Oregon Alliance Of Independent Colleges And Universities

THE ALLIANCE SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN OREGON'S INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

FUNDRAISING FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPSTHE ALLIANCE'S SCHOLARSHIPS HELP 138 STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS.THANKS TO INVESTMENTS BY OUR PARTICIPATING PARTNERS, THE ALLIANCE IS HELPING STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL NEED ACCESS HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION AT ONE OF OREGON'S PRIVATE, NONPROFIT COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES, WITH THE PERSONAL ATTENTION AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED - AND LESS DEBT THAN THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE.SEE SCHEDULE OFOR THE 2021-22 ACADEMIC YEAR, 10 OF OUR DONORS PARTNERED WITH 138 STUDENTS THROUGH THE ALLIANCE'S NAMED SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND A TOTAL OF $231,350 IN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WERE DISTRIBUTED. * 109 STUDENTS FROM OREGON RECEIVED NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS, TOTALING $125,605* 110 STUDENTS OF COLOR RECEIVED NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS, TOTALING $189,518* 75 FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS RECEIVED NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS, TOTALING $127,077* 65 NAMED SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS WERE BOTH STUDENTS OF COLOR AND FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS AND RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $110,709* THE AVERAGE NAMED SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WAS $1,676 PER STUDENTTHE ALLIANCE'S MATCHED COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM LEVERAGES EVERY DOLLAR.IN 2007, THE ALLIANCE FORMED AN INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY AND SHELTER ASSISTANCE CORP. OF OREGON (CASA OF OREGON) TO CREATE AN EDUCATION INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT (IDA) PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO HELP INCOME-ELIGIBLE OREGONIANS SECURE THE LIFETIME ASSET OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION. IN THIS PROGRAM, ALLIANCE MEMBER COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SAVE $500 AND RECEIVE A 6:1 MATCH THROUGH THE ALLIANCE. THIS TURNS $500 OF STUDENT SAVINGS INTO $3,500 PER YEAR FOR EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT.THIS EDUCATION IDA PROGRAM, CALLED E3: EARN, EDUCATE, EMPOWER, IS AN IDEAL EXAMPLE OF HOW THE ALLIANCE LEVERAGES BOTH PRIVATE DONATIONS AND PUBLIC (STATE AND FEDERAL) RESOURCES. THE PUBLIC RESOURCES TARGET LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE ALLIANCE'S GOAL OF PROVIDING ACCESS, OPPORTUNITY, AND CHOICE FOR LOW-INCOME OREGONIANS, AS WELL AS UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS (E.G., STUDENTS OF COLOR, FIRST-GENERATION STUDENTS, DACA STUDENTS, NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS, ETC.). THE E3 PROGRAM HELPS ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THE QUALITY AND PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE OFFERED AT OREGON'S PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM ALSO ADVANCES THE ALLIANCE'S DESIRE TO GRADUATE FINANCIALLY LITERATE STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE SKILLS TO IMMEDIATELY IMPACT THE REGION'S TALENT NEEDS.PARTICIPATION HAS INCREASED STEADILY SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION. TO DATE, NEARLY 763 STUDENTS AT ALLIANCE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE ALLIANCE EDUCATION IDA PROGRAM. THE AGGREGATE TOTAL OF PARTICIPATING STUDENTS' SAVINGS TO DATE IS $782,339, AND THE TOTAL MATCHES TENDERED TO THE MEMBER COLLEGES ON THESE STUDENTS' BEHALF IS NOW $4,358,750. WE PROJECT THAT PROGRAM INTEREST WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AT A SIMILAR RATE IN 2022-23 AND BEYOND. PROGRAMS THAT FACILITATE COLLABORATION AMONG MEMBER INSTITUTIONS & BUSINESS/INDUSTRYGRANT ENCOURAGES MEMBER INSTITUTION COLLABORATION WITH BUSINESS/INDUSTRY FOR CONSERVATION RESEARCH.WITH ANNUAL FUNDING FROM THE KATHERINE BISBEE II FUND OF THE OREGON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, THE ALLIANCE SPONSORS COLLABORATIVE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROJECTS FOCUSED ON CONSERVATION. THE GRANT REQUIRES THAT AN ALLIANCE MEMBER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY COLLABORATE WITH AT LEAST ONE BUSINESS/INDUSTRY PARTNER ON THE PROJECT. THE ALLIANCE AWARDED THREE GRANTS OF $10,000 EACH IN 2021-22. ONE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH INDUSTRY PARTNER BLUE FOREST CONSERVATION OF WATER SUPPLY AT RISK OF SEVERE WILDFIRE. THIS WILL BUILD UPON ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PHASE 1 OF THE PROJECT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WATER SUPPLY RISK ACROSS OREGON DUE TO SEVERE WILDFIRE. