The Stowell Initiative

By: Michael Rivera
Videographer/Contributing Writer
The LBCC Commuter

There will be serious changes to LBCC in the next couple years; changes that will help current and prospective students.

Dale Stowell spoke to LBCC Journalism students about initiatives, in motion, that will deal with adding a Grant Manager and overhauling our website, in order to help increase funding for the community college and help add a more personal experience with the online web access.

Endowment funds here at LBCC are major contribution that help LBCC Development Programs. Endowments are funds given by a donor in the form of scholarships for college advancement. Currently, all our endowments are handled by Edward-Jones Investing.

Stowell, Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, has been working with community colleges for the past 18 years of his career. Before coming to LBCC three months ago, he worked at Tacoma Community College for 5 years. Based on his experience, Stowell feels that he these initiatives are necessary to help LBCC increase funds so tuition can go down.

"OSU just wrapped up a $1 billion campaign for funding. So far, LBCC has $2.3 million in endowed funds. It's how we build momentum to make more money in 3 years, so tuition doesn't increase," says Stowell.

According to the Commuter, the tuition will increase to $5 a credit, starting the summer term. Stowell says that there the stress shouldn't be put on the students.

"In my time at LBCC, tuition covered 28% of funding to the college. Now, tuition covers 50%," says Stowell.

Stowell grew up in Philomath, Oregon. After graduating high school, Stowell attended LBCC on what he calls "luck." He finished an English Degree at Portland State University, while playing in a band called "Rigamaroll". He holds LBCC University in very high regard.

"This is very personal to me. What matters is relationships. I never knew anything about college; I thought you just showed up. My parents never went to college, so I didn't know."

LBCC helped Stowell get through the process, even though he didn't know what he wanted to do. Jenny Spiker, former Journalism Advisor, had talked at Philomath High School. Giving him a direction, Stowell became a Journalism student, where he developed relationships that, ultimately, got him through college.

"Looking at the student completion rate, kids with connections with others on campus are more likely to be successful because people are counting on you."