Budget Presentations and Convenings Center the Needs of Students and Learners
Message from Executive Director Ben Cannon
As we near the end of the 2021-23 biennium for the state budget, HECC continues to advocate with legislators for investments and polices that will improve higher education and workforce opportunity for Oregonians. Special thanks to all who testified or collaborated with us on presentations we made last month to the Legislature’s Ways and Means Education Subcommittee. There, we provided an in-depth analysis of the profound impact of programs supported by state's higher education and workforce investment. We released a 101 report on the state of Oregon postsecondary education and training last month, a data-rich report drawn from the budget presentations HECC led in April.
We remain focused on the priorities in Governor Kotek's recommended budget, and I am hopeful that the recent economic forecast will permit new investments in Oregon institutions and learners. Specifically, we are advocating for a $100 million increase in the Oregon Opportunity Grant to create more equitable access to public and private colleges at Oregon for low and middle-income students. Similarly, we support sustaining the historic investment that the Legislature made last year in the Oregon Tribal Student Grant through an additional appropriation for 2023-25. We also support sustained investment in the key institution support funds (PUSF and CCSF) at our 24 public institutions to keep tuition increases manageable, and reauthorization of federal funding for the Future Ready Oregon package that is focused on connecting Oregonians from priority populations with training for good-paying careers.
I'm proud to share that HECC recently convened a Tribal Student Support Network meeting, where HECC staff, education leaders from the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon, and institutional education leaders came together to identify ways to better work together to support postsecondary education and workforce pathways for tribal students in Oregon. It was an inspiring, informative, and critically important conversation, and we hope it is one of many annual events to deepen our work with the sovereign tribes of Oregon to better serve students of today and the future. Thank you to all the tribal leaders and institution partners who joined us.
Another major area of focus for the HECC has been the careful consensus-building and equity analysis that has gone into the final stage of our review of the community college funding model. We are thankful for all the input we have received over the last year, and we look forward to the Commission's review of the proposed administrative rules at our June 8 Commission meeting.
Thanks as always for your engagement.
HECC Recognizes High-Performing High Schools for Students Completing Financial Aid Applications
We are pleased to share data recently released by HECC’s Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) that highlights Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) completion rates by high school, including a ranked list of high-performing schools. Completing a FAFSA or ORSAA is a critical first step in accessing state financial aid that can be used to support a variety of postsecondary pathways including attending colleges and universities as well as pursuing trade or technical programs at Oregon community colleges.
The list of high-performing schools as of May 1, 2023 is broken down by high-performing large schools (those schools with 100 or more seniors and have a FAFSA/ORSAA completion rate of 60 percent or higher) and high-performing small schools (those schools with 99 or fewer seniors and a FAFSA/ORSAA rate of 70 percent or higher).
The high-performing large schools are:
| Ashland High 78.9%
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Lincoln High 64.6%
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| Ida B. Wells-Barnett 75.0%
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Benson Polytechnic High 63.6%
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| Grant High 70.4%
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West Linn High 62.8%
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| Cleveland High 68.1%
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Parkrose High 62.1%
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| Franklin High 67.6%
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Tualatin High 61.7%
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| Lakeridge High 66.5%
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Summit High 60.7%
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| South Eugene High 65.7%
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Hood River Valley High 60.2%
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| Lake Oswego Sr High 65.2%
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Sherwood High 60.2%
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The high-performing small schools are:
| Early College High 94.1%
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Academy for Character Education 75.0%
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| St Paul High 92.0%
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Days Creek Charter School 75.0%
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| Marshall High 87.5%
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Myrtle Point High 75.0%
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| International School of Beaverton 83.8%
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Joseph Charter 70.0%
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| Metropolitan Learning Ctr 80.0%
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Riddle High 70.0%
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| Lost River High 77.4%
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OSAC has a variety of resources and tools to help schools improve their FAFSA/ORSAA completion rates including the State of Oregon’s FAFSA/ORSAA completion campaign- College Goal Oregon. As seniors begin to finalize their plans for life after high school, now is the time to submit a FAFSA or ORSAA to access money for college. More information about OSAC’s FAFSA/ORSAA completion support can be found at www.oregonstudentaid.gov.
