Former Dean Kaiser ‘relaxes ’ around house
Furniture design one of many interests
By Shelley Ball
Of The Print
Retirement is generally
termed a time to put one’s feet
up and relax; however, Ronald
Kaiser, former Clackamas
Community College ad­
ministrative dean of instruc­
tional services, doesn’t prefer
to retire in the usual sense of
the word.
Since his retirement from
the College on Dec. 31,, Kaiser
and his trusty note pad (it
already contains pages of jobs
for him to do around the
house) -are currently keeping
him busy.
Such jobs are to be found
on Kaiser’s 17-acre farm in
Beavercreek, where he lives
with his wife of 38 years,
Violet. These jobs include far­
ming Christmas trees, tending
an orchard and vineyard,
some remodeling and clearing
IH
Retired Dean Ronald Kaiser
File Photo
timbers of ash, alder and cher­
rywood to make furniture
“for my (ten) grandchildren,”
Kaiser said.
In addition to spending
time at his farm, Kaiser said he
is also doing some educational
and management consulting
for Oregon State University
(OSU) and the state Depart­
ment of Education. He also
plans to do more hunting,
fishing, traveling and writing.
Kaiser retired from the
College at the age of 59
becaùse he said he was ready,
after nearly 15 years with the
College and over 20 with com­
munity colleges in general, “to
do something else.”
Originally from Kansas
City, Kan., Kaiser moved to
Oregon in 1957 with his wife
and four daughters. “I had
come out here (Oregon) three
years earlier, and just fell in
love with the place,” he said.
Diversity appears to be a
main element in Kaiser’s life,
for just like the many features
on his farm are varied, so have
been his places of employ­
ment. Kaiser has worked at
many trades: from toolmaker
to constructing railroad cars,
from owning his own contrac­
ting business to à hotel night
clerk, even a teacher at OSU.
Somewhere between jobs
Kaiser managed to serve two
years with the Marines during
World War II, and receive his
bachelor’s, masters and doc­
torate degrees at OSU.
In 1962 Kaiser came to
work as a curriculum develop­
ment specialist for the state
Department of Education, in
which he was involved in help­
ing the then new idea of com­
munity colleges develop
courses. At this time Kaiser
said there were only about
three established community
colleges in Oregon. “It was
very exciting getting in on
something on the ground
level,” he said.
By 1969 Kaiser had joined
the staff of the College as the
dean of occupational educa­
tion. He explained that his job
consisted of helping design
the College’s two-year
associate degree programs. “I
hired someone to do the work,
otherwise I wrote them (pro­
grams) myself,” Kaiser said.
To this day College pro­
grams such as drafting
technology, law enforcement
and industrial mechanical
technology Eire to be credited
to Kaiser.
Although his former job
title at the College has changed
over the years, to end up as the
administrative dean of instruc­
tional services, Kaiser said his
job duties were basically the
same. Appreciation has been
shown for his contributions to
the College in a number of
ways, one in the form of a pla­
que presented to Kaiser by the
assistant deans in 1981, who
affectionately labeled him the
“Iron Duke.” Another was an
Elks’ Lodge roast on Dec. 2,
to which Kaiser said he thanks
all who participated in it. But
why is he called the “Iron
Duke?”
“I tend to be a little bit
directive in my administration,
rather than reflective,” Kaiser
said with a chuckle. “When
the time came to make a deci­
sion, it was made.”
In reflecting on his years
at the College, Kaiser said the
development of programs
highlighted his career. He also
said the College has one of the
best instructional staffs in the
state, although he added, “I
am prejudiced, because I hired
most of them.”
As for the future, Kaiser
said he would like to see more
people use the College’s ser­
vices, as he thinks the College
is currently “underutilized.”
“A lot of people who
have no idea what to do, and
you see them become suc­
cessful through completing an
educational program—that’s
(probably where I got most of
my kicks,” Kaiser said.
Voc. Tech, speech
Conner breaks ground
with avant-garde class
By DeAnn Dietrich
Of The Print
Clackamas Community
College vocational depart­
ments have faced a problem
for several years. It seems a
large percentage of students
enrolled in certificate and
degree programs have failed to
complete the required written
and oral communication
classes.
To receive a certificate
and/or associate degree in
programs such as waterworks
technology, welding, machine
shop, and hydraulics, students
must take courses in writing
and speech skills. The problem
is that students don’t perceive
these classes as being useful in
these trades. The worst of re­
quirements is seen as the
speech class because of the
fear associated with its expec­
tations.
Due to growing concern,
several departmeht heads
began researching the problem
and looking for an answer.
The answer turned out to be a
revitalized speech class. It
could actually be termed an in­
ner personal communication
course. This new class takes
away the stigma of the title
“speech class.” There are no business negotiations later on.
tension filled moments and Conner said that most people
cold sweats as students stand are unaware of how their
in front of the class. Instead, phrasing may put others on
Instructor Connie Conner in­ the defensive. Unconscious
tegrates role playing into the habits such as responding to a
theme of the class, the theme statement with the words
being “How Other People See “yeah, but” automatically
create a defense reaction in the
You.”
Formerly a part-time other person.
Conner directs her ap­
teacher, Conner now has full-
time status due to the new proach to teach communica­
class. A large part of the class tion skills through practical
could be considered as applications. Her philosophy
psychology. Fundamental is, “They’re in the vocational
techniques are explained along area, so let’s give them basic
with their use in manipulating skills to use day to day.’’
situations, giving people more Besides the interview skills,
she covers how to deal with
control over their lives.
“An experienced inter­ authority figures, problem
viewer, like the ones at solving, telephone skills and
Tektronix, can spot an at­ working with conflicts and
titude problem easily,” Con­ complaints. Conner points out
ner said. The class aims at giv­ that, “Conflict can be either
ing a person the skills to con­ positive or negative. It gives an
vey the kind of disposition opportunity to understand
they wish. “Communication people better than before.”
Conner has found that,
starts with your self-concept,”
for some students, behavior
Conner said.
Basics such as self­ modification born from in­
conceptualization, phrase­ creased self-awareness is
ology and effective listening definite and some students
skills are useful for anyone, have related stories of im­
but they are especially helpful provement in personal rela­
to people who may need to tionships. “The thing I ap­
deal with customers. The class preciate is they are really try­
points out personal habits ing hard. They can see a prac­
which may create problems in tical application for these
Wednesday, January 11, 1984
SN: OL005!
skills,” Conner said.
One of the most useful
tools in the class is a video tape
machine. Students are able to
see how they may sub­
consciously aggravate situa­
tions with body language, in­
flection and phrasing. By wat­
ching themselves as others do,
these points become obvious.
Conner began to generate
interest by speaking to certain
vocational classes and
spreading the word that this
wasn’t what most people
would expect from a speech
class. Most people were sur­
prised at the practical uses for
such skills in vocational areas.
Conner hopes the class will in­
crease in popularity as more
people discover it.
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