EUGENE, Ore. — The Lane Community College Board of Education passed a resolution in support of the Oregon Community College Association’s (OCCA) legislative priorities at its meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Resolution 703 recognizes the vital role community colleges play in providing accessible, equitable education and workforce training for all Oregonians and outlines support for key funding and policy initiatives proposed for the 2025 Legislative Session.
OCCA represents the state’s 17 publicly chartered community colleges and their locally elected board members. The priorities identified include:
- $920 million for the Community College Support Fund (CCSF): Ensures colleges can maintain current service levels with modest statewide tuition increases.
- $150 million increase for the Oregon Opportunity Grant: Expands need-based financial aid to improve access for high school graduates and working adults, addressing inequities in educational attainment.
- Adjustment to the Article XI-G Bond funding cap to $14 million: Updates the cap for inflation to support critical capital projects from $8 million, the first such adjustment since 2005.
- $10 million for student basic needs: Supports students facing challenges with food, housing, and transportation.
- $1 million for corequisite supports: Provides funding for faculty release time, training, and implementation to enhance first-year math success, particularly for underrepresented students.
- Adult Reconnect policy bill: Establishes a workgroup to reengage adults with some college credit but no degree, addressing declining enrollment and workforce needs.
“Lane Community College plays a vital role in transforming lives and strengthening the economy of our district. By supporting these legislative priorities, we are ensuring that our students have access to life-changing opportunities and that local businesses can thrive with a skilled and prepared workforce,” said Board Chair Zachary Mulholland.
The resolution emphasizes the importance of supporting students’ basic needs, addressing financial inequities, and expanding access to education and training. These priorities aim to strengthen Oregon’s community colleges, enabling them to adapt to evolving workforce demands and economic challenges.
The 2025 Oregon Legislative Session will officially begin Tuesday, January 21.
Lane Community College educates over 15,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $675 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 8,900 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.