Oregon's Current Investment in Open Educational Resources (OER) is Paying Off for Thousands of Students
Oregon’s statewide investment in textbook affordability has a measurable impact that is making higher education more affordable, as detailed in a new report on Open Educational Resources recently approved by the HECC and submitted to the Oregon Legislature. Among other findings, the report shows that according to initial data the current OER grant cohort supports 48 projects at 25 institutions for a total cost of $479,017. At the time of the report, 5,537 students were estimated to have saved $815,083 as a result of this funding, approximately $1.70 in student savings per $1 spent, and these impact numbers will grow when the reporting period is complete. Student savings are expected to increase to approximately $2 million by the end of the biennium.
One of numerous state strategies to support affordability, Oregon has for several biennia funded activities to promote textbook affordability for community college and university students, and to support widespread adoption of open, low-cost, high-quality materials. The activities financially supported by the OER investment are currently led through Open Oregon Educational Resources.
At the May 2023 Commission meeting, the HECC approved the Report to the Oregon Legislature: Open Educational Resources Grants and Program Support after a presentation by Amy Hofer, statewide Open Education Program director and Shalee Hodgson, HECC policy advisor. The report details the program status, money saved by students now and into the future, and provides an evaluation of barriers preventing further adoption of OER materials. In addition, the report includes appendices detailing institutional impact, and current and past grant awards to Oregon public institutions. This analysis of the program is required every two years by ORS 348.756.
Opinion: Aligning Math from K-12 Through College and Beyond
Reprinted from the May issue of the Transfer Hub newsletter. By Daniel Anderson, University and Academic Policy Specialist (HECC), Mark Freed, Education Specialist—Math Education (Oregon Department of Education [ODE]), and Kama Almasi, Education Program Specialist (ODE). Subscribe to the Transfer Hub here.
For the past decade, Oregon educators have been reimagining math pathway options that clearly connect student needs and interests to math instruction, and K-12 curricula to higher education math classes. Now, this equity-driven thought-work is becoming a reality. To support it, The Oregon Math Project is engaged in an exciting collaborative opportunity to connect with other states working on math pathways through the Dana Center Launch Years Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to support the scaling of mathematics pathways from high school through postsecondary education and into the workplace, aligned to students’ goals and aspirations. Participation in the Launch Years Initiative is an opportunity for Oregon to share our work and learn from twenty other states working on math pathway options.
To prepare our students for 21st century careers, our system of math education must respond to meet the educational and career needs and aspirations of all students. Every student should have math course options that align with their educational goals and career aspirations. This includes students of color and students experiencing poverty who have been traditionally underserved by our education systems. Reimagining 21st-century systems for math includes both new course options and attending to instructional approach that ensures all students not only succeed but have a deep, long-lasting, and applicable understanding of the concepts they are learning.
U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Oregon Youth Corps Build Trails and Community with Tribal Youth Programs
Article drawn from a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) press release available here by Maya Fuller, Bureau of Land Management, State Youth Program Lead, Oregon State Office
On a cloudy Saturday morning in early May, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oregon State Office staff met with partners from Oregon Youth Corps, a program within the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) and AntFarm Youth Services to join a youth crew from Chemawa Indian School on a trail maintenance project and learn from them first-hand about the results coming out of the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) initiative.
The BLM and the State of Oregon HECC are collaborating through the Western Oregon Tribal Youth Cooperative Agreement. The goal? To increase access for underserved youth in workforce experiences.
The BLM provided $45,000 and the Oregon Youth Corps/HECC matched it with another $55,000 to offer a total of $100,000 to hire Native youth to conduct conservation projects that are beneficial to both BLM and tribes.
The trail maintenance project took place at Hardy Creek Trailhead, which is part of the Molalla River Trail System. There were 23 students from Chemawa Indian School and one young adult leader from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs participating, thanks to a partnership with the AntFarm Youth Services, a hands-on training program teaching youth basic employment skills while being paid to do community-focused stewardship work...
Applying for a Workforce Ready Grant? Technical Assistance Providers Are Available to Help
Calling community-based organizations and workforce service providers: the application deadline for Workforce Ready Grants, Round Two: Innovation in Workforce Programs is just four weeks away on Friday, June 23, 2023. Full details—in English and Spanish—can be found on the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) Grants and Contracts webpage.
Interested in receiving coaching and technical assistance throughout the application process? All potential applicants are invited to consult our Technical Assistance Providers. To take advantage of this free resource, see the Technical Assistance Provider Biographies on the HECC Grants and Contracts webpage and call or email your preferred provider using the contact information listed under their biography. Future Ready Oregon has also offered a series of Information Sessions for prospective applicants. Recordings of these sessions are available on the Grants and Contracts webpage.
