Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC federal monitoring and resources

The new Administration has issued several executive orders, memos and actions that may have an impact on higher education. The college is closely monitoring all developments related to these, particularly those that may affect students and the college.  The implications of many of these measures is still unclear, however Portland Community College is committed to keeping our communities informed and prepared to respond to any changes.

We understand that uncertainty in federal policy can create uneasiness.  Students and community remain our top priority, and we will do everything necessary to navigate these times while staying steadfast in our mission and maintaining the high-quality education and support services PCC is known for.

PCC will post information and resources to this page to help support and inform our community.

Areas of federal monitoring

• The White House’s Office of Management and Budget issued a memo ordering a temporary halt to “all federal financial assistance”.  There has been a suspension of this Federal Funding Freeze due to legal challenges and currently all Federal grant and contract funded services should be continued unless PCC is otherwise notified. 
• An Executive Order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” issued by the Trump Administration mandates that federal contracts or grants will be audited and must include language that requires recipients to certify they do not run DEIA programming or they may be rescinded. At this time PCC is continuing all federally funded grant and contract programs. 
• The Department of Homeland Security rescinded a policy, in place since 2011, that discouraged Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from taking action in designated “sensitive locations,” such as schools, hospitals, and churches. However, this change does not impact Oregon’s sanctuary law provisions. Oregon schools remain prohibited from providing information or assistance to immigration officials unless required by a judicial subpoena.

College messages

January 30, 2025 message from President Bennings:

Dear Community,

I would like to take a moment to address concerns that may have arisen in response to the recent executive orders and actions  issued by the new administration. Please rest assured that the college is closely monitoring all developments related to these, particularly those that may affect students and the college.  There is uncertainty around how these orders will specifically affect our work moving forward. However, we are in regular communication with partners and will ensure that Portland Community College remains informed and prepared to respond to any changes or challenges that may come our way.

We understand that uncertainty in federal policy can create uneasiness and we are committed to keeping you updated. Students and community remain our top priority, and we will do everything necessary to navigate these times while maintaining the high-quality education and support services PCC is known for.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our students and mission.

Sincerely,

Dr. Adrien L. Bennings
President, Portland Community College

Resources