Welcome to 2010!

The start of a new year - and a new decade - brought strong student enrollment as Clark College opened its doors for winter quarter 2010. More than 14,000 students have enrolled for classes during winter quarter.  Instruction and Student Affairs - supported by units across the college - stepped up their efforts to meet demand for classes and student services.

In fall 2009, the college reached an all-time enrollment record, welcoming more than 16,000 students.

Rising to the Moment: The 2010 State of the College address

Looking to the past and to the future, President Bob Knight sounded notes of both celebration and caution in his annual State of the College address, held Jan. 14 in the Gaiser Student Center.

"It's ironic," he said to an audience of more than 300 students, faculty, and staff members as well as state and regional leaders. "During tough economic times, companies cut back because their demand is down. The opposite is true for us. During tough economic times, our enrollment numbers have grown dramatically - at the same time that state funding has been cut."

Knight noted that the first decade of the new millennium brought dramatic change to the college, as it has to the rest of the world. That decade brought the construction of Clark College at WSU Vancouver and the college's newest facility at Columbia Tech Center (CTC) as well as the Penguin Union Building and the remodeling of Gaiser Hall. During that time, the college also established an eLearning program, the Teaching and Learning Center, "smart" classrooms featuring the latest in technology, and the college's weekend degree and two-day-a-week degree programs.

Knight went on to list some of the changes the coming decade will bring to Clark. This year will mark the groundbreaking for a new Japanese garden on the main campus. By 2015, a new $36 million, state-of-the-art facility for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) should open on Fort Vancouver Way across from the Penguin Union Building. A new building for early childhood education is also on the horizon, as is a new facility in northern Clark County. Knight pointed out that there's a need for continued growth; CTC was near capacity when it opened last fall.

But Knight also acknowledged the challenges Clark has faced and will continue to face. Knight noted that state investments in community colleges declined 11 percent in 2009 - the same year Clark saw a record-high enrollment of 16,000 "for credit" students. Knight said the Penguin Nation "rose to the moment," a theme he returned to over the course of his speech. Faculty managed increased class sizes; staff members dealt with budget cuts; students paid increased tuition.

In 2009, the Financial Aid office received nearly 15,000 applications for aid, a 63 percent increase over 2008's numbers. "These kinds of increases are seen everywhere," Knight continued, noting that Financial Aid awarded more than $20 million in Pell grants in 2009, compared to less than $9 million the year previously. "Those people need us," he said.

Knight noted the growth in the number of students who take part in Clark's Student Tuition Easy Payment Plan (STEPP), which allows students to pay tuition in manageable installments. Clark students can now buy or rent textbooks at the college bookstore and the bookstore will buy books back - saving and returning dollars to students.

Knight also cited the college's partnership with the Clark College Foundation. "At a time when state funding is declining, donor support through the Clark College Foundation has never been more important," said Knight. He noted that the Foundation provided the funds to purchase the land for Clark College at Columbia Tech Center and the planned STEM building, as well as providing ongoing support for scholarships and other college needs.

Knight acknowledged the support the college has received from state and local officials. He noted that both former Vancouver mayor Royce Pollard and new mayor (and Clark alumnus) Tim Leavitt attended the speech, as well as representatives for Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Brian Baird.

"When it comes to history, you could say that Clark College has a date with destiny," Knight said. He noted that the college, which was founded during the Great Depression, celebrated its 25th anniversary by dedicating its main campus. The college's 50th and 75th anniversaries both came during economic downturns.

"During the best of times and the worst of times, we rise to the moment to support our students and our community," said Knight. "That is Clark College's proud history. We believe it is also our destiny."

The Presidential Coin

During the State of the College address, President Knight awarded Presidential Coins to six employees for "going above and beyond in support of our students," a gesture based on the military tradition of rewarding exceptional soldiers with commander's coins.

The six honored employees were:  Linda Calvert, associate director of Running Start; Joy Horning, administrative assistant for Social Sciences and Fine Arts; May Jolly, Clark College bookstore buyer; Luanne Lundberg, Developmental Education professor; Becky Merritt, associate director of eligibility programs; and Lisa Nelson, the college's purchasing manager.

Random Acts of Generosity from the Alumni Association

There's something special about a random act of kindness. For Clark College students, that kindness and generosity translated into gift certificates to the Clark College Bookstore on opening day of winter quarter, courtesy of the Clark College Alumni Association.

Three times a year, the Alumni Association holds drawings for gift certificates for the Clark College Bookstore. This year, a total of $750 was given at both the main campus and at Columbia Tech Center. Discussions are underway about expanding Random Assistance and rotating it among all four of Clark's sites (main campus, Columbia Tech Center, Town Plaza and WSU Vancouver).

Dora Hernandez, who graduated from Clark College last June and is now a member of the Alumni Association Board, helped hand out the Random Assistance gift certificates. "Even though I had financial aid, it was never enough," said Hernandez, who is now studying at WSU Vancouver. "Sometimes assistance like this can make the difference to someone who is trying to purchase a book or buy gas to get to class."

The Random Assistance project also creates awareness for the Alumni Association. "We want to get as many new alums involved as possible," said Nelson Holmberg, Clark College class of 1990 and vice president of the Alumni Association Board. Holmberg said, "This activity is rewarding, a lot of fun, and we hope it helps students remember us when they graduate."

Since the inception of Random Assistance in the spring quarter of 2003, the Alumni Association has distributed nearly $15,000 to Clark College students.