THE GORGE — The Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) board was glad to see their budget grow at their meeting on March 17. But they were less happy that Oregon’s odd schedule of government payments swells and shrink the budget of community colleges across the state every other year, making steady funding plans a little difficult.
The board approved the same tuition and fees as last year alongside new academic calendar. They also renewed a childhood education certificate and a $90,000 annual contract with Merchant McIntyre, which assists with government relations for nonprofits and public institutions.
Kenneth Lawson, Columbia Gorge Community College president
President Kenneth Lawson said McIntyre had helped obtain millions in federal funding for CGCC projects like the recently opened ITAC labs, and a Title III grant (which subsequently got pulled during the federal government’s cuts).
For the certificate, state law requires the board re-approve any certificate that changes more than 30%. The Initial Early Childhood Education certificate was changed 60-70% “to make it more initial,” said Susan Lewis, director of curriculum and academic assessment (among other titles).
On tuition, CGCC has avoided increases as of late, largely because it remains among the highest for community colleges. As other institutions have raised their tuition, CGCC became less expensive compared to others.
Board President Nate Stice noted that must have taken “some thoughtful consideration” with budget constraints and rising costs.
However, CGCC’s budget is getting $1.5 to 2 million more dollars than budgeted for from the state. It’s Oregon’s peculiar two-year appropriations payment schedule: three payments one year, five the next. This pattern, established years back to balance a state budget, now causes awkward biannual swings in funding for community colleges: CGCC was under budget last year, and will be over budget now. They’ll also get $800,000 for rising average enrollment. They might need a budget amendment, said Vice President of Administrative Services Sam Draper.
Meanwhile, local tax dollars from the bond passed in 2024 pay for repairs on campus — like the HVAC, an elevator, ADA access projects, and three aged roofs.
One roof is so complicated it had to be slated as a separate project. “There’s so much going on up there,” it was “scaring a lot of the contractors ,and they were throwing some big numbers at us,” Darek Olson, HMK project manager, said. If the roof comes in closer to expected costs as a separate project, bond money will pay for it all.
In other news, Sarah Wade, Angela Jones and Vice-President Jarett Gilbert presented community education trends and plans to the board. These are non-credit classes like pottery and CPR; CGCC hopes to add “customized trainings,” developed on behalf of businesses, Gilbert said. Over past several years, Community Education enrollment has fallen, with a decline in instructor interest and reduced support for outreach and program development.
Health and safety offerings have stayed constant, with steady enrollment, however.
CGCC is engaged in a Fiscal Year 2024 audit, and correcting various findings — including, for the first time, reporting the status of all students accurately, a complicated thing that in previous years often created many errors.
Lastly, Director Darcy Long updated the board on new laws from Oregon’s short legislative session, which just ended. These include a new requirement for colleges to make a policy about what they’ll do if immigrant enforcement agents come to campus, and a law forbidding their employees from helping immigration agents make arrests.
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