Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC: new leadership, new look for 2004-05

Photos and story by James Hill

Hi-Res picture of Preston PulliamsSylvania Technology Classroom BuildingPhysical Education Building at CascadePublic Services Education Building at CascadeTechnology Building at CascadeRock Creek Campus New LibraryPORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College begins the 2004-05 academic year with new leadership, new buildings, and despite three years of funding cuts, plenty of opportunity for students to get a top-rate education.PCC, the largest post-secondary educational institution in the state, will open its doors to students on Monday, Sept. 27. Students will be greeted with five new buildings – all opening the first day of classes – across the PCC district. The college’s new district president, Preston Pulliams, will be on hand to welcome new and returning students. In addition, the Cascade Campus in north Portland has a new campus president with Algie Gatewood. PCC turns 43 this year. The college began offering classes in 1961 at the old Failing Elementary School in the Ross Island area of Portland with a dozen students earning diplomas the following year. The college is a local success story, now serving more than 83,000 full- and part-time students in a multi-campus system."Portland Community College’s national reputation for excellence is what attracted me to the job," said Pulliams. "I attended a national community college conference here 11 years ago and was very impressed with Portland and the college. I look forward to sharing the PCC story this year and in the years to come."Thanks to the 2000 voter-approved $144 million bond measure for new space, technology and building repairs, PCC has expanded its facilities by 370,000 square feet and has so far invested $100 million in bond program funds. Hundreds of people have been in on the expansion effort, each campus a bustling little city of activity. Staff and construction contractors are busily readying the facilities, moving offices, laying carpet, outfitting smart classrooms, installing phones, and other activities to welcome students in late September.Rock Creek Campus, 17705 N.W. Springville RoadRock Creek Campus in Washington County will have a dramatically new "front door" to greet students. The new $10 million Library and Student Services Building will serve as an anchor to the campus and provide an active presence along the entry drive. The new building is designed as a one-stop center for students to conduct college business. Also, the Science and Technology Building (Building 7) added 34,000 square feet of science laboratories. The addition means the Microelectronics Technology program, housed "temporarily" at the N.W. Walker Road Capital Center nine years ago, will be able to move to the campus and double in size.The Rock Creek Campus will celebrate 30 years of service and the opening of its new building and science building addition with a dedication ceremony and celebration on Friday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to noon. The event will feature tours of the new facilities, entertainment and refreshments. It is open to the public.Cascade Campus, 705 N. KillingsworthAt Cascade Campus in urban North Portland, PCC will bring three new buildings on line this fall – a building devoted to technology studies, a building to house programs such as fire science, criminal justice and emergency medical services, and a new physical education facility. The investment in these new buildings represents approximately $15.3 million. The dedication and grand opening celebration for these facilities is slated for 3 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 20. Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave.Sylvania Campus’ $8 million, 46,000 square-foot Technology Classroom Building will house the Distance Education program, including recording studios and media production facilities; computer labs for the computer applications systems, computer software engineering and computer information systems technology programs; 11 general-purpose classrooms; and faculty offices. The grand opening for this facility will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10.Heres an overview of other news at PCC:The PCC BudgetThe PCC Board of Directors adopted the college’s general fund budget of $128,688,564. By campus, the distribution of expenditures includes $37,889,456 for the Sylvania Campus, $19,276,434 for Rock Creek Campus, the Cascade Campus will receive $15,188,622 for operations, and the Extended Learning Campus (adult and continuing education and business and government education) will receive $6,347,014.Anderson, Williams are PCC chair, vice chairThe board of directors voted Dana Anderson as chair and Harold Williams as vice chair for the 2004-05 school year at its July 15 meeting. Anderson represents Zone 4, which includes inner north/northeast/southeast Portland, while Williams represents Zone 2, which includes parts of Multnomah and Columbia counties. Anderson is a partner with Conservation Services (a hearing health care consulting firm). Williams is president of CH2A Associates, a local contract policy, consulting and management services firm.GrantsPCC’s Dislocated Worker Program is the recipient of a $4.3 million U.S. Dept. of Labor grant to provide innovative services to employees and business during layoffs and closures. It is renewable for up to four 12-month extensions and will serve more than 1,800 people in Multnomah and Washington counties. This summer, the U.S. Department of Education awarded the college a $745,513, five-year grant to provide education and training to paraprofessionals in Portland Public Schools who work with children who are English language learners.Also, the Distance Learning program earned a grant of $187,906 to improve and expand distance learning services to residents throughout Multnomah County. The Community Access Capital Grant, administered by the Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission through funding from Comcast Corp., will expand the number and types of programs that residents can access via the PCC Educational Access Channel on cable television.New programsPCC has a two-year associate of applied science degree program, the Paraeducator program, located at the Cascade Campus. Students will be able to focus on either special education or English for second-language learners. Students can also earn a one-year certificate in this course of study. Also, the college has a new associate of arts Oregon Transfer degree in business. Portland Community College operates three comprehensive campuses along with five workforce training and education centers, a small business development center and education outlets in hundreds of community and business locations in a five-county, 1,500-square-mile district in northwest Oregon.