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Higher Education Coordinating Commission: Agency Subdivisions

Office of Academic Policy and Authorization

Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302​
Phone: 503-947-5716
Fax: 503-378-8395
Web: oregon.gov/HigherEd​​
Contact: Veronica Dujon, Director
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 345, ORS 348.594–348.615​, ORS Chapter 340, ORS Chapter 350, ORS Chapter 352

This office oversees two primary areas: the quality, integrity and diversity of private postsecondary programs in Oregon for the benefit of students and consumers; and 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 consist of 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. Both units also provide educational leadership, technical assistance, student and consumer protection and serve as conveners of private institutions and partners in Oregon. The office is also the portal entity for distance education offerings in Oregon through the multistate 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 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: 503-979-5162
Fax: 503-378-8434
Contact: Donna Lewelling, Director
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 350​

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 federally funded Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act; the Carl Perkins Career and Technical Education Act programs; Oregon High School Equivalency General Educational Development (GED®) programs and the work of the Oregon Transfer Council.

Office of Postsecondary Finance and Capital​

Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302
Phone: 503-559-9075
Fax: 503-378-8395
Contact: Jim Pinkard
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 350, ORS 350.075

This office provides fiscal coordination related to Oregon’s public postsecondary institutions, including 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: 971-283-4714
Fax: 503-378-8395
Contact: Amy Cox, Director
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 350​

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
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 348, ORS 352.287, ORS Chapter 350

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 and federally-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 OOG is the state’s largest need-based grant program and helps low-income students afford eligible Oregon colleges and universities. Oregon Promise is for recent high school and GED® test graduates to help cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college. The OSAC Scholarship application includes more than 600 scholarships, which students can access through the single application. These scholarships target a variety of student groups and are funded by private donors, foundations and employers. OSAC also administers grant programs supporting specific populations such as foster youth, Oregon tribal students, students raising children and Oregon National Guard members.

Office of Workforce Investments​

Address: 3225 25th St. SE, Salem 97302 
Phone: 971-345-1133​
Fax: 503-947-1246
Contact: Julia Steinberger, Interim Director
Statutory Authority: ORS Chapter 660, ORS Chapter 350

The Office of Workforce Investments (OWI) is one of several state entities focused on employment opportunities, skill attainment and work-related training statewide. OWI works in partnership with the Oregon Employment Department, Department of Human Services, Commission for the Blind and others to provide leadership to Oregon’s workforce system. It is responsible for convening partnerships, supporting and providing technical assistance to the Workforce and Talent Development Board (WTDB) and local workforce development boards, and implementing the governor’s vision and the WTDB strategic plan. 

The HECC administrates federally-funded programs authorized by Titles I and II of the U.S. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. This includes Youth, Adult and Dislocated Worker programs and Federal Discretionary grants. The HECC provides program and fiscal oversight as well as policy direction and technical assistance to state and local partners. 

The OWI administers and supports Oregon Youth Works including the Oregon Youth Corps, OregonServes, and the STEM Investment Council.​
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