LBCC President Greg Hamann was the president of private liberal arts school Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington when he soon realized that he simply wasn't reaching out to the students he would like to reach out to. Whitworth started a "degree completion program," a program that took students who dropped out of college and helped them piece it back together to get a degree, something that the university was not used to.
"I began to realize that if I really thought education was supposed to change the world, then I needed to reach those students, not just the 3 percent that had enough money, educational background, and parental support to pull off a four-year degree,"said Hamann.
Soon after this, Hamann was "dragged" into the community college world almost immediately, starting off at Clapsop Community College in Astoria.
"I've become focused on getting students in the door and then being able to connect with them so they can be successful" Hamann added.
He believes this has always been the intended vision for LBCC, but the school had lost sight of that for a while. He describes student success as more of a "rediscovery" rather than a new upbringing at LBCC, and is determined to help people in the community use their education here and at university to provide for the community we all share.
Hamann isn't the only one that sees LBCC's vision, as various students spoke on LBCC and how it has helped their own personal journey as a whole. Conner Hixson is a freshman at LBCC, and currently is majoring in history. Conner chose LBCC for it's availability and price, despite having the opportunity to go to a 4-year university. He spoke on LBCCs impact on his education.
"I feel like you get just as good of an education for a cheaper price." Said Hixson.
Hixson currently isn't sure of where he wants to go after LBCC, but is mainly focused on what he has to do now and takes it day by day. He values the education he gets at LBCC, and respects the help it has given him thus far.
"I feel like the professors here are just as gifted and talented at teaching as the ones teaching at University" added Hixson.
Hixson himself would like to be a high school history teacher, and learns off of his professors and advisors every day.
"Professors at community college have more time to connect to their students on a more personal level."
Students like Hixson are examples of why President Hamann does what he does at LBCC. Students with a shared vision, and an ethic to work and help our community as a whole. Hamann's goal was to reach out to students that were not quite able to go to a 4 year university, and show that community college creates careers. Whether it be journalism or anthropology, a degree from LBCC should be looked at as the start of a successful career. The chemistry of students and teachers continues to grow here, and while the school's vision seems to be completed, there is always room to grow.
At a Glance:
What: LBCC's vision and maintaining it
Where: Linn-Benton Community College
Who: Greg Hamann, LBCC president, LBCC students
When: February 21st, 2018
Links: President's Office: Backstory and Info
LBCC Directory and Hours
LBCC's Programs of Study
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