Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 2004)
IV ews 2 • T he C lackamas P rint F ebruary 4, 2004 Colleges fight for $10 million campus gg.. Distribution of money creates hot topic for local community colleges Jadon Triplett T he C lackamas P rint Although tuition fees are going up 53 per credit next term, tuition came extremely close to increasing up to 58 per credit due to a propos al for the redistribution of millions in state funding that was ultimately rejected. "There were very angry people on our side,” said Clackamas Community College President Dr. Joe Johnson, regarding the possibil ity that Clackamas would not receive any of the 510.7 million that was recently distributed by the state’s Emergency Board. According to Johnson, 510.7 million of state funding was prom ised to Oregon’s community col leges. However, in order for the money to be received, the college presidents were required to get together and work out a solution as to how the money was to be dis tributed. The presidents did come to an agreement on the formula of distribution, baton Jan./lo, the State Board of Education rejected the solution; al|| Oregon’s commrihity colleges get their money ftom three places: tuition, state income tax and prop erty'■w'isvenbf^ As one of the higher-generating districts when it comes to property taxes, Clackamas gets about 52 million more in prop erty tax dollars annually than the “average” property tax district, said Johnson. The solution that the college presidents carhe up with was the same resolution that was agreed upon several years ago by die col lege presidents, which was to redis tribute half of the revenues and keep the other half This way, CCC keeps 51 million and the other 51 million is shared by other commu nity colleges that need more money. Over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, Johnson said, the board reconvened and reversed their deci sion, accepting the presidents’ plan. While this is good-news, because PCC and MHCC would have the community colleges will receive the money ftom their individual taxpay 510.7 million (about 5700,000 of ers’ property taxes as well as a por which goes td Clackamas) and the tion of the revenue from residents old funding formula stays intact, the of Clackamas. The board’s original rejection issue is unfortunately nowhere near ^represented a belief that Clackamas being resolved. Although students won’t have to should have to redistribute about Qgy an 58 tuition increase, the issue $1.5 million and keep only about of some community colleges get 5500,000 of its own county’s tax ting more from their local property revenues. This would have been the tax districts than other districts is end result had not the presidents of still a hody debated issue., Clackamas, Central Oregon, Rogue Community colleges located in and Klamath Community Colleges areas that have lower property taxes ¡responded so negatively to the deci- (such as Portland Community and |fen. Mt. Hood Community) wfat less ■ "Since Clackamas taxpayers are money off property tax revenues paying more, my belief is that they then wealthier communities (like: should get more,” said Johnson. Clackamas). 1 While Oregon’s community col According to Johnson,' the leges did get the 510.7 million, this administrations of those commuiii- isn’t the end of the conflict. It is ty colleges generating less revenue more like a postponement of a believe they should be entitled to highly emotional argument regard the property tax revenues.; of other ing property tax revenues that, counties that have higher property according to Johnson, will likely taxes. resurface again as early as the next In other words, schools such as six months. Crucial time to apply for next year's FAFSA Karlin Johnson N ews E ditor It is once again time for those seeking financial aid for thé 2004- 2005 school year to apply. Students returning to Clackamas should have FAFSA applications turned in by the end of April, while students transfer ring to a four-year college or uni versity should apply immediately. According to student financial services, FAFSA applications will take six to eight weeks to process at Clackamas. “They can process in six weeks at the best of times,” said Mary Jo Jackson, director of student finan cial services. “There are a number of things to check and we have a fairly small staff.” With the time it takes for the applications to process, students should assure their place by apply- CORY PRICE C lackamas P rint ing as early as possible. “It’s a limited pot of money,” said Jackson. “There’s an urgency to apply [for financial aid] for next year. Students need to look at applying now.” After submitting an application, students’ financial aid will be issued to them when they need it, so it is easy to be prepared ahead of time. “Even if you fill out an applica tion, you don’t have to take it right away, but it’s good to have it processed,” said Jackson. A new FAFSA has been issued for the 2004-2005 school year. The new aid will not change significant ly, but for some, more information will be needed when applying. FAFSA can be as easy to apply for as a click of the mouse. By going to www.fafsa.ed.gov, students can get information quickly, apply easily and get an immediate response. Computers are available for stu dent use in Rook Hall and in the Community Center, from which students can access CCC’s website