[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6371632,"mediaKeyId","2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b","parentId",2149431,"title","HECC outlines statewide coordinating role, $4.1 billion biennial budget and Future Ready Oregon progress","audioSeconds",719,"startMs",99000,"endMs",818000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b&start=99&end=818","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b/thumbnail_99000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6371632/Oregon/HECC-outlines-statewide-coordinating-role-41-billion-biennial-budget-and-Future-Ready-Oregon-progress","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371632-979742e7ec04f412dd48faa18fbe87c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159021&Signature=GV9diJ60Qkl8mrM7BNo~W5vI0yMmacY3fi10cRqopuJS2pyE209hLjU3laNDSkCRR3nOYEzNZPbmefbtRzI3l9X73LpK5~bTw56b6zXjNo7Ip2JQIhv7tmNNokGe-nmpDRjUwB35y9x0svw2i1Gz4tJni-jbUGcivKTA9mD9aXcVRv4Aa0LpQmD0IyOMmNHgxaxM4SXAh7pY8nrg~qoGulGPrhWX0LMc96aSe0kKcD0s6Y-kEX4B-TXVbZHKc3w6rd5ZRN8Qi2WeMvDwvZHJvn-qNxLa3zppfCfiLlT4nsfGVp0C612xdz4BWWNtA9N8yjn5PGJsD386WXIBsWlc4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Ben Cannon, executive director of Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission, told the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on Jan. 23 that the commission serves as the state’s coordinating board for postsecondary education and workforce development and administers the bulk of the state’s higher education budget.

“We are the statewide, coordinating board, governor appointed, senate confirmed,” Cannon said. “We administer the state budget for higher education and workforce. That’s approximately a $4,100,000,000 budget during the current 2023–25 biennium.”

The commission’s duties, Cannon said, include setting a strategic vision, advising state leaders, establishing funding distribution methodologies for community colleges and public universities, administering state financial aid and workforce programs, and collecting data and analysis for the legislature. He told the committee the commission uses a broad definition of “higher education” that includes two‑ and four‑year degrees, certificates, private career schools and apprenticeship work‑based learning coordinated with the Bureau of Labor and Industries.

Why it matters: The HECC’s role affects how state dollars flow to 17 community colleges, seven public universities and private degree‑granting institutions. Cannon said the commission measures progress against longstanding state goals — the “40–40–20” attainment goal and a more recent target to see 300,000 additional adults earn a postsecondary credential by 2030 — and that the agency’s strategic plan is organized around five goals to improve value and outcomes for learners and taxpayers.

Cannon described student demographics that shape policy choices: community college students average about 26 years old, many are part‑time and working, and only a small share of learners attend full time. “This slide suggests that only 8% of the students whom we are counting within our education and postsecondary education system are attending full time,” he said, and he pointed the committee to statewide data on food and housing insecurity among postsecondary learners.

During questions, Cannon described the commission’s role in Future Ready Oregon, a statewide workforce and education initiative. He said HECC administers most Future Ready funds and reporting across partner agencies, that the initiative was a roughly $200,000,000 investment and that HECC has committed most of those dollars through grants for industry‑led training pathways in fields such as health care, manufacturing and technology. “Those dollars have brought thousands of new Oregonians into the workforce,” Cannon said, and he cited credit‑for‑prior‑learning strategies as one example of an approach to accelerate credential completion for adult learners.

Cannon also addressed governance history and the HECC’s creation: the state moved from a single state‑run university board to devolved governing boards for the seven public universities between about 2011 and 2015 and consolidated several previously separate agencies’ functions into the coordinating commission.

On federal funding, Cannon said HECC administers relatively little federal higher education funding directly; he identified U.S. Department of Labor grants for workforce training as the agency’s largest federal funding source but said more than 90% of the HECC’s budget is state money. He recommended committee follow‑ups to examine financials and specific programs in greater detail.

The committee concluded the informational hearing with staff noting upcoming briefings: an introduction from Oregon Health & Science University, an overview of higher education labor organizations, and a presentation on student basic needs scheduled for the next meeting.

