Dear LCC Community,
The Lane Community College Board of Education appreciates President Bulger’s ongoing leadership at Lane Community College. In the 2023-24 School Year, the President completed all the action items for the three goals set by the Board of Education of improving Lane Community College’s Enrollment, Fiscal Condition, and Campus Climate.
The President met the goal of increasing enrollment, exceeding the 7% growth target for the year set by the Board of Education. Lane has now had seven consecutive terms of enrollment growth, which is helping the College restore its historic enrollment levels. The College has also seen growth in the College Now program for high school students earning free college credits, more than doubling enrollment from pandemic lows to new record high enrollment levels. The College is also implementing and developing new programs to increase enrollment, including new Bachelor’s degree programs in Applied Business and Nursing, and will soon be completing the new Industry Trades Education Center and Health Professions buildings to increase the ability of the College to train local nurses, dental assistants, and building tradespersons. The College is also preparing to launch year-round enrollment which will allow students to enroll in classes a year in advance, helping students better plan for their degree completion and schedule classes around their other responsibilities.
Increases in enrollment and retention have also been critical in progress toward the goal of improving the College’s long-term fiscal condition. The Board of Education passed a balanced budget that included the President’s recommended investments in restoring reserves, funding deferred maintenance, and launching new initiatives through the Lane Forward program. The implementation of multi-year budget forecasting is helping the College Administration and Board of Education plan for the College’s future and will set the College on a stronger foundation for years to come. The College’s fiscal management will be further strengthened by the recent hiring to fill the position of Vice President for Finance and Operations.
The President met all three goals related to campus climate by conducting a second Gallup Survey to measure campus climate and by updating the Board on the additional actions being undertaken to improve campus climate as shown in the Institutional Plan of Action Report and Departmental Progress of Plans of Action Results. The President has made progress in improving campus climate as measured by the Gallup Climate Survey, with the College’s score improving for all of the Gallup Survey questions. The strongest gains were made in the percentage of employees satisfied with the institution as a place to work, have the opportunity to do what they do best everyday, and have someone at work that encourages their development.
The Survey also showed an increase in the percentage of employees feeling involved in and enthusiastic about their work and workplace. Additional actions are underway to improve campus climate, including the development of a mentorship program and new practices were adopted to improve diversity in hiring and improve equity and access to selective academic programs like nursing.
The Board would like to express its thanks and gratitude to President Bulger for her continued leadership and looks forward to another successful year.
Thank you,
Lane Community College Board of Education
Lane Community College educates over 15,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $675 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 8,900 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.