In 2026-27, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) will develop an analysis and recommendations on the public postsecondary system in Oregon, as assigned by the Oregon Legislature in House Bill 4124 (2026). This legislation requires the HECC to study the condition of the public higher education system and develop recommendations to the Legislature on the design, implementation, and operation of a sustainable system for Oregon by April 1, 2027.
House Bill 4124, approved with bipartisan support in 2026, aims to address fiscal pressures and changing dynamics faced by postsecondary institutions in Oregon by launching a systemwide analysis to meet student, economic, and community needs. Partners can learn more about the general legislative intent of the bill in its introductory clauses.
The work of developing the House Bill 4124 Higher Education Revitalization study will be a major focus of the HECC in 2026-27. We are committed to keeping our partners informed on this important process. On this web page, members of the public can find key information on the process and timeline for this significant study.
Responsibility of the HECC
House Bill 4124 directs the HECC to conduct a study of the condition of Oregon’s postsecondary education system and to develop detailed recommendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and improved institutional framework for public higher education in Oregon. The HECC is charged with ensuring that its recommendations:
- support access to postsecondary education institutions for students across geographic location, including rural communities and other underserved populations;
- fuel regional and statewide economic development and employment opportunities; and
- improve the financial viability of each postsecondary education institution in Oregon and the postsecondary education system as a whole, including by addressing projected enrollment, increased personnel costs, changes in federal law or priorities, sector-specific inflationary costs or other related factors.
The study must:
- evaluate the distinct objectives and missions of each category of postsecondary institution in consideration of several key variables identified in the bill; and
- identify opportunities for collaboration, restructuring, or integration in the postsecondary system.
The study may also make recommendations on several other topics identified in the bill.
The HECC is required to consult with faculty, staff, students, and other public institution partners in the development of the report. The HECC must provide a preliminary report to the Legislature by October 1, 2026, and submit a final report by April 1, 2027.
HECC Process for Implementation of House Bill 4124
Numerous processes of engagement, analysis, and collaboration are underway as HECC works toward the higher education revitalization study called for by the HB 4124. The HECC has established a collaborative structure for the implementation of this legislatively-driven process, including an Advisory Group, consultant support, and other engagement processes detailed below.
In September, 2026, HECC submitted to the Oregon Legislature its preliminary report on progress made toward the House Bill 4124 Revitalization Study, as required by the legislation. The report includes two documents: the HECC Preliminary HB 4124 Report narrative that details the collaborative process that has informed the first phase of the work so far, and the initial set of data findings and analyses completed by the primary consultant on the project, EY-Parthenon. See details below.
On September 30, 2026, the HECC is submitting to the Oregon Legislature a preliminary report on the House Bill 4124 Revitalization Study.
The report includes two documents: 1) the HECC Preliminary HB 4124 Report narrative that details the collaborative process that has informed the first phase of the work so far, and 2) the initial set of data findings and analyses completed by the primary consultant on the project, EY-Parthenon.
The preliminary narrative describes the collaborative process of statewide engagement, analysis, and partner input that has informed the first phase of the work so far.
The EY-Parthenon findings draw from their analysis of quantitative data and insights gleaned from higher education institution, economic, workforce, and other Oregon leaders. These findings reflect EY-Parthenon's preliminary analysis of the challenges facing Oregon higher education, the role and value of higher education in Oregon, and the relationship between higher education and the economy. The findings focus on:
- Challenges related to funding, enrollment, costs, capacity, and other factors;
- Oregon's public colleges and universities and who they serve, differing missions, academic offerings, student outcomes, value/price, and institutional fiscal health; and
- The ties between higher education and living wage jobs, the state's economy and workforce demands, talent and skill shortfalls, and demographic projections impacting Oregon's needs.
This initial report does not contain recommendations. The report details the collaborative processes to date, including engagement structures already underway for this work and plans underway to engage faculty, student and staff groups. Future discussions and convenings will inform the next phases of the work including the development of recommendations.
To ensure a transparent, inclusive, and collaborative process for the House Bill 4124 study, the HECC engaged the support ofOregon Consensus to conduct an initial assessment that has guided the process that is now underway. Oregon Consensus has also been retained to provide third-party facilitation, documentation, convening, and other support throughout the project. Find details below.
The HECC has established the collaborative process and decision-making structure for the study, after implementing the recommendations of Oregon Consensus. Partners can learn about the Advisory Group and engagement processes in sections below. In addition, partners can read a summary of the decision-making structure in the update presented to the HECC Commission for their August 13, 2026 public meeting.
