By Jim Heffernan
I’ve been thinking a lot about Tillamook Bay Community College these days.
It all started when I saw a notice for a vacancy on the Tillamook Bay Community College Board of Directors. I applied and was invited for interviews.
Waiting in the lobby, I was impressed by the display of the floor plan of the new Medical Building and the paintings of what the campus will look like when it’s done. It made me think of the changes I’ve seen in the 45 years I’ve lived here. In the early 80’s, the college used borrowed rooms in the high school at night. Now there are multiple buildings up and down the county. Altogether they total some 90,000 square feet of instructional space. The arc of improvements has been strong.
Just being in the lobby brought back thoughts of classes I have taken over the last 60 years. I started out seeking a degree in Psychology, but I tired of Psychology. Then History, Biology, Art and Industrial Education were majors I tried out and abandoned. Periodically, the day-job took too much of my energy, but I often came back for more classes. Most of my credits are from 1964-1978, but I have a few from Tillamook Bay back in the 90’s.
I’m now assembling my transcripts from four different colleges in the attempt to qualify for an Associates Degree in General Studies. I think I can qualify.
With each transcript request, memories from those times and places wash over my mind. Mostly they are happy memories.
One year involved taking a full load of classes during the day and driving taxi by night in Denver. That was a slog and a grind. I might have learned more in the taxi than I did at the college.
The cost of it, back then, is a bitter-sweet memory to me. I got a VA stipend of about $450 a month for taking 12 semester hours. At that time, the first months stipend paid my tuition and bought my books. After that, it was like having a part-time job that I truly enjoyed. Back then, state taxes shouldered a much bigger share of what an education costs. $450 was about what a minimum-wage job paid back then.
It’s shameful how we’ve shifted the costs to the student.
I think I may be shy on math credits. I remember math classes, but I don’t remember passing any of them. So I’ve enrolled in Statistics for credit, Film History and Abnormal Psychology for fun. I am curious how I’ll feel when the term ends in June.
Applying at Tillamook Bay is a breeze. The college has a wonderful thing called the “Golden Age Discount”. If you’re 62 or older and audit the class and register on the first day of the term, tuition is free. There may be fees, but no tuition. They say to call 503-842-8222 for information. The schedule talks about getting a Golden Age card, but they don’t give out the cards anymore, just the discount.
You too, might find taking a class or two a welcome distraction in these times. One of my motivations is just the experience of being around younger people. I’ve experienced it as part of the enrollment process and I like it. It seems most of the other groups I frequent are filled with geezers like me.
The term begins March 31 and I’m anxious to begin. Expect a report when the term ends in June.
