NEWS DIGEST - JUNE 26, 2015
Quotable
"I wanted to race cars. I didn't like school, and all I wanted to do was work on cars. But right before I graduated, I got into a really bad car accident, and I spent that summer in the hospital thinking about where I was heading. I decided to take education more seriously and go to a community college."
-- George Lucas
'Oregon Promise': $10 million
program to offer
almost-free community college tuition
DATEBOOK July 21-22, 2015 Board Training Oregon Garden, Silverton August 2-5, 2015 Oregon Presidents Council Retreat Clackamas November 4-6, 2015 OCCA Annual Conference Salishan Resort Gleneden Beach
to certain students
OCCA helps craft compromise to aid low-income students
Starting in fall 2016, certain high school graduates would be the first to attend community college for free under the new "Oregon Promise" program, under legislation that cleared a key budget hurdle this week.
Nobody knows yet what the impact of the Oregon approach might be, although it will be limited in scope by the $10 million price tag. Details still need to be worked out by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, including how to prioritize who gets the waivers and whether student fees will be included.
Senate Bill 81, sponsored by Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, emerged Thursday from the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education, setting the stage for quick passage by both the House and Senate.
The original draft of the bill included no money for low income students and could have become an unfunded mandate on colleges. However, OCCA worked to amend the bill to include a minimum $1000 grant to eligible students who may also receive the federal Pell Grant, and now the program is a grant program run through the Oregon Student Assistance Commission with no mandate on colleges.
To help mitigate costs, the state waiver program will be limited to students who graduate from high school or earn a GED within six months of starting community college.
The OCCA and Higher Education Coordinating Commission are neutral on the bill.
A student is eligible for a grant equivalent to the waived tuition costs under the bill if:
IN THIS ISSUE
Lawmakers advance Oregon Promise, to offer free community college to some students
Potential cuts to Pell Grants alarm national college advocates
New poll shows Americans value community college and university education similarly
Statewide meetings will seek feedback on workforce priorities
Education budget includes dedicated CTE money for higher education
Bill will steer $3 million to help underserved community college students
Legislation will reinstate community college financial data collection
OCCA announces communications changes
Upcoming hearings
Association member news of interest
1.
The courses taken by the student are required for completion of transfer requirements to another institution, an associates degree, or a CTE program;2.
The student is a resident of the state at least 12 months;3.
The student graduated from high school or earned a GED within six months;4.
The student earned a cumulative GPA of 2.5;5.
The student completed and submitted the FAFSA, the application for federal aid including Pell Grants;6.
The student has not already earned a degree or a certificate, or completed 90 hours of coursework.Students who receive the grants would need to pay $50 per term.
The grants will be prorated for part-time students.
Sen. Rod Monroe, the cochairman of the education budget panel, said he anticipates lawmakers will look again at the Oregon Promise concept in the 2016 session to see if any last-minute changes are needed before the program goes into effect for fall 2016.
Senate Bill 81 is advancing as a package with Senate Bill 413, which would help community colleges address advising and attempt to strengthen capacity to handle more students while also helping them to succeed and complete their studies. The
companion bill also creates a workgroup to consider the evolution of dual credit programs and to discuss student needs.
OCCA STAFF Andrea Henderson Executive Director [email protected] John Wykoff Legislative Director [email protected] Karen Smith General Counsel [email protected] Megan Jensen Deputy Director of Operations [email protected] James Sinks Communications Director [email protected] Elizabeth Cox-Brand Student Success and Assessment Director [email protected] Stephanie Bobb Office Manager/ Special Events [email protected] Katie Archambault Research and Communications Specialist [email protected]
Alarmed by proposed Pell
Grant reductions in Congress,
college advocates urge public
outcry
Letters drafted to oppose U.S. House and Senate actions
Both the U.S. House and Senate are currently moving forward with bills that would include significant cuts to the Pell Grant program. That threatens to undercut college affordability for needy families at a time when many states including Oregon are urging more students to seek federal financial aid.
