.

The updated vision statement for the college is, “Clark College inspires learners to excel, transforms lives, and strengthens our increasingly diverse community.”

The updated mission is, “Clark College, in service to the community, guides individuals to achieve their educational and professional goals.”

Beyond the mission and vision, the college developed core themes to guide its priorities for the coming five years:

• Academic Excellence: Facilitate student learning by providing the conditions for intellectual growth through scholarship, discovery, application, creativity, and critical thinking.
• Social Equity: Facilitate student learning by providing the conditions that improve educational outcomes and eliminate systemic disparities among all groups.
• Economic Vitality: Facilitate student learning by providing programs, services, and conditions that improve the economic well-being of the students, college, and community.
• Environmental Integrity: Facilitate student learning by providing the conditions that continually improve the college’s physical, virtual, and social environment.

The complete strategic plan, along with many documents that led to its creation, can be found at: http://www.clark.edu/clark-and-community/about/strategic_plan/index.php.

President Knight welcomes guests to his 2015 State of the College Address.

“Over the past year, we have seen many successes and we have seen many things that seemed like a dream or a far-off vision come to fruition.” So began President Bob Knight’s 2015 State of the College Address, held January 15 in Gaiser Student Center, in a speech full of hope and celebration.

As President Knight pointed out, there was much to celebrate: the successful completion of the Clark College Foundation’s capital campaign, the beginning of the long-delayed construction of a new STEM building, the introduction of the college’s first-ever bachelor’s degree, the acquisition of land for a new North County campus, the expansion of services in the Columbia Gorge, and much more.

Left to right, Clark College Foundation CEO and President Lisa Gibert, Bernice and Hank Boschma, and Clark College President Bob Knight at the 2015 State of the College Address.

Regarding the North County campus, Knight noted that Hank and Bernice Boschma were sitting in the audience and thanked them publicly for the donation of land that made the North Campus location possible. Knight also announced that there would be a public monument on the new campus that told the story of the Boschma Family, who moved to Ridgefield from the Netherlands and began a successful dairy farm.

“As we look to North County we are inspired by what the Boschma family created and we are looking for the next opportunities that will allow people to live, be successful, and contribute to the community of Southwest Washington,” he said. “That is why we are looking at Clark College at Boschma Farms as a possible center for advanced manufacturing and medical programs.”

Knight also took the opportunity to unveil the final draft of the college’s 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, which is undergoing a final round of public feedback before being presented to the college’s Board of Trustees for approval. “A key change from our old Strategic Plan is that we don’t just want to be a place that welcomes students in,” he explained. “We want to be a learning college where people come and complete their educational goals.”

President Knight thanks 99-year old professor emeritus and WWII veteran John Deurwaarder for his service to the college and the country.

As is his tradition during the State of the College, Knight also awarded Presidential Coins to exceptional staff and faculty members in honor of their service. Early during his address, he also presented a coin to Professor Emeritus John Deurwaarder, who celebrates his 100th birthday in May.

At the end of his address, President Knight urged guests to make sure others know about the future plans and current accomplishments at the college. “You’re here because you care about Clark College and you care about our community,” he said. “You need to help tell the story about this wonderful asset in our community.”

See more photos from the State of the College on Flickr.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

During her decade as a Clark College trustee, Sherry Parker has been a frequent presence at the college.

Ever since she first became a member of the Clark College Board of Trustees in 2003, Sherry Parker has been vital presence at the college, where she has faithfully attended not just board meetings but also Opening Days, State of the College addresses, cultural events, Commencement ceremonies—even when inmates were celebrating earning their GEDs through Clark at Larch Correctional Facility, Sherry Parker was there.

Last Thursday, however, Parker attended her last board meeting, as her tenure has officially expired. There was little fanfare at the event; Clark College President Bob Knight had hosted a private celebration at his home that Monday to thank Parker for her decade-long service to the college. Even so, as each trustee rose in turn to speak, it became clear how valuable Parker has been to the board.

“Sherry Parker was Clark College at the state level,” said Trustee Jada Rupley, referring to Parker’s role as a tireless committee member of the statewide Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges.

Clark College Trustee Jack Burkman, Trustee Emeritus Sherry Parker, alumna Dena Brill, Trustee Royce Pollard and Trustee Rekah Strong at the 2014 State of the College address.

That work earned her a TACTC Trustee Leadership Award earlier this year. Her nomination for the award cited her work in helping the college complete several key initiatives including the construction and opening of Clark College at Columbia Tech Center and the opening of the Oliva Family Early Learning Center, adding that she “has been a central figure in keeping the college focused on the student experience and student success. She is truly an advocate for students.”