The HECC engaged the early support of Oregon Consensus to help the agency in developing a transparent, inclusive, and collaborative process for this statewide project. This assessment was completed on May 15, 2026, and is available below:
Oregon Consensus (OC) conducted a high-level scoping assessment through interviews with groups who interact with the postsecondary system, asking for input on the foundational principles for the project, how to see success, challenges, best ways to engage, and more. Their report provides the collective responses of thirteen focus groups and 31 individual interviews, with a total of 87 participants across a broad spectrum of interests. Recommendations, detailed in the full assessment document, include:
- Framing the project in terms of long-term system resiliency, with a focus not only on the practical and urgent needs of today, but also on a longer horizon with an aspirational and holistic system view.
- Several recommendations related to working with a trusted, visible and engaged consultant;
- Building common foundational principles together, with a focus on ensuring that student and community needs should be the primary ‘north star.’
- Specific recommendations on the structure for collaboration, including development of a House Bill 4124 Advisory Group (including specifications on its membership structure), ad-hoc design groups to develop ideas on specific components of the system, a student voices group, a postsecondary institution finance and academic administrators group, regular legislative briefings, regional meetings, and use of other forums and engagement channels.
These recommendations informed the collaborative structure for the study which is underway. In addition to the initial assessment, Oregon Consensus has also been retained to provide third-party facilitation, documentation, convening, and other support throughout the project.
A House Bill 4124 Advisory Group representing institutions, faculty, staff, unions, philanthropy, workforce, K–12, and underrepresented communities, will help steer the project, and advise HECC staff who will report to the HECC Commission. This group has been meeting since June 2026 and is engaging in regional gatherings across the state; partners can find details on this group and other engagement processes below. To meaningfully broaden the scope of engagement, additional forums have also been established to connect to this effort with students, faculty, staff, legislators, institutional partners and the general public. See details below.
Consistent with the membership structure advised by Oregon Consensus recommendations, HECC has established an Advisory Group that will help steer the project and advise staff who will report to the Commission. This group functions as the project’s key deliberative body, and will receive regular updates on the project, advise HECC staff on guiding the consultant(s) work, and attempt to forge areas of alignment with—and acknowledge areas of deviation from—the consultants’ perspectives and recommendations. The Advisory Group will meet roughly a half-day per month throughout the duration of the project. Oregon Consensus will provide third-party facilitation and other support for the group. Other engagement structures are described below.
Recent Updates on Advisory Group
(last updated September 29, 2026)
The Advisory Group has been meeting since June 2026. Read more about the focus of these initial meetings in the Preliminary HB 4124 Legislative Report narrative.
Regional Meetings: The Advisory Group, HECC, and EY-Parthenon determined that it was important to meet in several different parts of Oregon to assist in creating awareness and understanding about the nuances of culture, economy, and education in different regions of the state. As such, the process was designed to include regional meetings in eastern, south/central, southwest, Willamette Valley, and coastal Oregon, especially prioritizing locations having both a regional university and community colleges. To further support connections, panels of regional community leaders are invited to share about the dynamics in the region. The first regional session was held in La Grande, with regional meetings coming up in Klamath Falls, Medford, Monmouth, Portland, and Newport.
Additional Student, Faculty, Staff, Legislator, Institutional, Public, and Other Engagement
To meaningfully broaden the scope of engagement on the HB 4124 Study, additional forums have been established to connect to this effort.
- Technical Workgroups, composed primarily of institutional leaders, will support EY-Parthenon in considering the operational implications of potential alterations to Oregon higher education. This phase of work will begin in late September or early October.
- With support from Oregon Consensus, a Student Voices Group has been established to provide student perspectives and input into the project. The group is expected to include 20-24 students that are broadly representative of Oregon’s student population, including public university, community college, non-traditional, CTE, graduate, and other categories. It is expected to meet 3-4 times between October and February. Small stipends will be offered to support student participation.
- EY-Parthenon is organizing focus groups with faculty and staff from public universities and community colleges to gather input and test initial concepts. These will be held during the Fall.
- HECC convenes a legislative roundtable every 4-6 weeks for interested legislators to receive project briefings, ask questions, and make suggestions.
- An academic and fiscal leadership table, composed of chief academic and fiscal officers from public institutions, met on September 8 and will meet again the week of October 19 for a project briefing and to provide input.
- At its regular public meetings, held near-monthly, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission receives an update on the project and provides input to staff. These meetings are also opportunities for the public to provide input through written and/or oral public testimony. The Commission has also scheduled special meetings focused on HB 4124, creating additional opportunity for deliberation.
Advisory Group Membership
House Bill 4124 Advisory Group membership was determined primarily by a self-nomination process. The roster was reported at the June 11 HECC Commission meeting and includes the following representatives.
