Having trouble viewing this email? Click here to view it as a web page.

 HECC NEWS CLIPS

MAY 19, 2022

A weekly update from the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC)

HECC Events and Resources

HECC PRESS RELEASE: Oregon Provides Historic Investment in Financial Aid for Tribal Students, Encourages Students to Apply

Please help us to share the news announced in our recent press release that the application is now open for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant for 2022-23, a new state financial aid program supported by the Oregon Legislature’s 2022 historic investment in equitable college access and success for tribal students. The Oregon Tribal Student Grant is expected to pay for most or all public college-related expenses—including tuition, housing, books, and other costs not covered by other grants—for eligible students who are enrolled members of Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes. It can be applied toward undergraduate or graduate study at Oregon public colleges and universities as well as eligible private non-profit institutions, where award amounts can go up to the public institution maximum level, in the upcoming 2022-23 school year.  A communication toolkit is available on our website here. Learn more in the press release here.  The priority application deadline is August 1, 2022. Current and prospective students can learn more and apply here: https://oregonstudentaid.gov/oregon-tribal-student.aspx 

Stay Informed on Future Ready Oregon Opportunities

Future Ready Oregon, a comprehensive $200 million package of strategic and targeted investments, supports the education and training Oregonians need for family-wage careers. This package, approved in the 2022 Legislative Session, invests in existing successful programs and in innovative equity-focused solutions to bolster recruitment, retention, and career a​advancement opportunities for priority populations. Many of these funds are being administered through the HECC, as we work with local workforce development boards, community-based and culturally-specific organizations, education & training providers, employers, and communities. See our most recent update here. Stay informed on these funding packages by signing up for email updates here, or by visiting our Future Ready Oregon web page here.

Share your Voice in the Statewide Listening Tour: Oregon Legislators Want to Know How to Better Support Underrepresented Students in College

Calling all students and community members! Come tell the Legislature about your lived-experiences and barriers to college success. The HECC encourages participation in the statewide listening tour of the Joint Legislative Task Force on Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education. View the Task Force website for details, or sign up sign up to testify here. Can’t be there in person? The committee also welcomes submitted comments. Email the Task Force a public record comment at jtushe.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov.

HECC PRESS RELEASE: Attention Students – Legislation Increases Oregon Promise Grant Dollars for Low-income Grantees, and Expands Eligibility

Thanks to the approval of Senate Bill 1522 by the Oregon Legislature and Governor Brown, low-income recipients of the Oregon Promise Grant pursuing community college will receive more funds to help with rising college costs, and eligibility for this financial aid program has been widened. Read more here, and please help share this news with potential applicants.

Upcoming Public Meetings and Hearings: Public Comment is Welcomed

The HECC welcomes public comment on agenda topics. See recent public meeting notices including for the meetings below on our home page here. Sign up for public meeting notices here.

• May 20, 2022, Transfer Council Writing CCN Subcommittee 
• May 20, 2022, Oregon Conservation Corps (OCC) Advisory Committee Public Meeting
• May 23, 2022, OregonServes Commission Public Policy & Education Committee Meeting
• May 25, 2022, Workforce and Talent Development Board (WTDB) Continuous Improvement Committee Public Meeting

Receive Alerts on New Job Opportunities at the HECC

Interested in working for the HECC? You can sign up for to receive email notifications of new job opportunities. Subscribe to HECC Employment Opportunities here. Learn more about job opportunities on our website here.

Grant and Contracting Opportunities

For information on grant and contracting opportunities with the HECC please visit Grant and Contracting Opportunities here.

News from across the Postsecondary Landscape

Equity and Student Success

Community college plans open houses - May 18, 2022. Newport News-Times. "If you’re one of the thousands of folks in Lincoln County who’ve earned some college credits over the years but haven’t completed a degree, Oregon Coast Community College wants to meet you..."

Oregon Community Foundation invests 480-thousands dollars in Black Student Success Network - May 15, 2022. KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2. By Nick Borden. "The Oregon Community Foundation..."

