Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Community connection in Newberg is a priority ¨C and key to PCC¡¯s success

Photos and story by Christine Egan

Portland Community College¡¯s efforts in Newberg ¨C where the College is building its new education center ¨C continue to soar. Construction on the new facility, to open in fall 2011, is in full swing; meanwhile, community outreach is just as busy. A snapshot of that activity includes:

• Arrangement of a shuttle to transport would-be PCC students and their parents from the Sherwood, Newberg and Dundee areas to and from PCC Sylvania so they could participate in the College¡¯s Financial Aid Day, January 29.
• A presentation on February 2 to the ¡°Early Bird¡± Kiwanis Club.
• Participation in an orientation for Newberg High School freshmen and their parents on February 8.
• Attendance at the February 10th meeting of the Community Coalition, a local group to which PCC belongs.
• A tour on February 22 of the newly renovated Sherwood High School, led by the school district¡¯s new superintendant.
• A presentation to Newberg High School juniors on February 24, oriented toward post-high school options ¨C especially lower division transfer programs ¨C for students interested in pursuing bachelor¡¯s degrees at four-year universities.
• Participation in the ¡°Main Event¡± fair at the Chehalem Cultural Center on February 26. ?The fair highlighted educational offerings provided by PCC, the Chehalem Cultural Center and Chehalem Park and Recreation District.
• Community meetings led by PCC with the PCC Newberg Advisory Committee on March 1; with neighbors immediately adjacent to the new facility on March 14; and with the chamber of commerce at a lunch on April 11.
• Participation in the Camellia Festival, taking place March 26, in which PCC faculty and students will offer a Japanese calligraphy demonstration.
• Planning for marketing and promotion surrounding the summer course offerings, which showcase both college guidance and career exploration classes.

  

¡°Our outreach to the communities in Newberg, Dundee and Sherwood ¨C with city officials, school districts, chambers of commerce, the parks and recreation district, and the general public ¨C has been a priority for the past three years,¡± said Barb VanAmerongen, Director of PCC Newberg.

Such public relations momentum isn¡¯t likely to slow down ¨C even after the building is constructed.

¡°We¡¯ve become a real part of the community ¨C part of the fabric that makes Newberg and the surrounding area what it is,¡± said VanAmerongen. ¡°Our outreach efforts here will continue for the long-term.¡±