MARCH 04, 2022, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A13
Employment Dept. releases
promising jobs report
Submitted photo
Western Oregon University president Jay Kenton and Chemeketa Community
College president Jessica Howard sign the Direct Connect agreement in February.
Chemeketa, WOU sign
groundbreaking agreement
Chemeketa Community College and have a clear, supported, and affordable
Western Oregon University (WOU) path to a bachelor’s degree that will
announced a new partnership agreement prepare them for the work force and the
that will provide students completing future they choose.”
a transfer degree at Chemeketa with a
Direct Connect will make the attain-
seamless transition to WOU. The agree- ment of a bachelor’s degree accessible to
ment was signed at a special ceremony more students on account of lower tuition
at the WOU campus on Wednesday, costs at the community college for the
Feb. 23, by presidents Jessica Howard first two years of instruction. “This land-
(Chemeketa) and Jay Kenton (WOU).
mark articulation agreement smoothes
The new program, named “Direct the pathway for individuals in Marion,
Connect,” will guar-
Polk, and Yamhill coun-
antee WOU admis-
ties who want a bache-
sion to qualifying
lor’s degree and realize
New partnership
Chemeketa
grad-
the many benefits of
creates a
uates who satisfy
starting their academic
WOU’s
transfer
journey at Chemeketa,”
streamlianed and
admission require-
said Jessica Howard,
ments. Students on
affordable pathway to Chemeketa’s President
this pathway will
and CEO. “For our stu-
bachelor’s degree.
receive specialized
dents for whom time
advising and sup-
and money is at a pre-
port throughout their
mium, this agreement
educational experience at both institu- puts a degree from WOU even more
tions, which will provide a clear pathway within reach.”
to completing a bachelor’s degree in
Bruce Clemetson, Chemeketa’s Vice
the equivalent of four years of full-time President of Student Affairs echoed that
attendance: two years at Chemeketa and statement. “We are grateful to have this
two years at WOU. Further, immediately agreement with like-minded colleagues
upon admission, students in designated at WOU who are focused on students
transfer programs will receive junior maximizing the benefit of a transfer
status at WOU and credit for complet- degree from Chemeketa. Ensuring
ing all lower-division general education that a transfer degree graduate from
requirements.
Chemeketa will in most cases only need
“We are thrilled to expand our 90 additional credits reflects that com-
long-standing
partnership
with mitment to reduce student cost and
Chemeketa thanks to this agreement,” honor the quality of a Chemeketa grad-
said WOU Provost and Vice President uate’s education.”
for Academic Affairs Rob Winningham.
Direct Connect is slated to begin fall
“The program will ensure that students term of 2023.
Feel -Good
STORY
Saluting the people that make
us proud of our community
presented by
The
Oregon
Employment
Department released two new reports
this week summarizing details of
Oregon’s job vacancies. As rapid hir-
ing occurred in 2021 to replace jobs
lost in 2020 during the pandemic,
Oregon’s job vacancies rose to record
levels. Oregon employers had 97,000
job openings at any given time in cal-
endar year 2021. The need for workers
was especially high in the second half
of the year.
With record job openings also came
record difficulty filling vacancies.
Employers categorized nearly three
out of four (72%) of their job open-
ings as hard to fill. Unemployment
declined significantly during 2021, and
employers reported that their primary
hiring challenge for nearly half of all
hard-to-fill job openings was a lack of
applicants. More job listings were also
staying open longer as employers com-
peted for the limited supply of avail-
able workers.
Employers raised wages in 2021.
The average starting wage offered
for job openings was $19.69 per hour,
which was 4% higher than in 2020 after
adjusting for inflation.
Overall, the characteristics employ-
ers are looking for haven’t changed
much in the pandemic and recovery;
there were just a lot more of them. Most
job vacancies offered full-time work
schedules, and employers were mostly
looking to fill permanent positions. Job
opportunities are plentiful for Oregon
workers across all parts of Oregon’s
economy. Employers reported job
openings in more than 430 different
occupations.
Report released on potential dis-
parate impacts of identification
verification
Last week, the Oregon Employment
Department (OED) released an inter-
nal assessment to determine if people
claiming unemployment insurance
were being negatively impacted by
the requirement to verify their identity
through software provided through
ID.me.
“We have a strong commitment to
equity and inclusion at OED. We also
do everything we can to prevent fraud
and ensure people who have legitimate
claims can access the benefits they
need,” said David Gerstenfeld, acting
director of the Oregon Employment
Department. “When we started using
ID.me, we were aware of concerns
that the technology may not be as
accessible to everyone we serve. We
conducted the internal assessment
to identify potential groups of people
who may need extra support to com-
plete the identity verification process.”
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