TBCC Connections: Staring the Year: Fall Term is Full of Firsts at TBCC

Fall term at Tillamook Bay Community College (TBCC) starts this month on September 23. This will be the first time I start the school year as President of TBCC and I’m excited to experience it. Many firsts are happening at TBCC this year. From constructing a new building to our first Nursing graduates; the growth of TBCC and our ability to help students is something I look forward to seeing.

There’s a lot of excitement around the construction of the new Healthcare Education Building, and the project is now well underway. TBCC will remain open during construction, but access to campus has changed. Students and visitors will now turn on Third St. and use the paved access road near the 4-H Dorm at the fairgrounds to enter TBCC’s main parking lot. To watch a live feed of the construction broadcast and the latest updates visit tillamookbaycc.edu/heb.

Another new development at the college is how students will pay for textbooks—they won’t. Starting this fall, TBCC will cover all textbook costs with the exception of a few programs. All e-books will be available for download on Canvas, and students who have courses with a physical textbook can pick them up in the library during the first week of the term. Faculty and staff at TBCC have always been invested in securing free Open Educational Resources (OERs) for students, but offering almost all textbooks for free is a big achievement.

In the spirit of firsts, TBCC’s first Nursing cohort will graduate in June. These 15 Nursing students will prepare for the NCLEX-RN Exam all year while continuing their clinical studies with the college’s healthcare partners. The success of these students will help shape the future of the Nursing program. TBCC is currently accepting applications for the next Nursing cohort which will start this winter. If you would like to apply, visit tillamookbaycc.edu/nursing.