THE GORGE — Teacher Glenn Wood recounted the challenges and successes of growing the construction technology program at the Feb. 17 Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) board meeting.
Now with two years of instruction under his belt, Wood helped found the program, which began with two certifications and developed in response to community need. He’s worked in the trades for 47 years.
“I love what I do,” he said. “I feel, for the most part, I reach students who aren’t necessarily heading off to college, and I open up that possibility ... I think we have a pretty good number of students that are coming back.”
One of the big challenges, he said, is students understanding the financial requirements of completing the program. He encourages everyone to apply for Oregon Promise Grant. “The financial piece is really one of the biggest challenges we’re facing.”
Other challenges include fluctuation in material cost. Boards are re-used again and again, roofs built then torn apart and built into smaller things, until they’re such tiny scraps they get donated to the low-income community as kindling. “We need to by a toothpick making machine,” Wood joked.
Most students leaving his program can get a living wage, he said. “That’s really what it’s about: setting people up in our community that could potentially be a financial drain on the community if they aren’t educated and they aren’t doing solid work and helping out and making good living wage.”
Wood just signed a contract with the Gloria Center for students to build 18 emergency shelters by 2031. He’s working on a third year of instruction, potentially including paid internships.
Board members thanked Wood for his labor. “I once used to work construction for 10 years, and so once you get hands-on it sticks with you for life,” Lucille Begay said. “It’s really amazing that the students learn this, and they can continue on what you have taught them, and it’s something that they’ll always have, to grow.
“I have gone through your class a time or two, and seen the work hands-on, so kudos to you, Glenn,” she continued. “Thank you for all you do.”
Programs change
The board ended three certificate programs at CGCC, by unanimous vote. “We’re moving on in industry,” Susan Lewis said. Since Marketing Assistant, Administrative Professional and Administrative Professional AAS have been little used, her department decided modernizing these certificates would be too expensive.
“A lot of this also has to do with the advent of AI and what it has done to change those positions,” she said. “But the advisory committee was saying that they don’t hire those jobs anymore.” Most classes will continue, except those in digital marketing.
A new transfer degree, Associate of Science in Psychology, was approved unanimously.
Lewis also noted the business department has spoken of teaching a class “that may address some areas of AI.” “I think that it might also require us as an institution to make some decision on our approach to AI as well, to be able to move forward in that,” she said.
In other news
Three applicants were appointed to the budget committee: Dan Richardson, Megan Saunders and Theresa Peters. Sam Draper, vice president of administrative services, was appointed as a budget officer.
Contract work on campus is progressing, but problems with the HVAC system and a roof made projects more involved and some will be postponed until next summer, Draper said.
Enrollment is about the same as last year. The college is focused on recruiting new students and a point of pride is better data collection on race. About 33% of students identify as Latino/Hispanic on surveys; 50% of students as white. A few more male students than female.
Lewis and Jarett Gilbert, vice president of instructional services, gave an analysis of quantitative literacy data.
This means various reading and problem-solving skills, which the college tests by looking at scores in certain assignments. In 2024-25, some 77% of students rated as accomplished or higher, up from the last assessment. But the college is updating the rubrics, because even the committee in charge of the matter can’t agree on what certain elements of quantitative literacy look like and which assignments apply.
Draper noted the college’s finances and audits are on track. The current budget will “probably” need a revision, he said, to account for increased payroll after union bargaining closed; however, appropriations from the state will more than cover the amount due to CGCC’s employees in back pay.
Relatedly, Board Member Darcy Long said the committees have decided on a format which might resolve the issue of board members getting inaccurate financial reports. The college systems are due for an overhaul anyway, since the software in question — Anthology, a student information system that was refusing to speak to the financial systems — filed for bankruptcy. Making the changes might take 12 months.
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