'An agenda of change'

Big Bend Community College President Bill Bonaudi gives 11th annual State of the College address

MOSES LAKE — Change was the theme of the evening Thursday as Big Bend Community College President Bill Bonaudi gave his 11th annual State of the College address.

From rising fuel costs and their impact on students to the distribution of the college's budget, future capital projects and meeting the needs of the 93,000 residents within the college's service district, attendees got a glimpse of the past year's challenges and accomplishments.

Big Bend is part of college district No. 18 and serves all of Adams and Grant counties and the Odessa School District in Lincoln County.

One particular challenge Bonaudi pointed out was the continued increase in tuition prices and decrease in the amount of financial support from the state over the last three years.

This is a trend that changed during the 2006 Legislative session.

"What's remarkable, however, is that the 2006 Legislature increased state support by more than the tuition increase," he said. "While welcome, I don't see this as a reversal of a trend. In other words, I expect continued increases in tuition with diminishing direct state support."

With the average per capita income of Adams and Grant counties roughly $11,000 less than the state average, the burden of finding ways to pay for education can be difficult for many students and their families.

Ten years ago, one credit cost $46.70. This fall one credit will cost $77.30 and a typical class $386.50.

"The point is, school is getting more costly every year and scholarships, grants and loans are the only things keeping folks in school," Bonaudi said.

Rising gas prices have not helped either.

Some students travel to Big Bend or are enrolled in satellite classes in towns as far away as Mattawa, Othello and Grand Coulee.

"The community is so spread out and Moses Lake is the hub of education," said attendee Guy Cheek after the address.

Cheek works for Genie Industries and commented he believes strong community partnerships between the college and outside organizations are key to keeping education opportunities strong.

In an effort to better serve students in its district who face barriers to obtaining an education, either from lack of transportation, money, language barriers or other obstacles, administrators are working to secure more funding sources.

Sources being looked at include sections of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and renewal of the College Bound and Student Support Services programs. Partnerships with Heritage University and the Lumina Foundation are also being pursued to obtain access to grant funding. Capital improvements to campus dormitories, continued development of distance learning sites via live interactive video instruction and online classes were mentioned.

"Since last year interactive video sites have opened in Soap Lake and Mattawa, and will soon be in operation in Royal City and Warden," the president said.

Worries of an avian influenza pandemic were another reason presented in support of establishing strong distance learning sites.

"Should that tragedy occur, it is speculated that schools, including Big Bend, could be closed for as long as a month," Bonaudi said. "The more instruction and student support services we can deliver at a distance utilizing our investment in technology, the better the chance we could continue to operate even though the campus could essentially be closed."

The college's next addition to campus, a fine arts building, is expected to go out for bid this fall. The building is to be located just off Randolph Road next to the math/science building.

West of the fine arts facility, a new formal entrance to campus is being planned.

When it came time to move on to other successes at the college in the last year, Bonaudi highlighted the nursing and aviation programs.

In the 2005 Legislative session lawmakers allotted funds to begin replacement of the college's current fleet of aircraft. Fifteen primary trainers out of a total of 25 are expected to be replaced, and two additional twin engine airplanes and a jet simulator purchased.

This spring Big Bend received its first two replacement airplanes, Piper Warrior III's with glass cockpit display panels.

Beginning this fall, Bonaudi said, a Central Washington University faculty member will be placed in the Flight Training Center on campus to work with students on a new degree being offered.

The degree is called the aviation management degree and is the first CWU degree offered in Moses Lake.

In the health care arena, the nursing program relocated to a new location where the old library was housed. The move was intended to provide more classroom and laboratory space.

Last year the nursing program also became an accredited associate degree program.

Of course a reflection on the previous year would not be complete without an update on the utilization of the ATEC building and research library, a year and a half after its construction.

"Almost weekly someone who has never been on our campus attends one or more meetings in ATEC," Bonaudi said.

After listening to Bonaudi's speech, Moses Lake farmer Craig Duvall was most impressed to hear how well ATEC has been utilized, adding that his own two sons who are currently attending the college have benefited from being able to stay close to home and continue their education.