Welcome from President Linaker
House & Senate Capital Investment Bonding Tours
Janelle Koepke, Dean of Institutional Advancement at Riverland Community College, discusses the House and Senate Capital Investment Committee tours to learn more about a $17 million renovation project at the Austin East Campus. The project focuses on upgrading student services, including tutoring, library resources, student basic needs, and counseling into a comprehensive support center. The college appreciates the legislative attention to the project's potential impact during the upcoming session.
Community Impact Events
Alexis Allen from the Riverland Community College Foundation details a community event held at the Austin campus that mirrored similar Impact events at the Owatonna and Albert Lea campuses. The Austin Impact event emphasized healthcare programs and featured interactive stations in the nursing simulation lab. All three events gave attendees an opportunity to meet Dr. Kat Linaker, Riverland's new president, and showcased diverse programs from automotive to robotics. These events offered unique insights into Riverland student life and support the Student Success Initiative Fund, aid program improvements, scholarships, and emergency student assistance.
Owatonna Business After Hours
Matt Bissonette, academic dean and new director at Riverland Community College's Owatonna campus, shares the excitement of the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours event in October. Attended by more a hundred regional chamber members from Owatonna, the event facilitated networking, featured food, and focused on the college's role in supporting local business growth.
Advisory Committee Assembly
Kim Nelson, Interim Dean at Riverland Community College, details a celebration at Austin West Campus honoring the impact of industry partners and advisory committee members. The event highlights the business and industry contributions to Riverland academic and community services, focusing on the mutual benefits the college and students receive from these partnerships.
High School Partners Appreciation Day at Riverland
Amanda Mathews, Director of Advising at Riverland Community College, describes a high school partner appreciation event. This event educates area high school partners about the college's admissions, financial aid, Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), and concurrent enrollment, along with recent updates. It also offers networking opportunities and builds relationships between Riverland and the high schools through thoughtful activities and discussions.
Riverland’s Breast Cancer Awareness Event Held at Runnings in Austin
Amber Schmoll, a Radiography Program student at Riverland, took part in a breast cancer awareness event at Runnings in Austin. The event, featured a booth with goodies for attendees, focused on educating the community about breast cancer awareness and mammography.
Advanced Manufacturing & Construction Electrician Programs Event
Lee Gulbrandson, General Manager of Lou-Rich in Albert Lea, Minnesota, attended Riverland Community College's Industrial Manufacturing Partner Day at the Albert Lea campus. The company presented to students, explaining their operations and seeking potential employees in fields from general laborer to engineering. The event served as a platform for Lou-Rich to engage with students and discuss future employment opportunities.
2nd Annual Radiography Seminar
Vicky Kintop, Riverland's Radiography Program Director, highlights the success of their second annual conference on October 12 for clinical site affiliates. Aimed at appreciating and collaborating with key partners in student education, the conference featured speakers Sandy Anderson on managing healthcare burnout and Janice Blanchard on mentorship. It provided a platform to discuss site challenges, offered meals, and continuing education credits, emphasizing learning and appreciation.
The Future of Rural Healthcare
Zora Radosevich, Director of the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care at the Minnesota Department of Health, joined a panel at Riverland Community College. The discussion centered on the state of rural health in Minnesota, tackling community challenges, innovative practices, and solutions in healthcare. Key issues included healthcare costs, workforce shortages, and evolving sector needs, offering insights into rural health complexities and advancements.