to receive information on financial aid, get referrals and find a link to FAFSA. Students who wish for the application process to go quickly can also obtain their own electron ic pin number which can be used again and again each year for online applications and informa tion. Pin numbers will help students with federal websites, viewing loan information or documentation. To get an electronic pin number, visit www.pin.ed.gov. “Application [for a pin number] is simple, and you will get an e-mail or mail response,” said Jackson, who recommends the online appli cation process. Questions about FAFSA or other financial aid can be answered in Rook Hall, or contact Jackson at ext. 2702, or e-mail maryj@clacka- mas.cc.or.us. AU reports are taken from CCC’s campus safety incident logs. Summaries are edited for clarity, not content. 1-27-04 11:30 a.m. Advised an officer of dam aged light pole in Barlow parking lot. 1-27-04 2:05 p.m. Staff member reported see- ing a transient in Rook Hall. Unable to locate. ' 1-28-04 10:29 a.m. Student reported a car rolled out of gear, blocking drive lane-in Community Center parking lot. 1-30-04 8:01 a.m. Retrieved Honeywell fire trouble message from Department of Public Safety cell phone, advised an officer. 1-30-04 9:40 a.m. Staff member reported juveniles in Café, possibly Under the Influence of Intoxicants (UII). Welding students use their skills to create utilities and art pieces Shannon Armstead T he C lackamas P rint With seasoned teachers and a new training facility, the Clackamas Welding Program offers its students fresh opportunities to perfect their art. The welding center used to be located in Barlow Hall, but just shy of a year ago was relocated to an area behind Clairmont Hall, where the students were given more equipment and more room in a new building. “Clackamas has a very appealing new building,” said welding student Kevin Kauffman. The original welding .facility at Barlow was not built to accommo date more than 10 students, whereas the new facility can accommodate about 30. The college employed stu dents in the department to build new welding booths, as well as some other equipment. “Two students and one teaching assistant finished the booths in about two weeks,” said welding student Rian Gilligan. Gilligan began attending Clackamas a year and a half ago and took part in the process of creating die new welding center. “I came in last summer and built some tables and custom dividers that some others and myself came up with,” he said. As well as hiring students to update die building, the college also hires students for equipment upkeep. “I was hired ’to work on any repairs that need to be made on the equipment,” Gilligan said, “f am training] to be someone who can maintain the whole shop. I really appreciate the ability to be able to work and go to school at the same time” Gilligan decided to obtain a for mal welding education after having been employed in the mining and paving industries. “This program has created disci pline in me,” he said, “and it creates a gateway for those who are apart of it to receive real success in life.” Students in the welding depart ment are at different levels and are learning various specialities. .Glenn Ellis discovered the bene fits of welding skills in his search for employment “I went to the employment office and they told me they would figure out something for me to do,” Ellis said. “I went home and told my wife I waiited to learn how to weld. When I went back to the office, the woman said she thought I told her I wanted to weld. I hadn’t [told her that] but that is what I wanted to do.” According to the students, the teachers in the welding program strive to bring about the best aspects of their students, giving them real insights into their field with patience and encouragement. “Teachers will stay with you after class hours, they know you and you know them, and they want to keep getting you where you are going,” said student Stephen Tomlinson. CORY PRICE C lackamas P rint Student Jes^e Seilards practices a vertical weld during Gas Metal Arc Welding and Flux Core Arc class, better known as Wirefeed. Seilards is a first-year welding student. “I fed like I know my instructors as individuals and they know me. I fed I should give them a positive image back, that what, they are doing is making a difference,” said Gilligan. “When [my project] looks bad, [my teacher] does not criticize, she just tells me what went wrong and how to fix it,” said Tomlinson. Students in the wdding program seem to enjoy the sense of cama raderie and support from fellow classmates. “This place is awesome. I love the environment here, the teamwork. Everyone is friendly; there is no crit icism going around. Everyone here is here because they love it,” Tomlinson said. “When you- start [wdding], you start-paying attention to everything metal Do you know that Krispy Kreme's chairs are wdd- ed?” Wdding isn’t just a profession for many of the students; it’s art “I’m taking wdding to make more money, but also because it is artwork. I plan on building some thing that someone will pay a million dollars for;” said Ellis. According to Tomlinson, it can also be a land of meditation or stress-relief “I come here, go into my booth and as soon as I pull the [protec tive gear over my face], all my problems disappear,” he said. “Sparks start flying and it’s just me and the metal.”
