HECC News Clips, January 10, 2025

Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission sent this bulletin at 01/10/2025 03:42 PM PST

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NEWS CLIPS

JANUARY 10, 2025

Weekly postsecondary education and training news from the State of Oregon, Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC)

HECC Events and Resources

Resources for the 2025 Legislative Session

During each legislative session, the HECC presents to legislative committees and advises the Oregon Legislature and the Governor on topics of critical concern to Oregon postsecondary education and training. On our website legislative resources page here, you can stay informed on HECC legislative presentations, testimony, and documents in coming months.  This page will be updated throughout the 2025 Legislative Session.

Current and Future Students are Encouraged to Apply for Scholarships and Grants at OregonS tudentAid.gov

The HECC is encouraging all Oregonians pursuing postsecondary education in 2025-26 to apply for grants and scholarships through the state website OregonStudentAid.gov. In November, the HECC Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) officially opened the OSAC Scholarship Application where students can explore more than 600 scholarships. Students can apply to many awards at one time through the OSAC Scholarship Application, open now through March 3, 2025. Read more in our press release.

2024 Key Performance Measures

The HECC website now includes a summary of the HECC’s 2024 Key Performance Measures (KPMs), a set of 17 metrics focused on Oregon's strategic progress toward state higher education and workforce goals. The HECC’s KPMs include indicators related to accessing college for high school students, affordability, completion, and outcomes of postsecondary education and training. The HECC's measures feature disaggregated data by race/ethnicity to draw attention to the continued need for equity progress.

Call for Reviewers: 2025-2027 Oregon Conservation Corps Request for Applications

The HECC Office of Workforce Investments is calling for volunteers to serve as grant reviewers for the 2025-2027 Oregon Conservation Corps Request for Applications. This program provides grant funding to reduce the risk wildfires pose to communities and critical infrastructure, create fire-adapted communities, and engage youth and young adults in workforce training. The HECC seeks reviewers who have professional or lived experience related to natural resources, community engagement, or youth development programming to serve on review panel groups that are diverse and well-informed. Learn more and complete the review panelist interest form here.

OSAC Student Financial Aid Reminders - Learn More at OregonStudentAid.gov

The 2025-26 OSAC Scholarship Application opened November 1, 2024. Early-Bird deadline is February 18, 2025. Final deadline is March 3, 2025. Both deadlines are 11:59 PM (PT). Apply now.

2025-26 FAFSA and ORSAA: The 2025-26 FAFSA and the ORSAA are now open! Visit our FAFSA/ORSAA pages to learn how to prepare and apply.

Oregon Tribal Student Grant: The 2024-25 application for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant is still open. Both new and renewal students planning to attend college in the 2024-25 academic year can apply now.

Oregon Promise: Students who graduate between October 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 can apply for Oregon Promise. Find your deadline now.

Upcoming Public Meetings or Hearings

Public comment on agenda topics is welcomed at all public meetings. Sign up to receive notices by email here.

January 13, 2025,Transfer Council, Major Transfer Maps English Subcommittee
January 13, 2025, Transfer Council Common Course Numbering
General Education Subcommittee
January 14, 2025, Sexual Misconduct Survey Council Outreach Subcommittee
January 15, 2025, Sexual Misconduct Survey Council
Language Subcommittee
January 15, 2025, Workforce and Talent Development Board (WTDB) Public Meeting - Executive Meeting
January 16, 2025, Sexual Misconduct Survey Council Writing Subcommittee
January 16, 2025, Transfer Council Meeting
January 17, 2025, Transfer Council, Major Transfer Maps Communication Subcommittee
January 17, 2025, Transfer Council, Major Transfer Maps Psychology Subcommittee
January 17, 2025, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Hearing Chapter 589, Related to Community College Funding Distribution for Applied Baccalaureate Programs

Other HECC News

Subscribe to other HECC newsletters or update your subscription preferences here.

Employment Opportunities

Interested in working for the HECC? Subscribe to receive email notifications of HECC employment opportunities here. Learn more about job opportunities on our website here.

Grant and Contract Opportunities

For information on grant and contract opportunities with the HECC please visit Grant and Contract Opportunities here.

