Mary Spilde

The Lane Community College board met Wednesday evening to hear public comment on the administration’s proposed budget. One hundred forty-five people signed up to speak.

Lane Community College faces a more than $10-million shortfall for the next school year. The administration presented budget-balancing recommendations to the Board of Education at its Wednesday meeting.

Dr. Mary Spilde made the announcement at Wednesday night's Board of Education meeting.

The Global Climate Summit takes place in Paris this week. Lane Community College President Mary Spilde was invited to the White House earlier this month to take part in a meeting in advance of the conference.

Lane Community College President Mary Spilde talks with KLCC's Rachael McDonald.

The Lane Community College board voted four to two Wednesday night to eliminate the Auto Body and Electronic Technology programs. The controversial decision came just after dozens of people voiced their concerns in a public comment session.

The administration proposed the cuts as part of its plan to offset next year’s projected $4.7 million dollar deficit. LCC staff, former and past students and local business owners said the board had asked the wrong questions and not followed procedures. Jim Salt is President of the LCC Education Association:

Today (Monday), Lane Community College begins remodeling and expanding their student center at the core of main campus. KLCC's Tiffany Eckert reports the 35 million dollar project is expected to take a little over a year.

Center Building was built nearly 50 years ago and it shows. Siding is peeling away, concrete walls and walks are blemished. Lane County voters approved an 83 million dollar bond six years ago. Now the community college is spending the last of that money to finance the remodel.

Lane Community College may have to lay off part time and even full time employees if its enrollment continues to decline.

The college experienced a surge in enrollment during the recession, but that's dropped off as the economy has improved.
Lane saw a 40 percent boost in enrollment from 2008 to 2012 as people who had lost their jobs went to school for technical training. LCC president Mary Spilde says as state funding for higher education has dwindled; the college is more dependent on tuition.