Oregon's Community Colleges to Convoy to the State Capitol
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Oregon’s community colleges will join together for a unique statewide event. On Thursday,
March 7, 2019, the state’s two-year colleges, along with the Oregon Community College Association (OCCA), will rally with students and convoy to the capitol. The convoy will start
at various locations across the state with the colleges meeting up in Salem at 12
p.m.
“This initiative was created to show that Oregon’s community colleges are all united
in making sure our collective voices are heard in Salem,” Casey White-Zollman, president
of the Oregon Community College Marketing and Public Relations group, said. “We work
together throughout the year on many initiatives. Our shared goal is to make sure
all of our institutions are adequately funded in order to keep tuition costs affordable
and to best ensure student success.”
The convoy was created as part of OCCA’s Legislative Days—a designated time during
the Legislative Session for community college students and leaders to meet with their
local legislators and raise awareness of the value community colleges have in Oregon.
“This year is critical for community college funding,” OCCA’s Executive Director Cam
Preus said. “To keep tuition increases to roughly 3.5 percent statewide in each year
of the upcoming biennium, and to maintain current programs and services, Oregon’s
17 community colleges need $647 million in funding. We are also asking lawmakers for
an additional $70 million for Career-Technical Education programs and $70 million
for student success programs to support first-generation college students and those
from underrepresented populations.”
The colleges will meet at Chemeketa Community College at 11 a.m., then travel together
and assemble on the capitol steps to walk around the building as a unified group.
Individual meetings the colleges have scheduled with their local legislators will
take place throughout the day. Legislators are invited to meet up with the colleges
on the capitol steps at 12:30 p.m. for a group photo opportunity with students and
participating college mascots.
Community colleges north of Salem include:
• Clatsop, Tillamook Bay, Oregon Coast, Portland, Mount Hood, Clackamas, Chemeketa
Community colleges south of Salem include:
• Klamath, Rogue, Southwestern Oregon, Umpqua, Lane, Linn-Benton
Community colleges east of Salem include:
• Treasure Valley, Blue Mountain, Central Oregon, Columbia Gorge
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About LBCC: More than 18,000 students rely on Linn-Benton Community College each year for higher education including career technical education, transfer degree programs, professional development, corporate training, small business development, community education classes and more. Serving the mid-Willamette Valley with six locations including its main campus in Albany, LBCC partners with multiple business and industries to enrich the community and support economic growth. LBCC students choose from more than 80 programs and go on to be tomorrow’s innovators, leaders, skilled workers and community builders.