Community College and Workforce Development

​​Community Colleges and Workforce Development: Our Coordinating Role

The HECC’s Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) works closely with colleges and workforce programs to support accessible, high-quality learning opportunities to serve the state’s present and future needs. CCWD provides coordination, leadership and resources to Oregon’s 17 locally-governed community colleges, 15 adult basic skills providers, community-based organizations, and the Department of Corrections. The governance of Oregon’s public community colleges is the responsibility of their respective local-elected governing boards. 

Established in 1999, CCWD was formerly the Department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, and as of 2015, became an integrated Office in the HECC agency. CCWD supports a multi-faceted portfolio of work, including: 

• Policy and funding coordination while providing leadership to achieve Oregon’s higher education goals, including reports to the Legislature
• Student success and academic coordination, including approval of new academic programs and statewide administration of postsecondary Career and Technical Education and Career Pathways at Oregon's community colleges
  
• Administration of statewide Adult Basic Skills Program and the Oregon’s High School Equivalency Program,​ which includes the General Educational Development (GED^®​) Program​
• Community college funding coordination, working closely with other offices of the HECC, including state biennial budget recommendations.
  

The Office of Workforce Investments (OWI) and the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development (CCWD) work together as the administrative entities for several federally funded education and workforce programs, authorized by the U.S. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), and a primary partner in the implementation of WIOA in Oregon. ​The CCWD also coordinates postsecondary career and technical education programs supported by the "Stre​n​gthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act​" (Perkins V).  Read more about federally-funded programs here.

In addition, CCWD works closely with the Office of Workforce Investments and other HECC offices, postsecondary institutions, and partners to support progress toward Oregon’s educational and workforce goals. Collaborative efforts include:

• Adult Basic Skills (ABS)
• Affordability Strategies
  
• Apprenticeship Opportunities​
  
• Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• College Credit while in High School
• Equity and Student Success
  
• Future Ready Oregon​
  
• High School Equivalency
  
• High School to College Pathways
• Open Education Resources ​(OER)
• Transfe​r and Credit Strategies​
  

For More Information

• Community College Student Data
• Community College State Funding Data
  
• Federal Reporting
• Explore Community College Data Mart
• Legislative Reports​
  
• ​Legislative Resources and Budget Development
• To learn more about HECC-CCWD’s statutory responsibilities, see HECC Authority and State Structure or HECC Statutes and Administrative Rules.
  
• Community College Student Complaint Process​ formal complaint process for resolution of consumer protection complaints brought by students attending an Oregon community college.
  

Contact Us

Office of CCWD Staff Directory​