Board Resolution 15 passes with one dissenting vote
Tuesday’s board meeting started as it often does with announcements and requests for attention. The new vice president, Javier Ayala, was introduced; local attorney Danny Lang was acknowledged for donating $10,000 to the paralegal department; and board members heard about a grant awarded to the Ford Family Center that will provide $28,000 to help students experiencing financial hardships place their children in daycare while attending school this summer.
ASUCC President Melissa Osborne shared with the board some concerns she had heard from the college community regarding the need for additional space on the college campus, specifically in the student center for clubs, student organizations and meetings. She also reminded the board of the Spring Fever event coming June 4 which will showcase some of the campus programs to high school students.
Then the board was asked to vote on several policy changes and a few resolutions. The second reading of both Policy 704: Withdrawals and Policy 707: Academic Calendar unanimously passed (these policy changes simplify some campus procedures); the first reading of Policy 712.2: Auditing a Course also passed, allowing Oregon residents 65 years of age or older to audit certain classes without having to pay for tuition.
Beverly Brandt, Vice President for Administrative Services then described to the board the process of declaring the designation of Umpqua Community College Service district as an ARRA Recovery Zone, making it possible to participate in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The ARRA would authorize the college to access two types of federally subsidized interest bonds: recovery zone economic development bonds and recovery zone facility bonds. The bonds could be accessed for qualified economic development purposes such as promoting development or other economic activity in a recovery zone.
A recovery zone is defined as any area designated by the county as having significant poverty, unemployment, rate of foreclosures or general distress and would designate the entire UCC Service District as a recovery zone for purposes of the Recovery Zone Act.
This Resolution No. 14 passed unanimously by the board. However Resolution No. 15, which would start the process to pursue a recovery zone bond, did raise some opposition. The opposition centered around UCC’s mission.
Umpqua Community College in its mission to develop new programs for the community has dedicated more than three years to the Southern Oregon Wine Institute, in collaboration with several other institutions, members of the community and private businesses. The concern was expressed whether community colleges, dedicated to education and using taxpayers’ dollars, should be in the business of “industrial development.”
As part of the development of SOWI, UCC plans to build a regional facility on campus for SOWI called the Danny Lang Teaching, Learning and Event Center which may compete with the private market as it will house donated equipment which will be used to create income for the donor’s business as well as for UCC programs.
In spite of the opposition, following some discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the resolution.
The UCC Foundation’s fundraising campaign is expected to raise more than $3 million by the end of this summer for the facility. Its donations are currently approaching $1.5 million, and the college would additionally like to access a recovery zone economic development bond in the amount of $4 million. This would provide the estimated $7.5 million needed to complete the Danny Lang Teaching, Learning and Event Center regional facility for SOWI.
Brandt pointed out, “When we are an educational institution; we support training of several industries.” Additional discussions then led to whether UCC is developing an industry or supporting it, in terms of the proposed direction of the SOWI program.
When the vote was finally taken, one of the board members remained opposed which led to a roll call so that the votes could be accurately counted. With only one board member in opposition, Resolution No. 15 did pass, allowing for the process to acquire public funding for approximately 50 percent of the anticipated cost of the Lang Center to move forward.
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