Riverland Community College business and office technology instructor Sheryl Barton has received national recognition from Quality Matters™ (QM) for the online course she developed, Medical Terminology. Barton’s is the third course at Riverland to receive this distinction.

Several community colleges have chosen to remove the word “community” from their official names. Riverland Community College, however, works hard to retain the community part of its name. Perhaps this name-change trend relates to college marketers’ need to make a college title's length more manageable or a clever strategy to mask some outdated stigmas community colleges face.

The Office of the Chancellor for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities will reduce its budget by $4.2 million and eliminate 41 positions by July 1, 2011. The budget change is due to an anticipated reduction in state funding for fiscal year 2012, and it comes on top of budget reductions to the system office made in five of the past 10 years. This represents a 10 percent reduction from the current fiscal year.

According to the American Association of Community Colleges, two-year colleges contribute more than $35 billion annually to our nation’s economic growth – representing seven percent of its Gross Domestic Product. Community colleges have added more than $620 billion to the current economy, representing roughly six percent of the nation’s average annual growth. The Return on Investment is impressive.

Continued stellar results are in jeopardy, however. Enrollments skyrocket as students seek affordable education and training, but state and local funding continues to decline.

Alonso Sierralta's sculptures are simultaneously fascinating and strange, creating a sense of both harmony and disharmony. A Chile immigrant at age 14, the artist channels his experience of cultural transplantation into powerful organic metaphors. According to the artist, "(t)he spreading of seeds, roots, pollen, etc. are the basic inspiration for the sculptural form, disparate materials are then selected to create the sense of tension and forced metamorphosis."

As you are preparing for special time with family and friends this holiday season, giving may be on your mind. Whether a gift for a family member or friend or to a favorite charity, giving to others helps us feel the spirit of the season. As you contemplate ways to make a difference for others this year, please consider a tax-deductible financial gift to the Riverland Community College Foundation.

Riverland Community College, Adult Basic Education (ABE) in Austin and Albert Lea, and Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) will offer FastTRAC programming again this spring. The 2011 FastTRAC offers eligible student an opportunity to complete five college credits toward a Production Technician I certificate with no cost for tuition or textbooks.

The Riverland Community College massage therapy program begins its seventh year of clinical massages this month. This service is open to the public and will run from January 18 through May 5, 2011.

Every January institutions reflect on the past year and implement plans for the next. Riverland Community College is no exception. Like most public colleges, the economy has challenged us to look toward the future in new ways. Struggle often leads to creativity, collaboration and inspiration.

Riverland Community College is pleased to announce the students whose academic achievement placed them on the 2010 fall president’s and dean’s lists. Riverland congratulates these individuals for their outstanding academic accomplishments.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) recently released its "Top 10 Higher Education State Policy Issues for 2011." Here is Riverland's view of the top five issues.

The Riverland Community College Farm Business Management (FBM) program and the University of Minnesota Extension collaborate to present the workshop “Farm Transition & Estate Planning: Create Your Farm Legacy” Monday, February 28 at Riverland's Austin Campus' West Building, room A-237.

This full-day workshop stresses practical information and strategies to help farm families begin the process of transferring the farm business to the next generation.

Riverland Community College joined in an unprecedented and unified action, signing a statement of commitment to increase student completion rates by 50 percent over the next decade joining six national organizations representing America’s 1,200 community colleges, their governing boards, their faculty, and their 11.8 million students. Nationally, Riverland became the 34^th college to sign.

The national spotlight focused on community colleges recently is not the norm, but it is timely for families and the nation.  As the current economic recession drags on and unemployment remains frustratingly high, the issue of jobs tops everyone’s worry list.  Economic malaise has also driven an ongoing enrollment surge at the nation’s community colleges—an increase of almost 17% nationally. Riverland’s enrollment grew 11.6 percent from 2009-10, and enrollment of under-represented students rose 27 percent.

The Albert Lea Business Women’s Legacy (formerly Albert Lea Business and Professional Women’s -ALBPW) recently donated $40,000 to the Riverland Community College Foundation to sponsor an endowed scholarship that honors the memories of members, Donita King and Bertha Weiks.

Another academic year will soon end, and we will celebrate commencement with our 2011 Riverland Community College graduates on May 13. Last August, Riverland began its 70^th academic year. This historic milestone has inspired us to take a nostalgic look at past years and kindled a renewed interest in reconnecting with our alumni.

Riverland Community College students Olena Berezovska (Kherson, Ukraine), Eric Chouinard (Brooklyn Center), Andrew Howe (Lakeville), Natasha Spear (Waseca) and Kaylin Wolf (Blooming Prairie) were named to the 2010-2011 All-Minnesota Academic Team in recognition of their academic achievements, leadership accomplishments and service to their college and community. The ceremony, held March 25 in Eagan, honored 45 students from Minnesota's two-year colleges.

Riverland Community College recently announced that they would induct six into the Athletic Hall of Fame at a ceremony on October 29 at the Austin Campus.

This year’s inductees include Greg Carlson, football (1976-78); Nancy (Clemens) Martinz, Softball (1981-83); Denny Lebarron, tennis (1962-64); Don Miller, basketball (1951-54); Darrell Monson, baseball (1970-72); Kevin Wilder, football (1974-76).