Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC scores big in grant funding for key programs

Photos and story by James Hill

For several years now, the ROOTS program at the Sylvania Campus has helped at-risk students to succeed. Now, thanks to a $1.1 million federal TRIO grant, students at Cascade Campus will have the opportunity to participate in the program as well.

So far this summer, PCC has reaped more than $9.8 million in grant funding. All of the dollars are going to help train a better workforce and give students, who historically would have a tough time navigating college, a chance to succeed.

For example, the ROOTS program supports its students with a smorgasbord of services, such as individual academic and financial aid advising, dedicated tutoring sessions and peer mentoring at Cascade, 705 N. Killingsworth St. ROOTS students also receive training on how to sharpen their time management, organizational and study skills.

“We know that this type of wraparound approach to at-risk students is really effective,” said Linda Reisser, dean of student development at Cascade. “ROOTS students say they really appreciate the dedicated advising and financial aid staff support.”

The grant will support 140 students per year for the next five years, Reisser said. Part of that support includes three specially designed and mandatory College Success classes, which are offered tuition-free to program participants. The grant will fund three new positions: two academic advisers and a program director, all of whose services will be dedicated exclusively to ROOTS students. Once students have participated in the program for a year, Reisser added, they then serve as peer mentors for incoming first-year ROOTS students. But getting into the program can be a competitive proposition.

“We have about 10 times as many students who are eligible than can participate,” Reisser said. “I’m really excited about bringing the ROOTS program to Cascade. It will help a lot of students who really need it. It brings them a sense of pride.”

Dept. of Labor gives PCC $4.8 million to train 875 health care workers

The U.S. Department of Labor has announced PCC is getting $4.8 million in a Community‐Based Job Training Grant Award for the Healthcare Oregon Pathways to Employment Project (HOPE). The award, which will help train 875 health care workers, is part of $125 million in grants to 41 community colleges and organizations across the country. The grants aim to improve the ability of community colleges to train and prepare workers for employment in high growth and other emerging industries. They focus on providing services to workers who are unemployed or dislocated workers. Given the urgent need for Oregonians to get jobs, project partners will focus on training people and getting them into the workforce while providing skills that are gateways to other healthcare occupations.

$2.2 million for High School Equivalency Program at Rock Creek

PCC got $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Education to the Rock Creek Campus for a new High School Equivalency program. This five-year grant will help migrant and seasonal farm workers and members of their immediate family obtain a GED; and to gain employment, enter post secondary education or training, or join the military. One hundred students per year will be served.

Dental Hygiene secures $409,000 federal grant for restorative dental class

The Grants Office at PCC recently announced a grant award of $409,946 to PCC’s Dental Hygiene program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the ARRA Predoctoral Training program. This grant will add a restorative dental course series to the existing Dental Hygiene program. Oregon recently became one of several states to allow dental hygienists to provide restorative functions traditionally performed by dentists, such as fillings. Adding the restorative dental training will give PCC graduates a competitive edge for employment.