Student Grant Applications Now Open
Application Open for Oregon Tribal Student Grant for 2023-24
The Oregon Tribal Student Grant application is now open for the 2023-24 school year, with a priority deadline of August 1, 2023 for students planning to attend this fall. The Oregon Tribal Student Grant provides funding for eligible Oregon tribal students to offset the cost of attendance at eligible Oregon colleges and universities. Current, new and continuing students who are members of Oregon's nine federally recognized tribes are encouraged to apply for the 2023-24 academic year. Program funding for 2023-2025 will be determined by the Oregon Legislature. Additional details including information on eligibility and how to apply are on our website: https://oregonstudentaid.gov/grants/oregon-tribal-student-grant/
Oregon Promise Grant Deadlines for 2023-24
Oregon Promise Grant awarding began April 19 to new students (Class of 2023) who will begin college in fall 2023. There is no EFC limit for the Class of 2023 to be considered for Oregon Promise. Regardless of income, all students must apply by their deadline to be considered for the grant. Most students must apply by June 1. All students only have one opportunity to apply for Oregon Promise, based on their graduation date.
Please read the following Fact Sheets regarding Oregon Promise 2023-24:
Current college students who are receiving the Oregon Promise Grant must submit their 2023-24 FAFSA or ORSAA by June 1 and list at least one Oregon community college – no additional application required. To be considered for renewal, students must meet all renewal requirements.
Statewide Computer Science Implementation Plan Engagement Sessions
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) are hosting three engagement sessions to share preliminary recommendations under consideration for inclusion in the Statewide Computer Science Implementation Plan. The purpose of these sessions is to provide an opportunity for feedback while the plan is in draft form, prior to its expected release in September 2023. Students, families, educators, community members, industry professionals, and anyone with an interest in computer science education in Oregon are encouraged to attend!
Please register for one of the following sessions that works best for you:
Sessions are expected to last 60-75 minutes. Engagement sessions will be held virtually via Zoom and include live captioning and ASL Interpreters; please email ode.csinitiative@ode.oregon.gov to make this request.
If you have questions regarding the Computer Science Initiative please email ode.csinitiative@ode.oregon.gov or visit the CS Initiative website.
Volunteers Needed to Review Applications for Workforce Ready Grants, Round Two
With the due date of June 23, 2023 for the second round of Workforce Ready Grants approaching, the HECC is calling for volunteers to join the Evaluation Review Committee. This committee will score eligible applications using criteria established in the Request for Applications (RFA). Scores will inform funding and award decisions for Workforce Ready Grants, Round Two. Evaluation Review Committee members will receive training and written instructions prior to starting the review process. Before volunteering, please consider the guidelines detailed here on the date range, time commitment, training/orientation, method of evaluation, and conflicts of interest. Interested in volunteering? Submit a volunteer interest form by June 30th. Any questions should be directed to: FutureReadyOregon@hecc.oregon.gov
Academic Program Approvals
At its April and May Commission meetings, the HECC approved the following new academic programs at Oregon's colleges and universities. Read more about these programs in the April 13 and May 11 meeting materials here.
Community College New Programs:
- Clackamas Community College: Emergency Medical Technology One-Year Certificate (CC1); Part Time Welding Certificate of Completion (CC)
- Columbia Gorge Community College: Medical Assisting, CC; Professional Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems, CC
- Lane Community College: CNC Machining and Inspection AAS; Energy Management with Building Controls Technology AAS; Front Office Support Specialist CC
- Linn Benton Community College: AAS Surgical Technology, AAS; CAD Mechanical and Prototyping – One Year Certificate (CC1); CAD Tech AEC (Architectural-Engineering-Civil) CC1; Computer Aided Drafting and Design AAS
- Rogue Community College: Human Services, AAS; Addiction Studies CC
- Southwestern Oregon Community College: Human Services AAS
- Tillamook Bay Community College: Nursing AAS
New Programs at Universities:
- Southern Oregon University: BA/BS Human Services; BFA Digital Cinema Production Arts; BA/BS Power and Politics, BA/BS Media Innovation
- University of Oregon: BA/BS in Popular Music; BS in Cybersecurity
- Western Oregon University: BA Ethnic Studies
In addition, the Commission approved Lane Community College's proposal for the Applied Business Management BAS to move to Phase Three of the approval process for applied baccalaureate programs.
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