HECC Prepares for 2023-25 Legislative Session and Budget Deliberations
HECC's state budget recommendation calls for a large increase in spending on higher education to support the transformative change needed to improve equity and affordability in postsecondary education and training for all Oregonians. The HECC is responsible for presenting the comprehensive budget proposals for the postsecondary system. In September, HECC submitted its agency request budget (ARB) to the Governor for 2023-25. Partners can read a summary of the new funding proposals in the ARB here. In conjunction with the budget request, the Commission is proposing a number of legislative concepts that were summarized at the November Commission meeting. Some of our key recommendations for increased funding are noted below, and we look forward to sharing more on these as conversations continue.
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Continue the newly launched Oregon Tribal Student Grant ($40M GF) as a permanent program and continue to serve new and existing eligible tribal students.
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Significantly increase financial aid funding ($779M TF increase) to expand the primary state financial aid programs for equity and access.
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Increase the Oregon Opportunity Grant funding by nearly four-fold, serving many more students and increasing current award amounts to meet a higher percentage of college costs at public institution rates for the highest need students. The program would be adjusted to award grants in tiered award amounts based on student needs and sector costs, add more flexibility to award those who attend less than half time, and add targeted awards to students near completion to incentivize graduation.
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Roughly double the Oregon Promise, expanding eligibility by removing the GPA requirement; allowing the grant to be used at any eligible Oregon postsecondary institution, including four-year colleges/universities; and other changes.
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New funding for equity strategies ($100M GF) to carry out the recommendations of the Task Force on Student Success for Underrepresented Students in Higher Education.
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Sustain and increase community college funding: ($205M GF increase, 29.5 percent above the 2021-23 state budget) to sustain operational and educational funding for the 17 community colleges through the Community College Support Fund (CCSF), bringing it to $905 million. Because $50 million of that would represent one-time funding, the base (i.e., ongoing) CCSF level would be $855 million, or 20.1 percent above 2021-23.
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Sustain and increase public university funding ($92 million GF increase, 10.3 percent above the 2021-23 state budget) to sustain operational and educational funding for the seven public universities through the Public University Support Fund (PUSF), bringing it to $992 million.
As the Legislative Session approaches, documents and resources will be posted on the website below. Thanks in advance to all our partners for your collaboration and engagement!
Grant and Scholarships: Encourage Students to Apply Now
Visit OregonStudentAid.gov for all information on the grants and scholarships administered by the HECC Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC).
Financial Aid Applications: To be eligible for most types of financial aid including the Oregon Opportunity Grant, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA). Please encourage current or prospective students to complete the FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible, and apply for state grant programs at OregonStudentAid.gov.
OSAC Scholarship Application Open: The OSAC Scholarship Application provides current and future Oregon students access to over 600 scholarships through one application. The OSAC Scholarship Application is now open in the OSAC student portal. The Early Bird deadline to submit the application is February 15th and the final deadline is March 1st. Learn more about the OSAC Scholarship.
Oregon Tribal Student Grant Accepting Applications: We will continue to accept and review applications for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant for the 2022-23 school year until funds are exhausted. Students planning to attend college or currently attending college in the 2022-23 academic year are encouraged to apply. Learn more about the Oregon Tribal Student Grant.
OSAC Student Child Care Grant: The OSAC Student Child Care grant program received additional funding in 2022 and has limited funds available to offer grants to student parents who are currently enrolled in college. Grants will continue to be made on a first come first serve basis until funding has been exhausted. Interested students can learn more on the Oregon Student Child Care Grant webpage.
Support in Serving Your Students and Communities: Go to OregonStudentAid.gov to request support from OSAC at an upcoming event, in a classroom, or providing training to your students/communities. You can also sign up to receive our e-newsletters here.
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Webinars: OSAC hosts a variety of webinars throughout the year for students, parents, and career/college practitioners. Our webinars are to provide up-to-date information about programs we serve.
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Free Publications and Posters: Order or download free posters and brochures. English and Spanish versions available.
Where are they now? New Infographic Highlights Education Pathways in Oregon
The inter-agency Oregon Longitudinal Data Collaborative (OLDC) is pleased to present a research-based infographic on the pathways of Oregon learners
In a new visual summary published by the Oregon Longitudinal Data Collaborative (OLDC), the Where are they now? Educational Pathways in Oregon Infographic shows the journey of the nearly 50,000 students who entered high school in 2006-07, following student pathways as they leave high school, through postsecondary and into the workforce. In addition to graduation rates and credentials earned, OLDC researchers looked into other data points like of the students who took college courses in high school, how many later enrolled in college or university (90 percent!), and which education credential earns wages above the state median (anything above a high school diploma!). The OLDC team worked through the complexities of linking data across K-12, GED®, postsecondary, and workforce, which has set the foundation for future reporting and research studies. Questions on this research-based infographic may be sent to: hecc.oldc@hecc.oregon.gov.
