Chemeketa Community College

Chemeketa celebrated the history and cultures of indigenous people on the Salem campus last Thursday. For a full gallery of pictures, click here.

With architectural work for a new health sciences complex underway, Chemeketa Community College and Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) officials have laid the foundation for a new program to be housed in the building.

On Friday, Nov. 7, the presidents of both colleges signed documents joining the schools in a dual enrollment agreement and offering OIT’s dental hygiene program at Chemeketa. The signing ceremony was held at Chemeketa’s Salem Campus.

“We’ve built a bridge spanning distance and time for students that might otherwise see those two elements as obstacles to education,” said Cheryl Roberts, Chemeketa president. “The agreement also creates more opportunities for a trained workforce.”

Dual enrollment will allow Chemeketa students to be jointly admitted and enrolled at both OIT and Chemeketa, to benefit from one financial aid package, and to have access to both Chemeketa and OIT services and support.  Chemeketa’s Health Sciences Center will add dental hygiene to its cluster of nursing and allied health programs.

The bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene will be offered on Chemeketa’s Salem campus and supported by both institutions.   In short, students will receive all the benefits of Chemeketa’s small classes and support services while earning a higher level degree than those typically offered at a community college.

“This agreement feels good,” said Dr. Christopher Maples, president of OIT. “We’re streamlining opportunities for success to students increasingly concerned about accessibility to education.”

The new program will be instituted shortly after the completion of Chemeketa new health sciences building in 2011. OIT will be the fourth college Chemeketa holds dual enrollment agreements with, joining Western Oregon University, Oregon State University and Portland State University.

Photos: (Top) Dental assisting student Melissa Del Real practices rinsing and drying teeth on student Ayla Duyn. (Bottom) Cheryl Roberts, president of Chemeketa Community College, and Dr. Christopher Maples, president of the Oregon Institute of Technology, joke as they sign documents joining the two schools in a dual enrollment agreement. 

Chemeketa Community College held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Center for Business & Industry (CCBI) Thursday, June 26.

The four-story, 50,000 square foot structure will be located at 626 High Street N.E., Salem. The Strategic Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR), the lead economic development agency for Marion and Polk Counties, will also be relocating to the new facility.

“This is an exciting time for Chemeketa and our service district,” said Diane McLaran, CCBI director. “The new facility will help us expand our services to the business communities of Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties.”

The new space will include video conferencing areas, an executive briefing room, computer labs, interactive “smart” rooms, and it will conform to some of the highest environmental standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Space is available for lease within the building for organizations that are focused on strengthening business and industry.

“Our services are designed to help businesses meet the needs of the 21^st Century workforce through state-of-the-art training and technology and business-related programs,” said McLaran.

The estimated cost of construction for the building is $9,450,000. Construction is expected to be complete by August 2009.

“Just as Chemeketa has done before, the Center for Business & Industry will be built without using bond funds,” said Chemeketa President Cheryl Roberts. “Taxpayers will not see their taxes increase because of this building. Instead, we are relying on alternative funding, including college operating funds and lease payments and day-use fees from individuals and organization using the center. I think this is another example of the college and its Board of Education making careful and prudent use of college resources. With this building, the college excited about strengthening business development in the tri-county region.”

CCBI, currently housed at 365 Ferry Street S.E. in Salem, serves Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties with small business development programs and services, computer workshops, and customized trainings.

Don’t ask, just click the link:

And congrats to all involved.

Chemeketa’s transfer engineering program held its annual bridge competition earlier today. Students worked on the weight-bearing structures for much of the term before subjecting them to the weight test.

The structures had a to have a span of 14 inches, a maximum height of 7 inches and max weight of 2.5 oz.

Kyle Bonnet, Jonathan Boyd and James Lofton won the competition. Their 2.16 oz. bridge held a whopping 942 pounds, or 6,978 times it’s own weight. They’re in the last picture of the photo gallery here.

Chemeketa’s early childhood education program recently broke ground on a new nature area for the college ECE training facility. Big thanks to all the coordinators and volunteers who helped make this happen.

More pictures are available here.

Congrats to Bethany Schott (above), the new Chemeketa Idol. Bethany belted her way through the second season of the singing contest and emerged as victor on Thursday, May 29.

More pictures from the semifinal round are here.

A photo gallery of yesterday’s Eyes Wide Open exhibit is available here.

The Chemeketa Chapter of the International Code Council held the Stan Davey Classic Car Show last Wednesday, April 7. The event is in its 28th year and a staple of spring term at Chemeketa.

In addition to giving students an opportunity to vent their vehicular vexations (photo at left), the show raised money for the Marion County Fire District No. 1 Dislocated Residential Fire Victims Fund.

More pictures here.

Chemeketa ’s student leaders hosted a spring craft fair last Friday, May 2. Click here for a slideshow of pictures.