- 4-year public higher education institutions: Mary Moller, Coalition of Oregon Public Universities
- Oregon community colleges: Abby Lee, Oregon Community College Association
- Education unions: Adrienne Mitchell, Oregon Education Association
- Faculty: Ricardo Pelegrin Taboada, Interinstitutional Faculty Senate
- Staff: Matt Swanson, SEIU
- Philanthropy: Denise Callahan, Ford Family Foundation
- Workforce development and economic interests: Duncan Wyse, Oregon Business Council
- HECC: Greg Hamann, HECC Chair
- K-12 education: George Mendoza, LaGrande School District
- Organization that represents underrepresented communities: Aryn Frazier, Center for Black Excellence
- Tribal governments (up to 9): membership pending
- Students: membership pending
The Advisory Group has developed and confirmed this set of Guiding Principles, which they agreed should guide their thinking and the ultimate set of recommendations that emerge. These are considered ‘north stars’ for systems change.
Foundational Principles
We will center student success. Recognizing all forms of diversity of students and their distinct needs; ensuring access to multiple pathways; holding north stars of educational quality, affordability, and connecting to careers.
Postsecondary education has public value, and successful student outcomes are a public benefit.
We will design for a postsecondary system that reflects interdependencies with economic and cultural vitality. We will look for solutions that are comprehensive and seek long-term economic and cultural vitality for Oregon and its communities.
The system should be highly adaptable and designed for tomorrow, not for today.
The system should be designed to include clear authorities and accountability for quality and public benefits.
We will apply human-centered design principles.
We will care for and support the diverse and valuable contributions of existing institutions.
We recognize that “one size does not fit all.” Solutions need to account for Oregon’s unique context and diverse array of institutional offerings across the postsecondary education system.
We will learn from others and be informed by usable, timely, relevant, and accurate information. We will be informed by a broad, national perspective on the challenges and models in higher education while explicitly designing for Oregon’s context.
The principles were developed with the support of Oregon Consensus; feedback was requested on an initial set of foundational principles developed by HECC in the course of the assessment interview process, to serve as anchors for the work. The refined principles above reflect additional thinking from interviewees and the Advisory Group.
The HECC has selected EY-Parthenon to be the lead consultant for the higher education revitalization study called for by HB 4124, after a competitive bid process. EY-Parthenon’s role is to serve as an independent, evidence-based
technical advisor. EY-Parthenon will provide the analytical foundation,
comparative evidence, and facilitation support of HECC leadership through this
legislatively driven process. The firm will help HECC assess Oregon’s
postsecondary system, build on prior analyses, engage interested groups, and
develop actionable recommendations that are credible, policy-relevant, and
grounded in Oregon’s governance and institutional context. Find details on this work below.
In July 2026, the HECC selected EY-Parthenon to be the lead consultant for the higher education revitalization study called for by HB 4124, and the first phase of their work is underway. Commissioners will receive regular staff updates on this project at public meetings.
The first phase of EY-Parthenon’s work is detailed in their initial findings that are being submitted as part of the House Bill 4124 Preliminary Report to the Oregon Legislature.
About EY-Parthenon’s role
EY-Parthenon’s role is to serve as an independent, evidence-based technical advisor to help HECC assess Oregon’s postsecondary system, build on prior analyses, engage interested groups, and develop actionable recommendations that are credible, policy-relevant, and grounded in Oregon’s governance and institutional context.
The firm will work collaboratively with HECC, the project’s Advisory Group, and Oregon Consensus, which has been retained to provide third-party facilitation, documentation, convening, and other support throughout the project. EY-Parthenon will provide the analytical foundation, comparative evidence, and facilitation support of HECC leadership through this legislatively driven process.
About EY-Parthenon’s approach
EY-Parthenon’s approach to the project contains three phases:
- Phase 1 – a first phase focused on foundation-building, including a preliminary assessment of the post-secondary conditions in the system related to the missions of each sector, demographic and financial trends, and alignment with workforce needs;
- Phase 2 – a second phase focused on developing options; and
- Phase 3 – a third phase focused on translating options into recommendations as well as a written report.
About the selection process
EY-Parthenon was selected through a highly competitive process. HECC received 15 proposals in response to the competitive request for proposals that was issued in early May. Three members of the project’s Advisory Group—representing institutions, faculty, and employers—joined several HECC staff to review proposals, conduct interviews, and make the selection.
EY-Parthenon brings deep higher education strategy experience and has maintained a dedicated higher education practice since the early 2000s. The firm works across higher education, government, foundations, workforce development, and the broader education ecosystem to respond to changing workforce demands, financial pressures, and evolving student needs—and has comparable experience supporting other public higher education leaders navigate complex system-level questions.
While the Commission will take final responsibility for the contents of interim and final reports to the Legislature that meet the requirements of HB 4124, we intend for our public process to build shared understanding amongst Oregon’s diverse education constituencies about challenges and opportunities facing higher education.
How to Engage
There will be considerable opportunities for partners to engage through advisory and engagement structures described above. In addition, updates on HB 4124 will be presented at upcoming public meetings of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission.
There is opportunity for public testimony at public meetings of the HECC.