Office of Academic Policy and Authorization
Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302
Phone: 503-947-5716
Web:
oregon.gov/highered/about/authorization
Contact: Veronica Dujon, Director
Statutory Authority:
ORS Chapter 340,
ORS Chapter 345,
ORS Chapter 348, ORS Chapter 350, ORS Chapter 352
This office oversees the quality, integrity and diversity of private postsecondary programs in Oregon. They also oversee public university academic policy coordination, evaluation of public university contributions to State objectives for higher education, mission review and approval, and academic program approval. The private postsecondary units include the Office of Degree Authorization (ODA) and the Private Career Schools Licensing Unit (PCS), responsible for policy and regulatory action that affect certain private institutions serving Oregonians. The ODA authorizes degree-granting private institutions, offering academic programs in Oregon or to Oregon students from outside the state. The PCS Licensing Unit licenses private career schools in Oregon. The office is also the portal for distance education in Oregon through the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement. The public university academic policy unit provides academic coordination related to Oregon’s seven public universities, including coordination of policy for transfer initiatives and high school partnerships, student complaints, statewide initiatives and other initiatives and legislative directives to enhance postsecondary pathways and student success. The office supports the work of the Oregon Transfer Council to build streamlined credit pathways from community colleges to universities.
Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development
Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302
Phone: 503-979-5477
Contact: Donna Lewelling, Director
The office provides coordination, leadership and resources to Oregon’s network of 17 locally-governed community colleges, as well as adult basic skills providers, high school equivalency program providers and other partners. It has responsibility for coordinating community college programs and services, developing biennial budget recommendations for the community college funding and capital projects, allocation of state funding, coordination of the academic approval processes and reporting to the Legislature. The office provides statewide administration of the Adult Education and Family Literacy components of the U.S. Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act; programs supported by the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V); Oregon High School Equivalency General Educational Development (GED®) programs; as well as other initiatives and legislative directives.
Office of Postsecondary Finance and Capital
Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302
Phone: 503-559-9075
Contact: Jim Pinkard
This office provides fiscal coordination for Oregon’s public postsecondary institutions. This includes financial planning, fiscal reporting and analysis, capital bond funding administration, the allocation of state funding to public post-secondary institutions and biennial budget recommendations. The office prepares budget recommendations to the commission for the Public University Support Fund, Public University State Programs, Public University Statewide Public Services and Community College Support Fund, as well as university and community college capital investments.
Office of Research and Data
Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302
Phone: 971-372-8245
Contact: Amy Cox, Director
The office collects, analyzes and reports research and data on postsecondary education and training, including data on students and their characteristics, courses, enrollments, academic performance, completion and academic pathways to comply with state and federal reporting requirements and to inform decisions on the postsecondary education enterprise. The office also includes administration of the State Longitudinal Data System, which links data about students as they move from kindergarten through postsecondary education and employment.
Office of Student Access and Completion
Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302
Phone: 541-687-7400; Toll-free: 1-800-452-8807
Fax: 541-687-7414
Contact: Juan Báez-Arévalo, Director
The Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) administers several financial aid programs for students attending college or other postsecondary education and training programs. These include state funded grants and privately funded scholarships. In addition, OSAC promotes college access and affordability for Oregonians through ASPIRE, a college and career mentoring program, and statewide community outreach events. OSAC’s largest financial aid programs are the Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG), the Oregon Promise Grant and the OSAC Scholarship application. The Oregon Tribal Student Grants is a new program supporting colleges costs for student who are members of the nine federally recognized tribes of Oregon. OSAC also administers other grant programs supporting specific populations such as foster youth, students raising children and Oregon National Guard members.
Office of Workforce Investments
Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302
Phone: 971-345-1133
Contact: Julia Steinberger, Director
The Office of Workforce Investments (OWI) focuses on employment opportunities, skill attainment and work-related training statewide. They partner with the Oregon Employment Department, Department of Human Services, Commission for the Blind and others. Together they convene partnerships, provide technical assistance and support to the local workforce boards and the Workforce and Talent Development Board (WTDB). They also implement the governor’s vision and the WTDB strategic plan. OWI provides grants to local workforce development boards, community-based organizations, education providers, and other workforce partners to deliver programs in their communities. As a WorkSource Oregon partner, OWI oversees a number of state and federally funded workforce programs.