Ending: Committee members requested additional briefings on topics Cannon mentioned, including apprenticeships, demographic projections, and a fuller report on Future Ready Oregon outcomes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Higher Education and Workforce Development 01/23/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ben Cannon, executive director of Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission, told the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on Jan. 23 that the commission serves as the state’s coordinating board for postsecondary education and workforce development and administers the bulk of the state’s higher education budget.","taxTitle","Higher Education, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",18022,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371619,"Independent nonprofit colleges describe economic contribution, student financial aid and reliance on state opportunity grants",448,4380000,4828000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b&start=4380&end=4828","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b/thumbnail_4380000.jpg","/articles/6371619/Oregon/Independent-nonprofit-colleges-describe-economic-contribution-student-financial-aid-and-reliance-on-state-opportunity-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371619-5ecfb79c060cb2133ae9a6060774b940/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159021&Signature=Qo~50J37Du8Yi3vJpPB9lVwrLLRtshA556kFiJbXqBbFtjJYa-uphWy4L8ZNy2HvrgPJ0-4nqsWMusgNi6xWvbZTnu7mF2w75OKbQIcDFnlLOGlXpdXWpbCf-apCQfvJny-HZd~pEi7nvl1A~HNlIJah~w2IlXTyHgIEnhHRXn7jAeh4sUfstdTvK6o9REsXwiOCDQ-ganLN5RQUeqP7z38XloB~vrxHjsitjjle~ep6rEL4IWuuKXqWrf~zOnZmjioXIuilCX8sjbsFNH256Jumwo1ei6WrqEL-ja2c2ukwb7ybUR~BZxRlBI8MWHjsIDAHL0J97Jwb4PuQjrQy6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Robin Holmes Sullivan, president of Lewis & Clark College and a representative of the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities, told the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development that the state’s independent nonprofit institutions enroll about 23,000 students and provide substantial institutional grant aid.

“We are honored to speak with you today on behalf of Oregon's independent nonprofit higher education institutions,” Holmes Sullivan said, and she thanked the legislature for a $100,000,000 increase to the Oregon Opportunity Grant in 2023, which she said directly benefits students who attend alliance member colleges.

Holmes Sullivan said the alliance’s 11 member institutions include liberal arts colleges, faith‑based universities and professional schools, and that those institutions collectively confer many high‑demand degrees in fields such as health care, education, engineering and technology. She said the sector contributes to Oregon’s economy through jobs, research partnerships and alumni earnings.

Holmes Sullivan described institutional financial aid as a major driver of affordability at independent colleges: alliance institutions provide significant grant aid on average and many students receive a combination of institutional and public financial aid that reduces out‑of‑pocket costs. She said roughly 47% of enrolled students at alliance institutions are Oregon residents, more than 40% identify as students of color and a substantial share are first‑generation college students.

Ending: The alliance representative asked the committee to consider independent colleges as partners in workforce development and student access and encouraged continued support for state grant programs that supplement institutional aid.

","The Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities told the House committee that 11 independent nonprofit institutions serve about 23,000 students, provide substantial institutional grant aid and contribute billions annually to Oregon’s economy; the alliance thanked the legislature for a 2023 increase in the Oregon Opportunity Grant.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371624,"Public universities urge state investment; student speakers say funding widened access",484,3174000,3658000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b&start=3174&end=3658","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b/thumbnail_3174000.jpg","/articles/6371624/Oregon/Public-universities-urge-state-investment-student-speakers-say-funding-widened-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371624-66aded8281adb0a1657e599c53972250/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159021&Signature=Idkpg2Q2FBn-trfuCzUt16TwYMMzib0D4ovdr8AaDmuU2BPz~mwKAN2Gt2JeqR7DqHSXeKEfMRafy6YT3pBi9lrV8YQP52UhNjnJNF6mjAdygNel8B-ff0Pgrk0sgZukQ71br3s87oUW60QazndIMmxCL-zLRnRMUN20hqbdcXj1zUgrWlG9x0HK84kboMhDPfZm07iErvklH8rV3hFFfiJMrQad7GroBL~y3-bPtVaWSXuF1FsYHsATTq8urIEb-xxeVjcWGDQ2GBnzueCjX9LpSQDYlkeskQs5~LGymUi2-nedGN3~pjMS1sQDvUJqFss92R23XhnlDnUky579xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly Ryan, president of Eastern Oregon University, told the House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee that Oregon’s seven public universities educate about 100,000 undergraduate and graduate students and play roles beyond instruction, including research, community partnerships and workforce development.

“Oregon is home to seven public universities,” Ryan said. “Each with unique strengths, missions, and communities that reflect the very diverse needs of our state.”

Ryan and other university representatives told the committee that Oregon funds its public universities at levels below the national average, which shifts costs onto students and can push talent out of state. She cited statistics describing higher lifetime earnings for adults with bachelor’s degrees and framed state investment in universities as an economic development priority.

A student example: Zoe Alexander, a senior at the University of Oregon, told the committee she is a first‑generation college student whose path to higher education depended on state and university funding and financial aid. “Without it, I would not have been able to make the most of my college experience,” Alexander said, describing study abroad, tutoring and internships that she said were made possible by state support.

Ryan said federal Pell Grants are critical for many students and that universities await federal guidance about a recent executive order addressing campus diversity programs before proposing local policy changes. She noted that her own institution’s student population includes a substantial share of Pell‑eligible students and that federal compliance requirements are strict.

