News Releases
News
from Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Contact Joan Aschim, Public Information Officer, 463-5591
or Tracy Simms, Assistant to the President, 463-5889
for release December 13, 2002
Spilde’s
first year at Lane earns high praise
EUGENE - President Mary Spilde showed “the potential to become one
of the finest presidents in the history of Lane Community College, if
not among community colleges nationwide,” said Board of Education
Chair Roger Hall in his summary presentation of the president’s
first annual evaluation to the board on December 11.
Board members reviewed the president’s work plan, measured progress, and solicited input from employees and students, beginning in October. They evaluated Spilde on leadership and strategic direction, financial management, board relations, communication, and decision making/governance.
Spilde was cited for leadership, open and honest communications, knowledge and intelligence, deliberative decisionmaking, respect, integrity, courage, compassion, and calm. “President Spilde is a strong advocate of education and an excellent role model,” Hall wrote in the evaluation. “She has remained positive in times of crisis, reacting calmly, providing focus and conveying a sense of optimism.”
In her first year, Spilde kept Lane afloat in a year of unprecedented fiscal challenge, said Hall, restored civility to labor relations and brought negotiations to a successful conclusion, clarified the budget process, moved the college toward financial health, pulled the workforce together in achieving fiscal stability and educational excellence, and maintained a focus on students, learning and community. “The board finds the president to be a responsible steward of the community's investment,” wrote Hall.
Spilde was
directed to develop a short list of strategic goals for the coming year.
The board approved a 2.4 percent raise for Spilde stating they wanted
to assure a competitive compensation package. Spilde said she understood
the importance of maintaining a competitive salary but said she would
like to spare the college the expense this year given the college’s
financial situation. She asked if she could work out an alternative to
limit the additional cash outlay to the college such as more days off.
Spilde’s evaluation was approved by 7-0 vote.
Her current contract is from August 15, 2001 through June 30, 2004, at an annual salary of $140,000. Spilde began work as Lane’s sixth president in August 2001 after five years with the college as vice president for instruction and student services and 20 years in higher education administration.
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