Thursday, May 26, 2011

Counseling Center eyes new focus


Amongst cut backs and increased enrollment the center aims to reach new goals and more students.

Ultimately, a community college is designed to enhance and better a community through education and career training.  The LB counseling center is out to make this college a better atmosphere to do just that. Although cuts are being felt in the center the “retuned and re-focused” Counseling Center believes that by advancing relationships with students across campus we will be adding more value than what were are losing to budget cuts.

Mark Weiss is finishing up his 22nd year as a counselor here at LB and has been the front man in the “re-creation” of the counseling office. He believes we need we need to be “pro-active in campus community building. “ 

Weiss stated that “the sooner a student knows someone cares about them and that someone is here to help them the better odds that student is going to stay and stay longer.”

Research as in fact pointed out that students that have positive relationships with faculty and staff, tend to be more successful in class, stay in school longer and in the end graduate.

Like any college many of LB students are faced with difficult decisions and challenges that can affect their academic success. For many reasons students feel they have no one to reach out to.  Weiss feels “we need to be making sure all students have someone to turn to.”

Bruce Clemetsen our Vice President of student services has been working hand in hand with Weiss to reach these new goals. He believes this new focus will help students get the whole experience of college and increase our graduation numbers.

One of Clemetsen’s goals is to focus in on the undecided students that can benefit the most from counseling.

“By designing our facilities to help these students get through the undecided process and help them create a path for themselves will keep these students motivated, ease their financial aid stress, and decrease our drop- out rate here”  Clemetsen added.

Currently LB has more clubs on campus than they have ever had and Weiss also hopes this can be a way for students to get to involved and bring students together.  This ties into one of the Counseling Center’s goals by working directly with these clubs and Student Life the center can reach student’s that they normally would not have a chance to reach.
“Clubs and Student Life are a way to find students and staff with the positive energy needed to bring students together” Weiss says.
For instance, Weiss noted a group at OSU that is focused on happiness and solutions rather than problems.
Neil Simms a student at LB for the past year is up for the change and believes in the idea of community building here on campus. “It’s a wonderful idea, we all need to come together and help each other to better our abilities as students and citizens of the community.”
Community Colleges directly affect our economic development, jobs, and average income rates in our community. There is a significant economic value in by having more students receive degrees and certificates from LB.
Weiss says “time is now to answer call of the community and we are going to be a better resource to our community and our students.”
At a Glance:
OSU has already made some significant changes to their Counseling department and Weiss plans on meeting with their director June 1st to collaborate on ideas on how to better our campus.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Dael Dixon earns admiration in wrapping up career at LBCC

After 27 years of counseling and being a part of the LB community Dixon will retire as of June 30th of this year. Her retirement came earlier than expected for her as the budget cuts swept through campus, a co-worker was faced with being laid off and a future left in doubt.

Dixon being Dixon showed the compassion that she has for her co-workers and life in general. She voluntarily offered to retire early to save her co-worker’s job.Students walk into the counseling center for many different reasons here at LB. For the last 20 years here at the Albany Campus Dael Dixon’s office has opened the door for students to come in and enter her office of Zen. The inspirational posters and Zen garden on the desk gives the students a feeling of her “compassion” for them.

Mark Weiss has worked side by side with Dixon for the last 22 years. “She is the personification of all they tried to teach us in graduate school.”

Dixon is a world traveler with a true understanding of her counseling profession. Her sign in her office gives you a since of her prided philosophy, “let all that you do be done in love.”

Unlike Weiss who has worked for a long time with Dixon, Whitney Barstad started working in the counseling center just six months ago.

 “She was the first person to make me feel like I was at home.” “Her caring persona really shows in her work.”

Q&A
What made you want to become a counselor?
-At 19 I was working in Washington D.C. during the Vietnam War, I knew something was missing in my life. I wanted to do something more meaning full for people. I went to apply for a position in a rehabilitation center, the man interviewing me advised me to finish school and pursue my goals.

What is your favorite part about your job here as a counselor at LB?
-Working one on one with the students and finding the best of them. Also, helping people realize what their gifts are. My heart is moved by every person that comes in with their unique issues. I love being there for people. Too many people are not doing what they were born to do and I just want to help them.

Do you have a certain philosophy behind what you do?
-Let all that you do be done in love (as noted on the sign in her office). Let each unique soul into your life and support them in whatever they need.

What are your plans after retirement?
-Just be, do some meditating in pretty settings like in Encinitas, do some swimming and kayaking. Travel to Guatemala next February and Arizona from there to spend time with family. After takings some time off, I would like to volunteer somewhere, maybe for Habitat for Humanity.

What will you miss most about your time here at LB?
-My co-workers, they are like family to me. I felt blessed working with the different health programs here on campus there dedication was moving. I will also miss all the young people here and their stimulating challenges that I was able to help them with.

At A Glance:
Earned her BS in Public Administration and Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Arizona in 1972. Earned Master's in Counseling from University of Oregon in 1982.

Started at Benton Center part time in 1984 after interning there at U of O. Moved to full time at Albany Campus in 1991 where she has worked ever since.

Dixon is an avid traveller and has been to Poland (where her mother is from), Greece, Egypt, Hungry, Check Republic, and most of the European Nations.

Born in New York she moved to Arizona when she was 11 and settled in Oregon after college.

To schedule an appointment with Dixon go to the Career Services and Counseling Center in Takena Hall to do so.