Parker’s focus on students was due in part to her own experiences as a Clark student. She enrolled in the college in 1981, soon after she moved to Vancouver due to her husband’s job. Parker, who already had a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of South Florida, realized she would need to improve her computer skills to compete in the modern job market. She earned her Associate of Applied Science degree in 1983 and wound up working for the college as well, working part-time as a department secretary and teaching computer skills to mature learners through Clark’s Corporate and Continuing Education.

Sherry Parker, blue jacket, could always be counted on to attend events during her decade-long tenure as a Clark College trustee.

Eventually, Parker moved on to other job opportunities, working as a substitute teacher, in advertising, as a legal secretary in the juvenile court system, and in the Clark County Clerk’s office as Deputy Clerk. She was elected County Clerk in 2006 and served in that position until 2011.

In an email after the board meeting, Parker called the end of her tenure on the Board of Trustees “bittersweet.”

“I would be happy to continue my service, but after almost 11 years, it is time for a new perspective on the board,” she wrote. “I know [Michael] Ciraulo will do a great job as a trustee.”

Ciraulo, who also attended Thursday’s board meeting—his first—acknowledged during the speeches that he would have “big shoes to fill” in taking Parker’s spot on the board. But even though Parker’s time on the board is ending, she will continue to be a familiar presence at the college—in fact, she has already begun volunteering at the college’s Corporate and Continuing Education office.

“I will always be a member of the Penguin Nation,” Parker wrote, “and I will help out in any way I can.”

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

Clark College Trustee Michael Ciraulo

Michael Ciraulo has been appointed to the Clark College Board of Trustees by Gov. Jay Inslee. His five-year term will begin Nov. 1, 2014. Ciraulo takes over for Trustee Sherry Parker, whose term expired this summer.

“Mike Ciraulo brings a long history of public service to the board and we are happy to welcome him,” said Clark College President Robert K. Knight. “As a graduate of a community college, a community leader, and a professional firefighter, he brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the college.”

A 20-year veteran of the fire service, he is currently the Division Chief in charge of Training and Education at Clark County Fire and Rescue. He earned his associate degree in fire protection from Portland Community College, a bachelor’s degree in business management and communications from Concordia University, and is a graduate of the Executive Fire Officer Program through the National Fire Academy.

A dedicated public servant, Ciraulo has previously served as both Mayor and City Council member in Battle Ground, where he resides. He has given his time to many public causes statewide and in Southwest Washington, including the Washington State Higher Education Facilities Authority, President of the Clark County Mosquito Control District, Board of Directors for the North County Community Food Bank, Chairperson of the North Clark County Steering Committee for Loaves and Fishes, Larch Corrections Community Advisory Board, and the Lewis River Rotary.

The Clark College Board of Trustees consists of five members who are appointed by the Governor of Washington. Members serve a five-year term and must live in the college’s service district. The Board seeks to ensure the quality and relevance of college programs and to provide stewardship of public resources. In this role, the Board is responsible for strategic planning; development and approval of college policies; and approval and oversight of the operating budget.

Ciraulo’s first meeting will be November 19 at 5 p.m. in Gaiser Hall at Clark College.

Photo courtesy of Michael Ciraulo.

Clark’s new website features improved navigation and a mobile-friendly format.

Clark College is launching a new website today that will help improve navigation, expand access forstudents, and ensure timely updates to content. The website, which uses the same clark.edu address as the college’s former website, features a new, mobile-friendly format that can be viewed on a variety of platforms and devices.

The new site also includes a variety of helpful features to aid students in navigating to the information they need. A prominent box on the home page includes links to frequently used pages; for more detailed searches, the website’s “Clark A-Z” page has been expanded to offer visitors direct links to even more services. This page and other navigation tools are now easily findable through the “Directories” link on the right side of the top navigation menu found on every page.

For students, the “Current Students” page (also easily found in the top navigation menu that appears on every page, under “Clark Students”) has been improved with a clean layout that helps students easily access the information they need–including schedule planning, online registration, and student email.

Behind the scenes, a new content management system has streamlined departments’ abilities to update information on their web pages, ensuring that important departmental information gets updated regularly by the people who understand it best. The college’s Communications & Marketing Department will continue to oversee the website’s look and operation.

The new site is the work of not just Communications & Marketing, but of dozens of Clark staff and faculty members who collaborated on content and navigation, trained to become content managers, and worked to improve the content on their respective departments’ pages. Many months in the making, this new website will continue to develop after launch, with new features like a mobile-friendly online map to the main campus already in the works.

Visitors to the site are encouraged to contact commark@clark.edu with any questions, notes for improvement, or concerns.

