Pacific University Broadens Commitment in Woodburn

Pacific University President Lesley Hallick joined Woodburn Mayor Kathy Figley, Woodburn School District Superintendent Chuck Ransom, state Rep. Betty Komp and others at the CAPACES Leadership Institute on Thursday, May 8, to enter into a "Partnership to Transform the Delivery of Education Opportunities in the Woodburn Community."

Also committing to the partnership are Laura Isiodoria, executive director of CAPACES, and Elias Villegas and Cecelia Monto of Chemeketa Community College. Villegas is the dean of Chemeketa's Woodburn Center, and Monto is the dean of evening/weekend and education programs.

The partners committed to a long-term goal of positioning PK-20 students for a lifetime of success by collectively focusing their efforts to successfully transform the education processes and delivery systems in the greater Woodburn region to equip students and families with the knowledge, desire and opportunity to achieve their dreams and aspirations.

Pacific University's College of Education first started offering graduate teaching courses in Woodburn in 2011, with emphases on the STEM disciplines and cultural competency, and opened a campus in Woodburn last year.

Pacific and Chemeketa Community College recently launched a 22-month undergraduate teaching degree. Recruitment targets minority students beginning in middle school, who complete prerequisite work through Chemeketa and complete their elementary teaching degree, with an ESOL endorsement, at Pacific University. The bachelor of education in elementary education and English language learning degree includes an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement.

"Learning at Pacific goes outside the classroom, with students engaging in diverse communities and giving back through service, healthcare and teaching," Hallick said. "These values are part of Pacific's past and present and will guide Pacific's future. We are honored to partner with the Woodburn community in pursuing our common goals and vision."

For more information, please contact Woodburn Campus Director Kevin Carr at 503-752-0253.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014