Who is the OLDC? The Oregon Longitudinal Data Collaborative (OLDC) is an inter-agency program located in the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. They look at the intersections of K12, postsecondary education, workforce training, and employment to examine how these sectors influence and impact each other. This work focuses on the impact of education programs, policies, and investments to help individuals and communities in Oregon thrive. Learn more about the OLDC from their recent presentation to the Joint Emergency Board Subcommittee on Education and on their website below.
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HECC Convenes New Leadership Council for Equity
The HECC continues its commitment to close postsecondary attainment and workforce training opportunity gaps through equity-minded strategies, and we are happy to report that we are expanding our means of community engagement.
Building off the statewide convenings supported in past years by the Talent, Innovation, and Equity grant from Lumina Foundation, HECC is revamping its Leadership Council for Equity (LCE), a council of community partners who help raise state awareness about the inequities that affect historically marginalized and underserved students. The new LCE is comprised of membership from culturally specific community-based organizations (CBOs) and philanthropic foundations that prioritize postsecondary and workforce opportunities to elevate and advocate for community and Oregon learner voices that can help transform these landscapes.
In addition to the LCE, the HECC regularly convenes an Equity Advisory Committee (EAC), comprised of DEI experts and leaders from across the 17 public institutions who provide regular insight and input. Both the LCE and the EAC provide advice to the HECC on funding, regulatory, coordinating, and policy leadership responsibilities in ways that systematically address educational inequities. We also continue to deepen our engagement with the Racial Justice Council, Government to Government leaders, the Joint Legislative Task Force on Student Success for Underserved Students and numerous other convened groups focused on making meaningful, intentional change for equity.
Partners with questions on how to best stay connected with HECC are more than welcome to contact Rudyane Rivera Lindstrom, director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
HECC Key Performance Metrics Show Trends in Access, Affordability, Completion, and Earnings
Interested in the state’s progress on college access, affordability, completion and earnings? All executive branch agencies have Legislatively approved key performance measures (KPMs) that relate to the mission of the agency. HECC’s Office of Research and Data recently presented a summary of the 2022 Key Performance Metrics for the HECC. The HECC has 16 KPMs related to tracking progress toward the State’s educational attainment goal for young adults (40-40-20). See the summary presentation here.
Oregon Adult Basic Skills Conference: Going the Extra Mile 2022
Thank you to the many participants and volunteers who joined us on October 24-25, 2022 for the 2022 Oregon ABS: Going the Extra Mile Conference. Approximately 150 educators and other individuals who are involved in the field of adult education or high school equivalency gathered this year for a day of collaboration and learning, focused on effective strategies, techniques, latest trends, and best practices in the field of adult basic skills and high school equivalency education. Over 50 speakers were featured, including numerous partners and HECC staff members. Participants heard inspiring keynotes by Kellie Hardt, who is a Board Member at GED® Testing Service, and HECC Commissioner Fernando Rojas-Galván who is an instructor of Spanish, English as a Second Language (ESL), and Developmental English at Clatsop Community College (CCC).
In Oregon, adult education and high school equivalency education are crucial to communities statewide, and the HECC is pleased to support the educators and partners who do this critical work. Participants had the opportunity to participate in a large selection of breakout sessions and hands-on workshops over the two-day conference focused on delivering high-quality instruction and administering exceptional programs. The selected speakers brought experience and knowledge from multiple diverse fields to include GED® test education, Advocacy & Social Justice, ESOL, Integrated Education & Training, and more. The Adult Basic Skills conference is an annual event, and we hope to see you next year!
Oregon Selected for Initiative on Use of Digital Records and Credentials
In October 2022, the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development within the HECC was selected along with the community college system offices in Tennessee and Indiana to partner with the American Council on Education to support the use of digital credentials and learning and employment records (LERs). The use of these emerging and existing digital resources is intended to help streamline the pathways learners take from work to school and back to work.
Much like an academic transcript, these LERs can help adult learners to more formally display skills that have been learned and demonstrated from non-traditional methods, such as experience on the job or military service. In addition, LERs can help educators monitor the supply and demand of certain work experience and credentials. Community colleges have a critical role in the possible use of these tools because of their focus on affordable pathways, and the large numbers of adult learners from underrepresented communities they serve.
CCWD’s role will be in engaging leaders from 10 community colleges, two local workforce development boards, multiple employers, the Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board, ODE, and the HECC on use of this technology. Work on the design phase will begin in November 2022 and continue over the winter. The final phase of this collaborative project will include action plans that incorporate both strategies and recommendations for community colleges, which are important to broader adoption of LERs. Learn more on the initiative at the link below.
Academic Program Approvals
At its December Commission meeting, the HECC approved the following new academic programs. For details, see the public meeting materials here.
New community college programs:
- Clackamas Community College, Certificate of Completion (CC), Phlebotomy
New public university programs:
- University of Oregon: BA/BS in Child Behavioral Health
Interested in learning more about the program approval process? At the November public Commission meeting, Veronica Dujon, director of the Office of Academic Policy and Authorization, and Donna Lewelling, director of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, provided an overview on the approval processes.
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