Menu
MPCC's new Area Director of Development shares departmental plans and goals
NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Carol Bodeen, Mid-Plains Community College's Area Director of Development, recently presented the immediate and short term plans and goals for her department to the Board of Governors and the directors of both the McCook College and the North Platte Community College Foundations.
Bodeen accepted her current position with the college in December 2012 after spending eight years with the North Platte Chamber of Commerce and Development Corporation.
"When I got here, it appeared that the college's development office efforts were targeted almost exclusively on building the McCook College Events Center and the North Platte Community College's Health and Science Center. And, while their focus was commendable, there is so much more that this office needs to do and it's taken some time to get us operationally organized to get started," she said.
In her presentations, Bodeen told the groups that, first and foremost, she would be focusing on retiring the $990,000 debt remaining on the two building projects.
"We have some excellent strategies to accomplish our completion goal," she said. "For example, most of our pledges have been completed; however there are a number of potential donors who need to be contacted. Also, additional community awareness campaigns should still be held. We have an excellent base for completion."
In the upcoming months, Bodeen said her department plans to:
* Introduce a new internal giving campaign to involve staff and faculty at all locations.
* Develop and implement strategies for new scholarships and endowments at all locations.
* Build current alumni development databases and establish communication networks with those former students for both McCook and North Platte community colleges.
Bodeen told the groups that she is definitely not alone in her efforts. One of the major keys to future success lies in the support and continued growth of the college's two foundations. As part of her duties, Bodeen will be communicating regularly with the MCC Foundation Administrator and board members to help in their ongoing outreach, community fundraising activities and awareness campaigns. She is also planning strategies to increase awareness of the NPCC Foundation by sponsorship of events and by bringing more emphasis to their involvement in projects such as the NPCC Car Raffle and House Auction.
Bodeen told the groups that she is also working with other community groups and foundations in the college's service area to develop scholarships for localized learning opportunities.
"I've met with folks in Broken Bow and in Imperial who wish to explore development of scholarships for students who would like to remain in their locale and take college classes from us," she said. "This makes perfect sense and our current gift-giving structure is already in place to allow that to happen."
Recently, Bodeen and her administrative assistant, Julie Gage, began the training and implementation of a new developmental software package designed to help manage donors, potential giving opportunities, scholarships, and alumni related activities. She anticipates the software will be implemented by the end of this summer.
"This new software will help us manage such things as contact information, which can be especially challenging when it involves keeping accurate addresses of alumni and donor giving records," she said.
Bodeen concluded her reports to the three groups by telling them that she plans to aggressively pursue making presentations to community groups, such as Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, and local senior centers.
"I'm available and am excited to tell our communities about how MPCC is meeting its mission to provide quality educational opportunities for lifelong learning," she said.