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State community college director shares insights
Photos and story by Dana Haynes
Camille Preus, statewide commissioner of the Oregon Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, addressed the Portland Community College Board of Directors on Thursday, June 16, regarding trends in Oregon’s higher education scene.
Preus – whose office falls under the penumbra of Gov. John Kitzhaber’s executive branch – told the board that community college enrollments statewide grew again last year, serving more than 380,000 students. That is the seventh straight year of enrollment gains.
Meanwhile, state support for community colleges continues to plummet and has reached a level last scene in the 2003-05 biennium.
State funding for the 17 independent community colleges hit $500 million at the end of the 2007-09 biennium. That fell to $450 million the following year and $417 million currently.
The Legislature is expected to pass the Community College Support Fund early next week at a level of $410 million.
That means state support for community college students has dropped from a high of $2,778 per student in 2007-09, to $1,559 per student in the proposed budget.
“Obviously, this has an impact on the colleges’ ability to serve these students,” Preus said.
More information on the Oregon Legislature and PCC can be found at www.pcc.edu/about/Legislature
About Dana Haynes
Dana Haynes, joined PCC in 2007 as the manager of the Office of Public Affairs, directing the college's media and government relations. Haynes spent the previous 20 years as a reporter, columnist and editor for Oregon newspapers, including ... more »