Alarmed, the Association of Community College Trustees is urging community college advocates and board members across the country to send an avalanche of communications to Congress, asking members to change course.
In the Senate, the Fiscal Year 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations proposal includes numerous cuts to higher education, including a $300 million rescission of Pell Grant funding. The bill also reduces funding for SEOG, Federal Work Study, Adult Basic Education, grants under the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act, and Minority Serving Institutions.
The spending blueprint bill in the House does not propose the same scope of higher education cuts as the Senate version, but does include a $370 million cut to the Pell Grant program.
The ACCT says the plan would shave a current Pell Grant surplus, and would likely lead to a shortfall for the program in the 2017 fiscal year.
Because of angst over the potential impact to needy families who rely on Pell Grants for college access and affordability, national
college advocates are coordinating a letter campaign to members of both chambers of Congress.
• Letter to oppose the Senate's
bill: http://action.acct.org/18080/oppose-senates-labor-hhs-education-funding-bill/
• Letter to oppose the House's
bill: http://action.acct.org/18079/oppose-houses-labor-hhs-education-funding-bill/
Gallup poll: Community
college education is as
well-regarded as universities
Respondents had less favorable impressions of
online programs
A recent study by Gallup showed that Americans would rate the quality of education at a
two year community college and four year college about equally.
Adults sixty five and older even rated community colleges 6 percent higher. In addition, 50-64 year olds and people with some college also rated community colleges higher, but by a smaller margin.
The study also considered online programs, which were perceived as significantly lower in quality than both university and community college educations. Only 36 percent of people said online programs were good or excellent, and many people think they “lack in some key areas”.
Aside from a small gap in the postgraduate (9 percent) and 18-29 year old (12 percent) demographics, which regard four year colleges as slightly better, community colleges and four-year
schools were within a few points of each other.
“Though it may be harder to gain acceptance into and afford four year colleges and universities, Americans view the quality of education they provide as no better than that of community colleges,” the poll analysis says.
(This story by intern Elaine Black)
Education leaders,
employers invited to
workforce town halls across
Oregon this summer
Oregon Workforce Investment Board seeks feedback
The Oregon Workforce Investment Board is seeking feedback on the state’s vision and high level goals for the workforce system.
Significant changes have been made to federal and state workforce system in the past year, such as establishment of four new Local Workforce Investment Boards. In light of the changes, the state wants to develop a "broad, unifying vision and statewide goals for building a highly skilled and educated workforce to meet the needs of businesses."
A new strategic plan is under development to guide the public workforce system. It will rely on feedback gathered over the past year, but board members also will solicit additional local input and perspective in a series of community forums in July and August.
The meetings will be staged in partnership with local workforce boards, the state Employment Department, and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission – Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development.
The meeting dates and locations are:
July 8 – Eugene July 10 – Portland July 15 – Clackamas July 22 – Salem July 24 – Lincoln City July 27 – Medford July 28 – Bend July 30 – La Grande August 4 – Coos Bay
For more information, contact the Workforce Investment Board.
The budget-drafting Joint Ways and Means Committee approved the 2015-17 budget for the Higher Education Coordinating
Commission this week, which includes a $550 million appropriation to the Community College Support Fund.
Education budget includes
grant program to augment
career and technical programs
Additional funds targeted to higher education
level of state spending in 2015-17, got some additional budgetary good news this week.
The new budget for the state Department of Education includes a dedication of $2 million to help launch new career and
technical education programs higher education institutions, as part of an overall $35 million initiative to bolster CTE and Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) programs statewide.
The agency will decide how to allot the higher education grants, which will go to high-demand fields including health sciences, computer science, engineering, high-tech manufacturing, precision agriculture and advanced food processing.
As much as 10 percent of the funding can help pay for wraparound services to recruit and support students of color and women, according to budget documents prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Office.
The Department of Education budget is part of the final flurry of major budget bills being finalized as the session nearing its finale.
