News Briefs

Part-time faculty return incumbents in election

All four incumbents were returned to office in the recently contested Part-Time Faculty Association elections.

Returning as president is Marilyn Pitts, a GED instructor, along with her vice president Sean Wilcox and Secretary Robie Webb and Treasurer Lonnie Breninger in results tabulated Dec. 16.

“Although there were contested races for PFTA president and PFTA vice president, the PFTA’s membership showed their support for and re-elected all four of the 2011 officers,” said Pitts in an email Thursday.

The PFTA leaders focus their efforts on “behalf of MHCC’s part-time faculty and tutors.  Since this is a non-bargaining year, our focus will be on: providing clarification about what the current contract language means; when needed, advocating for part-time faculty or tutors who believe their contractual or legal rights are being denied; and providing methods by which part-time faculty and tutors can gain additional information about things that are occurring at MHCC,” added Pitts.

Zach Hudson, a candidate for vice president, said, “All the incumbents won, though it was close for president and vice president.  About 25 percent of the members cast ballots, which is more than in past years.  The direction for the union will be, I assume, the same as it has been.”

The ballots were mailed to part-time faculty on Nov. 23 and due back by Dec. 15.

“We’re looking forward to 2012 being a really great year for MHCC and its part-time faculty and tutors,” said Pitts.

Campus escapes winter weather damage

Although rain and snow last week closed the all three college campuses for a day and resulted in some flooding and broken branches, the school incurred no costs in damages, according to Russell Johnson, associate director of facilities management.

Johnson said there were no extra workers called in or overtime staff to fix any issues that came up. The drains are functioning and the leaks in the modules are all taken care of, said Johnson.

There were several places around campus that were flooded, such as the tunnels behind the Academic Center leading to the eastside parking lots. “We had those lines jetted,” Johnson said. The floods were gone within a day or two.
“Extraordinary weather brings that (floods, etc) to our attention,” said Johnson. “We were on top of every issue as it came.”

But overall, he said, that there were no major damages and no trees down. Some trees around the soccer field by the aquatic center had a few broken branches that needed to be tended to, but they were taken care of by the ground crew.

Board to discuss budget at next retreat

The MHCC District board will discuss the 2012-2013 budget and the continuing search for a new president at a special retreat Saturday at Persimmon Country Club from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The public is invited to the retreat, which is in the Trophy Room at Persimmon, located at 500 S.E. Butler Road in Gresham.

Other items on the agenda will include a presentation by Bill Farver on Legal Costs & Services Review, who will also be presenting the budget information and housekeeping topics such as board assignments and other upcoming events.

Spring schedule ready

The spring schedule of courses at Mt. Hood Community College is now available on the MHCC website.

Web registration for spring classes begins Feb. 20 for students who have applied for graduation. Web registration begins Feb. 22 for students who have earned 45 or more credits art MHCC and the next day for students who have earned 44 or fewer credits at MHCC.

Open registration (both web and in-person) for continuing students and new students will begin March 1.

Spring quarter begins Monday, April 2.

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