Other university leaders emphasized regional missions and tight budgets at smaller, regional campuses. One president said rising enrollments did not remove the need for state funding after his university made $5 million in budget cuts while trying to maintain operations.

Ending: University representatives urged the legislature to consider targeted investments to keep tuition affordable, support student services and sustain research and workforce programs that benefit Oregon communities.","Representatives of Oregon’s seven public universities told the committee that underinvestment shifts costs to students, hampers statewide workforce goals and may contribute to student migration out of state; a University of Oregon student described how state aid and university support made her degree possible.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6371628,"Community colleges report enrollment rebound, rising career‑technical demand and a $120 million shortfall to maintain services",1181,1594000,2775000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b&start=1594&end=2775","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2149431-609a65e6a0decafffc4ae19c733e738b/thumbnail_1594000.jpg","/articles/6371628/Oregon/Community-colleges-report-enrollment-rebound-rising-careertechnical-demand-and-a-120-million-shortfall-to-maintain-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6371628-bb1f8a5ef6c5b177144b6d9d64b701d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159021&Signature=dy9BohdrcDHv4sROPzs527pybfue~0k7RWM0c50z-cGvfQc33s6GjTOlmphaU1XxFlBZZzoZeuEFCe1a2sz1Ws~2yHm-TUr~yfhTNyXZy8a9scHy5QVQQuxHmeSnP0hmA02Tp4TI6ucwswUyBJ3WPe~o-y4Uv7DwvI0-sHLoKXVDQdiuehdAJEpp9E9BRvGLTlXqFcXPr09b1oHfht4AiyeOlXmM7kGUHUC0E~VEgP9C2GWnNsr3mIGYAFOeLqjPV85cLdxKyW4LKyME3RUvfUetE4Kpac~OGJqZNx13xyAHEf3qCsnBi-qLEf4Y16Dqe03221IMKCx7Mdu049vNXw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John Wyckoff, deputy director of the Oregon Community College Association, told the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development on Jan. 23 that community colleges are seeing an enrollment rebound and growing demand for career and technical education programs but face funding pressures.

“We're in every county of the state,” Wyckoff said. “Currently, our headcount is about, is almost 200 and, a little over 200,000. It was up, headcount was up 4% in 2023–24. FTE has increased over this last year 7%.”

Wyckoff said community colleges’ enrollment gains since the pandemic are concentrated in short‑term career and technical education (CTE) certificates — programs he described as directly tied to local labor demand and family‑wage jobs. He said CTE enrollment has roughly doubled over the past decade and cited nursing and other CTE programs as among the costliest to operate because of equipment, simulators and clinical requirements.

The community college system, Wyckoff said, serves a predominantly part‑time, older student population. He told the committee that roughly 3% of community college students were full time while 59% were part time, and that only a small share of system students attend full time overall. Wyckoff also emphasized widespread food and housing insecurity among community college students and described Benefits Navigators — positions that help students connect to public benefits — as an important tool whose funding was removed from the governor’s recommended budget. “That was 10,000,000 for that that is that was zeroed out in the budget,” he said.

On state funding, Wyckoff said the Community College Support Fund (the primary state appropriation for the colleges) was $800,000,000 for the current biennium and estimated the system needs about $120,000,000 (roughly a 15% increase) to maintain current services without tuition increases. He warned that absent state investment the system’s options are limited to cutting programs or raising tuition, which he said would disproportionately affect students.

Wyckoff described applied baccalaureate programs as an emerging strategy: the legislature recently authorized community colleges to offer certain bachelor’s degrees in applied fields. He said six colleges had formed a consortium to offer a shared Bachelor of Science in Nursing so students around the state can complete a BSN without relocating.

Student perspective: Ryan Vaughn, a second‑year student at Portland Community College, told the committee that the Oregon Promise grant and PCC itself made college affordable and helped him explore majors and serve in student government. “Portland Community College and the Oregon Promise Grant gave me the foot in the door for higher education,” Vaughn said.

Ending: Wyckoff asked the committee to consider increased investment to sustain services and expand capacity for high‑demand programs; committee members thanked him and the student speaker and moved to the next informational presenters.

","Oregon community college leaders told the House higher education committee that headcount and full‑time equivalent enrollment rose in 2023–24, that career and technical education and short certificates are driving growth, and that the system needs about $120 million more to maintain current services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

HECC outlines statewide coordinating role, $4.1 billion biennial budget and Future Ready Oregon progress

Independent nonprofit colleges describe economic contribution, student financial aid and reliance on state opportunity grants

Public universities urge state investment; student speakers say funding widened access

Community colleges report enrollment rebound, rising career‑technical demand and a $120 million shortfall to maintain services