Director of Athletics Ann Walker

Vice President of Student Affairs William Belden announced today that Clark College has hired Ann Walker as the new Director of Intercollegiate Athletics; her first day will be Tuesday, September 2. Walker comes to Clark from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she served as the Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Internal Operations. Overall, Walker has served for 23 years in athletics in roles ranging from administration to coaching.

“We are excited to be able to hire someone with Ann’s depth of experience and commitment to student success in this position at Clark, and I know she will be a great resource and advocate for our student athletes,” Belden said.

Walker served as an assistant basketball coach at Creighton University before being hired to head the women’s program at Minnesota State University. From there, she moved into athletic administration and has held a variety of positions including conference leadership roles. She has a M.A. in Sports Psychology from the University of Iowa, and a B.A. in Elementary Education from Northwestern College in Iowa.

Walker comes to Clark during an athletic upswing. Last year, 10 of 11 sports programs at Clark College made post-season appearances and four coaches won conference Coach of the Year Honors. Clark College’s fall athletic programs begin play on Monday, August 25.

Work and closures will take place inside the areas marked by yellow lines.

Sections of Green Lot One will be closed off during the month of July as the college works to improve its fiber optic system. On July 15 and 16, the entire northwest portion of the lot will be closed to cars as workers determine the locations of existing underground utilities. Once those locations have been determined, smaller areas of the lot will be closed off as specific sites are worked on. All work should be done, and the entire lot re-opened, by the end of July.

Article and photo contributed by Facilities Services.

Beginning July 11, the College will be closed to the public at noon on Fridays through August 29.  Below please find information about the availability of College services available during this closure period.

Note: Even when services are available during normal operating hours, staff do take vacation during the summer and not all departments may be at full strength all the time. However, the college will ensure adequate staff coverage in critical areas.

Bookstore

• Open Friday, July 11, 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and Friday, July 18, 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and closed Fridays, July 21 – August 22
• Open Friday, August 29, 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Business Services

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29.

Cashiering

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29.

Central Services

• Outgoing mail will be delivered to the Post Office prior to noon on Fridays, July 11 – August 29. There will be no campus mail delivery after noon on those Fridays. Campus mail will be delivered on the following Monday.

Emergency Management

• Will maintain normal operating hours during the summer and will not be closed at noon on Fridays.

Environmental Health and Safety

• Will maintain normal operating hours during the summer and will not be closed at noon on Fridays.

Events Services

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays from July 11 – August 29, unless there is an event scheduled that requires staff to be on site.

Facility Services

• Will maintain normal operating hours during the summer and will not be closed at noon on Fridays.

Financial Aid

• Closed all day on Fridays for processing.

Food Service

• Bakery — open Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Bauer Coffee Lounge – open Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Closed Fridays.
• Hanna Coffee Lounge – open Monday – Thursday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Closed Fridays.
• Chewy’s Really Big Burritos – open Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Closed Fridays.
• College Burger – open Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Closed Fridays.
• Mighty Bowl – open Monday – Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Closed Fridays.
• Anderson Grill is no longer in operation. A new vendor, to be selected over the summer, will begin operations fall quarter in that space.

Human Resources

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29.

Information Technology Services

• Will maintain normal operating hours during the summer and will not be closed at noon on Fridays.

The iQ Credit Union branch on the main campus

• Open Monday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., July 7 – August 28. Open 9:00 a.m. – noon on Fridays from July 11 – August 29.  Resumes regular operating hours the week of September 1.

Library:

• Open Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 5 – August 31).
• eLearning front office (LIB 124) open Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. – noon on Friday.
• TechHub (Cannell Library) open Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone and email only Friday – Sunday, Fridays 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Office of the Vice President of Administrative Services

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29.

Office of the Vice President of Instruction

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29.

President’s Office:

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29.

Production Printing

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29.

Security

• Lost and Found/ID Cards desk will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29.
• Dispatch will be closed at 2 p.m. on Fridays July 11 – August 29.
• Security officers will be available 24/7 for all security-related issues.

Student Affairs

• Will be closed at noon on Fridays July 11 – August 29 (except Financial Aid which is closed all day on Friday for processing).

Tutoring

• Please visit the Tutoring Center’s website for a complete list of summer hours and locations.

Other Clark College locations

The Clark Center at WSU Vancouver, the Columbia Tech Center, and the Continuing Education Center in downtown Vancouver will also be closed to the public at noon on Fridays, although instructional classes–as well as programs offered by Corporate & Continuing Education–will be provided as already scheduled.

This article contributed by Administrative Services.

Photo: Clark College/Jenny Shadley