The package for Career and Technical Education and STEM programs includes regional STEM Hubs ($5 million), CTE Revitalization grants ($9 million), STEM innovation grants ($4.75 million), CTE summer programming ($1.75 million) and a career pathway fund ($8.75 million).
The budget also details a $7 million general fund appropriation, as provided in Senate Bill 418, for accelerated learning programs and to offset costs for Advanced Placement and other testing programs.
House Bill will steer $3
million to help underserved
community college students
Grants available to community colleges statewide
Legislators are advancing a grant program that is specifically targeted to help underserved, low income and first generation students at Oregon's community colleges.
The additional assistance will help community colleges statewide in their collective goals to be a ladder from poverty to the middle class.
House Bill 3063 appropriates $3 million from the state General Fund to the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, which is part of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, to increase enrollment of the targeted students and help them progress toward a degree or a certificate.
In addition to colleges, community college foundations also can seek and receive the grants.
Legislative analysts said the cost of administering the program is expected to be minimal and thus no additional state staffing will be needed.
The legislation was approved Thursday by the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. The only critique came from Rep. John Huffman, R-The Dalles, who supports the concept but characterized it as a piecemeal approach. He would like to see a comprehensive effort toward making college more accessible and affordable.
Public community colleges are a significant higher education value, as this graphic from the American Association of Community Colleges shows. Still, affordability is a challenge, with lower tuition
representing just one of the costs for students and families.
Gerald Hamilton Appointed
Interim President for Clatsop
Community College
Gerald Hamilton has been appointed as Clatsop Community College’s interim president for the next year, replacing President Lawrence Galizio, who has accepted a position at the Community College League of California. Hamilton has worked for many years in the education arena, including as president of Klamath Falls Community College from 2007 to 2012 and most recently as the interim executive director of the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development. Hamilton will begin his position at Clatsop on August 1.
Community colleges are Oregon's ladder to the middle class and family wage jobs. The OCCA's Basic
Information Guide offers a snapshot of trends,
demographics, opportunities and challenges at Oregon's 17 diverse community colleges. Download it here.
KEY UPCOMING HEARINGS AND WORK SESSIONS
(Note: These are the priority bills scheduled for action next week, as of today. Because the projected Sine Die is within a month,
Legislative leaders have announced that bills can be posted with an hour notice.)
MONDAY
Senate floor
SB 113B - Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to convene work group of stakeholders to determine most appropriate method for public universities and community colleges to report employment data for employees. Priority: 2
PRIORITY LEGISLATION FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES
mandates for public buildings
HB 3306 -- Related to apprenticeship in public construction HB 5005 -- Budget /Capital construction (state bonding) HB 5006 -- Budget / Capital construction (state bonding)
HB 5024 -- Budget / Higher Education Coordinating Commission SB 81 -- Requires tuition waiver for community colleges
SB 647 -- Appropriates $589 million to the community college support fund.
HB 2015-A -- Related to child care subsidies, eligibility and facility inspections
HB 2254 -- Sets limits on contracting with third-party financial aid management services providers
HB 2407-A -- Guarantees a second-year Opportunity Grant to first-year recipients
HB 2408-A -- Absorbs CCWD into the Higher Education Coordinating Commission
HB 2410-A -- Allows community colleges to grant certificates for completion of noncredit programs
HB 2416 -- Modifies exemptions from 60-month time limit on receipt of temporary assistance for needy families.
HB 2525-A -- Requires standards related to transferability of credits and acceptance of test scores
HB 2681 -- National standardized assessment to determine course placement at community college.
HB 2682 -- Relating to course transfers to public universities. HB 2766 -- Allows computer coding to satisfy second language requirements in community colleges
HB 2807 -- Faculty member employed by community college to teach incarcerated persons qualifies as police officer for PERS HB 2851 -- Limits state guaranty of local education bonds. HB 2953 -- Related to achievement compacts
HB 3063 -- Appropriates money for grants to serve low income and first generation students.
