Articles - Summer 2007 - return to index
Construction is a capital matter
—By Roger Hall, member, Lane Community College Board of Education
Good jobs require good training, and good training requires adequate facilities. That’s why the Lane Community College Board of Education is concerned about capital construction funding for the state’s community colleges.
Last December, Oregon’s governor proposed funding for several community college projects, including a new Health and Wellness building at Lane. Health occupations are among the fastest growing and best paying careers in our community. A new facility would enable Lane to increase access to career training in nursing, EMT, fitness education, and other fields.
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A crowded nursing lab at Lane. |
Capital construction funding requires a dollar-for-dollar match from the college. Lane must raise half of what it needs from private donations.
The co-chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee proposed less funding for community college capital construction than the governor recommended. This would weaken workforce training and the public’s investment in the community college infrastructure.
Access to education and workforce training requires adequate facilities. Lane’s board urges the Legislature to fund capital construction for community colleges at the governor’s recommended level.
