Big Bend 'State of the College' addressed

MOSES LAKE — Big Bend Community College President Bill Bonaudi talked progress Thursday during the 12th annual State of the College Address.

Items addressed include commercial development, a growing professional development fund, construction projects and online classes.

Bonaudi said the college received permission from the state to pursue rezoning a portion of the Big Bend campus for commercial development.

"There is no intention to sell any of the college property in this location, but the board would entertain leases for business activity compatible with the college," he said. "It is important to note that rezoning would not prevent the college from developing property for our own use."

The growth of a faculty award fund used for professional development was another topic discussed in Bonaudi's address. The fund is approximately $240,000 and administered by the college trustees.

"This past year, six faculty members had professional development activities funded to the tune of almost $9,000," he said.

Award recipients include Assistant Chief Pilot John Swedburg, who attended Big Sky Airline's ground school. The result of the experience is a new course at Big Bend, Bonaudi said.

Art instructor Rie Palkovic used funds to participate in the Oxford Round Table Conference in England. Music instructor Pat Patterson took the college's community chorus to New York, where they performed in Carnegie Hall.

A Professional/Technical Education Center could be constructed at the college, Bonaudi said. The college is seeking state funding for the building in the 2009 to 2011 state budget.

"This new facility, which may be built closer to the campus rather than out among the existing technical education buildings, will house a growing and expanding division of transportation sciences," Bonaudi said. "Here our existing college automotive program can grow and expand into newer technology fields of hybrid, natural gas and hydrogen fuel."

The college's welding program, which is too large for the existing facility, would be housed in the new facility as well, he said.

Online education is being expanded at Big Bend, with additional online classes being developed that originate from the college, Bonaudi said.

"The fastest-growing mode of instruction at BBCC and across the state, and actually nationally, is online instruction," he said.