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE, COHESIVE, SPATIALLY EXPLICIT ANALYSIS OF THIS RISK ACROSS THE STATE.ONE TO GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY TO INVESTIGATE THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF FEASIBILITY OF SMALL OFF-GRID RESIDENTIAL AGRIVOLTAICS IN OREGONIAN COMMUNITIES WITH INDUSTRY PARTNER BEND BATTERY. THE PROJECT FINDINGS WILL INCLUDE RESULTS OF TESTING AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SOLAR CONTRACTORS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN DESIGNING AND MARKETING SOLAR OFF-GRID SYSTEMS TO HOMEOWNERS. OREGON TRANSFER PATHWAYS TO THE LIBERAL ARTS (OTP-LA)TRANSFER STUDENT SELF-STUDYAN OUTCOME OF THE TEAGLE FOUNDATION PLANNING GRANT PROJECT IDENTIFIED THE NEED TO EVALUATE THE NON-ACADEMIC SUPPORTS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TRANSFERRING TO ALLIANCE INSTITUTIONS. TO ACHIEVE THIS, WE PARTNERED WITH CREDO HIGHER EDUCATION CONSULTANTS TO DEVELOP A TRANSFER STUDENT SELF-STUDY, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HELP GUIDE PARTICIPATING ALLIANCE MEMBER INSTITUTIONS AS THEY EMBARK ON A SELF-REFLECTIVE AND COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO EVALUATING CURRENT PRACTICES WITH A CRITICAL EYE TOWARD IMPROVING TRANSFER STUDENT SUCCESS.THE SELF-STUDY WILL PROVIDE EACH TEAM AND INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP AN ACCURATE AND COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE TRANSFER STUDENT EXPERIENCE ON EACH CAMPUS. THE PROCESS WILL SERVE AS A GUIDE TO BUILDING A SET OF FEASIBLE STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION THAT PROVIDE BOTH SHORT- AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS WHILE IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND SUCCESS.THE PROJECT, WHICH IS BEING FUNDED BY A $99,500 GRANT RECEIVED FROM THE FORD FAMILY FOUNDATION IN DECEMBER 2021 LAUNCHED ON FEBRUARY 1, 2022 AND CONCLUDES ON DECEMBER 1, 2022. THE RESULTING REPORT IN FALL OF 2022 WILL PROVIDE EACH OF OUR MEMBERS WITH A TAILORED SET OF STEPS FORWARD TO IMPROVE TRANSFER PATHWAYS ON THEIR CAMPUSES.TRANSFER PATHWAYS TO THE LIBERAL ARTS IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTIN JUNE 2022, THE ALLIANCE WAS AWARDED A THREE-YEAR, $321,200 OTP-LA IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FROM THE TEAGLE FOUNDATION AND ARTHUR VINING DAVIS FOUNDATIONS. THE AWARDS ARE PART OF THE TEAGLE FOUNDATION'S TRANSFER PATHWAYS TO THE LIBERAL ARTS INITIATIVE, CO-SPONSORED BY THE ARTHUR VINING DAVIS FOUNDATION, AND AIM TO FACILITATE TRANSFER AND COMPLETION OF BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN THE LIBERAL ARTS.THE IMPLEMENTATION GRANT BUILDS ON THE ALLIANCE'S 2020 PLANNING GRANT AWARD FROM THE TEAGLE FOUNDATION AND WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLEAR, CURRICULAR PATHWAYS BETWEEN OREGON'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND PRIVATE LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTIONS. THE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT WILL LAUNCH ON OCTOBER 28, 2022, AND CONCLUDES IN DECEMBER 2025.OUR PLANNING GRANT ALLOWED US TO BEGIN BUILDING FACULTY AFFINITY AND TO DEVELOP A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF OUR WORK MOVING FORWARD. BUILDING ON THESE EFFORTS, OUR IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT WILL BEGIN WITH OUR FACILITATION OF TARGETED WORKING GROUPS THAT WILL BEGIN TO CARRY OUT THE DETAILED WORK OF DEVELOPING TRANSFER PATHWAYS. THESE WORKING GROUPS WILL INCLUDE FACULTY, COURSE REGISTRATION AND ADVISING PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER STUDENT SUCCESS STAFF FROM EACH OF OUR ALLIANCE AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNER INSTITUTIONS. THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE CHARGED WITH MAKING DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THEIR INSTITUTIONS BUT WILL SERVE AS LIAISONS FOR THEIR COLLEAGUES AND CURRICULA TO HELP BRING A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR INSTITUTION TO THE LARGER GROUP. THEY WILL CONDUCT MOST OF THEIR WORK IN YEARS 1 AND 2 OF THE GRANT AND WILL BE CHARGED WITH PRODUCING THE FOLLOWING OUTPUTS:*ESTABLISH A TRANSFER GUARANTEE OF ADMISSION FOR STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THE OREGON TRANSFER MODULE (OTM) OR EARN AN ASSOCIATE OF ARTS OREGON TRANSFER (AAOT) OR ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE OREGON TRANSFER (ASOT) DEGREE AT AN OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WE WOULD COMPLETE AND RELEASE THE GUARANTEE FOR THE OTM AND AAOT IN THE 2023-24 ACADEMIC YEAR AND THE ASOT IN THE 2024-25 ACADEMIC YEAR.* DEVELOP SHARED DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC TRANSFER PATHWAYS THAT WILL REDUCE THE CONFUSION AROUND WHICH CLASSES TO TAKE AT AN OREGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CREDITS LOST IN TRANSFER AS A RESULT OF BETTER PLANNING, AND CREATE CLARITY FOR THE PATH TO AN ALLIANCE COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. WE WILL BUILD ON THE TRANSFER PATHWAY WORK UNDERWAY WITH THE HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING COMMISSION (HECC). WE WILL UNDERTAKE THIS WORK OVER THREE YEARS IN FOUR DISCIPLINES: MATHEMATICS, ENGLISH/WRITING, BIOLOGY, AND PSYCHOLOGY.* DEVELOP A STRONGER SET OF RESOURCES, TRAINING MATERIALS, AND NETWORKING STRATEGIES FOR FACULTY, ADVISERS, AND OTHER SUPPORT STAFF FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TRANSFERRING TO ALLIANCE INSTITUTIONS. WE WILL EXPLORE WAYS TO CREATE A STUDENT-FOCUSED WEBSITE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS. THE WEBSITE WOULD CLEARLY ARTICULATE AND HIGHLIGHT THE VALUE OF A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION, TRANSFER-FRIENDLY POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND PROGRAMMING, ALONG WITH DEVELOPING TRANSFER PLANNING TOOLS.