Recent News from across the Postsecondary Landscape

Equity and Student Success

A looming 'demographic cliff': Fewer college students and ultimately fewer graduates - January 10, 2025. NPR. By Jon Marcus. "Pickup trucks with trailers and cars with yawning trunks pulled up onto untended lawns in front..."

La junta escolar de Portland reafirmó protecciones para estudiantes inmigrantes antes de la presidencia de Trump (Portland school board reaffirmed protections for immigrant students before Trump presidency) - January 9, 2025. The Oregonian/OregonLive. By Julia Silverman. "The Portland school board voted 7-0 on Tuesday to..."

MHCC opens doors to new Equity and Community Resource Center- January 7, 2025. The Outlook. By Christopher Keizur. "A new space at Mt. Hood Community College is all about uplifting students — fostering new partnerships with..."

Discover your path to a four-year degree at Oregon Transfer Days - January 6, 2025. Lincoln County Leader. "Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) invites students and their families to explore exciting transfer opportunities at “Oregon Transfer Days” from..."

Affordability

No articles at this time. Reminder: The 2025-26 FAFSA and ORSAA are now open!

Learner Pathways, Economic and Community Development

BMCC to expand health care career options in Eastern Oregon- January 9, 2025. East Oregonian. By Northeast Oregon Now. "Blue Mountain Community College has received a state Future Ready Oregon grant to help..."

College nursing program receives grant to strengthen career readiness- January 8, 2025. The Seattle Times. By Olivia Palmer. "Clatsop Community College is putting $100,000 toward its recently expanded nursing program with the help of a new grant..."

Oregon Department of Education announces new state grants for summer food programs - January 8, 2025. Wilsonville Spokesman. By Mac Larsen. "During summer vacation, community organizations around Oregon host summer..."

COCC's veterinary tech program potentially doubling in 2025 - January 7, 2025. The Bulletin. By Noemi Arrellano-Summer. "Over the past few years, veterinary clinics in Central Oregon have asked the vet technician program at Central Oregon Community College to expand..."

Bushnell University receives $500k to recruit, train nurses amid Lane County shortage - January 7, 2025. NBC16.com. By News Staff. "More money is coming to Lane County to help address the nursing shortage - half a million dollars, to be exact..."

UCC launches first apprenticeship for surgical technologist- January 6, 2025. The News-Review. By Gloria Coleman. "Winchester, a partnership of Umpqua Community College and Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board should net..."

Klamath dam removal workshop at SOU fosters collaboration - January 6, 2025. SOUnews. "Southern Oregon University recently hosted the Klamath Dam Removal Research Collaboration Workshop, a follow-up seminar for the numerous groups..."

Colton Corner: Career info fair offered insights into student's futures - December 28, 2024. Molalla Pioneer. By Cindy Fama. "A Job and Career Information Fair was held at Colton High School on Thursday, Dec. 18, featuring representatives from 24 businesses..."

Leadership, Funding, and Policy

COCC sets series of community ‘meet and greet’ events for three presidential finalists - January 8, 2025. KTVZ.com. By KTVZ news sources. "Following the recent announcement that the Central Oregon Community College Board of Directors.."

Higher Ed’s Grim New Normal- January 6, 2025. The Chronicle of Higher Education. By Jeffrey J. Selingo. "March will mark the fifth anniversary of when college campuses — and nearly everything else in our lives — shut down because of the onset..."

Oregon Department of Education now taking nominations for 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year- January 9, 2025. Lake Oswego Review. By Mac Larsen. "Nominations for the 2025-26 Oregon Teacher of the Year are open now through Thursday, Feb. 6..."

MHCC President Dr. Lisa Skari Honored With Prestigious Howard Cherry Award - January 3, 2025. Mountain Times Oregon. By MHCC. "Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) President Dr. Lisa Skari was honored with the Howard Cherry."

18 colleges receive funding in latest round of SCCT grants - January 3, 2025. Community College Daily. By Daily Staff. "Eighteen community colleges will share $65 million through the fifth round of the U.S. Department of Labor’s..."

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 partners. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information available via these links.