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While I understand that this broadcast coincides with a statewide meeting of university presidents, I am extremely disappointed to see OPB sponsor an event focused on the state of higher education in Oregon and exclude community colleges. All told, Oregon's community colleges serve more than double the amount of students than do Oregon's universities, providing students with everything from high school completion/GED support to workforce skills and career change opportunities to transfer education coursework and more . . . all of which are taught by highly skilled, dedicated educators at a fraction of the pay and a fraction of the budget of their university counterparts.

I applaud the Oregon University System and its institutions; they are of invaluable to this state and its people, and have recently made tremendous strides in partnering with community colleges to better serve students. However, to talk about the future of Oregon's higher education system and not include community colleges is, at best, a gross oversight.

For more information on Oregon's Community Colleges, visit http://www.oregon.gov/CCWD.

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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