Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1992)
The Clackamas Print Pg. 8 Feature Wednesday, October 28, 1992 ’How do you do?' policy working for President Keyser by Paul Valencia Staff Writer Nearly everyone has heard of an open-door policy, but for Clackamas Community College President Dr. John Keyser, that would only begin to explain the way he does business. A “how do you do?” policy might be a better way to describe it. If a student sees him for the first time, he can bet Keyser will extend his hand and introduce himself. Getting to know his students on a first-name basis is a top priority for Keyser. It’s been seven years since he came to Clackamas after working for three years at Linn- Benton Community College. He isn’t thinking of leaving Clacka mas any time soon; his working relationship with his staff is too good to do that. “They are a wonderful group of people. It’s a real privilege to work with the people and the community,” he said. At Clackamas, students are heard from. “We try to involve the students in every way pos sible,” Keyser said. “It’s very important for me to have a lot of contact with students and hear from the student government about how things are working. We are one of the few colleges in the Northwest, that really involve its students in planning. In case you haven’t guessed it, team work is the key to Clacka mas ’ success with Keyser at the helm. It will take a team effort to take on the challenges ahead. Keyser thinks the biggest test will be to keep up with the growth de mands. Clackamas County is “proba bly one of the fastest growing counties in the Northwest” with a “great combination” of urban development and natural areas, said Keyser. A big part of that test has already received an “A+.” That was the passing of the bond issue in 1989, which paved the way for the construction of five new build ings. That also happened to be Keyser’s favorite moment as president. After a long, active campaign in Mie community, with hundreds of volunteers, includ ing students, the bond issue passed. “It was gratifying to see the campus come together and be successful since it is so difficult photo by Nolan Kidwell Clackamas Community College President John Keyser enjoys coming to work and meeting new people everyday. to pass a bond issue,” Keyser explained. Soon, Keyser may have another item to place at the top of his list of favorite accomplish ments. He is currently working with the collège foundation to raise $800,000 to complete the Family Resource Center, which has numerous programs for teen parents, parent education and single women re-entering the work force, for example. Keyser said one-third of his job is walking with external groups and citizens, while two-thirds the job is related to campus-wide planning, budgeting and problem solving. That sounds like it comes right out of a textbook, so what really makes Keyser come to work? “A sense that we’re making a difference in the community,” he said, along with the opportu nity to meet all the different people he gets to meet everyday. “There are lots of daily highs working with people,” said Keyser. In five years, Keyser sees Clackamas Community College to be more effective than it is already. “If we continue to grow in our effectiveness, efficiency and size to meet the demands of the community in a more competi tive world, we’ll achieve our purpose,” he said. That’s in five years, but in five minutes if you bump into Keyser, you can believe he’ll introduce himself. “I like to get to know the names of people. It’s a very powerful way to develop a relationship,” he said. With the relationship between Clackamas and its community, as well as between administra tion, faculty and students, it’s not out of the question to say Key ser’s “how do you do?” policy is working. Streeter Hall, home of 'new kids on the block' by Jeff Kemp Staff Writer The English Department of Clackamas Community College will include two new faces in the classrooms eager to make a dif ference this year: full time in structors David Mount and Kate Gray. David Mount will be instruct ing English 104 and Writing 121 this term. Next term he will be teaching drama, and his favorite subject, poetry. Mount’s presence has already been felt by the students in his classes. “In 104 (short fiction), Professor Mount really covers the short stories well without going to extremes, like a lot of teachers have a tendency to do,” Sopho more Thad Routson explained. Mount began his education at Cai-State Fullerton and completed his schooling at UCLA, where he received a masters degree in English-and fell a few credits short of a Phd. His first teaching experience came while he was still in col lege. Mount tutored grade school children in reading and arithme tic. He taught part-time at sev eral community colleges in his home state of California, and he also taught some guitar lessons. Mount, likes the small college scene and close faculty-student relationships because it allows him to do what he believes he does best. “I think I’m good at helping people find their underlying strengths,” he said. Like most of us, Mount went through phases when it came to deciding what to do when he grew up. “I had apprehensions,” Mount said of coming to Oregon to teach, “I was nervous that Oregon stu dents might be different and something I wasn’t prepared for, but in fact they are just as nice as California students, and maybe a little more hard working and se rious.” When asked if he would en courage students outside his classes to come in and see him in his office in Streeter Hall, room 121, Mount smiled and responded, “Of course. I’m lonely, come on down!” English Instructor Kate Gray said she enjoys the nice feeling that CCC gives. “The environment is interac tive and I feel like I learn as much as they (students) do,” she said. The Williams College of Massachusetts graduate has a B.A. in Religion. Gray went to gradu ate school at the University of Washington where she received her masters degree in fine arts and creative writing. Gray’s teaching experience began in a private boarding school in Delaware not far from her home state of Connecticut. Interest ingly, it is the site from which the movie “Dead Poets Society” was filmed. Gray has always wanted to be an English, teacher, like Robin Williams’ character in the movie. “Teaching is exactly what I wanted to do,” she said, recalling her earliest aspirations. Writing 121, 121 Honors, English 105, drama and Poetry 106 are Gray’s educational du ties for the Fall Term. Even though that’s a full load, Gray looks at it differently. “Teaching has the reputation of burning new teachers out, but I find that I am revitalized each day,” she explained. Coming for the Winter Term is a women’s literature class, that Gray is looking forward to in structing. It will be held on Thurs days in the Harmony Center from 6-9 p.m. “I’m excited,” she said of the new class. Gray and Mount are the “new kids on the block” in Streeter Hall, and they encourage the students and faculty to drop by for a visit. photo by Tina McFarland David Mount joined the English Department after transfer ring from his home state of California. Jp k Buy half | foot-long | I sub for | $1.99 I (numbers | 1 - 13) | limit 3 | per coupon Clackámas Community College’s very own Torpedo Tuesday Buy one & get the Thirsty 2nd for .99 cents. Thursday ~ Buy full Whiny Wednesday sandwich g. Buy one sandwich & ^et xD & whine for a free me^iuJn cookie. drink free photo by Tina McFarland 1360-J Beavercreek Rd Kate Gray, the other new face in the English Department, is following her lifelong dream of being a teacher.