Incoming student government president works for equity - May 13, 2022. The Clackamas Print (CCC student newspaper). By Isaiah Burns. "Madalena Larkins, vice president of Clackamas Community College’s Associated Student Government,.."

Affordability

UO, OSU low-income college students struggle to find housing - May 18, 2022. The Register-Guard. By Louis Krauss. "For Lane Community College student Jenny Culbertson, the past two years have been..."

Oregon Provides Historic Investment in Financial Aid for Tribal Students - May 17, 2022. MyOregonNews (Governor's office site on State of Oregon news). By Endi Hartigan. "The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) recently..."

Tuition increases will occur for next three years - May 17, 2022. The Mainstream (UCC student forum). By Peyton Manning and Savannah Peterson. "Tuition increases will take place over the next three years at UCC, eventually reaching an increase..."

Decoding the Price of College: Complexity of Figuring Out Costs Holds Students Back - May 16, 2022. The Hechinger Report. By Olivia Sanchez. "College costs differ for almost everyone, just like airline tickets..."

Student Aid Group Releases Ideas for Loan Reforms - May 16, 2022. Inside Higher Ed. By Scott Jaschik. "While many wait to see what President Biden will do about forgiving student debts, the National Association of Student..."

Oregon Tech revises tuition increase - May 13, 2022. KOBI-TV NBC5 / KOTI-TV NBC2. By Newsroom staff. "Oregon Institute of Technology’s tuition costs won’t be as high as an earlier proposal indicated..."

Learner Pathways, Economic and Community Development

Free COCC class for new high school grads - May 18, 2022. The Madras Pioneer. By Mark Russell Johnson. "Class of '22 in-district students are eligible for four free credits to try a college class..."

Oregon children's literacy crisis worsened during pandemic, experts say - May 16, 2022. KEZI. By Jaewon Jung. "Oregon has a children's literacy crisis which many experts say has gotten worse during the pandemic..."

Oregon ‘underemployment’ rate hits a record low – but there’s a downside - May 15, 2022. The Oregonian/OregonLive. By Mike Rogoway. "Economic health is often measured by the unemployment rate, an easy-to-understand benchmark with ready historical comparisons..."

Governor Brown puts $5 million towards computer science education - May 13, 2022. KEZI. By Nick Ursini. "More money is coming to schools in Oregon, Governor Kate Brown announced during a visit to Eugene Friday afternoon..."

Leadership, Funding, and Policy 

Board updated on accreditation, how exercise science is a likely new program, and recruitment plan - May 15, 2022. Argus Observer. By Leslie Thompson. "Mid-way through its seven-year accreditation cycle, officials at Treasure..."

Tweak to funding formula increases estimated state money for some Oregon universities, decreases for others - May 13, 2022. OPB. By Meearh Powell. "The Oregon Institute of Technology says it will lower its tuition increase..."

Portland State University's president announces retirement - May 13, 2022. OPB. By Meerah Powell. "PSU President Stephen Percy will retire at the end of next academic year..."

Financial hardships felt by faculty at Lane Community College, survey shows - May 12, 2022. KEZI. By Nick Ursini. "A portion of employees at Lane Community College are facing financial difficulties..."

The Top Federal Higher Ed Policymaker Speaks - May 10, 2022. The Key with Inside Higher Ed. By Doug Lederman. "This week’s episode features an interview with Under Secretary James Kvaal about student debt forgiveness, Pell Grants and partisanship..."

About Recent News

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) NEWS CLIPS section on News from across the Postsecondary Education and Training Landscape contains links to news content that contains information created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of the HECC. These clips feature a selection of recent postsecondary education and related news links, from reputable, non-partisan media sources and institutional or government partners. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information available via these links. 

Stay Connected with the HECC

Frequent contacts| info.HECC@hecc.oregon.gov | Follow us on Twitter @OregonHECC