HB 3118 -- Reroutes K-12 funding if non-high school completers attend community college
HB 3126 -- Sets minimum standards for high school teachers to teach college classes
HB 3184 -- Relating to contracts for student financial aid services HB 3281 -- Prohibits tuition increase in 2015-17
HB 3306 -- Relating to apprenticeship and public contracting HB 3321 - Requires public contracting data to be posted on Oregon transparency website
HB 3322 - Requires contracting agency to conduct study concerning how procurement will affect local area
HB 3390 -- Relating to post-secondary education of inmates HB 3407 -- Relating to child care at community colleges
HB 3508 -- Changes eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits HB 3476 -- Establishes privilege in communications related to domestic violence, sexual assault programs
SB 84 -- Establishes statewide standards and funding mechanisms for accelerated college credit programs
SB 96 -- Allows withdrawal from health benefit plans offered by Oregon Educators Benefit Board
SB 113-A -- HECC workgroup would examine reporting of staffing ratios
SB 114 -- Evaluate methods for two-generation strategy to address poverty.
SB 215 -- Removes sunset on Oregon Education Investment Board.
SB 322 -- Establishes funding mechanism for fifth year high school programs.
SB 414 -- Permits employee to seek judicial review of procurement cost analysis or determination.
SB 470 -- Relating to unemployment insurance benefits for certain educational institution employees.
SB 473-A -- Related to student records and demographic sexual identity data at higher education institutions
SB 518 -- Study and potentially develop process for universities to award associate degrees
SB 519-A -- Directs community college districts to use uniform budget and accounting system
SB 529 -- Requires that 25 percent of Opportunity Grants be awarded to STEM students
SB 681 -- Allows Councils of Government to qualify for benefit coverage under public employee plans
SB 702 -- Specifies that hours of part time faculty are totaled for health care coverage consideration
SB 725 -- Appropriates money to community college CTE programs SB 932-A -- Extends eligibility for state financial aid to nonresident students under certain conditions
ASSOCIATION MEMBER NEWS OF INTEREST
Check out OCCA's Twitter feed or Facebook page for daily news and community college information links.
CENTRAL OREGON
A Community College at the Center of an Oregon Recovery Story (June 22, The Atlantic) http://t.co/vwV70XueGx
CENTRAL OREGON
Community college culinary institute hosts high school instructors (June 26, Bend Bulletin) http://t.co/1F3mayu2Xv
CLATSOP
Community college chooses interim leader (June 25, Daily Astorian) http://t.co/cbpoohxucp
CLATSOP
College expanding welding, computer science programs (June 22, Daily Astorian)
http://t.co/qYtS6PP9IB
COLUMBIA GORGE
Helping hunter safety: College to host preparedness training for bighorn tag holders (June 23, Statesman Journal)
http://t.co/MRRLXnCTF8
KLAMATH
Graduation helps highlight 'dual credit efforts' to help high schoolers earn community college credits (June 22, Herald &
News) http://t.co/g0NiJstiDC
LINN BENTON
Space exploration camp sends up rocket with help of instruments programmed at NASA (June 25, LBCC
News) http://t.co/LtDRyABWc3
TILLAMOOK BAY
Tech Trek camp helps get girls excited about STEM (June 26, Headlight Herald)
http://t.co/KBeAdcQ64s
TILLAMOOK BAY
Column: Graduating students put in hard work and got support from families and friends (June 25, Headlight Herald)
http://t.co/c2UCWny1C4
UMPQUA
Winemaker and inventor Scott Henry honored by Southern Oregon Wine Institute (July 1, Oregon Wine Press) http://t.co/bmOMD7bQe8
Oregon’s 17 community colleges are a vital part of the state’s education system and serve roughly 350,000 students a year, or about 1 in 11 Oregonians, from border-to-border.
The OCCA Digest updates members and the public about recent news affecting community colleges, and also efforts by the association to enhance student success and workforce development.
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