Column: Grants, gifts help enhance college

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 7, 2002

Now that the legislature has finished, we are able to approve our operating budget for fiscal year 2002-03, which begins July 1. Although we did not receive as much funding as we initially requested, at least we know how much money to expect and can implement our plans accordingly.

Colleges and universities have limited options for dealing with funding cuts in the short term &045; mainly, cuts in educational programs and increases in tuition. With limited budget dollars, we must explore all of our options to ensure that we minimize the impact on students as much as possible but do not compromise on quality. One of the alternate funding options we utilize is state, federal and local grants. Our grants office is part of the Institutional Development Department with Susan Moore working as our grant writer. The activities of this office are intended to further the mission of the college by securing grants that increase revenues. Our current priority is to seek support and sponsorship for Riverland academic programs, and, secondarily, to seek support for other Riverland activities.

The grants office services include locating potential funding sources, developing and submitting proposals, negotiating awards and assisting with the administration of the grant fund.

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In addition to the grants office, the college received funding from The Riverland Community College Foundation through program enhancement grants awarded to faculty and staff. We also receive funding, as well as non-cash donations, from local business and industries and individuals.

In the past fiscal year, the college has received more than $187,000 in non-cash donations and more than $25,000 in grants. The following are some of the most recent grants and donations we received that help us maintain and enhance the quality of our facilities, labs, classrooms and instruction.

– Construction Electrician Trade &045; Expanding Options for Women grant of approximately $3,000 from Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and the Minnesota Department of Children Families & Learning.

– $10,000 &uot;Challenge America&uot; grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to establish partnerships among art organizations in the area.

– A Center for Learning grant of nearly $7,000 allowed Instructor Howard Kittleson to develop a CD as a resource for online students.

– The theatre department received support from Riverland Student Activities, Riverland Student Affairs, Riverland Foundation and SEMAC, Southeast Minnesota Arts Council to fund workshops and a performance of &uot;Daughters of Africa&uot; by the Mixed Blood Theatre Company of Minneapolis.

– A Riverland project has been accepted for the June Summer Institute hosted by Center for Teaching and Learning the Minnesota Instructional Technology Support Services project. Three staff/faculty members will attend to learn about planning and teaching Web-enhanced and online courses.

– Mack Trucks, Inc. donated a Mack E-Tech (registered trademark) E7-350 Horsepower engine valued at more than $25,000 to the Riverland Community College truck diesel mechanics program.

– Riverland international and English as a second language (ESL) students received a donation of 30 refurbished bicycles from Owatonna resident Jerry Wesely.

The hard work of our staff to find and obtain grant money and the generosity of our supporters, allows Riverland to continue to maintain and enhance the quality of our programs to meet the needs of our students and the communities we serve.

Dr. Gary Rhodes is president of Riverland Community College, which has campues in Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna.