The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is a State of Oregon agency and
Commission working to improve equitable access to and success in higher education and workforce training for Oregonians statewide. We coordinate funding and policy, and convene partners across the public and private higher education and workforce landscape. Here you can learn about the work and structure of the HECC agency.
About Our Name
When people hear “higher education,” they sometimes think first of college degrees. Higher education includes college degrees and more. At the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), we approach higher education broadly as the wide range of postsecondary education and workforce training options beyond high school—from apprenticeships to career certificates, and from two- and four-year degrees to doctorates.
Read a short introduction to the HECC.
The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is the name for both the state agency and the Governor-appointed volunteer
Commission that sets the vision for and makes public decisions guiding the agency. Our agency also convenes numerous other
advisory boards and public bodies that guide our programs and strategies. The HECC agency is comprised of eight distinct offices of approximately 185 employees, led by Executive Director Ben Cannon.
Learn about how to stay engaged in our public policy work.
Our Responsibilities
The eight offices of the HECC administer numerous programs serving Oregonians and carry out our statutory responsibilities for funding and policy coordination statewide. The public policy and funding work led by the Commission and carried out by the agency is guided by the
state’s educational attainment goals, and by a
strategic plan that is anchored in the
HECC Equity Lens. Some of our key responsibilities are described below.
Developing state goals for the postsecondary system, including community colleges, public universities, and student access programs - 350.075(3)(a)
Adopting a strategic plan for achieving the state’s postsecondary goals - 350.075(3)(d)
Developing a comprehensive, biennial higher education and workforce development budget request linked to the strategic plan - 350.075 (3)(b), 350.075 (3)(e), 350.090, 350.095, 341.626, 352.089
Advising the Governor, Legislative Assembly, institutions, and other governmental entities on higher education policy, including issues of university governance - 350.075(3)(h), 350.075(6)
Adopting formulas for the distribution of state funding to community colleges and, separately, public universities - 341.626, 350.075(3)(f)
Adopting methodologies for the distribution of state financial aid to Oregon students - 350.075(3)(f), Chapter 348
Developing, awarding, and monitoring grants and contracts for the distribution of state and federal funding to higher education and workforce partners - 350.075
Approving mission statements for public universities - 350.075(3)(h), 352.089(1)
Approving significant changes to academic programs at public universities and community colleges, including new certificates/degrees - 350.075(3)(g), 341.465, 352.089(2)
Approving statewide transfer pathways, a common course numbering system, and policies and procedures related to the movement of students between community colleges and public universities - 350.395 to 350.429
Setting standards for high school equivalency, accelerated college credit programs, credit for prior learning; encouraging competency-based education, open educational resources, career and technical education, diverse educator recruitment - ORS 350.175, 340.310, 350.417, 350.110, 350.125, 660.350, 348.748 to 348.757, 344.070 to 344.090, 350.100
Authorizing private and out-of-state degree-granting colleges and universities - 348.594 to 348.615
Licensing private career schools - Chapter 345
Administering interstate agreements for the authorization of postsecondary distance education - 350.075(3)(k)
For public universities, approving resident tuition increases greater than 5% and adjudicating disputes over mandatory incidental fees - 350.075(3)(h), 352.102, 352.105
Implementing a process to review and appropriately act on student complaints regarding any postsecondary institution in Oregon - 350.075(4)
Overseeing the formation and modification of community college districts and colleges; the provision of community college services outside districts and to correctional institutions -341.025 to 341.115, 341.405, 341.565 to 341.579, 341.019 to 341.024, 341.317
In collaboration with the Oregon Employment Department and the State Workforce Talent Development Board, developing and implementing a workforce delivery system focused on talent and skills development - 660.318, 660.346, 660.380 to 660.420.
Operating a youth employment program, youth corps programs, and federal service programs - 660.320, 660.353, 660.500 to 660.523, 418.653 to 418.658, 476.694
Administering the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the Oregon Promise, Oregon Tribal Student Grant, ASPIRE, and other student financial aid and access programs - 348.005 to 348.592, 341.522, 341.526
Coordinating and administering Oregon’s inter-agency longitudinal data system - 350.075(3)(L), 350.075(3)(m)
Conducting data collection, analysis, research, and reporting across all sectors of higher education - 350.075
Conducting biennial evaluations of public universities - 352.061
Offices of the HECC
Learn more about the eight offices of the HECC.