News

Spark, has eliminated the 2 years in business requirement for child care/youth programs to participate.

After eight months and a field of 44 applicants, Columbia Gorge Community College’s board of education Tuesday night approved a contract with Dr. Marta Yera Cronin as CGCC’s next president. The decision was unanimous.

Cronin, vice president of academic affairs at Indian River State College in Florida, will become the third president since CGCC was established in 1977. During her tenure there, Indian River was twice selected as a finalist for the prestigious Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

There will be line dancing lessons, live auction, prime rib buffet and fun for the entire family when Columbia Gorge Community College Foundation launches its “Saddle Up and Celebrate” fundraiser April 26 during Northwest Cherry Festival.

“The Foundation awarded approximately $120,000 in scholarships in 2017-18, and our goal is to increase this amount every year as we help students achieve their educational and career goals,” said Stephanie Hoppe, the Foundation’s executive director. “We’re privileged to join the Northwest Cherry Festival line-up with this inaugural event, and we cordially invite everyone to help us celebrate our college’s mission of building dreams and transforming lives.”

A milestone has been reached in the world of open education resources (OER), as reported by John Schoppert, director of library services at Columbia Gorge Community College. After years of effort to obtain federal funding for OER, Congress included funding for $5 million in the 2018 omnibus appropriations bill. The funds will support the open textbook grant program.

“This marks the first major investment by Congress explicitly for OER as a solution to the high cost of textbooks,” Schoppert said.

Students from around the Columbia Gorge took part in the fifth annual Google Wind Challenge on Saturday, March 17, at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center in The Dalles. This year, more than 190 students from 16 local high schools and middle schools competed to build the competition’s top turbines.

During the Wind Challenge, student teams worked together with volunteer mentors to design, build and test their turbines. The colorful, creative machines were then presented to judges Dave Mason, Jordan Haney, Pam Morse, Rose Kelly, Phil Donovan, and Tom Lieurance who selected the winners based on each turbine’s power and efficiency.

The Columbia Gorge Community College Board of Education seeks interested district electors in Hood River and Wasco Counties for consideration to be appointed to a three-year term as a Budget Committee member.  Interested persons shall send a letter of interest with qualifications, telephone, and address to the Board of Education, Columbia Gorge Community College, 400 East Scenic Dr., The Dalles OR 97058.  Deadline for consideration is April 2, 2018.  Columbia Gorge Community College is an equal opportunity educator and employer.

Four candidates from across the continental United States are under consideration as the next president of Columbia Gorge Community College. All four will be meeting college constituents during upcoming visits to Hood River and The Dalles.

Seventeen members of a search committee representing students, staff, faculty, college board and the public reviewed 44 applications for the presidency. The committee first narrowed that field to 10 semi-finalists for remote interviews, then recommended four finalists to the college board. The board unanimously approved the committee’s recommendation March 1.

Are you attempting to balance community college studies with the challenges of raising a newborn child, or are you expecting a child and wondering whether you’ll be able to continue your education amid the demands of parenthood?

Community resources are available to help you stay healthy and care for your child without putting your education on hold. Columbia Gorge Community College is part of a network of public, community organizations dedicated to your well-being and success. College staff on the Hood River and The Dalles campuses are responsible for connecting you with those resources, whether you’re in need of food, transportation, housing, healthcare, or shelter from domestic violence.