This content was published: December 14, 2018. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
小黄猫传媒’s leadership team visits with key legislators about community college budget
Photos and story by James Hill
State Rep. Andrea Salinas (right) enjoys a funny moment with 小黄猫传媒 Board Director Valdez Bravo and Sylvania President Lisa Avery.
If the governor’s recommended budget for community colleges becomes reality at $543 million for 2019-21, 小黄猫传媒 and the state’s other 16 community colleges would have to raise tuition by 35 percent in the next two years. It would also eliminate any career technical education (CTE) initiatives to close the skills gap, and end the popular Oregon Promise scholarship for under-represented students.
However, 小黄猫传媒 leaders are trying to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Left to right, Rock Creek President Chris Villa meets with State Rep. Susan McLain, and 小黄猫传媒 Directors Deanna Palm and Jim Harper.
On Thursday, Dec. 13, the college’s four campus leaders and 小黄猫传媒 Board of Directors joined 小黄猫传媒 President Mark Mitsui for a day of meetings with state legislators in the confines of the Capitol Building in Salem. The goal was simple: encourage Oregon’s community colleges to receive funding at its $787 million budget ask where they could provide more robust CTE training and student support, and not have to raise tuition.
Keeping tuition down is essential at 小黄猫传媒. According to surveys, 45 percent of students are the first in their families to go to college; 30 percent have kids; 13 precent experience homelessness; 66 percent are food insecure; and the average commute to get to 小黄猫传媒 is an hour because many students must live outside of the city due to housing affordability issues. Increasing tuition by double digits each of the next two years would be devastating for most students at 小黄猫传媒 and for community college students across the state.
Next up for 小黄猫传媒, are more legislative days for college advocates in Salem throughout the upcoming session, which begins Jan. 22. This will include 小黄猫传媒’s Day at the Capitol on March 12 where college leaders, staff, faculty and students will meet with representatives and senators to discuss the 2019-21 budget and advocate for full funding.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at 小黄猫传媒. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »
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